Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild

Ship Arab

I, John Ball do solemnly, sincerely, and truly swear that the Report or Manifest, subscribed with my name, and now delivered by me to the Collector of the District of Philadelphia, contains, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a just and true account of all the passengers which were on board the Ship Arab at the time of her sailing from the port of Liverpool or which have been taken on board at any time since; that I am at present and have been during the voyage, master of the said vessel. And I do likewise swear that all matters whatsoever in the said Report or Manifest, are to the best of my knowledge and belief, just and true. So help me God. (signed) John Ball Sworn before me, this 11th day of July 1832 (signed) John ?en?e?* Collector

Report or Manifest of all the Passengers taken on board the Ship Arab whereof John Ball is master, from Liverpool burthen 335 69/95 Tons, and owned by Thos. E. Walker Co. of Philadelphia and bound to Philadelphia.

Columns represent: Name, Age, Sex, Occupation*, Country to which they belong*, Country which they intend to inhabit*,

    
 1 Catharine Orr      55    female             
 2 Anne Orr           30    female             
 3 Catharine Orr      25    female            
 4 Elizabeth Orr      22    female             
 5 Jam?* Orr          16    female             
 6 Hester Orr         12    female             
 7 William Orr        23    male     Labourer   
 8 John Dun           21    male     Labourer   
 9 James Byrnes       28    male     Labourer   
10 John Franklin      20    male     Labourer
11 John Riley         22    male     Labourer
12 Danl. Riley        18    male     Labourer
13 Rose Liddy         20    female   Seamstress 
14 Andrew Watson      60    male     Weaver
15 Jan? Watson        45    female
16 John Watson        10    male
17 Wm. Watson          6    male
18 James McKe?an*     21    male
19 Wm. Farley         24    male     Shoemaker  
20 Wm. M?eni???*      25    male     Weaver
21 David Steiso?*     18    male     Weaver
22 Barbary Steiso?*   20    female
23 John Rainy         21    male     Blacksmith 
24 Gregory Dugan      27    male     Labourer
25 John Moffit        27    male     Weaver
26 Hannah Moffit      27    female
27 Fanny Moffit        5    female
28 Margaret Moffit     3    female
29 Sarah Hope         66    female 
30 John Johnstone     31    male     Brewer
31 John Scott         36    male     Doctor
32 Catharine McGuire  21    female
33 Mary McCasker      10    female
34 George Foster      25    male     Farmer
35 Anne Foster       34    female
36 Charles Foster      5mo  male
37 James Shaw         40    male     Weaver
38 Sarah Shaw         40    female
39 David Shaw         22    male
40 Elkanah Shaw       20*   male
41 Hannah Shaw*       18*   female
42 Sarah Shaw         16    female
43 Aban* Shaw         14    male
44 Mary Shaw           9    female
45 Ann Shaw            2    female
46 Saml. Lich         24    male
47 George Jackson*    20    male
48 Willm. Asturn      15    male     Painter
49 James Anderson     31    male     Weaver
50 Caldwell Anderson  20    male     Weaver
51 Wm. Scott          17    male     Weaver
52 Thomas Binn        30    male     Butcher
53 Fanny Binn         25    female
54 Mary Binn           3    female
55 John Binn           1    male
56 Thos. Dinney       25    male     Wheelwright
57 Ann Cainous        21    female   Milliner
58 H??ry* Cainous     12    male
59 Francis McKenna    25    male     Labourer
60 John Hab???*       25    male     Labourer                                      

    
Transcriber's Notes: 
The use of an * indicates an omission, error or alternate spelling
made by the original recorder. 
The ? marks indicates letters or words that cannot be read due 
to the quality of the original document.
The number 117 is written beside opening statement. 
The passengers were not numbered on the original list.   
* There are breaks in the signature of the Collector. It could be Henrey.  
* The occupations listed here were the only ones given.
* "England and Ireland" was written vertically in the column "To what 
  country belonging"
* "U States of America" was written vertically in the column " Country 
  of which it is their intention to become inhabitants" 
* 5 The passenger was listed as female. Name could be Jame or Janie.
* 15 Jan? the last letter is quite small and might be a 'u'.
* 18 James McKe?an could be James M. Ke?an. The last letter 
  ends in a flourish which covers the missing letter. It looks like McKewan. 
* 20 Wm. M?E?i??? The second letter is a raised c or a flourish on the M.
  The name could be McEniece, McEnicel, Meniece or Menicel.         
* 21 David Steiso? could be Steison or Steisor        
* 22 Barbary Steiso? could be Steison or Steisor.    
* 40 Elkanah Shaw age 20* The 20 had an ink smudge over it.
* 41 Hannah Shaw age 18* The 18 had an ink smudge over it.  
* 43 Aban* Shaw, Aban is the spelling given.      
* 58 First name could be Henry or Harry.           
* 60 John Hab??? There is an ink blur over the fourth letter. The last letter 
    may a w.

Correspondence 10/17/99
The passenger manifest includes the James and Sarah Shaw family who settled 
in Posey County, Indiana near the town of Mt. Vernon.  Another passenger on 
the manifest was George Jackson from England.  He married James Shaw's 
daughter Hannah Shaw and also settled in Posey County.  The members of the 
Shaw and Jackson families remained in this part of Indiana for nearly sixty 
years. John R. Jackson


Correspondence: 3/00 Passengers #34-36 Foster
I would like to thank you for your efforts in transcribing the 
passenger list for the Ship Arab, July 11th 1832.
Passenger George Foster, travelling with wife Ann and baby Charles, 
was from Goodmanham in East Yorkshire, the younger brother of my 
great great grandfather.
George Foster (born 1806 in Goodmanham, East Yorkshire) emigrated to
America with his wife Ann nee Ledell - they married in 1830 and had
their first child, Charles, in Drypool, part of Kingston-upon-Hull.
Below are excerpts from three letters describing their journey and 
first impressions of America.
I do not know where they finally settled - but I have another letter from
them in 1852 in 'Oakfield'.
I also have references to them in 1856 when George's nephew, Marmaduke
Parkinson, travelled a journey of 410 miles by train to visit them from
where he had just settled near Port Hope, north of Lake Ontario.
You may contact Anne Watson about the Foster family.
She would be delighted to make contact with any of their descendants.

Following are excerpts of 3 letters written by members of the Foster
family:

10 Jun 1832 - George's father William Foster recounts what he has
been told of the canal journey from Goodmanham via Leeds to
Liverpool, and their embarkation. He is writing to George's sister,
who had travelled part of the way with them: "When we parted you
will recollect it was in company with your Brother George and his
family, as far as you went his journey you know was prosperous, and
you will like to hear how they proceeded to the place of their
destination. They arrived at Leeds the same night they left you
about 10 o’clock but were too late for a conveyance on their way and
had to wait till the next night for the fly boat and arrived at
Liverpool on the Saturday morning following. George immediately left
his two companions in the boat with their luggage and went to my
Sister Turners, and when he returned he had engaged a ship to sail
to Philadelphia, as the fare was much higher to New York having
risen to £6..6s each, so it would have cost them £15..15s. They paid
£12 for all three and the same day (Saturday) they laid in what
store they wanted, and Sunday, while your Uncle and Aunt Turner and
George was at Brunswick Chapel hearing Mr Newton, Ann wrote a letter
to me to say that they were to sail in the Ship Arab, Capt. Ball.
They had to pass their examination before the Doctor on Monday
morning at 9 o’clock and if he could give them a clear board of
health they were to set sail that day in company with some people
from near Kirkham and about 40 passengers, may the presence of the
Lord be with them."

                         *********

Copy of a letter written in 1832 by Ann Foster, to her father in law
Wm. Foster, living at Goodmanham. Describing the voyage to America:

Pennsylvania. Philadelpha. July 16th 1832. Dear Father Brothers
Sisters & Friends Through Divine Mercy we are spared to land upon a
foreign shore although we have had a long and arduous passage. We
arrived on the ninth after laying at Marintine 5 days. We sailed
from Liverpool on Monday according to the letter you would receive
and had favourable weather for a week or ten days and it became more
cold and windy, on the 2nd or 3rd of June we had a serious heavy
gale of wind it began on Saturday in the afternoon about 4 o’clock
and continued dreadful all the night and until Sunday afternoon
about the same time. During the night we expected every moment to be
our last, the sea was tremendous and our luggage was heaving in the
steerage ready to break to pieces but He in whose hands we were
commands the wind and the waves through mercy spared and preserved
us and caused the storm to abate and the waves again became calm. We
went on in our usual way with cross winds & cold weather during
another week until the ninth when suddenly about five in the
afternoon a dreadful thunder storm came on and the ship was in full
sail in the midst. I may say of the Western ocean I suppose on the
African coast it was sudden that we could not get our sails unreefed
before the lightening and the storm was so heavy that our two
topmasts was broken and carried way and seven of our sails
completely torn to atoms. Our mate and carpenter was in the rigging
cutting away the ropes and tackling to let things give way, this
storm never abated during the night for one moment and the sea ran
mountains high we had no hope of being saved and every time the sea
struck the ship expected to go to the bottom and what was worse then
of all about half past eleven o’clock at night 4 of our sailors was
washed from the rigging, 2 fell upon deck and 2 fell into the sea
and sorry we was to find perished the sea ran so high it was not
possible to render them any assistance. The one was and Irishman and
the other an American, both single men. 2nd mate heaved a plank
overboard thinking it might be a means to save them but there was
little hope the storm was so tremendous, there was not a man on
board that in all their experience had been in such a heavy storm
that continued such a length of time before, it continued until
Sunday evening. We had the helm locked up on account of the storm
being so heavy that the ship was unmanageable for 8 to 10 hours and
was driven as the wind and waves directed, right or wrong, sink or
swim. In these storms we could have no fire and of course could get
nothing cooked but we had no sickness during the gales which you
will feel surpassed at, it drove all sickness away, our moments of
sea sickness was when we was in our right course. My dear George
suffering greatly for a fortnight from sickness, one night we
thought we would had died but after that we begun to recover. I
experienced much inability and weakness from seasickness. My dear
Charles the dear little fellow had no sickness he had been as famous
a sailor as ever a Western ship had, and as healthful, and how much
he was loved by all on board. The Captain and cabin passengers were
very fond of him and ever to send him nice things from their tables
we know great providence in him. We had a black steward and a Maleta
for a cook, we had sheep, pigs and immensity of poultry on board to
kill for the use of the cabins. We had 61 passengers, no Yorkshire
but ourselves and another family I mentioned in my last letter. All
Irish but 4 families. We had plenty of provision for our voyage - we
have saved our ham to eat now it is excellent and good. We are at
Philadelpha at lodgings for this last week but find it very
expensive and as we cannot find anything likely near this city to
prove advantageous, intend tomorrow to make our way into the country
up to Albany. The worst is we must go by New York and the cholera is
at present raging there, numbers are dying daily it has not yet
reached Philadepha yet. This is a large populous city the capital of
Pennsylvania far handsomer than any of the English cities, the
buildings are great of them faced with finest marble but business
here is not very brisk at present and the land round the city is not
particularly good. My husband has been several miles out in the
country and could have had work but could not get wages much better
than in England therefore we intend to go into another direction if
spared until we get settled will write again immediately and then
shall expect to hear from you. My dear husband is not at present
affected with the climate but in perfect health. I hope it will
continue it is very warm here at present but not at the hottest. I
must now think of drawing to a close and desire you to remember us
to all friends and relations. Give our love to Mrs. Midgleys. you
must excuse the incorrectness of my letter for my feelings at
present are such that I cannot express and I have put off writing
until the last day that I could send it. We are now separated at the
distance of 3800 miles but he that ruleth over all things is as able
to protect us here as in England and we will put our trust in him.
Please write to Penrith and tell them we will write to them as soon
as we are settled, my husband saw a sailor from Penrith before we
got off the ship people flocked round us to know where we was from.
We were at the house of a man of the name of Hudson from the
neighbourhood of Beverley a few miles from this city and got some
things to eat with him, he has been here about 12 years. I now bid
you a silent farewell. George joins with me and Charles in love to
you all. I remain yours affectionately, Ann Foster. P.S. It was 8
weeks the day we arrived since leaving you. I feel a little out of
spirits at the thoughts of going to New York it is very expensive we
sail at 6 o’clock in the morning it is 130 miles we shall be there
at 6 o’clock in the evening.

                      *********

Quote from a letter from Ann received by her sister (in-law) in
South Shields 31 Aug 1838 It has been with us as with you a scene of
lapses and disappointments and crosses but out of all them the land
has brought us through and kept us from any thing like want. At
present things go well with us. For the last 12 months we have
considerably gained and at present we have favourable prospects if
health be sanctioned. Sister says you will rejoice to hear of our
temporal and spiritual welfare first I will tell you of our worldly
comforts we have a good house and garden we have no farming but a
good machine a pair of good horses and a good wagon and sledge for
the winter, a neat one horse wagon to go to meeting with The dear
boys lasso a good Cow and 12 Hogs to feed for the winter and a fine
flock of geese I keep for feather beds - this is valuable here as
feathers cannot be had for money. I have made one new bed, she says,
some of our friends told us we might expect no such comforts as we
had been want to enjoy. It is true we have been tossed two and fro
but things seem to have taken a turn and now go on well with us.
None of our friends eat drink nor near better space than me and our
children do, and we are in excellent credit and respected by all our
neighbours and would equal with them. My Husband is beloved by all
who know him, he his a kind Husband and an affectionate Father but I
can tell you more than this we not only enjoy earthly comforts but
we have our spiritual comforts too, for we have that peace which
passeth all understanding. The Lord has one portion and since we
have obeyed his precepts more fully all things go on well with us.
Harvest is just at hand and crops appear promising we have a
prospect of  6 or 7 hundred dolers. My Husband made from 5 to 6
hundred last year or else we could not have paid our debts and got
what we have. When thrashing is over he goes to teaming. At present
he his gone to Borchester to carry barrels of loaves and has twice
to go this week and twice next which will bring in 20 dollars and it
will not cost him 5 - this is the way we are living My dear boys are
at school every day they are 3 fine boys Charles his very tall and
begins to be very useful. I can say, sister, we are very comfortable
and have no wish to return but it is a long time since we heard from
dear father but out of sight out of mind I suppose they never intend
to write again. However I hope the time past will surpass and that
our correspondence will be more frequent and regular I suppose this
is all we are to know of each other in this world.

National Archives and Records Administration, Film M425, Reel 47.

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