Rigging: Ship; sheathed in copper in 1841
Tonnage: 415 tons using old measurements and 485 tons using new measurements
Construction: 1840 in Stockton, using Red Pine & Pitch Pine planks
Owners: J. Irving
Port of registry: Bristol
Port of survey: London
Voyage: sailed for New Zealand

A copy of the regulations issued by the New Zealand Company to all emigrants

Ship: 484 tons

Captain: John Sumner

Surgeon Superintendent: William Stevens Butler

Sailed England 5th June 1841 - arrived Port Nicholson 16th October 1841

"Mr Horace Fildes, the keen antiquary, tells me the old records show that the emigrant ship Arab, 484 tons, left Gravesend on June 3, 1841, with 208 settlers, most of whom were intended for the Nelson settlement.
She arrived at Port Nicholson on October 16, at which time, of course, there was no such place as Nelson.
No subsequent mention is made of these settlers, so we must assume that they drifted across the Straits from time to time as occasion offered, after the sight of Nelson was chosen, or else they waited for the rest of the people in the Fifeshire and her three companions."
White Wings - Sir Henry Brett

Cabin Passengers
 
Blaithwaite Esq George Winter     
Martineau Esq Henry    
Simon Esq Francis     
Wilkinson Captain John    
Woods Esq Frederick
    
Steerage Passengers

Allington Thomas 36 Agicultural Labourer  
Ettey 35   
 Henry 4   
 Caroline 2   
 George Infant    Died at sea 
Booth James 21 Slate Dresser  
 Mary Ann 25   
Buik William 31 Wright  
 Agnes 30   
 Son 9   
 Daughter 7   
 Daughter 5   
Dalgetty Alexander 36 Agicultural Labourer  
 Janet 30   
 Daughter 9   
 Son Infant   
Dalgetty David 15 Agicultural Labourer  
Darling George 27 Agicultural Labourer  
 Isabella 21   
Day George 41 Labourer     
 Ann 37   
 William 17 Labourer  
 Henry 15 Labourer  
 George Frederic 14   
 Eliza Wise 12   
 Robert 11   
 Mary Ann 9   
 Charles 6   
 Susannah 6   
 Frederic 5   
 Emma 1   
 Joseph 3 months   
Dixon Michael 30 Agicultural Labourer  
 Sarah 33   
 Son 13   
 Son 8   
 Daughter 7   
 Son 3   
 Daughter Infant   
Dyson Charlotte 16 Servant Daughter of Mrs J. Gooder 
Dyson Charlotte 10    Daughter of Mrs J. Gooder 
Dyson Eliza 3    Daughter of Mrs J. Gooder 
Edwards William 32 Gardener & Agicultural Labourer 
 Mary 32 
 
  
Furminger Samuel 44 Agicultural Labourer  
 Sarah 38   
 Elizabeth *(Anne) 20 Sempstress  
 Samuel Jnr 18 Agicultural Labourer  
 Harriet 16 Sempstress  
 Mary *(Ann) 14 Sempstress  
 Daughter 12 *(Anne)  
 Daughter 10 *(Catherine) 
 Son 8   *(Joseph)
 Daughter 7    
 Son 3   *(Thomas)
 * Additional information from research
 

Gibbs James 29 Carpenter & Caninet Maker 
 Charlotte 22   
 Daughter 1   
Gooder John 37 Farmer  
 Betty 40   
 Mary 11   
 Northend 8   
 Richard 7   
Greaves John 23 Labourer  
 Mary 22   
 Daughter 1   
Hill George 36 Sawyer & Carpenter  
 Ann 38   
 Jane 13   
 John 11   
 Mary 9   
 Elizabeth 6   
 Charlotte 3   
Hogg John 37 Wright & Turner  
 Elizabeth 39   
 Ann 17 Sempstress  
 John 15 Labourer  
 Son 8   
Hollard Charles 29 Agricultural Labourer  
 Ann 29   
 Susan 9   
 William 7   
 Elizabeth 5   
 John 3   
 Ann 1 Died at sea  
Hooper John 37 Labourer  
 Caroline 26  John's second wife 
 Sarah 14 Died at sea  
 Elisa 8   
 Caroline 6   
 Robert 4   
 William 9 mths   
 Elizabeth   Born and died at sea 
Irvine Thomas 32 Shoemaker  
 Eliza 34   
Jones George 23 Bootmaker  
 Eliza 19   
Knowler Amelia 17 Servant & Straw Platter  
Lissenden James 26 Ploughman  
 Harriet 24   
 Daughter 5   
 Daughter 2   
 Son 3 mths   
McHardy John 18 Baker  
McIntosh John 29 Labourer  
Mann Jonathan 32 Labourer  
 Eliza 32   
 Daughter 13   
 Son 9   
Mather William 34 Wright & Joiner Born and died at sea 
 Mary G. 33   
 Daughter 8   
 Daughter 3   
 Daughter 6 mths   
Miles Thomas 22 Brickmaker  
Norris Charles 23 Farm labourer  
 Barbara Ann 20   
Poole Nathaniel 31 Labourer  
 Mary 27   
 Son 9   
 Son 7   
 Son 5   
 Son 3   
 Son   Born at sea 
Richardson James Robert 22 Farm Labourer  
 Eliza 20   
Richardson Thomas 38 Bricklayer & Mason  
 Delia 37   
 Thomas Turner 16 Bricklayer & Mason  
 George 14 Labourer  
 Caroline 11   
 Sarah Ann 8   
 James 5   
 William Burgess 3   
Roseby Thomas 32 Mason  
 Ann 38   
 Son 5   
 Son 1   
Ross Robert 23 Baker  
 Mary 21   
Sellers John 37 Agricultural Labourer  
 Mary 36   
 Daughter 13   
 Daughter 12   
 Daughter 8   
 Daughter 7   
 Daughter 4   
 Daughter 2   
Shirley Matthew 15 Agricultural Labourer  
Shirley Thomas 34 Agricultural Labourer  
 Ann 31   
 Selina 13   
 Henry 10   
 Ann 8   
 Sophia 6   
 Thomas Andrew 4   
 Elizabeth 6 mths   
Simpson William 33 Gardener  
 Jane 26   
Slaney Henry 34 Brickmaker Widower 
 Jane 15 Servant  
Smith David 37 Sawyer  
 Isabel 36   
 Alexander 15 Labourer  
 Daughter 13   
 Son 10   
 Son 7   
 Daughter 3   
 Daughter Infant   
Sparks Amos 25 Brickmaker  
 Elizabeth 23   
 Daughter 2   
Tutchen Peter 40 Shepherd  
 Sarah 39   
 Simon Peter 16 Shepherd  
 Sarah 14  Died at sea 
 Charles 13   
 Mary 11   
 Josiah 9   
 Ann 8   
 Eleanor 6   
 David 2   
Vile William 30 Agricultural Labourer Died at sea 
 Sophia 29   
 James 10   
 Charles 8   
 Ann 6   
 Jane 2  Died at sea 
 Josiah 8 mths   
Walker James 33 Shipwright  
 Helen 33   
 Ellen 14   
 John 10   
 William 8   
 Jean 7   
 Isabella 5   
 James 3   
 Anne Arab   Born at sea 
Watts William 27 Agricultural Labourer  
 Esther 26   
 Harriett Ann 3   
 Ellen 4 mths   
Wilkins John 37 Labourer & Gardener  
 Grace 38   
 Son 4   
Wilkins Matthew 17 Labourer  
Wilkins Hannah 15 Labourer  
             


SHIRLEY family:
Thomas Shirley married Anne Hallett at Horsington, Somerset, England on 24th Feb 1825 
and had seven children, Matthew, Selina, Henry, Ann, Sophia, Thomas Andrew and Elizabeth.
 
Thomas leased some sections at Lower Hutt. He and his sons were farmers in the Hutt district.
 
In the early 1850's Thomas Shirley and most of the family moved to Napier where most 
lived the remainder of there lives. 
Matthew remained in the Hutt Valley for a few more 
years before moving to Southland. 
Matthew married Jane Whiteman (arrived Gertrude 1841) 
in 1847 and they had 11 children, 6 in Wellington and 5 in Southland. 
They remained in 
the Hutt Valley for a few years after the Shirley's as a whole had left and then moved 
to Southland some time after 1860 eventually settling in Wyndham on the farm that they 
had bought.
 Selina married John McHardie (arrived Arab) in 1846 and they had 12 children 
of whom only 2 survived.
 The McHardie's settled in the Bulls area.
 Henry married Eliza 
Williamson (arrived Olympus 1841) and they had 4 children in Wellington before moving 
to Napier. 
Henry died there in 1879 and of his children 2 married, one settled in the 
Waiarapa and the other in Taranaki. 
Ann married George Petherick (arrived Aurora 1839) 
in 1846 and they had 3 children in Wellington.
 Ann remarried 1854 in Napier to James 
Avison and  they had 11 children.
 This family largely stayed in the Hawkes Bay area.
 
Sophia married James Stephen Whitehead in 1854 and they had 13 children, 6 of whom 
were born in Wellington. 
The rest were born in Canterbury around Christchurch. Most 
of the family lived out there lives in the North Island.
 Thomas Andrew married Elizabeth 
Bicknell (arrived Clifton 1842) in 1859 at Napier. They had no children. Andrew though 
had an eventful life. (see website) 
Elizabeth married John Bennett in 1862 at Napier and 
they had at least 4 children and lived out there lives in Napier.
 We are continually 
seeking more information on the Shirley families in NZ. 
Visit the worldwide family website 
www.shirleyassociation.com hosted by Betty Shirley and in New Zealand contact: Roger 
Shirley or Lyall Mitchell - Contact: Judith Lyons (brendonl [at] xtra.co.nz)
 
         

John MCINTOSH:
John McINTOSH, listed on the Arab voyage of 1841 was my great-great grandfather.
John McIntosh - was due to sail on the Witby 2/may 1841 but missed it and sailed on the Arab
(The Whitby saied with the Will Watch)
   
He was born in Scotland around 1800 and married Lilly BAIN on 2 May 1825.
  
She followed him on the Martha Ridgway voyage of 1841-1842. Lilly McINTOSH and 
four children are listed on the Martha Ridgway, family of the above John McINTOSH.
  
A fifth child - Alexander - was born 1827 but does not appear here. 
 Unless someone can 
tell me otherwise, I must presume he died before 1841.
  A sixth child - James Mardoch 
McINTOSH - was born in Nelson around 1843 and became my Great Grandfather. 
 He married 
Hannah BLAYMIRES at Picton in 1869 and settled there. 
 If anyone knows more I'd like 
to hear about it. If you have a connection with this family or are interested in 
learning more please contact:  David B Voss. (Debbie.vee [at] clear.net.nz)


National Archives Reference NZC 34/2 p31





Whilst neither of these ships is the Arab, they give a good idea of what the Arab may have looked like.





Extracted from the New Zealand Journal 1841 (page 136)

The Arab sailed on Thursday for Port Nicholson having on board 202 emigrants of the 
labouring class, and six cabin passengers. 
The ship having a poop for her cabin passengers 
and a top-gallant forecastle for her crew, the whole of the lower deck from stem to stern, 
is exclusively allotted to the emigrants, and no ship has yet sailed with such comfortable 
accomodation.

The wind being favourable the Arab did not bring up at Gravesend, but everything being in order, 
the steam-tug cast her off, and she continued her course down the river.
 The passengers 
were in admirable spirits and cheered heartily as the tug left the ship. 

Extracted from the New Zealand Journal 1841 (page 151)

The Arab unfortunately carried away her fore topmast in going down the channel 
and was obliged to go to Plymouth to refit, by which she was detained 4 days.
 
The emigrants of both these ships were selected out of a very large number of 
applicants and in point of health, age and character, will be an acquisition to 
the Colony.

Extracted from the New Zealand Gazette October 20 1841

The emigrants by the ARAB have voted Dr Butler the surgeon of the ship, a letter of thanks, 
for his humane conduct towards them during their passage from England to Port Nicholson.
 
It was signed by the whole of the passengers. 

Extracted from the New Zealand Journal 1841 (page 294)

Rate of hire of ship:            19.5.0 per adult.





EARLY WELLINGTON SHIPPING ARRIVALS
from newspapers of the day




ARAB


New Zealand Gazette & Wellington Spectator -
Wednesday October 20th 1841

Oct 16th; ship Arab, 484 tons, Captain Sumner, from London; Passengers Messrs Wilkinson, 
G W Blathwayt, H Martineau, W S Butler, F Woods, F Simon and 200 steerage.

The Arab left London on the 1st June, but she lost her topmasts and bowsprit in the Channel, 
which made it necessary for her to put into Dartmouth, from which she did not depart until the 
15th June; and Captain Sumner has kindly furnished us with London papers to the 11th June.














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