Iserbrook (ship)

History
Name	Iserbrook
Owner	Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy 1853-74 John Bell 1874-80
Port of registry	Hamburg (1853–74) Sydney (1874–80) 20/1874
Ship registration number:	unknown later 20/1874
Ship official number:	69750
Builder	Hamburg Germany
Launched	1853
Completed	15 June 1853
Status	Wrecked
General characteristics
Type	Brig
Tonnage	207.75 GT
Length	110.4 feet (33.65 m)
Beam	25 feet (7.62 m)
Height	10.8 metres (35.43 ft)
Decks	One and a half
Ship primary use:
Ship industry:
Ship passenger capacity:

Iserbrook (1853)
The Iserbrook was a general cargo and passenger brig built in 1853 at Hamburg Germany, which spent over 20 years as an immigrant and general cargo vessel transporting immigrants from Hamburg to South Africa, Australia and Chile as well as servicing its owner Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy business interests in the pacific. The vessel then came into Australian and continued its pacific trade, unit it caught fire and was sunk in 1878 and then refloated and used as at transport barge and hulk in Sydney unit it sunk again and was then finally blown up

Ship description and construction

The vessel was built for the Hamburg trading company J.C. Godeffroy & Sohn operated at the time by Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy who had large trading concerns in the pacific focused mainly on copra, coconut oil and luxuries such as pearl as well as running a business associated with immigration.

The Iserbrook was described in its 1874 Australian registration as a wooden framed carvel Brig with two masts with one and a half decks with a square stern with base measurements of

• Ship length = 110.4 feet (33.65 m)
• Ship beam = 25 feet (7.62 m)
• Ship height = 10.8 metres (35.43 ft)
• Ship tonnage = 207.75 GT

Ship Service History

1853 to 1874 German Service

1853-54 Captain Kruger

The vessels first major voyage was made under command of Captain Kruger as an immigration voyage departing Hamburg on November 23 1853 and arriving at Port Adelaide on Monday March 13th 1854 with approximately 79 immigrants . During its time in Port Adelaide John Bosh and a Mr Christian where apprehended under a warrant and charged with being absent without leave from the Iserbrook . The pair denied the charge, and stated that they had gone to town to obtain from Mr. Amsberg, the German Consul, some papers they wanted to take home, and that they were willing to return on board, by the request of Captain Kruger, they were ordered to be detained at the police station till the vessel was ready, that afternoon, to proceed to sea. to head to Batavia via Melbourne

Just 4 months later on August 19 1854 the vessel had returned from Batavia to Melbourne with 200 tons of rice and 600 packages of coffee

1855-60 Captain Frederick Kock/Kruyer/Kruger

The vessel again arrived in Australian waters after having departed Hamburg on the 3rd of May 1855 http://www.mecklenburgroots.de/Schiffe/D1850_1889e.pdf and arriving in Melbourne in September http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/30941168 with at least 21 passengers September 4. - Iserbrook , Hamburg barque, 205 tons, F. Kock, from Hamburg 10th May. Passengers - cabin : Messrs. E.Visbeck, C. Wegener, and eighty-seven in the steerage. Neuhauss, Woolley and Co., agents. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4817275

September 8. - Iserbrook , brig, 205 tons, Frederick Kock, for Valparaiso, with part of original cargo from Hamburg, and in ballast. Neuhauss, Woolley, and Co., agents. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4817726

The Iserbrook next made its way again from Hamburg (depart 23 May 1856) http://www.mecklenburgroots.de/Schiffe/D1850_1889e.pdf to Morton Bay and reportedly brought 103 German immigrants, all of which were in good health and described as a respectable and industrious looking class of people. There was one birth on board but no deaths. They speak in high terms of the captain's kind treatment of them during the passage, with the Iserbrook then to sail immediately for Hong Kong in ballast. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3708561 The Moreton Bay Courier Saturday 4 October 1856

The Iserbrook then made immigration to Valdivia, Talcahuano and Valparaiso in Chile in 1858 bringing 150 immigrants http://historiadevaldivia-chile.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/colonizacion-alemana-siglo-xix.html

With a subsequent voyage to Puerto Montt Chile arriving there on the 1st November, 1860 from Hamburg with a voyage of 123 days at sea (departed 30 June) bringing ninety-three German settlers, of whom seventy-eight are for the account of Government and fifteen on their own. During the voyage Matilde Haltenh who was seventeen years old died a natural death http://www.mamut.net/follert/newsdet17.htm

1861 Captain H.G Steinholz/William Steinholz,

25 May 1861 to Port Adelaide ASSISTED IMMIGRATION FROM GERMANY.-Among the passengers by the Iserbrook are twenty-nine persons whose friends in this colony arranged for their coming hither through Messrs Amsberg & Co. We understand that firm is pre- pared, in conjunction with a large house at Ham-burg, to offer great facilities to Germans in South Australia for the bringing out of their friends and that the terms upon which such arrangements can be effected will shortly be made public through our advertising columns .Imported Rams. — By the Iserbrook , from Hamburg. Messrs. B. Amsbeig & Co. have received 12 Saxony merino rams. We understand they are of a similar breed to those which were formerly imported by the same firm, but of a superior description in several respects, having been selected from some of the finest flocks in Germany, in accordance with express instructions from the importers. They have arrived in excellent condition. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/50085600 Cargo of the Iserbrook , from Hamburg-340 cases beer, 41cases, 33 casks, 15 hhds., 2 bales. Order ; 8 cases, F. Basedor ;1 case books, 2 do. millinery. H. E. Hanckel; 4 cases, W.Schierenbeck ; 53 cases, G. Von Der Heyde; 1 case, A.Fiedler, sen.; 2 pkgs. perfumery, W. Geyer ; 2 cases, 1 parcel,1 case printed books, B. Amsberg and Co. ; 1 do. glassware,G. Leon; 3 cases candy, 100 do. mineral water, 3 do., A.Christen and Co. : 3 do. D. Mahnke ; 3 do., T. M. Wendt ; 14casks, 108 cases, Heuzenroder and Co. ; 1 parcel, C Turgens ;21 cases lucifers. Armbruster ; 2 do., containing tinfoil, hams, and ebony, Kohncke ; 1 case preserved meat, 1 do., A. H.Bartells ; 14 casks, Edler Brothers ; 37 cases, 25 ankers liquors, A. Tileman; 12 rams, B. Amsberg and Co. : 2 casescod liver oil, H. Wiesemanger ; 14 cases matches, 6 do.raspberry vinegar, 1 case ornaments and pipes, 3 casesanchovies, 1 case ironware, G. Von der Heyde ; 14,000 fire-bricks. Order. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/877620

September 14-Iserbrook , brig, 160 tons, W. Steinholz, master, from Hamburg May 25. B. Amsberg,Town; S. Mocatta, Port, agents. Passengers-Mr. CarlHeuzenroder, in the cabin ; Christian, Anna, and GottliebBurdach Gottfried, Marie, Dorothea, Wilhelm, and AugustWoithe, Emily Fubeg Gottlieb. Marie and Caroline Kubale,Henrich Werner. August Kubale, Wilhelm, Marie, andBertha Wanke, Ernst Liebig, Carl Kindler, Hanne andCarl Leschke, August Geyer, Herman Kaesehagen, CarlEngelke Anna Forbitzky, Margaretta, Carl, Chris-tina and Ernestine Weise, Ernst Kobelt, ElizabethRechter, Ludwig Sempter, Wilhem Krieg, Ludig Semter,.Catherine Newman, .Toachin Parks, Ernest, Emilie, Johanna, Emilie, and Elizabeth Appett, Ernestine Zibell, Marie Zibell, Herni Dohle, Julius and Antonie Kunert, August and Carl Urban, Carl Herdschke, Freidrich and Carl.Schäfer, Friedrich, Wilhelm, Hugo, Paul, Agnes, Elizabeth,Fritz and Herman Adolph, Gottlus, Caroline, Ernestine,Wilhelm, Carl and Ernst Weilmann, Carl Waldbaum,and Christopher Dittmar, in the steerage. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/877620

Sailed to Auckland and then to Valparaiso http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=DSC18611115.2.2.1&dliv=&e=-------10--1----2--

1863 Captain P. Schinkel

Iserbrook , brig (Hamburg). 160 tons, Schinkel .master, from Port Louis. South Australian Register Saturday 28 February 1863 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/50175208 POLICE COURT—PORT ADELAIDE.(Before Mr. G. W. Hawker S. M.) [Before Mr. G. W. Hawkes. S.M.] ABSENSCE.—Henry Meggers and Hans C. Hanson, seamen of the Iserbrook , were charged with being- absent without leave. They were each committed to for one month. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/31820800 The South Australian Advertiser Tuesday 3 March 1863

Cleared Out—Iserbrook , lately arrived from Mauritius, for Guam with a cargo of flour. The Cornwall Chronicle Wednesday 11 March 1863 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/72195655

HOLFEY. Mrs & (4) (child). Iserbrook BRIG, MASTER P. SCHINKEL. PAS. FOR AUCKLAND. N.Z. REG. 7/10/1864 P.2/COL/a. (DEP. 6/10/1864) http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/127869/20110705-1428/www.slsa.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/horner_index_1836-1875_h.pdf Auckland October 1864 in port from Adelaide http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH18641026.2.5

John Luctzens, cabin-boy of the Iserbrook , pleaded guilty being absent without leave. Committed to gaol for four weeks. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/92256872 South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867) Saturday 20 August 1864

MARINE BOARD. Thursday, October 6. ?Present-All the members. The Board met for the purpose of investigating the circumstances connected with damage receive;' by the brig Iserbrook . of Hamburg, which, after taking in cargo for « ew Zealand, proceeded down the river on the 20:h August, under canvas, in charge of Mr. Pilot Martin. She anchored at Snapper Point the same evening, and remained there until the rooming of the 22nd, when she got under weigh and sailed to the Lightship. It was then found that she had five feet of water in her hold, and was making six inches per h our. In consequence of this it was deemed advisable to return to the Port, where her cargo was discharged, and on the vessel being taken on the Slip it was found that she had a hole in her bottom, which had the appearance of having been made by the vessel settling on her anchor at low water. The captain, the first and second officers, two of the seamen, Air. G. W. Brown, Marine Surveyor, Mr. H. Quin, Harbour-Master, and Mr. Pilot Martin were severally examined at considerable length, and, after a careful consideration of the evidence, the Board arrived at the following conclusion :— '?The Board are of opinion that the injury sustained by the brig Iserbrook was caused by her having touched upon an anchor when anchored off Snapper Point, and that from the depth of water where the vessel was anchored, and the draught of water of the vessel, that it appears probable that she grounded on her own anchor at low water. 'The Board in this instance give the pilot the benefit of the absence of any direct evidence of the vessel having actually touched on her own anchor, and are therefore unable to impose any punish mont in this case, but at the same time caution Mr. Pilot Alartin, and inform him that he has only escaped that pc.ialty the Board feel he would have merited had the charge been clearly proved.' http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/39123360 South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Friday 7 October 1864

1865 Captain F. M. Schultze

28 May 1865 to Port Adelaide We perceive by the Police Gazette, of October 6, that warrants have been issued at Port Adelaide against Johann Moller and August Schweitzer, for deserting from the ship Iserbrook http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/94736315 South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867) Saturday 7 October 1865

ISERBROOK, brig, 180 tons, F. M. Schultze, master, for Appia, Navigators' Islands No passengers http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/41036070 South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Thursday 5 October 1865

1869 -70 Captain John Joachim Ferdenand Meyer

BRIG OF HAMBURGH, JOHN JOACHIM FERDENAND MEYER, MASTER, BURTHEN 180 TONS FROM THE PORT OF S. S. ISLANDS TO SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, 23RD AUGUST 1869 http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1869/08/060ise.htm Sailed Auckland September 1869 for south seas http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ODT18690916.2.8

Brig, of Hanover, JOHN FERDINAND MEYER, Master, Burthen 180 Tons from the S. S. ISLANDS to SYDNEY, New South Wales, 2nd Sep 1870 http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1870/09/004joe.htm

Iserbrook , brigi 182 tons, . MEYER, for Petropaulovski. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/63115686 Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) Wednesday 8 February 1871 Export per Iserbrook , for Petropaulovski : 1 case; spirits, 1 hogshead treacle, Colonial Sugar Company ;20 bags rice, J, Frazer, and Co. ;, 32 cases axes, 5 cases geneva, 10 pots, 17 packages, biscuit,, 1 bale blankets,3 drums tar,' '2 cases preserved meat;' 4 casks barley,100 bags coal, 19packages. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/63115707 Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) Wednesday 8 February 1871

1872 Captain Georg Christoph Levison

1872 Brig Iserbrook , Capt Levisohn, put in at Ta, Satawan Atoll, in June. Landed a trader there for Godeffroy Co. [Wawn 1874: 84] http://foreignshipinmicronesiachuuk.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/foreign-ship-in-micronesiachuuk.html North German brig ISERBROOK, owned by Godeffroy Co, Capt Levisohn, visited Ebon on June 9. [The Friend, XXIX (Dec 1872), 98] http://www.micsem.org/pubs/articles/historical/forships/marshalls.htm

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Christoph_Levison

1973 Schooner Iserbrook , Capt Levisohn, returned to Ta, Satawan, on Feb 16 to put another trader ashore. Returned in July or August with John Kubary aboard from Palau. [Wawn 1874: 95; Paszkowski 1971:48] http://foreignshipinmicronesiachuuk.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/foreign-ship-in-micronesiachuuk.html Captain Brodie, late muster of the schooner Lavina, <reports that the Iserbrook , brig, belonging to Messrs. Godeffroy, Brothers, and Co, had landed and established two stations at Now Breton, ouo of the South , Sea Islands. The men landed wero on the island for three months, when an attack was made by the natives, who destroyod tho station by fire ; and the men escaped with their lives, making for Du ko of York Island, which they providentially reached in a boat, and, after romaining there for two months, were taken off by the sohoonor Luoy, belonging to Messrs. Campbell and Co., of Sydnoy.-Ibid, Sopt. 17tb. _ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8915952 The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Monday 29 September 1873

When the German firm opened that station at Mutávat two years ago, they asked me to take charge of it. I wouldn't. I knew what the natives down there are. Two of the firm's own men went down with a lot of New Ireland niggers as a sort of bodyguard. A month afterwards, when the Iserbrook brig went down to get their copra, they found that the two Dutchmen and every man Jack of the New Ireland niggers had been killed and eaten, and the station looted http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks05/0500671h.html

January 1874 the only vessel in the Line Islands was the Iserbrook http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH18740115.2.3

OF HAMBURGH, GEORGE LEVISON, MASTER, BURTHEN 182 TONS FROM THE PORT OF SAMOA TO SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, 28 FEB 1874 http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1874/02/062ise.htm

Arrived in Sydney Iserbrook , brig, 216 ton», Captain Levison, from the South Sea Islands 3rd Instant. Passengers-Mrs. Williams 5 children and 2servants, Mr. Williams Itabone, Fees, and Co , agents. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13332376 The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 28 February 1874

1874 - 1878 Australian Service

The Iserbrook was purchase by John Bell on the 1 June 1874. John Bell was a shipwright located in Balmain who also built the Shipwright's Arms Hotel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipwright's_Arms_Hotel As well as being, a shipwright and publican John Bell ran a pearling station utilising south sea divers at Jarvis Island (now Mabuiag Island) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabuiag_Island) established in 1871 and by the mid 1870's was running 4 foot pumped dive boats and 5 free swimming dive boats and employing about 100 men in the Torres Strait http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/~/media/Documents/QM/About%20Us/Publications/Memoirs%20-%20Culture/C6/c6-ch3-moore-mullins.pdf http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/handle/10072/36617/65637_1.pdf;jsessionid=0E9108DF155C7DF2CEFF4CD8615D40DC?sequence=1

1872 Captain Joseph Frazer

17 year castaway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcisse_Pelletier On 11 April 1875, a pearling boat, the John Bell, captained by Joseph Frazer, and based at Jervis Island (now Mabuiag Island) in the Torres Strait, was anchored off Night Island (Queensland) and some men were sent ashore to find water. The landing party came across a group of Aborigines accompanied by a white man and reported the encounter to the captain. Joseph Frazer sent his men back with some things to barter in exchange for the white man

From Melboune Iserbrook , barque, 203tons, Captain Martin, for South Sea Islands http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13397114 The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wednesday 11 April 1877

of London, JOSEPH FRAZER, Master, Burthen 208 Tons from the S. S. ISLANDS to SYDNEY, New South Wales, 19th Nov. 1877 http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1877/11/064ise.htm

1878 Captain Martin

On the 4th June, fell in with the brig Iserbrook , of Sydney, and learned from the chief officer (Mr. Fryar) that Captain Martin of that vessel, had died of a cholera, and two men had died of fever and ague. 7 August 1878 Deaths Martin on the 15 May at sea Alfred Martin late of Auckland captain of the brig Iserbrook aged 39 years leaving behind a wife and a son and a large circle of friends mourn their loss http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH18780807.2.10

Sunday, 14th. :H_M. Schooner Renard  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Renard_(1873) arrived on the 11th, bringing, in from the South Sea Islands the brig Iserbrook , the captain of which died some time since, leaving no certificated officer, on board. She is despatched hence to her owners in Sydney, having on board a numerous crew of South Sea Islander, engaged for a pearling expedition. 

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18780812.2.17

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/70593472 Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907) Saturday 27 July 1878

H. M. schooner Kenard arrived on the 11th, bringing in from the South Sea J elands the brig Iserbrook , the captain of which died some time since, leaving no certificated officer on board. She is despatched hence to her owners in Sydney, having on board a numerous "craw of South Sea Islanders, engaged for a pearling expedition. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13418825 The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 3 August 1878

The brig Iserbrook has arrived from the South Seas with one hundred natives suffering, from sickness aboard. She will probably be quarantined, http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8966254 The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Monday 5 August 1878

Wreck Site & Wreckage

The Vessel was described to have sunk