Revised Jun 19 2021
Jan. 1st. Simon Young elected magistrate. Arthur Quintall and Edward Quintal, councillors.
" 16th. Mary Edward [Elizabeth] Young born.
April 19th. George Webb Adams born.
March 24th. Rachael B. Young [Quintal] born.
July 10th. This morning, at daylight, our city was scared from its propriety by the booming of a cannon. Those who had already risen, ran to the edge of the precipice; and those who had not turned out, lost no time in doing so. A brig was discovered in the offing, with a flag of some kind flying; but from the want of light we could not distinguish its heraldic bearings. After peeping through the somewhat hazy atmosphere for nearly half an hour, and stretching our necks and eyelids in a most extraordinary manner, the increased light enabled us to discern that the vessel wore the St. George’s ensign, and now the shout of “a man-of-war” sounded from house to house. Two boats were speedily manned, and soon got on board. As the weather was louring, we were fearful on shore that the ship’s boat would not land; but after an hour’s anxious surprise, we were gratified by seeing a boat lowered, and shortly after, pull for the shore, accompanied by our boats. On nearing the surf, a party from the ship’s boat shifted into ours and passed through the surf quite dry. The brigantine proved to be H. M. S. Pandora, Capt. Wood, from Oahu and Tahiti, bringing us Mr. Buffett back who left here for the Sandwich Islands, last January. Capt. Wood brought with him letters from Consul-General Miller and several other persons, offering to provide land, &c., &c., for any families who wish to emigrate from here and go there. Capt. Wood assembled the inhabitants at the school house; and on the letters being read, informed them that he would remain on shore till the afternoon of the next day, in order that they might have time to deliberate on the contents of the letters, and then he would receive their answers.
" 11th. This evening, Capt. Wood left us, to our great regret; for though our acquaintance was but of two days’ duration, the urbanity of Capt. Wood and his solicitude for our welfare have made a deep, and we hope, a lasting impression on our hearts. That the good ship Pandora and all her gallant crew may escape the perils of the deep, and before many months have elapsed show her number, some early day, at Spithead, is the wish of their friends residing on the rock of the West.
“ 28th. Isaac Godfrey Christian born.
Aug. 9th. The inhabitants are slowly recovering from the epidemic which has pervaded the island during the last month. So general was the attack, that the public school has been discontinued, and public service but once performed on each Sabbath, in consequence. The teacher being fully employed attending the sick.
” 11th. Arrived, H. M. S. Daphne, Capt. Fanshawe, from Valparaiso, viá Callao, bringing the desiderata of the community, viz., a bull, cow, and some rabbits. They were landed without any difficulty by our own boats. We also received from the Rev. Mr. Armstrong several boxes of acceptable articles, and a large case of books from the Christian Knowledge Society. At 3 P.M. Capt. Fanshawe and a party of the officers landed. At sunset they returned on board again, except the surgeon, who remained on shore at the particular request of Mr. Nobbs, who required some advice about the sick.
“ 12th. At 1 P.M. Capt. Fanshawe returned on shore with a fresh party of officers, and attended Divine service. Much persuasion was used by our young people to induce Capt. F. to remain another day, but he told them he could not do so with propriety. At sunset, they all returned on board, and H. M. S. Daphne sailed for Tahiti. Capt. F. (as well as his officers) treated those of our people who went on board most kindly, and made most minute inquiries into our wants and actual condition. They were pleased to express their satisfaction at what they saw and heard, and left us deeply impressed with their courtesy and urbanity. May Almighty God have them in his holy keeping!
“ 25th. Some of the inhabitants have had a relapse; at four P.M. Arthur Quintal, senior, fell from a rock, and injured himself badly, particularly the higher ribs and the thigh; as well as his left arm; he was conveyed home in a canoe; through the night he suffered much.
“ 30th. Arthur Quintall still suffers from his fall the other day; the major part of the inhabitants are sick; probably they have received an accession of disease from the barque Elizabeth Archer, from Sydney, which touched here a few days ago, some of her passengers being sick at the time, and our epidemic has assumed a very different type.
“ 31st. Frederick Young attacked with spasmodic affection of the stomach, which very nearly deprived him of life; had not the teacher been on the spot at the time, and the appropriate medicine (ether, brandy, and laudanum) within reach, in all human probability Frederick Young would have expired under the attack.
Sept. 4th. Maria Quintall delivered of a male child; the number of sick on the increase; the school discontinued, and only one service on the Sabbath, partly from the ill health of the teacher, and partly from the continual demand for his services night and day.
“ 6th. A large hair seal captured on the west side of the island Fletcher Christian first discovered it among the rocks, and was much alarmed at the sight of it; he feared to go near it, lest it should be a ghost (of which he has a great horror), or some beast of prey, but quickly ascended the hill which overlooks the town, and gave the alarm; some persons went over to his assistance, and shot the animal just as it was making its retreat into the sea.
“ 11th. The infant born on the 4th was baptized, not being expected to live.
“ 12th. This morning the infant died; almost every one is affected with a most distressing cough. A remittant fever, attended with slight rigours, and much prostration of strength, is the type of the disease at present.
“ 20th. This day was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. Public service commenced at eleven A.M., and ended at one P.M.; all who could get to church attended. Text, Romans, 2nd chapter, 4th and 5th verses. One of the females fainted during service.
Oct. 3rd. Hannah Quintall born.
“ 21st. Abigail Leah Christian born.
“ 28th. Lucy Anne Hagar Christian born.
Dec. 1st. Reuben Nobbs embarked in the brig Georgia for Valparaiso.
Number of births this year, 10; death, 1; marriage, 1. Inhabitants; males, 76; females, 79. 47 children attend the school, and 80 attend the Sunday-school. This year is unprecedented in the annals of Pitcairn’s Island We hare been visited by two British men-of-war the Pandora, Capt. Wood, and the Daphne, Capt. Fanshawe. The commanders of these ships and their officers treated the inhabitants with the greatest kindness, and were pleased to express their entire approval of all they saw and heard. The Daphne brought us a bull and cow, and some rabbits, with a variety of other articles, from the Rev. Mr. Armstrong and other friends in Valparaiso. The cattle and the rabbits produced a great sensation. Another (to us) wonderful occurrence is the arrival of so many other ships under English colours, viz., eight from the Australian colonies, bound for California, and one whaling vessel from London; in all nine merchantmen and two ships of war. American ships have dwindled down to seven—six whalers, and one from California; in her Reuben B. Nobbs embarked for Valparaiso. George Adams saved the life of a child alongside a ship in the offing. The inhabitants, with scarcely one exception, have suffered from sickness very severely during the months of August, September, and October. The school was discontinued, the children being too sick to attend, and the teacher was fully (and thank God efficiently) employed in ministering from house to house. Some of the cases were quite alarming, and the disease (the influenza) in general was more severe, but considerably modified from that of former years; violent spasms in the stomach and epigastric region were frequent in all stages of the complaint. At the close of the year, the inhabitants are enjoying much better health. May the recent affliction teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!