For the Canterbury Centenary the New Zealand Post issued a set of stamps in 1950, the 3d stamp depict John Robert Godley, leader of the Canterbury Association's venture and the Founder of the Province. Behind the statue of John Robert Godley is a sailing vessel visible which is identified as the CRESSY which brought part of the first group of settlers to Canterbury.
Although flax traders and whalers had earlier operated on the coast, the first permanent European settlement in Canterbury was a whaling station established by Captain George Hempleman in March 1837, at Peraki - an inlet on the southern coast of Banks Peninsula. A party of nine settlers, sent by a Sydney firm of millers, arrived in April 1840. They were the first Europeans to make a home on the Plains at what is now Riccarton. They left after eight months as their crop had been eaten by rats.
On 17 August 1840 French settlers landed at Akaroa and founded the first town. A few years later farms at Purau, Riccarton, and Pigeon Bay were established and it was from here the establishment and extension of the province grew. The first settlers chosen by the Canterbury Association (formed in England) disembarked from the first four immigrant ships - 'Charlotte Jane', 'Sir John Seymour', 'Cressy' and 'Randolph', at Lyttelton in December 1850 and this date is recognised as that of the official founding of Canterbury. John Robert Godley had been placed in charge of the first colonists. These pioneers who chose to settle at Christchurch had to make a laborious trek over the hills separating Lyttelton and Christchurch by way of a rough track, which became known as the Bridle Path.
Source: New Zealand Post.
Built as a three-masted wooden Blackwall frigate by Philip Laing at Sunderland U.K. for Duncan Dunbar, London.
1843 Launched as the CRESSY.
Tonnage 720 ton, dim. 128,8 x 29.8 x 21.4ft.
Ship rigged.
It is believed that she during this voyaged carried four guns, she had painted gun ports.
Her maiden voyage was with convicts from the U.K. to Australia.
28 April 1843 she sailed from Plymouth under command of Captain James Molison with on board 296 male prisoners bound for Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), arrived Hobart 28 August 1843 after a passage of 112 days, with on board 295 convicts.
After the convicts had embarked the CRESSY sailed to Sydney N.S.W. with on board sundries, passengers and troops, total 72 persons. Arrived Sydney 13 Sept 1843. From Sydney she sailed in ballast to Guam and returned to the U.K.
1846 Under command of Captain Molison she made a voyage from London to Barbados. And given as a barque rigged vessel.
Sailed from London via Plymouth (sailed 10 May 1847) under command of Captain H. Withers with on board 278 emigrants, arrived at Adelaide, Australia on 19 August 1847 after a passage of 97 days.
After embarking she sailed for Bombay, India.
1850 She made a voyage from London to Calcutta.
In 1849 by the Church of England was formed the Canterbury Association, in 1850 J.R. Godley arrived as head of the Association to arrange and build for the new settlers housing in Canterbury.
Four ships were chartered in the U.K. the CHARLOTTE JANE, RANDOLPH, SIR GEORGE SEYMOUR and CRESSY to transport the 782 colonists and emigrants, stores, equipment, material to build houses a church organ and a printing press.
07 September 1850 CRESSY sailed from London via Plymouth to Port Lyttelton, New Zealand under command of Captain J.D. Bell with 27 cabin, 23 intermediate and 105 steerage passengers. 27 December 1850 she arrived in Lyttelton 10 to 11 days behind the three other ships, due to a sprung fore-top-mast south of Cape of Good Hope.
After landing the emigrants, stores equipment the CRESSY sailed via Colombo and Madras back to London where she arrived in December 1851.
20 September 1855 she sailed from Plymouth under command of Captain Tanner with on board 2 passengers and 204 Government immigrants to Sydney, NSW where she arrived on 12 January 1856. She lost this voyage one man of the crew which fell overboard from aloft.
After embarking the passengers and cargo she sailed for Madras.
Then she was used to carry troops to India, she carried 238 men to help quell the Sepoy mutinies in 1857.
Till 1860 is the owner given as Duncan Dunbar and the Captain as Tanner, sailing mostly between the U.K. and India.
1861 Is the owner given as Castellain & Co., Liverpool and Captain Lawton.
1864 Lloyds gives on a voyage from London to India the CRESSY had foundered, given as 673 ton and still under command of Lawton. Not a position and date given.
New Zealand 1950 3d sg705, scott?
Source: Lloyds Registers. White Wings by Henry Brett. Immigrant Ships for South Australia 1836-1850 by Ronald Parsons. Various internet sites.