Due to the paucity of information in some records I found it difficult to present a full picture of most voyages and crew lists connected to Captain Ilbery, on top of that the amount of miss spelling of names and ships created quite a challenge to arrive at the correct names.
Here we see young J.E. Ilbery has his name recorded completely wrong by the shipping superintendents office in Sydney.
Here we see in 1858 they actually got his name right.
J.E. Ilbery still with his old skipper Captain Fowler as mate on the Normahal.
Not only did they get the ships name wrong, SERAPIS but even Captain Ilbery's Initials.
Barque SERAPIS built 1876, 1,027 tons, inset Captain Ilbery sporting sideburns and no beard wearing the traditional suit and hat as worn by sailing masters of the day.
The first steamship of the Blue Anchor Line the Delcomyn on her maiden voyage, Captain Ilbery signed on his younger sister as a stewardess for the voyage, Agnes never married and remained a spinster.
ss Port Augusta in which Captain Ilbery served as chief officer under Captain Draper in order to undergo transition from sail to steam.
To be continued in the next post.
