Captain Charles Ferguson, born circa 1813 in Scotland, commanded the vessel "Rajah" from 1838 to 1850, overseeing voyages between England and Australia and back, prior to assuming the position of the First Chief Harbour Master for the port of Melbourne in 1852.

The "Rajah," a three-masted barque weighing 352 tons, was constructed in Whitby in 1835. Departing from Leith on April 5, 1838, it arrived in Hobart, Australia, on August 22, carrying 19 passengers and general cargo. Departing for Sydney on September 19, it reached its destination on September 26 before setting sail again on October 7, bound for Leith via Java with passengers and sundries.

Throughout much of 1839, the "Rajah" remained docked for repairs due to ship damage. However, on December 16, 1839, it departed from London for Sydney with passengers and merchandise, arriving in Sydney on April 27, 1840, and departing for India on June 9 of the same year.

On April 5, 1841, the "Rajah" set sail from Woolwich with James Donovan M.D. as Surgeon Superintendent, carrying 180 female convicts. It arrived in Hobart on July 19, 1841, with 179 females (one deceased during the voyage) and 10 children. Miss Kezia Elizabeth Hayter served as the matron on board. Born around 1818 in England, she was the cousin of the renowned miniaturist Sir George Hayter (1792-1871), son of Charles Hayter (1761-1835). The miniature portraits of Charles and Kezia, painted by Sir George Hayter in watercolor circa 1845, offer a glimpse into their lives

Kezia Hayter was dispatched to Australia by prison reformer Elizabeth Fry to oversee the care of female convicts. Her duties included supervising needlework and the creation of the "Rajah Quilt," crafted by convict women during the voyage to Hobart. Additionally, Kezia provided reports on the condition of female convicts in the colony. The organization of the Rajah Quilt was spearheaded by Elizabeth Fry and the British Ladies Society for the Reformation of Female Prisoners, a group of Quaker women established in 1816. In 1989, The National Gallery of Australia became the proud custodians of the Rajah Quilt.

In Hobart, 1841, Kezia Hayter became engaged to Captain Charles Ferguson. While Captain Ferguson and the Rajah embarked on a journey to India on August 22, 1841, Kezia remained in Hobart.

The Rajah was unable to return to Hobart in 1842, reasons for which remain unclear. However, it is plausible that the ship was undergoing repairs. In the same year, Kezia resigned from her prison reform work to pursue teaching. For most of 1842, she served as governess to the children of William Archer of Brickendon, Longford, patiently awaiting the return of her beloved, Captain Charles Ferguson, to proceed with their marriage.

On July 1, 1843, Charles and Kezia exchanged vows at Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church in Hobart, officiated by Minister James Bell. Approximately two months later, on August 10, 1843, the Rajah, carrying Captain and Mrs. Ferguson, departed Hobart for Sydney, arriving ten days later on August 20, 1843. On September 15, 1843, the Rajah left Sydney and reached Geelong on September 26, 1843, transporting the Lord Bishop of Australia, Mr. Robinson, Henry Mathews, and assorted goods.

Setting sail from Geelong on January 10, 1844, the Rajah carried 12 passengers, including Lt. Gov. Franklin, along with 1287 bales of wool and one bale of sheepskins. Arriving in St. Helen on March 28, 1844, and subsequently in London on June 8, 1844, the Rajah soon embarked on another journey from London to Port Phillip on August 21, 1844, arriving in Port Phillip on December 21, 1844.

In 1845, the Rajah commenced its voyage from Port Phillip to London on April 19, carrying passengers such as Mrs. Ferguson, Miss LaTrobe and her servant, O. Fenwick, Dr. Kelty, and R. Halliday. Additionally, the ship transported 1777 bales of wool, 27 tons of bark, whalebone, and garden seeds.

The Rajah docked at Hobart from London on June 10, 1846, with Mrs. Ferguson, 3 passengers, 18 crew members, and general cargo. Just a month later, Captain and Mrs. Ferguson welcomed their first child, George, into the world in Hobart, Tasmania. On July 9, 1846, the Rajah departed Hobart for Sydney. George Ferguson was baptized on July 14 at the Scots Presbyterian Church in Sydney. Setting sail from Sydney on October 21, 1846, the Rajah headed back to London. Departing from London on May 22, 1847, it arrived in Plymouth on May 28, 1847. The Rajah then reached Port Adelaide on September 24, carrying Mrs. Ferguson, her son George, 13 passengers, Surgeon P. Beal, and 173 male miner emigrants.

On January 18, 1848, the Rajah departed Port Adelaide for London, transporting 4 passengers, along with wool, whalebone, and 225 tons of copper. Later that year, on September 9, it set sail from London via Plymouth, arriving in Adelaide on January 6, 1849, with 8 passengers, including Rev J. M. Strongman, Surgeon J. Day, 182 emigrants, and iron and deal cargo. Kezia and her son George stayed in Edinburgh, Scotland. Subsequently, the Rajah made a return trip from London to Port Adelaide on February 7, 1849. It then arrived in Port Phillip on February 23, carrying 2 passengers, copper ore, and sundries, before sailing back to London on April 24, carrying one passenger and 1078 bales of wool. Later that year, on November 27, 1849, the Rajah sailed from London, reaching Plymouth on December 3, 1849. On February 16, 1850, it visited Tristan da Cunda for water supplies and arrived in Port Adelaide on April 11, 1850, with 131 passengers and Surgeon S.A. Brough.

Setting sail again on May 1, 1850, the Rajah arrived in Port Phillip on May 4, 1850, carrying Mrs. Ferguson, her sons George and Charles, Captain McQueen, 20 crew members, six passengers, 33 intermediate passengers, and one in steerage. Sadly two months later, in July, Charles Ferguson died aged 2 years. Captain and Mrs. Ferguson welcomed their second child, Jessie, into the world in Melbourne in July 1850. In the same month, on July 9, 1850, the Rajah sailed under Captain William McQueen, undertaking coastal voyages to Hobart, Adelaide, Port Phillip, Sydney, and back to Port Phillip, where it loaded for London and sailed on May 3, 1851. The Rajah arrived in London on October 8, 1851. In 1851, Captain Charles Ferguson remained in Melbourne, assuming the role of Harbour Master for Geelong and then Williamstown. Charles and Kezia settled in Williamstown.

Captain Charles Ferguson and the development of Williamstown

In February 1852, Captain Charles Ferguson made history by becoming the inaugural Chief Harbour Master of the state of Victoria. To commemorate his significant contributions, Ferguson Street in Williamstown was bestowed with his name. Additionally, during the same year, he assumed the dual roles of a Police Magistrate and a Water Police Magistrate for Williamstown. Notably, Captain Charles Ferguson, alongside Surgeon John Wilkins, held substantial land holdings within the colony.

The Argus, Melbourne, November 9 1852, (Shipping Intelligence Section):
On 5 November 1852, 90 days after their departure, the Ticonderoga crawled into Port Phillip Bay flying the yellow flag and carrying the stench of death. The Port and Harbour Master at Williamstown, Captain Charles Ferguson, reported that "100 deaths and nineteen births had occurred on the passage, seven of the former since the ship anchored at the Heads. There are at present 300 cases of sickness amongst them, principally scarletina". There were in fact, 311 cases of "fever" (defined as typhus), 127 cases of diarrhoea and 16 cases of dysentery on the ship's arrival.

In April 1853, Kezia gave birth to their third child, Sophie Ferguson, in Williamstown.In November 1854,

Captain Ferguson received a Silver Tea Set from the ship and crew of the Marco Polo in recognition of his role in rescuing the vessel at sea.

The Argus, Melbourne, November 7 1854:
Presentation to Captain Ferguson, Harbour Master of Melbourne, Captain Wild, commander of the world-famed clipper Marco Polo, now lying in Hobson’s Bay brought with him a magnificent service of silver plate, sent out as a present to Captain Ferguson, the Harbour Master of this port from the owners of the Black Ball Line of Australian Packet Ships. The present, which is of the value of two hundred guineas, is intended as an acknowledgment of the valuable service rendered by the Harbour Master when the Marco Polo was stranded in Hobson’s Bay early in the present year. The articles consist of a kettle and stand, salver, tea and coffee pots, sugar-basin and cream-jug, the whole being elegantly chased, and bearing the following inscription:-

“Presented by the owners of the Marco Polo to Captain Charles Ferguson Harbour Master of Melbourne Victoria, To mark their high estimation of his invaluable services in rescuing their favourite and far famed ship from her perilous position when stranded in Port Philip Bay in January last. Liverpool, July 1854.”

The presentation took place on board the Marco Polo – the ship in question – on Saturday last. A sumptuous repast was provided for a select few, including, of course, Captain Ferguson and his immediate friends. We are assured that Captain Wild, commander of the Marco Polo did all in his power to show that he heartily welcomed the gentleman who did much substantial service to the noble craft to which he had been so recently appointed.

This is a close-up of an inscription on the Silver Tea Set presented to
Captain Charles Ferguson from the web site of The Marco Polo Project.

Captain and Mrs Ferguson had eight children, all of whom were born.
George (1846-1914), Charles (1848-1850), Jessie (1850-1939), Sophie (1853 -1906), Alice (1856 -1859), Edith (1857-.…), John Franklin (1859-1932) and Wallace (1861-1861). Alice and Wallace were buried at the Williamstown Cemetery.

If you are a descendant of Charles and Kezia Ferguson, I would be delighted to receive any additional information.

Please feel free to contact David J Ferguson

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