The New Bedford whaler Majestic, a ship-rigged vessel of 290 tons, put into Great Barrier Island for repairs, refitting, revictualling, wooding and watering on 28th July, 1847, exactly three years since she had left the American whaling port of New Bedford, Massechusetts. It is of interest that it was a full moon on that date, once again demonstrating the care and caution with which sailing ships of the time approached what most probably was an unfamiliar part of the coast. Charts were rudimentary and the Acheron survey had yet to be carried out. On board were 1900 barrels of oil. The Majestic had arrived from Sydney where several crew had deserted, and one or two others were discharged. While the Captain, George W. Smith had managed to take on more crew, he obviously was wary of again losing crew to desertions if he called into the Bay of Islands. Somewhere along the way, he must have heard about Great Barrier Island, where there was everything he seems to have wanted for the ship, and the crew were much less likely to desert. For six weeks in the middle of the southern hemisphere winter, the work went on, until on 9th September, 1847 it departed.
“Majestic sailed from Barrier 9th instant to resume her whaling voyage. She had refitted, revictualled, wooded and watered there. Captain Smith testifies it is a safe harbour and recommends it as a place of resort to all whaling ships.” Source: The New Zealander, 18/9/1847 Page 2, column 1.
For the record, in case descendants of the crew may wish to contribute any further information they may have of their ancestor’s visit to the island, here is a list of the crew from the New Bedford Whaling Museum, less those who deserted or were discharged in Sydney before coming to the island.
Samuel ? seaman 1/180 On at Lahaina, Sandwich Island 09/09/1844 (Month/day/year) James Antonio ordinary 1/150 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/15/1846 Manuel Antonio greenhand 1/200 On at Fayal 07/19/1844 John Bastion seaman 1/180 On at Lahaina, Sandwich Island 09/09/1844 John Benton seaman 1/150 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/17/1846 William Bisemore ordinary 1/150 William Brown seaman 1/150 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/16/1846 William A. Chapman greenhand 1/180 Antonio Maria Desouza greenhand 1/200 On at Fayal 07/19/1844 Joseph Dies 3rd Mate 1/65 Joseph Dies 2nd Mate 1/45 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/18/1846 Fredrick Fernando ordinary 1/145 Micajar C. Fisher 2nd mate 1/26 Francisco Gomes seaman 1/180 On at Lahaina, Sandwich Island 09/09/1844 Harvey H. Hagardorn greenhand 1/175 John Hammond greenhand 1/225 Johnathan Harkins greenhand 1/225 Albert W. Holbrook boatsteerer 1/95 John Johnson steward 1/145 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/17/1846 Antonio Jose ordinary 1/150 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/15/1846 Manuel Jose 3rd mate 1/60 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/17/1846 Cary H. Joshu seaman 1/145 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/15/1846 William Kirkwood carpenter 1/145 Manuel Lopez seaman 1/180 On at Lahaina, Sandwich Island 09/09/1844 Nius Maratos ordinary 1/158 Adoniram Marble 1st mate 1/24 Harrison Marsh seaman 1/150 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/14/1846 William McGar greenhand 1/180 Henry Parker greenhand 1/175 James Patterson greenhand 1/180 Manuel Joseph Rossin ordinary 1/145 Robert P. Seman cooper 1/50 Henry Silvaine boatsteerer 1/95 Benoni Simmons greenhand 1/200 George W. Smith Captain 1/17 Paul Taber greenhand 1/180 Luther Thomas ordinary 1/150 William H. Vinall boatsteerer 1/95 James Warren cook 1/150 William Watson seaman 1/145 On at Sydney, NSW. 12/14/1846 Jonathan White greenhand 1/180
http://www.ci.newbedford.ma.us/SERVICES/LIBRARY/whalingproject/voyagedetailS.asp
The Majestic made it home to New Bedford from Great Barrier Island on 5th May the following year in 1848. An interesting item from American Civil War history shows what ultimately happened to it. “The first Majestic was an old whaler purchased by the Navy at New Bedford, Mass., 2 December 1861 for use as an obstruction. The ships in the Federal “stone fleet” were sunk in the channels of harbors in Georgia and the Carolinas during the first year of the Civil War”. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m2/majestic-i.htm
Last updated 14th January, 2009. |
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Whaling ship 'Majestic' at Great Barrier Island 1847 |