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| IMPORTANT SHIP WOOLWORK THE GOLD FINDER , by T. J. FRANCIS 1864 |
£SOLD |
Seldom do we find a needlework that connects three continents and encapsulates an historical period at the same time. This wonderful large woolwork depicts the Gold Finder. A ship built, 1853 in Canada and owned by Jones & Co of Liverpool, was commanded by William J. Fitzsimons to take emigrant prospectors to join the Gold rush of New South Wales (the first licence issued 21.9.1851).
A notice in the Liverpool Mercury on Tuesday May 3.1853......This ship is expected to sail very fast, has all her passenger arrangements on a novel and peculiar plan, affording an amount of light and ventilation such as no other passenger ship ever possessed. The ships bell has recently been acquired by the Merseyside Maritime Museum,
The Australian gold rush started after Edward Hargraves found the precious metal in New South Wales in 1851. He was not the first to discover gold but is credited with launching the stampede when thousands tried their luck at unearthing wealth - and some succeeded. Hargraves (1816-1891), a former hotelier and cattle farmer, played a small part in the California gold rush of 1849. He didn't get rich but met people who knew about gold and where it could be found - they pointed out similarities between California and New South Wales. Hargraves headed back to Australia to test these theories and stake a claim for a Government reward for the discovery of viable gold fields. Despite initial setbacks, he organised fellow prospectors in the quest for gold which was successful. Hargraves was granted massive rewards of more than pounds 12,000 and later a pension of pounds 250 a year.
He was born in Gosport, Hampshire, the son of an army officer, and educated at Lewes and Brighton Grammar School. Hargraves joined the merchant navy before arriving at Sydney in 1832 and marrying Eliza Mackie four years later.
Publicity about the gold rush prompted many migrants to sail from Liverpool to seek their fortunes - the first licence was issued in Victoria on 21 September 1851. Australia's population boomed as the emigrants poured in and the gold rush created an increased demand for large clippers like the Canada-built Gold Finder.
We do not know if T. F. Frances was a sailor or prospector.
53 x 44 cm framed & glazed Frame size 79 x 72 cm, appears to be original.
It is almost unheard off to find signed "Ship Woolies" let alone such an early date and off a historic event. |
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