Birth GRO 1st qtr 1843
CHATFIELD, Mercy Brighton 7 284
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Burial Plot Road 4, Path 28, Aspect W, Site Number 47
Find A Grave Memorial# 137693277
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Emigrated to Adelaide, South Australia 1881 on the "Liguria". Arrived Port Adelaide 10 Jan 1882 from London and Plymouth.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : Monday 23 January 1882)
THE S.S. LIGURIA.
'The steamship Liguria, of the Orient line, completed another voyage from London, via Cape Town, to this port yesterday. The Liguria on this, as on all her previous voyages, has done exceedingly well, and left Plymouth a full ship with passengers and cargo. Of the former she had 64 in the saloon, 95 in the second saloon, and 205 in the third class and steerage. Several passengers were also booked at Cape Town for Australia, and at Adelaide for Melbourne. The health of the people on board was satisfactory during the passage, and there was only one accident, which occurred to a female third class passenger, who slipped down a hatchway, but fortunately escaped with only a scalp wound. Life on board socially was rendered pleasant by musical and histrionic and other entertainments, and Robertson's comedy of "School" was said to have been very fairly performed on board, considering the lack of scenic and other accompaniment. The Liguria left London on the 7th ult., and Plymouth on the 10th at 6 minutes to 2 p m. A fine run was made to St Vincent, which was reached at a quarter past 6 am on the 17th ult., the average speed maintained being 14.08 knots. After taking on board some 536 tons of coal the Liguria left the Island at 20 minutes to 6 a.m. on the 18th ult., and had the usual run of trade winds and lively seas until arrival at Cape Town at a quarter to 8 on the 30th ult. Being the holiday season there was some threatened difficulty in getting the requisite quantity of coal on board, the native labourers having great objections to working on New Year's Day, but Captain Conlan by his ready tact, and the judicious exercise of a little persuasion, got them to do the required work, much to the astonishment of the Cape commercial people, who said the feat could not be accomplished. After taking in 835 tons of coal the voyage was resumed at five minutes past 5 a.m. on the 2nd inst., and the steamer had a fine run across the Southern Ocean, the day's work never being under 300 miles, and the best performance being 349 miles. The average speed all the way was within a fraction of 11 knots. The Liguria arrived at the Semaphore, Port Adelaide, at 3 p m on the 10th Inst, and after landing passengers and discharging 160 tons of cargo, she left for Melbourne at a quarter to 10 am on the 20th inst. Strong head winds, with a cross sea and thick weather, were met with along the coast, and the Heads were entered at 20 minutes to 8 o'clock yesterday morning, the bay being reached shortly after 11 o' clock in the forenoon. The usual official Inspections were made by the health and immigration officers, and the state of the vessel with regard to passenger accommodation and other arrangements was found to be eminently satisfactory. The Liguria has a large quantity of cargo for this port and some 85 bags of mails were also brought on by her. The cargo will be got out with all possible despatch, and the Liguria will leave, if possible, to morrow for Sydney.
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LIGURIA 1874
4,666 gross tons, length 433.5ft x beam 45ft, clipper bows, two funnels, three masts (rigged for sail), single screw, speed 14 knots, accommodation for 100-1st, 150-2nd and 340-3rd class passengers. Built 1874 by John Elder & Co, Glasgow for Pacific Steam Navigation Co, she entered the Birkenhead - Valparaiso service on 9th Sep.1874. In 1880 she transferred to Orient Line management and started her first London - Suez - Melbourne - Sydney voyage on 12th May 1880. Her last Australian voyage started on 9th May 1890 and on 17th Sep.1890 she reverted to Pacific Steam's Valparaiso service. In 1893 she was re-engined to give a speed of 15 knots and the sailing rigging removed from her masts. 1903 scrapped in Genoa. [Merchant Fleets, vol.8 by Duncan Haws]
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The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : Wednesday 16 July 1930) On the 14th July 1930.
Mrs. Mercy Dumbrell died at her home, Byron-street, Glenelg, on Monday. Born at Brighton (Sussex), 87 years ago, she received her education in her home town. She was a Miss Chatfield. Her father established a confectionery business at Brighton more than 100 years ago, and it is still being carried on by the family. Mrs. Dumbrell was twice married, and it is a coincidence that both husbands were in the confectionery business. Her first husband was Mr. Thomas Ransley, with whom she came to Australia in 1882. He died two years later. In 1885 she was married to Mr. James Dumbrell, who is one of the manufacturing confectionery firm of Dumbrell and Sons. Mrs. Dumbrell was all her life a keen and ardent church worker. In England she was a Sunday-school teacher of the Church of Christ. On her arrival in Adelaide she took up work with the Grote-street church, and for 25 years was one of the most prominent members. Her surviving family are:—Mesdames F. Vincent, of Victor Harbour; W A Blakely, of Adelaide; C. Kneale, of Magil; E. R. Manning, of Wayville; Reg. Rogers, of Glenelg. There are 28 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
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Commercial & Trades Directory SA 1882-83
Ransley, T., wholesale, 250 Rundle-st. Adelaide, South Australia.
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South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : Friday 17 October 1884) (Presume inserted after death of husband Thomas)
SHOP TO LET, RUNDLE-STREET; Rent low. Apply M. Ransley, 232, Rundle Street East, next door to Pascoe's. [Rundle Street was and still is the major shopping street in Adelaide.]
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Mercy, born 1843. She married Thomas Ransley, also a confectioner. They emigrated to Australia in 1882, where he died two years later. She then married, James Dumbrell, also from Brighton, and also a confectioner. She was 42, and he was 22! He was born in Brighton in 1863. The family 'legend' is that he followed the family to Adelaide to marry one of the daughters, and upon finding the daughter married to someone else, he then (perhaps saw a window of opportunity?) married the widow. They had two daughters, Jessie (who died aged 1 year), and Louisa Matilda, my nana. Jessie, Louisa Matilda, were names of James's brother and two sisters whom he had left behind in England - never to see again.
A great-grandson looked at an inscription on a book of English poetry that belonged to my great-grandmother, Mercy Dumbrell, nee Chatfield (also previously Ransley). Her 'affectionate brother', Charles Edward CHATFIELD, inscribed the book on his departure from Australia to England, in 1910.
Mercy's family were the Chatfield confectionary firm in Brighton, so it may interest anyone looking at the Brighton Chatfields to know that Charles Edward Chatfield visited his sister all the way in Oz at that time! When exactly he made the trip over to Australia I don't know, but I would imagine that he stayed for a considerable length of time, given the length of the sea journey.
CHATFIELD. - On the 13th September 1893, at Brighton, Sussex. England. Edward CHATFIELD, the beloved father of Mrs. James Dumbrell, of Adelaide, and grandfather of Mrs. F. Vincent and Mrs. W. Blackeby, of Adelaide, and also of Mrs. Frederick Cozens, of Norwood, SA, in his 82nd year.
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : Saturday 7 July 1894) (This article refers to members of the family going to Adelaide. A male E Chatfield born 1850 with a female R Chatfield born 1866 sailed from London for Adelaide in 1894. Need not be married but brother and sister as 16 years difference))
West Australia.
PERTH. Friday Night
Albany reports the arrival of the inward bound R.M.S. Orizaba, having on board for Adelaide Mr. CHATFIELD, Mr. and Mrs. Dumbrell and child, Mr Reynell and Miss Dumbrell.
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The confectionery business was very successful, and the Dumbrell family owned quite a bit of Adelaide real estate. Their large, main house was on the corner of Mercy Street (named after Mercy), and Grote St. Mercy St has since been renamed Blenheim St, although the southern end of it was always called thus.
The factory was situated just behind the house, and they also owned a large number of terrace houses in the street.
When my mother Elsie, was a child, she remembers being taken, along with siblings, with Mercy to Charles Burke's store (now David Jones). The manager would greet them in the foyer, and anything Mrs Dumbrell wished to see - to buy for her children/grandchildren - would be brought to her for her inspection. She didn't have to search around the store.
