In is known from a letter written in May 1853 by Alfred,Arthur's younger brother, that he was aboard a P & O ship theFormosa en route to China, as when it anchored at Calcutta,Arthur visted Alfred who was their. It is known that he was afully-fldged Purser and became a Senior Purser and that heremained with P & O all his career. Because Arthur was away somuch and with eight children, they employed a nurse andservant.

Arthur, because of his travels took up writing poetry, amongstthem is this poem on hearing of the death of his son Wilfredwhen only four.
'Dear Wilfred thou hast left us,
And gone to realms of light,
While I was wand'ring far away,
Unconscious of thy flight.
Thy loving mother thus alone,
The sorrow had to bear,
And I so widely separate,
Her trouble could not share.
And may we here so truly live,
That when our time has come,
united we again may be,
In his bright heavenly home.
Redeemed unto eternal life,
Our sins through Him forgiven,
Our earthly pain and sorrow lost,
In the sweet calm of Heaven.'
In his records it is known that he sailed on the S.S. Kedive,which was in collision with he Dutch Steamer Voorwaarts nearMuke Head, Panang, which resulted in then docking at Singaporefor repairs. He sailed the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Bay ofBengal, visted China and Australia, having sailed on the S.S.Hindostan, Mongolia, Nepaul and Valetta.

In 1874 the family moved to East London and there they attendedSt Barnabus Church Homerton. On his retirement, they moved tothe seaside resort of Broadstairs in Kent and settled in a housecalled 'Salisbury House'.

The 1881 Census records that Matilda employed three domesticservants, Jane THOMAS aged 30, Sarah THOMAS aged 17 and MaryHALL aged 23.