Media: Paperback 32 pages
Author: M. Hanson
Year: 1991

From the Introduction

For some unknown reason while researching my family history for our ADAMS reunion held in Glen Innes 1984, I was fascinated by a vital woman, only 4 ft. 8 ins (143 cm) tall who had shaped the lives of her seventeen or eighteen children (family say she gave birth to eighteen children but as only seventeen were registered we presume that there may have been a still birth not necessitating registration at that time in history). 

This lady was Annie Adams bom Ann Ford in Auckland, New Zealand, 1st June 1850. Further research revealed a very fascinating life for her father Michael Ford.

To appreciate the hardships and joys endured by this man and his family we firstly need to take ourselves back in time to the early 1800’s in Ireland where life was very different to what we now know. Follow this life along by imagining we are aboard a ship in 1825, not the luxury liners as they are now, but back in time when most ships did not have sufficient space between decks to allow for passengers to stand upright; hygiene left a lot to be desired; passages were long and uncomfortable; food was often inadequate; and privacy was seldom enjoyed.

Take a look around at your comfortable homes with all modem conveniences and then imagine living in one small room for four to six months with out even a comfortable bed, add four or five children, your luggage and cooking utensils, a floor that is always rocking causing sea sickness, two hundred or so other people all suffering the same discomforts in a space about three times bigger than your home, and you can begin to imagine this voyage.

Upon arrival at their destination, life on firm ground was not like we enjoy today. Distances had to be travelled by horse and cart or the less fortunate had to walk. Accomodation was often slab huts, very drafty and cramped and cooking was done over an open fire. Life was not easy for these adventurous folk but with the determination to succeed, adversity was overcome.

Records of early ships’ passenger lists are not always complete as many of you who have undertaken research in this area will have already discovered. For instance, where a Regiment of soldiers were aboard ship they were listed as 95 men of the 39th Regt., no individual names have been given. Records from the PAY LISTS have then been cross checked with ship departures and it has been assumed that if both man and ship departed on the same day for the same destination, Michael Ford was aboard. 

The Beginning

Michael Ford was bom at Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland approximately 1807. He enlisted into the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot on the 9th July 1825, and was Attested on the 11th July 1825, at the age of 18 years. His description at that time was, 5 feet 6 and 1/2 inches tall (169 cm), fair complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, was in good health, suffered no fits, in no way disabled by lameness, deafness, or otherwise, and had perfect use of
his limbs and hearing.1 At the time of joining the army Michael signed his name with a X (his mark). His enlistment number was 421, and he served with this Regiment for a total of 20 years 352 days, 18 years 230 days of these were spent abroad ...

Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
The Beginning
Australia Bound
India
Army Discharge
Home Again
Escape to New Zealand
Life as a Fencible
A New Home A New Beginning
Footnotes
Bibliography