Diary of William Sayle and transcribed letters from sons John, William, Thomas, Joseph, Benjamin and James Sayle, emigrants to Australia
Date(s): 1841-1868
Scope & Content: Comprises a main volume with William Sayle's diary entries 1847-1868 at one end and transcribed copies of letters received and sent written into the rear spanning 1841-1862. The diary entries record the arrival and despatch of correspondence, addresses, some of the news and letter contents as well as the exchange of Manx and Australian newspapers and mention of other people who were emigrating or had already emigrated to America and Australia.
The diary commences with the entry 'Nov. 27th received a letter from William Sayle dated 'Hobson's Bay Williams Town June 25th 1847' and a letter from John Sayle enclosed 'Melbourne April 25th 1847'.. One inclusion: 'Wm. Caren, Baker for Port Philip' March 31 1849 on board the Hydaspas with Captain Grebow'. On May 17 1849 William sailed to Liverpool with Dan Grimshaw, his nephew (aged 19 next birthday), to get him on a package ship to New York on the Salacia, with Captain Hannay to work as a shoemaker. The ship left Liverpool on 22 May arriving New York 5 July. Between May and December 1849 John Sayle was on a visit to the Isle of Man. William Sayle sought a letter of introduction for James Cain (son of John Cain, bookbinder Douglas) to his sons for work when he arrived in Australia. From August 7 1852 some diary entries written in Manx such as 'Hooar mee Screeuyn voish Illiam Sayle' (I got a letter from William Sayle). Also evidence gold was sent back to the Isle of Man: 'December 18 1855 Mr Kinvig of Arbory returned from Melbourne called at our house and he gave me an ounce of gold nuggets sent me from Tommy. He knew Tommy, Benny and Joe well but did not know John and Billy'. There are cross references to the page numbers of the letters from his sons at the beginning of the same volume. The first transcribed letter is from son John, 19 August 1841, in Liverpool and leaving the next day for Australia. John's first letter from Australia is dated 5 December 1841 and describes his voyage, the landscape, animals and the native people that he has seen near to Port Philip Bay, Victoria. In later letters he describes vividly his life on a cattle station and living out in the bush. Other letters from the Sayle brothers mention many Manx people they have met or have heard about in Australia. Included are newspaper cuttings from Australia and the Isle of Man, including a list of contributors from Australia to the Kitterland disaster fund for the widows and their children.
In addition to the diary is a handwritten article in a small notebook promoting temperance
John and Ellen, William, Thomas, Benjamin, Joseph Edward and James mentioned in mss
Administration / Biographical History: William Sayle, a temperance reformer and farmer of Larivane, Andreas, wrote religious tracts in the Manx language and was a trustee on the deeds for Lhen Moar Wesleyan Methodist Chapel 1819-1825. He married Ann Cleator on 8 August 1818 at Andreas and she bore him Ann (baptised 1818), John (1821-1901), Ellen/Ellin (1823), Elizabeth (1825), William (1828-1860), Thomas (1830), Elizabeth Jane (1833), Benjamin (1835), Joseph Edward (1837) and James (1840). Although William and Ann Sayle were still living at Larivane, Andreas up to 1842, by 1843 they appear to be living in Douglas with addresses given as 26 Wellington Square and Rosemount.
Language: English
Extent: 2 volumes
Item name: diary; transcribed letters
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: FONDS
ID number: MS 01237
Retrieval number: MS 01237 A
Record class: Private
Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im