In the words of the donor, Betty Stone, "This pewter plate belonged to Joshua and Susan Chamberlain. They, with their family, arrived in Australia as assisted migrants in January 1855. Our Chamberlain family was among those chosen to participate in a Bounty Scheme and on 24 October 1854 embarked on SS Shand to begin their journey. A few years later they set up a home on a small farming property in Wangoom, Warrnambool with the possessions they had brought with them from the village of Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, England. Amongst those household possessions was this plate. During the first half of the nineteenth century, a Bounty scheme was introduced to encourage migrants to Australia to work on properties granted or sold to settlers. Agents in England were engaged to select suitable emigrants; applicants had to be "sober, industrious and of good moral character....and married men over the age of forty-eight were only eligible to receive the bounty if they had five or more children over the age of ten years'. The successful applicant also had to pay one pound sterling for each adult, and ten shillings for each child between the ages of one and fourteen years. This payment covered the cost of a mattress, bolster, blanket, small box, knife and fork, two spoons, metal plate, and drinking mug, all of which became the emigrant's property on arrival in the colony. The pewter plate, handed down from one generation to the next, was always valued by members of the family as an important artefact. The plate has a mark stamped on the back which is almost indecipherable." (Reference- Brown Martyn- Australia Bound! The story of West Country connections 1688- 1888 Bradford on Avon Wiltshire Ex Libris Press 1988 p 112.) (Note: For additional information please refer to Betty Stone’s book “Pioneers and Places - A History of three Warrnambool Pioneering Families” ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees Families)This item is associated with the families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the "Pioneers' Register" for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The plate is an example of the goods emigrants brought to Australia under the Bounty Scheme in the 1850s.Pewter plate: metal plate with a wide rim and shallow bowl. The top has a gold-brown colour, underside is grey with a red-brown mark. Made c. 1850. The plate has an Inscription stamped on the back and front.It is part of the 'Chamberlain, Dale and Lees Collection' Maker's Mark on back: 'rectangle with rounded corners / T H all within a circle' almost indecipherable. Mark heavily stamped on front: 'L / T M'flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, chamberlain, dale, lees, stone, betty stone, warrnambool pioneers, pewter plate, emigration, bountey system, dinner ware, joshua chamberlain, susan chamberlain, 1855, emigrant, assisted migrant, ss shand, wangoom, triplow, cambridgeshire

The printers of this Bible, George Eyre and Andrew Spotswood, were appointed printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. Copies of this Bible were only sold to subscribes of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which was instituted in 1804. This Bible was published for use in Church readings. In the words of the donor, Betty Stone, "This Bible, published in London in 1834, is the Chamberlain family Bible which was brought out by Joshua and Susan Chamberlain from Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, England when they migrated with their family to Australia. In the Bible, on page 969, the birth dates of Joshua and Susan's family of two sons and six daughters are recorded on two pages and also on an inserted loose page. Written by Joshua Chamberlain, the exact time each child was born has been included in each entry. There are also a few other entries and death dates recorded in different handwriting. Joshua Chamberlain (baptized 24 August 1804 Thriplow) and Susan Ellis {baptized 24 July 1808 lckleton, Cambridgeshire) were married 25 October 1828 at the parish church of St. George or All Saints,Thriplow. Joshua and Susan (nee Ellis) Chamberlain and family left their home in the rural village ofThriplow in October 1854 and arrived in Australia as assisted migrants per SS Shand January 1855. After Joshua Chamberlain had fulfilled his contract to work on a property at Woodford for a year or so, he purchased a small farm of approximately twenty acres at Wangoom, situated adjacent to the Warrnambool racecourse. Here, the family settled in their cottage with their personal and household possessions, including the family Bible, which they had brought from Thriplow. Joshua Chamberlain died October 1871; after the death of her husband Susan continued to live in her own home for some years before she eventually moved -with her possessions which of course included this Bible - to her daughter Sarah and son-in-law Lees Lees' home where she died on 13 November 1900 aged 94 years. (Note: For additional information please refer to Betty Stone’s book “Pioneers and Places - A History of three Warrnambool Pioneering Families” ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees Families)This item is associated with families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the "Pioneers' Register" for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch.Book, Bible, with thick, embossed front cover and deep binding. This Chamberlain Family Bible has some handwritten notes included on some pages. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated out of the original Tongues - by HIs Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in churches. Printed by George Eyre and Andrew Spottiswoode Published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1834. Part of the 'Chamberlain, Dale and Lees Collection'Page 969 lists family history of Joshua and Susan Chamberlain and family, on two pages plus an inserted page, noting the exact time of birth for each of eight children.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, chamberlain, dale, lees, stone, betty stone, warrnambool pioneers, holy bible, 1834 bible, chamberlain family bible, church bible, family history, george eyre and, andrew spottiswoode, british and foreign bible society, religious book

In the words of the donor, Betty Stone, "This gown was originally made by my great grandmother Sarah Ellis (nee Chamberlain) Lees of Wangoom, Warrnambool. Later, the gown was altered by her daughter Ann (nee Lees) Dale who also used it for the christenings of her five children in the 1890's, and later still, for some of her grandchildren. Sarah Ellis Chamberlain, born in Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, England on 31 July 1844, sixth child of Joshua and Susan Chamberlain, was ten years old when she arrived in Australia with her parents and siblings in January 1855. Ten years later, in 1864, Sarah Chamberlain married Lees Lees, a skilled stonemason who had migrated from Saddleworth, Yorkshire. Lees Lees purchased land in McGregors Road, Wangoom, Warrnambool where he operated a successful stonemasonry, contracting business until his death in 1912. The Lees farm, which eventually consisted of about fifty acres, was situated adjacent to both the Chamberlain and Dale farms. Sarah Lees was a meticulous homemaker who also fashioned and sewed clothes for her seven children. A photograph of the eldest child, Anne, taken in 1868, depicts her wearing a dress and pantaloons sewn by her mother. Sarah also crocheted lace curtains for her home in addition to large tablecloths and other articles. According to family legend, the skirt of this christening gown was part of the original gown hand-sewn by Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees which was used for the christening of her children. The gown was later passed on to her daughter Anne (nee Lees) Dale who, also an expert needlewoman, replaced the bodice and used it for the christening of her five children born between the years 1890 and 1899. Still, later, at least two children of the third generation (Sarah Lees' great-grandchildren) also wore this gown when christened at Christ Church Warrnambool. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees died in 1932, aged 87 years, at her daughter Anne Dale's home in Latrigg. Anne (nee Lees) Dale died in 1948 aged 83 years, at her home in Latrigg." (Note: For additional information please refer to Betty Stone’s book “Pioneers and Places - A History of three Warrnambool Pioneering Families” ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees Families)This item is associated with the families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the "Pioneers' Register" for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is a fine example of late-19th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Christening gown made by Sarah Ellis. White with unusual Broderie Anglaise yoke. The long-sleeved garment has a gathered waist and a long skirt. The front centre of the skirt has a floral Broderie Anglaise and cut work panel insert.Circa 1860's. From the 'Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection’, donated by Betty Stoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, chamberlain, dale, lees, stone, betty stone, warrnambool pioneers, sarah ellis, hand sewn, christening gown, baby wear, clothing, 19th century