Pitcairn Island - the early history

Revised 4/29/2009

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The Island, the People, and the Pastor
Ch. XII Vessels

VESSELS WHICH HAVE TOUCHED AT Pitcairn.

The vessels mentioned in this work, which have touched at Pitcairn's Island, between 1808 and 1856 inclusive, are as follow:

VESSEL.CAPTAIN.DATE.
TopazPolger1808
H.M.S. BritonSir T. Staines1814
H.M.S. TagusPipon1814
SultanReynolds1817
HerculesHenderson1819
H.M.S. BlossomBeechey1825
LovelyBlythe1826
H.M.S. SeringapatamWaldegrave1830
Lucy AnneJ. Currey1831
Bordeaux Packet____1831
H.M.S. CometSandilands1831
H.M S. ChallengerFremantle1833
H.M.S. Actaeon<Lord E. Russell1837
H.M.S ImogeneH.W.Bruce1837
H.M.S. FlyR. Elliott1838
H.M.S. SparrowhawkShepherd1839
H.M.S. CuracoaJenkin Jones1841
CyrusJ. Hall1823
America____1843
H.M.S. TalbotSir T. Thompson, Bart.1843
H.M.S. BasiliskH. Hunt1844
H.M.S. PandoraT. Wood1849
H.M.S. DaphneFanshawe1849
FannyLeathart1849
NobleParker1850
ColonistMarshall1850
H.M.S. CockatriceDillon1851
Joseph Meigs____1851
Sharon ____1851
Balaena ____1852
H.M.S. DaedalusWellesley1852
H.M.S. Portland Vice-Ad.Moresby, K.C.B. 1852, 1853
Adeline Gibbs Weeks1859
H.M.S. ViragoPrevost1853
H.M.S. DidoMorshead1833, 1856
H.M.S. JunoFremantle1855
Amphitrite____1855
Matthew LuceCoon1855
Southern CrossMcArthur1855
Morayshire Mathers 1856

Upwards of 350 vessels have touched at Pitcairn between 1808, and the memorable year 1856, the year of the people's departure.

The following Signals were established by Admiral Moresby, and agreed upon in 1853:

A PLAIN WHITE FLAG will be hoisted when it is possible to communicate from Bounty Bay.

A PLAIN WHITE FLAG OVER A RED ENSIGN, or over any other flag, will be hoisted, when it is impossible to communicate from Bounty Bay.

A RED ENSIGN, or any other flag over a plain white flag, will be hoisted when it is impossible to communicate from Bounty Bay, but possible from the lee-side of the Island.

Thus far of Pitcairn. In preparing the eleventh edition of this book, the author observed, that of Pitcairn' s Island the reader might then take leave; one of the fairest spots in the world having become a wilderness, and left in sole possession of a few head of cattle,

"Whose right there was none to dispute."

The view of Pitcairn appeared to have dissolved, and passed away; and it was added, with reference to the settlement of the people on Norfolk Island, "The remaining portions of our history will give further intelligence of the community, and unfold the new and strange, but not unpleasing scenes, which have opened before them."

Strange to say, however, more will yet remain to be said of Pitcairn, as a place for the residence of human beings; two families, consisting, in the whole, of sixteen persons, having sailed thither, from Norfolk Island, in December, 1858, with the object of re-inhabiting their old home.

The reader's attention is now called to a short notice of the original settlement, and present condition of Norfolk Island.

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