File:Matrons diary of the voyage of the Fitzjames, 1856-57 (3633681763).jpg

Page 1 - Includes the date of departure from Plymouth, the number of passengers on board, the number of single women under the Matron's care and their levels of literacy. Also a brief outline of a particularly quarrelsome single female.

We left the Depot at Plymouth the 17th of Dec and came on board the Fitzjames. I now have ascertained that I have a hundred & eight per sons on Board, that is six women above 50, two little boys under the care of their Mother, 2 other married women about to join her husband and ninety 95 eight single women, one of those describes herself as a servant (Mary Henderson) having received a Complete education, including the Languages, her temper is most vindictive and violent. Since coming on Board scarcely a day has passed without her having a quarrel with some one. Thirty Six 33 Read & Write well eleven 10 Read & write imperfectly. three Read well and write imperfectly. Three can Read well and not write and twenty can read imperfectly and not write at all Thirty Three 28 cannot Read at all I much fear that it will be impossible to do but little toward their improvement as every days experience convinces me that

You can access the diary on our website here and read a full transcript here.

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