[1] In March 1841 they entered into a contract with the Post Office for the conveyance of mail between Lymington and Yarmouth.
[2] By 1842, the company had acquired another vessel, Solent, which was running from Lymington to Yarmouth, Cowes, Ryde and Portsmouth.
[3] In 1858, Red Lion was added to the fleet to handle additional traffic brought by the railway.
Mayflower joined the fleet on 6 July 1866 had been built in Newcastle; she was tastefully fitted and comfortable.
On 1 July 1884, the London and South Western Railway bought out the Solent Steam Packet Company's fleet of two paddle steamers, Solent and Mayflower, four horse and cargo boats, and other boats and property, paying £2,750 (equivalent to £362,083 in 2023).