Who was on the Chyebassa, September-October 1885? Mrs Stafford and Matron

There are references to Mrs Stafford in the autographs, about her stylish mode of dress and her run-ins with Matron. Looking through the passenger list, we find that Mrs Stafford appeared to be travelling with a number of young children:
STAFFORD, Annie E (28)
STAFFORD, Alexander (8)
STAFFORD, Mary (6)
STAFFORD, Ralph (5)
STAFFORD, Phoebe (3)
STAFFORD, William (2)

Were they coming out to join Mr Stafford? There is a likely candidate that came out in February 1885, but the Brisbane burial records suggest differently. When one looks at the Brisbane City Council grave location website, things become a little more exciting.

There is a grave in Toowong cemetery containing:

Stafford Alexander	NR*	13 / 02 / 1933	86 years
Stafford Annie Elizabeth	F	12 / 10 / 1943	87 years

So maybe Alexander Stafford, 8, wasn't 8 years old at all, but 38. A birthdate of c.1847 would make him 38 in 1885.

Looking for Ralph Stafford, born c.1880 in the BCC cemeteries gives us this:

Stafford Ralph Milligan	M	18 / 08 / 1948	68 years
Murphy-Stafford Violet	F	05 / 12 / 1984	81 years

Spot on for date of birth. And we know the name of his partner, now.

William Stafford is a little more problematic. This is the closest, in South Brisbane, although the calculated date of birth is out by about 2-3 years.

Stafford Ellen Cathleen	F	14 / 08 / 1972	81 years
Stafford William	M	08 / 04 / 1958	78 years

Alternatives are, in Bald Hills:

Stafford William

M

1913

Unknown

and, in Toowong,

Stafford Edward	NR*	23 / 05 / 1913	Unknown
Stafford William Thomas	NR*	14 / 08 / 1916	Unknown

Looking at marriages for Alexander Stafford in the years before the birth of Mary, no registered marriage has an Annie E on the same register page.

The only Alexander and Annie couple in the 1881 England Census, with about the right dates of birth, do not have the correct children. Other Annie E Stafford listings are either unmarried or otherwise unsuitable candidates.

Anyhow, there is a basis for further investigation of this family, through death certificates of Alexander and Annie E, and of Ralph.
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The Matron on the voyage was a Mrs Priscilla A Symes. The passenger lists show that she was quite the seafarer.
SYMES - (Mrs) (Matron) Duke of Westminster 8 Dec 1884
SYMES - (Mrs) (Matron) Duke of Buckingham 27 May 1885
SYMES - (Mrs) (Matron) Chyebassa 21 Oct 1885
SYMES - (Mrs) (Matron) Waroonga 28 Mar 1886
SYMES Priscilla A (Matron) 50 Waroonga 28 Mar 1886
SYMES - (Mrs) (Matron) 50 Selkirkshire 18 Dec 1886
SYMES - (Mrs) (Matron) Duke of Devonshire 13 Sep 1887

There is one likely candidate for Priscilla Ann SYMES in the 1871 Census.
Living at 1 Alexander Cottages, Tottenham, Middlesex, we have:
Priscilla Ann SYMES, wife, married, 28, Husband at sea, born Stepney, Middlesex.
Francis Henry do, son, 18 months, born Shackelwell (sic), Middlesex.
Herbert Oliver do, son, 5 months, born Tottenham, Middlesex.
Peter PETERSON, father, widower, 63, Watchmaker, born Stepney, Middlesex.

In the 1861 Census, Priscilla A PETERSON is a Teacher of Music, living in Shacklewell Road. Her mother, Ann, was born in Calcutta, and her brother Peter was a Mariner. Father was a Watch Dial Maker.

There are marriages for Priscilla Ann PETERSON in 1867 (Hackney) and 1872 (Ware), but apparently not to SYMES. Cannot find a likely marriage.