23/09/2026
Women of the Edwin Fox
To conclude our series on the women of the Edwin Fox, we are sharing the story of a group of young single women who travelled aboard the ship on her 1878 voyage to Nelson. The ship's surgeon frequently mentioned these women and girls in his journal, noting that their behaviour was sometimes considered unruly. On several occasions, some were confined below decks in an effort to encourage better conduct.
Among the women on board were:
Sarah Lynch, 21, a servant destined for Westland. She later died in 1899.
Agnes Porter, 18, a servant bound for Nelson, who may have travelled with her brother.
Mary Vallis, 19, a servant destined for Marlborough.
Eleanour Malorney, 28, a cook travelling to Nelson, possibly to join her husband.
Elizabeth West, 30, a cook destined for Nelson.
Elizabeth Le Nouray, 18, from Guernsey, travelling as a servant to Marlborough. She later married William Howes in Nelson in 1879, believed to have been a crew member. Following his death later that year, she remarried in 1884.
Maria Coveney, 19, a servant bound for Westland, who later had 11 children.
Sophia Robinson, 21, a servant destined for Nelson.
Sophia Goodman, 17, a servant travelling to Nelson.
Elizabeth Treverrow, 22, a servant from Cornwall.
Christiana Wright, 19, a housemaid destined for Nelson. She later married in Wellington, had 10 children, and eventually died in Auckland.
Rose McKenna, 33, from Ireland, a servant destined for Westland. She was known to suffer frequent fainting spells caused by severe nosebleeds.
Sarah Welch, 18, who sadly later died from consumption.
Their stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the women who travelled aboard the Edwin Fox. While the surgeon's journal focused on their conduct during the voyage, their later lives reveal experiences of marriage, motherhood, hardship, and resilience as they helped build new lives in New Zealand.
Extracts from the Surgeon’s Diary – Dr W.B.A. SCOTT - Edwin Fox 1878 Voyage – Voyage to Port Nelson (some continued to Marlborough & Westland Provinces etc.)
August 6
On this day Elizabeth LE NOURY fell while skipping, driving the point of a crochet needle which she had in her pocket through her clothes and into the outside of her thigh. W ECCLES, being present, attended with me, I extracted the needle.
August 20, Tuesday
I had occasion to reprimand several of the single woman for going on Main deck to carouse with men, and also to send down some from the p**p.
Extracted a tooth for one of the single women. Beautiful day, perfectly calm but heavy swell. Ship rolling much, which caused a few of the emigrants to be again seasick.
Latitude 37° 56’N Longitude 14° 14’W
September 5th, Thursday
Elizabeth LE NOURY and Agnes PORTER not withstanding repeated injunction to the contrary, went down to the main deck to communicate with the men this evening, without permission and were now directed to go below at 6pm till further orders.
September 11th, Wednesday
Elizabeth LE NOURY and Agnes PETER allowed to come on deck after 6, on promise of future good behavior. Fire drill as usual.
September 15th, Sunday
Also Sunday School for children under Miss Sarah WEST and adult class under myself at 2.30. During morning Service, the conduct of Elizabeth LE NOURY, Maria COVENEY, Mary VALLIS and Sophia ROBINSON was so improper that I was obliged to send them to remain below for the future during church time. Elizabeth LE NOURY expressed much regret for whatever was improper in her conduct, and I believe to have been set upon by the others.
September 17th, Tuesday
A complaint was made that someone had looked in at the starboard ports while the girls were un******ng but I was unable to discover the offender, or even to satisfy myself that the girls were not mistaken.
