All food was cooked in a common galley, frequently housed in a separate structure on deck, with the fireplace entirely enclosed in brickwork to reduce the danger of fire. The cook was nearly always assisted by a few migrants and in some ships a cooking party actually prepared the food under the guidance or supervision of the ship's cook. The prepared food then had to be taken below to the various messes where it was apportioned to the passengers. The migrant responsible for the collection and distribution of the food was elected and it was a very onerous task.
Source; Migrants Ships 1836-1850 by Ronald Parsons, Gould Books, Gumeracha. S.A. 1983 p.34.
Cooks of the different Messes.
The cooking is to be taken in rotation. Weekly by each occupant of the different Messes, and the occupants of each Mess are to determine the question of rotation amongst each other.
The Mess Cooks of the week are to attend the authorities of the ship at the Hatchways when serving out provisions. To receive the rations of their respective Messes and to hand the same over to the Captains of their respective Messes.
They are to prepare all meals for the Mess they belong to, to take them to the galley at proper times and to bring them to the Mess from thence when cooked they will also be required to keep the Mess tables and Deck clear and clean.
Times, Meals and Cleanliness.
The Emigrants are to rise at 6 o'clock in the morning (4 Bells Morning Watch) and all in bed after that time are to be reported to the Assistant. The cabins and persons of the Emigrants and of their children are to be cleaned and the Deck scraped and swept before 8 o'clock and the Breakfast is to be served at 8 o'clock precisely things are to be cleaned and cleared away and the (8 Bells Morning Watch) and the Breakfast tables cleaned before 9 0'clock. Dinner is to be served at 12 o'clock precisely and the tables & Deck are to be cleared andcleaned before 1 o'clock.
Tea is to be served at 4 P.M. and is to be cleared away at ½ past 4 and the lights are to be extinguished and all persons are to be in their cabins by 9 o'clock.