The barque Fortune left Liverpool on the 16th of January 1853 under the command of Captain McCarthy with 912 government emigrants, and arrived in Sydney on the 28th of April. [Entry in Sydney Morning Herald Shipping Intelligence column on 28th April 1853. Sydney Morning Herald, 28th April 1853.] John and Ann Atkinson travelled on the ship with their sons, David aged 8 and John William aged 2. John was an agricultural labourer aged 30 and Ann was also 30. John and David could both read and write but Ann could only read. They paid three pounds for the voyage. According to the List of Immigrants below, John died on the voyage, but the report to the Health Officer states that there were no deaths on the voyage and in fact that there was only "Sickness very trifling and incidental to the voyage.".

Sources Entry in Sydney Morning Herald Shipping Intelligence column on 28th April 1853. Sydney Morning Herald, 28th April 1853.

Source Text: "Arrivals: Fortune, barque, Capt. McCarthy, from Liverpool 16th January. Passengers Dr. ?? and 912 Government emigrants. Willis, ?? & Co., agents."

Immigration Department. List of assisted immigrants arriving in Sydney on the ship Fortune on 28 April 1853. [ Microfilm] copied from the original records in custody of the Archives Department, Public Library of New South Wales.

Source Text: "List of Immigrants per Ship "Fortune" Arrived at Sydney 28th April 1853.

List of Immigrants per ship Fortune as inspected by the Immigration Board, on [28th April 1853]. Name; Age Married/Single; Calling; Native place and County; Parents' names, and if alive their residence; Religious Denomination; Read or Write; Relatives in the Colony; State of bodily health, strength, and probable usefulness; Any complaints respecting treatment on board the ship; Remarks by Immigration Board. Atkinson John; 30; Agricultural Labourer; Kirton Fen, Lincolnshire; Samuel & Ann Both Dead; Wesleyan; Both; None; good; None; Paid 3 pounds for self and family. Anne; 30; __ ; Wigtuffen. do; Thomas & Susannah, Both dead; Reads; do; good; None; __. David; 8; __ ; Wigtuffen do.; on board; Both; do.; good; None; __. John W. ; 2; __; (Died on the Voyage)." Source Comments: "Wigtuffen equals Wigtoft Fen, and Anne is misspelled as all other records show Ann."

Archives Office of NSW. Shipping Reports Vol. 2 1853 (4/5243) Health Officer's report: Questions to be put by the Health Officer to the Surgeon and Master or other Person in command of any Ship or Vessel arriving in Port Jackson.- (Ref- http://www.starbytes.com.au/family/ships/fortune2.html).

Thomas and Margaret and 6 of their children departed Liverpool on the Barque "Fortune" 16/1/1853 arriving Sydney 28/4/1853.

This report is submitted in good faith. All endeavours have been made to make all entries authentic and correct. For any corrections and additional valuable information, maps and photos you may have please contact John.