Genealogy Chat

Does any one know which route a person would take - travelling from England (possibly Liverpool) to India in 1853? Is there anywhere online that I can search please?

Thanks in advance, Lou

From http://en.allexperts.com

There were two routes to India before the Suez Canal opened in 1869. One was the long route via the Cape of Good Hope. The other, which began in the mid 1830s, was by sea to Alexandria in Egypt then overland across the Suez Peninsula to Port Suez on the Red Sea where they took another ship to India.
The main ports of call in India were Bombay on the west coast, Madras in the south east and Calcutta in the north east. Some ships called at all three, others only at one or two.
Ships generally left from London and Southampton, depending on which Line you travelled.
Voyages were all year round, but in the monsoon season they could take longer if docking was a difficulty.
Sailing ships up to the mid 1830s when steamships began to take over. The England-Egypt-India route was entirely by steamship.

Army Regiments travelled as a whole in their own troopships, but individual soldiers would go by commercial carrier. Wives and children would accompany their husbands/fathers.

This is interesting too.

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196806/mr.waghorn.s.route.to.india.htm

Ozi

Hi Ozibird.

Thank you so much for that little gem. I knew there would be some wise owl on here that would hold the key for me.

I think my ancestor worked for the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Co as an Engineer, although I don't have evidence to back this up. All I know for certain was that he was an Engineer in England and then got a job as Chief Engineer on several different ships in India for about 7 - 9 years.

I have had a very quick look at the site you mentioned and it's looks really interesting reading, just need time to digest it all as it's very very interesting.

Thanks again Ozi, it's very much appreciated.

Regards Lou