Pitcairn Island - the early history

Revised Jun 19 2021

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Brodie's Pitcairn's Island
Pitcairn Island Register 1846-1847

1846.

Jan 1, 1846

Jan. 1st. Arthur Quintall re-elected magistrate. William M’Coy and Thomas Buffett re-elected councillors.

Jan 27, 1846

“ 27th. Frederick L. F. Young born.

May 27, 1846

May 27th. Abbey L. T. Quintall born.

Jun 12, 1846

June 12th. Church and school-house finished. It is a very decent building, and reflects much credit upon the persons employed in the construction of it.

Jun 14, 1846

“ 14th. Opened the new house for public worship. Sermon for the occasion, 31st chap. Deuteronomy, 12th verse.

Jul 19, 1846

July 19th. Eleanor C. Quintal [Christian] born.

Aug 3, 1846

Aug. 3rd. Alphonso D. Christian born.

Aug 29, 1846

“ 29th. This morning Levi Quintal, an infant under two years of age, went into the cook-house, during the absence of his mother, and his clothes catching fire, he was burned in a dreadful manner. The next day the little sufferer died.

Sep 14, 1846

Sept. 14th. Sickness is again making a sad inroad among us. Fever, succeeded by dysentery, is the type. Some are afflicted severely, others slightly. Susannah, who came here in the Bounty, fifty years ago, is in a dangerous state.

Sep 18, 1846

" 18th. Emma Young [Buffett] born.

Nov 11, 1846

Nov. 11th. Edward [Edmund] J. N. Quintall born.

Nov 27, 1846

“ 27th. Alfred A. Nobbs born.

Summary.

Births this year, 7; marriages, 0; death, 1. Inhabitants males, 69; females, 65. Sickness has been rife among us—fever, dysentery, and ophthalmia. Ships called here: American, 46; French, 1; Bremen, 1; English, 1:—49. 7 children attend public school.

1847.

Jan 5, 1847

Jan. 5th, Charles Christian, sen., elected magistrate. Simon Young and John Adams councillors.

Feb 20, 1847

Feb. 20th. This afternoon, as Reuben Nobbs was out in the mountain, shooting goats, his foot slipped, and he let fall his musket, which exploded and wounded him severely. The ball entered a little below the hip-joint, and passing downwards, came through on the inside of the thigh, about half-way between the groin and the knee. Providentially some persons were within call, who immediately ran to his assistance, and tore up their shirts to stanch the blood, which was pouring forth profusely. A lad was despatched to the village with the melancholy news, and in a few minutes, the whole of the inhabitants capable of going were on their way to afford relief, headed by his affectionate mother, who was almost frantic with grief. In about an hour they returned, bearing him in a canoe, which they had taken up for that purpose. After some difficulty the blood was stanched, and the lad suffered but little pain. Every person was anxious to render some assistance; the greater part of the male inhabitants remained at night, to be ready at a moment’s warning to do anything that might be required. Towards midnight he fell asleep,—and so ends this melancholy day.

Feb 21, 1847

" 21st. About daylight the wounded lad awoke, very much refreshed; he does not complain much, and has but little fever. The men and grown lads have formed themselves into three watches, to attend his wants both day and night. It is most gratifying to his parents to see the esteem in which their son is held.

Feb 22, 1847

“ 22nd. Reuben Nobbs is free from pain, but there is a considerable accession of fever; it does not appear that either the thigh or hip bone is injured, as he can move his leg without much difficulty or pain. From the great length of the internal wound, it is difficult to ascertain whether any of the wadding remains where the ball must have passed through.

Feb 26, 1847

" 26th. This morning a ship was reported; everybody appeared rejoiced, hoping to get some necessaries for their wounded friend. On her nearing the island, she proved to be H. M. S. Spy, Capt. Woodbridge. “Thank God!” was the grateful exclamation of many, on hearing it was a ship of war, on account of her having a surgeon on board. At one Capt. Woodbridge and the surgeon (Dr. Bowden) landed, who immediately visited young Nobbs, and after probing the wound, and ascertaining the extent of the injury, gave his opinion that there was not much danger, and that with proper attention he would in all probability recover, although a narrower escape from death never came beneath his notice. Capt. Woodbridge, being much pressed for time, informed the inhabitants he must sail that evening. After kindly interesting himself in the welfare of the island, and noting down such things as the community were most in want of, at sunset the Spy sailed for Valparaiso. Mr. and Mrs. Nobbs would here take the opportunity of publicly recording their grateful acknowledgments to Capt. Woodbridge and Dr. Bowden, for the favours conferred on their son.

Feb 28, 1847

“ 28th. Emma Young [Buffett] much burned by falling into a fire.

Mar 7, 1847

March 7th. Emma Young recovering from her late accident.

Mar 10, 1847

“ 10th. Reuben Nobbs in a convalescent state, but complains of much pain in the hip.

May 3, 1847

May 3rd. Harriet Melissa M’Coy born.

May 7, 1847

“ 7th. Henry Seymour Buffett born.

May 24, 1847

“ 24th. William B. S. Christian born.

Jun 4, 1847

June 4th. Experienced a heavy gale from the westward, which, if it had been of long duration, would have done incalculable damage. A large piece of the banyan-tree was blown down, and the flag-staff broken into two pieces.

Jun 6, 1847

“ 6th. Matthew M’Coy narrowly escaped with his life, his canoe being upset in the surf, on the west side of the island, and broken to pieces, and himself very severely bruised; had it not been for the assistance of two other persons near at hand, he must (humanly speaking) have been drowned.

Oct 1, 1847

Oct. 1st. By[r]on S. M. Adams born.

Nov 2, 1847

Nov. 2nd. Eliza C. P. Young born.

Dec 24, 1847

Dec. 24th. Almira Emeline Christian born.

Summary.

Births this year, 6; deaths, 0; marriages, 0. Inhabitants: males, 72; females, 68. Ships visited the island, 19. 48 children attend the school.

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