Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

Commander Clark (H.M.S. Sappho) to
Rear-Admiral Lyons.
(July 3, 1882)

Sir,

      In pursuance of your sailing orders of the 29th May I have the honour to report to you that I arrived at Pitcairn Island in H.M. ship under my command on the lst instant, and the weather being fine I anchored in Bounty Bay in 15 fathoms.

      2. The various packages with which I was entrusted were duly delivered to Thursday October Christian, the chief magistrate, and safely landed in the island boats the same day.

      3. The chief magistrate informed me that they had had on the island for some months the crew of the British ship "Acadia," which was wrecked on Ducie Island in June 1881, and out of their stay, there had arisen some troubles which he requested me to settle. The two cases which he wished me to investigate were that of one of the ship's crew who refused to leave the island unless compelled by force to do so, and that of the minister of the island, Simon Young, who had published the banns of marriage between this man (Arthur Knight) and Maria Young, after having been forbidden by the chief magistrate to do so. I attach to this letter a statement which he gave to me of the circumstances of the case, and a copy of which I understood he sent to you direct.

      4. I propose now to give you the facts as far as I was able to arrive at them.

      5. The crew of the "Acadia" landed on the island in June 1881, and the chief magistrate (Moses Young at that time) gave them leave to remain until an opportunity offered to take them to England or San Francisco, whichever place they wished to go to, consequently some remained on the island longer than others.

      6. When they had been there about three months, one of them, Albert Volk, a native of Newport, wished to marry Mary Ann Young, a daughter of Simon Young, and settle on the island. A meeting of the heads of families was called to decide whether this should be allowed, and out of (I think) 14, only two voted against it being allowed, two for it, and two were absent, the remainder did not vote either way but were present. At any rate, it appears to have been tacitly agreed to by the majority, and they were married.

      7. Shortly afterwards another man, Philip Coffin, an American, aged 44, wished to marry Mary Warren, aged 15, a grand-daughter of Thursday Christian, and also to remain on the island, and as the other one had been allowed to do so there appears to have been no objection raised to his marriage, which accordingly took place.

      8. On the 1st of last January Thursday Christian became the chief magistrate, and in February Albert Knight, the carpenter of the "Acadia," wished to marry Maria Young, an orphan, aged 19, who lived with two other young unmarried women and in whose house he lodged. It appears that she had formerly been engaged to one of Christian's sons, but had broken it off shortly after becoming acquainted with the carpenter.

      9. The chief magistrate then called together the heads of families to consult whether any more strangers should be allowed to settle on the island, and the Christian family being in the majority a law was passed that from that date no more were to be allowed to settle. No entry, however, was made in the book of laws on the subject.

      10. A few days afterwards, when the chief magistrate ordered him to leave by a passing ship, he refused to do so as the others had been allowed to marry and settle, and there was nothing against his character to prevent his being

allowed to do the same. At the same time malicious reports were spread about reflecting on the girl's character, which are now acknowledged to be unfounded. It was now that Simon Young, sympathizing with Knight and the girl, published the banns when forbidden by the chief magistrate to do so.

      11. After investigating the matter it appears to me to be perfectly plain that jealousy was at the bottom of the whole affair, and that the Christians had made use of their numerically strong majority, and their Father being chief magistrate, to pass the law of the 20th February, inflicting a great injustice on Albert Knight; but; in view of the very bitter feeling that had arisen on the subject, I concluded that it would be better for the peace of the island that he should leave, and I accordingly told him I would take him away in the "Sappho."

      12. I then called all the heads of families together and told them what I intended doing, telling them at the same time that I considered they had behaved very unjustly towards Knight, but that was taking him away for the general good and, I hoped, the peace of the island; and I then put it to them individually whether they wished the law forbidding strangers settling to hold good from now, and (with the exception of Volk, who intends taking his wife to England by the first opportunity, and who did not vote) they unanimously said that they did.

      13. I accordingly wrote it in the book as the 12th law: "That from henceforth, July 2, 1882, no strangers are to be allowed to settle on the island," and made a note to the effect that this had been agreed to by all the heads of families called together by the chief magistrate in my presence, and in consequence of disputes which I had been called on to settle.

      14. During my investigation there were some rather stormy scenes, in which the "lie direct" was given freely and accusations of immorality, &c. were bandied, about. Into those I felt it my duty to inquire, and Thursday Christian acknowledged that it is a fact that his grand-daughter, Gertrude Warren, aged 15, had an illegitimate child a short time ago, having been guilty of immorality with two or three members of the community, also that this is not the first illegitimate birth by three or four, the first having occurred ten or twelve years ago. He also admitted that petty larceny has been very common of late years, and is increasing, but that hitherto they have failed to detect any of the thieves. In his own words, he said, "I am sorry to say it, but the island is not what it used to be, and, I can testify that as far as envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness are concerned, they are no better than their neighbours."

      15. The chief occupation, of the young men of the island appears to be boarding passing vessels to get anything out of them they can. A good many of those passing (which apparently average from two to three a week) appear to be American, and having heard that the boats were in the habit of hoisting the American flag I asked the magistrate if there was one on the island, he said there was and it had been hoisted once in the boat "as a joke." I sent for it, and he tore it up in my presence, and promised that it should not be used any more.

      16. These inquiries having occupied me all Saturday, the 1st. instant, I remained till the following day to enable me to assemble the heads of families after their divine service on Sunday as before detailed, aud as the weather was squally and unsettled I weighed and lay-to off the island for the night, anchoring again the following morning.

      17. The general condition of the place appears to be prosperous, and their crops were reported to be ample for their wants. The number now on the island, is 101, as against 96 at the time of the "Thetis" visit last year. The increase is by the two men: of the "Acadia" settled an the island, two children (twins) born in wedlock, and one illegitimate birth. The number was 102 on my arrival, but I have taken one man away with me.

      18. I examined the Register of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, which is very loosely kept, and find that hitherto they have not been in the habit of recording the illegitimate births, at least the last one certainly was not. I requested the chief magistrate to see that they are more correctly kept in future.

      19. I have thought it better, to report very fully in this letter, knowing that a request has been sent you to send a man-of-war to settle matters, and I hope that what I have done may meet with your approval.

      20. I beg respectfully to submit to you that if Her Majesty's Government intends to take any further interest in the island, it would be best to send someone from home to govern it, a missionary governor if that is thought best, but, at any rate, someone; for it is quite plain to me, that however well the former system of laws and magistrates may have answered in the days of their primitive innocence, it is quite unsuited to the present state of the place, where they are now divided into two sets, the Youngs and the Christians.

      21. From conversation, which some of the officers had whilst on shore, I gathered that their fervent loyalty has also been much exaggerated, and that if the supplies from England were stopped they would be quite ready to hoist the United States or any other flag on the island.

      22. It is quite certain that things are very different to what the wellwishere of the island in England, or elsewhere, imagine them to be, and I would suggest to them not to send any more books or tracts out until they are satisfied that they are welcome, as it is my impression that San Francisco literature is more to the taste of, at all events, the rising generation, and that the clothing that is sent is the only part they appreciate.

      23. Of the three "Acadia's" men who remained on the island; Volk, is going to leave, and Knight, who I have taken with me, were, from all I could learn, good examples of industry and steadiness whilst there, but I am much mistaken if the third (the American) does not prove a source of trouble hereafter.

      24. All that I have stated here is what I have ascertainod to be facts, but if one tithe of the stories I, and others, heard are true, my account is by no means too darkly coloured.

      Rear-Admiral Algernon Lyons,
            Commander-in-Chief.
                  &c. &c. &c.

      Thursday O. Christian as chief magistrate of Pitcairn Island consulted all the heads of families concerning strangers settling on the island, at which the majority stands thus: "That no man from henceforth is allowed."

      After all were dismissed except himself with his councillor, &c., Albert Knight (a stranger) and Maria Young (of the island) were called for and questioned as the following describes: —

      Magistrate: I called you here to ask if you were engaged'?

      Albert Knight Who told you about such a thing?

      Magistrate: I've heard something about it.

      Albert Knight We haven't had a thought, about it.

      Maria. Young: That's false, indeed somebody knows enough about us.

      Albert Knight I tell you if it must be so, you can't prevent it.

      Magistrate: I don't allow it.

      Albert Knight Do you hear, if it must be so you can't stop it.

      Magistrate: I want to tell you beforehand that I don't allow strangera here settling before the next man-of-war comes.

      A few days ago Albert Knight was told by the chief magistrate to leave the island. So when a ship was seen approaching the land he was sent for by the magistrate, who told him to get all his things ready in case the captain might be se kind as to give him a passage; but he plainly said,

"I will not." At this the magistrate being vexed said, "You must go." He answered, "No man gets me off the island." On seeing his obstinate determination he was minded of being put before the captain on the next man-of-war, replied "I don't care a pinch of snuff for one of them," then turned away proudly to go, but was prevented. Who now must abide still awhile.

      In July 1882 Rear-Admiral Algernon McLennan Lyons (1833 – 1908) was Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station

      Bouverie Francis Clark (1842 – 1922) was Captain of H.M.S. Sappho from 16 Aug, 1881 to 13 Nov, 1884.

Document no. 87. Jul 3, 1882. "Commander Clark (H.M.S. Sappho) to Rear-Admiral Lyons." Pages 1481 to 1484.

Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite