Pictcarin Island: History


Figure 1.--Here we have an early drawing of Adamstown. We are not sure who drew it and when, but probably in the 1810s.

Polynesian mariners, probably from Mangareva, were the first human settlers. They lived on the island leaving stone gods guarding sacred sites. There were also representations of animals and men in cliff carvings as well as burial sites. It was uninabited, however, by the l8th century. Captain Philip Carteret of HMS Swallow discovered the island (1767). He was, however, unable to land. The island rises precipitously out of the ocean. Cpt. Carteret did not land, however, reporting the surf "which at this season broke upon it with great violence". Pitcarin would be largely unknown today, except for the famed mutiny on the Bountry. Tiny Pitcairn is the Pacific island where the Bounty mutineers chose to hide from the Royal Navy (1790). The mutiny on the bounty is one of the most famous episodes in the history of the British Royal Navy raising important questions about discipline aboard naval vessels. Fletcher Christian led the mutineers and some Tahitian women to Pitcarin--the most isolated, uninhabited island they could find. It was chosen of course because if its remotness and the Bounty was sunk in Bounty Bay so that if a ship passed, there would be no indication that the mtineers were there. Christian was a son of the Coroner of Cumberland and of Manx descent on his father's side. He is still remembered as the founder and first leader of the settlement. By 1800 John Adams was the only male survivor of the party that had landed just 10 years before. The community was made up of 10 Polynesian women and 23 children. In 1808 the little colony was discovered by Captain Mayhew Folger, an American sealing captain, but his visit was brief. The HMS Briton and HMS Tagus rediscovered the settlement 6 years later on September 17, 1814. Pictcairn today is one of the remanents of the British Empire still scatered around the world.

Polynesian Settlement

Polynesian mariners, probably from Mangareva, were the first human settlers. They lived on the island leaving stone gods guarding sacred sites. There were also representations of animals and men in cliff carvings as well as burial sites.

European Discovery

Pitcarin was uninabited by the l8th century. It is not clear when the original Polynesian inhabitants left. Captain Philip Carteret of HMS Swallow discovered the island (1767). He was, however, unable to land. The island rises precipitously out of the ocean. Cpt. Carteret did not land, however, reporting the surf "which at this season broke upon it with great violence".

First Breadfruit Expedition (1789)

Lieutenant William Bligh commanded His Majesty's Armed Ship Bounty on the First Bread Fruit Expedition. The purpose was to plant on the British West Indies sugar islands to help feed the slaves working sugar plantations. Bligh and the Bounty left Thaiti with a cargo of breadfruit trees.

Mutiny on the Bounty

Pitcarin would be largely unknown today, except for the famed mutiny on the Her Majesty's Armed Ship Bountry. The mutiny on the bounty is one of the most famous episodes in the history of the British Royal Navy raising important questions about discipline aboard naval vessels As a result of Cpt. Bligh's tyrancical rule, the master's mate, Fletcher Christian, led a mutiny (1789). The mutiny took place near Tofua/Tofoa.

The Loyalists

The mutineers cast off Lieutenant Bligh, and eighteen loyal crewmen in the ship's boat. The mutineers forced four other loyalists to stay with the ship. Bligh made for Tofua, landing at what is now called 'Murderers' Cove'). Here Bligh hoped to obtain needed provisions for an extended voyage. At that time there were no nearby European settlements. Miraculosly, the only casualty on Bligh's small boat was, John Norton, who was stoned to death by natives on Tofua. Bligh was a terrible commander, but an accomplished navigator. He navigated the 23 foot open boat on an epic 47-day voyage. After Tofua, the company was attacked by cannibals at what has come to be known as Bligh Water in Fiji and passed through the Torres Strait. Tghey finally landed in the Dutch settlement of Kupang on Timor (June 14, 1789). Blight managed this with only a sextant and a pocket watch. He had no charts or compass. He recorded a distance of 6,710 kilometers. While no one died on the boat, they were in very poor condition as a result of exposure and shortage of food and water. The cook and botanist died soon after reaching Gimor and three crewmen died subsequently.

The Mutineers

Fleetecher Christian was a son of the Coroner of Cumberland and of Manx descent on his father's side. He is still remembered as the founder and first leader of the settlement.

Searching for a Refuge

Meanwhile Christian and the mutineers sailed the Bounty back to Tahiti. They then sailed to Tubuai in the Austral Group. The mutineers soon wore out their welcome with the natives. Increasingly worried about discovery and hanging for mutiny, they decided to find a more secluded refuge. Christian and eight others set out to find a more secure refuge. To assist in this undertaking, they brought along six Tahitian men and twelve Tahitian women. The company sailed Bounty thriogh the Cooks, Tonga and the eastern islands of Fiji. None were deemed isolated enough. Then Christian almost as an after thought recalled Carteret's account. They sailed eastwards, reaching Pitcairn (January 15, 1790). Christian landed on Pitcarin and explored the tiny island. "With a joyful expression such as we had not seen on him for a long time past" Christian returned from his scouting expedition. Christian found that former settlers had planted coconut palms and breadfruit, but were no longer present. The island was both uninhabited and isolated as well fertile with abundant fresh water. It was everything they needed.

Hunting the Bounty

Lt. Blight after reaching Timor in an epic piece of seamanship, returned to England to report the mutinry (March 15, 1790). At fitst the Admiralty and press only had Lt. Bligh's account of the mutiny. The Admiralty ordered Captain Edward Edwards and the HMS Pandora to find the Bountty and bring the mutineers to justice November 7, 1790). Pandora carried a double crew. The extra men were to seize the Bounty from the mutineers and then sail it back to England. Edwards and Pandora arrived at Tahiti (March 23, 1791). Four of the Bounty mutineers unhappy with island life crew on their own came aboard Pandora soon after it reached Tahiti. Edwards quickly found 10 more mutineers ashore and arrested them. These 14 men as well as the 4 loyalists also on the island were held in a cage--a makeshift jail on the Pandora's deck. It became knowen as "Pandora's Box". Edwards sailed from Tahiti (May 8, 1791) and for 3 months searched west of Tahiti for the Bounty and the rest of the mutineers. Pitcarin of course was east of Tahiti. They did find some flotsam on Palmerston Island. Then while heading west through the Torres Strait, Edwards ran Pandora aground on part of the Great Barrier Reef system (August 29, 1791). Pandora sank the following day. Asa result, 31 of the crew and four of mutineers (Skinner, Sumner, Stewart and Hillbrandt) were killed. William Moulter, a bosun's mate, released 10 prisoners from their cage just before Pandora sank. The prioners and 89 surviving crew members managed to save four small launches and like Lt. Bligh made for Timor, arriving (September 16, 1791).

Court Martials

The survivors from Pandora were eventually repatriated to England. Thge captains of the Bounty and Pandora were also tried.

Lost vessels

Both Lt. Bligh and Cpt. Edwards were court-martialled for the loss of their ships. Such trials are held as matter of course after the loss of a ship and did not suggest any musconuct or malfeasance on the part of the capatains. Both Bligh and Edwards were acquitted. Bligh resumed his naval career and eventually achieved the rank of Vice Admiral. There was, however, another controversial incident. While Governor of New South Wales. troops of New South Wales arrested him in what has become known as the Rum Rebellion (1808).

Mutineers

The trial of the mutineers was much more complicated. After losing four mutineers on the Pamdora, 10 mutineers remained to be tried. By this time reports of Lt. Bligh's cruelty began to surface in the press. The Admiralty proceeded with a naval trial. The trial was extended and testimony was taken by Lt. Bligh as well as the loyalists and mutineers. The naval officer conducting the trial gave great importance as to who was brandishing weapons. Under the Articles of War, failure to act when able to defeat or prevent a mutiny was considered the same as active participation. The verdict was delivered (September 18, 1792). Tghe four men whom Lt. Bligh identified as innocent were acquitted. Two were found guilty, but pardoned as a result if extenuating circumstances. One of these was Peter Heywood, who lrather surprisingly later rose to the rank of captain himself. Another, James Morrison, also managed to continued his naval career and died at sea. Another was reprieved due to a legal technicality. He eventually was granted a pardon. The other three mutuneers were were convicted and hanged aboard HMS Brunswick (October 29, 1792).

Pitcarin

Tiny Pitcairn is the Pacific island where the Bounty mutineers chose to hide from the Royal Navy (1790). Fletcher Christian led the mutineers and some Tahitian women to Pitcarin--the most isolated, uninhabited island they could find. It was chosen of course because if its remoteness. The mtineers stripped the Bounty of all her contents and salvagable fittings. Particularly important were the agricultural items such as goats, pigs, and chickens. There were also yams and sweet potatoes. All but the pigs had to be carried up what the company named the 'Hill of Difficulty'. The settled on the Edge. This was the small, grassy platform which over-looked what they called Bountry Bay. After removing all they could from Bounty, they ran the ship shore and burned it. Realising that the Bounty would quickly identify their refuge, burning removed any evidence that would identify their refuge to passing ships. Thus from the sea, there was nothing vissible suggest this was the refuge of the muntineers.

Second Breadfruit Expedition (1791-92)

The Admiralty after dispatching Cpt. Edwards and Pandora to find Bounty and the mutineers, dispatch the newly promoted Cpt. Bligh on the Sexond Breadfruit expedition. Bligh was given HMS Providence and her tender Assistant (August 3, 1791). The enterprise was again promoted by Joseph Banks. This time, Cpt. Bligh managed to collect 2,126 breadfruit plants and hundreds of other botanical specimens. Bligh departed Tahiti (July 19, 1792) and navigated the Torres Strait again. In Tahiti he would have learned that Cpt. Edwards haf found and arrested some of the mutineers. He finally sucessfully delivered them to the British West Indies. In the end, however, the project failed. The slaves on Jamaica adamently refused to eat the breadfruit.

War with France (1793-1815)

Ironically, the mutiny on the Bounty occurred the same reason as perhaps the greatest revolution of all time--the French Revolution. And Britain soon found itself in a fight for its life with first the Jacobin revolutionaries and then Napoleon's Empire. There were peace interludes, but basically it was more than 20 years of war with France. It was another world war with France. The Royal Navy would be tested to its limits by the French and allied fleets. Had the French Revolution not have ocurred, it is likely that the Royal Navy would have pursued more agressively with the search for Bounty. With the news of the war dominating the headlines, concern over the Bounty dropped off the Admiralty's and public's major concerns.

John Adams and Adamstown

John Adams had not been one of the mutiny leaders. He was an able seamen (Royal Navy term for a fully trauned enlisted (rating) sailor. He was to become by longevity the leader of the ci\ommunity. He was by 1800, the only male survivor of the party that had landed just 10 years before. The community by this time was made up of 10 Polynesian women and 23 children. Adams proved to be a fair minded, competent leader. He had been supportive of the mutiny leaders and early Pitcarin leaders (Christian and Young). The community was organized so that each family at the time headed by a mother had its own house. Most of the homes were located within the village that came to be called Adamstown. It was planned like an English rather than a Tahitian village. The homes were set around a commons and fenced so the chickens and hogs were kept out. The homes were Solidly built from the logs felled on the islnd. They did not look Tahitian, but rather English--some with two stories. The roofs were, however, thatched. Isolated from the rest of the world, England and Polynesia gradually merged on Pitcarin. The climate and longevity of the Thatian women meant that Polynesia would predominate, but there were defenite English influences. The Thatian women broufght their cooking and other utensils with them. These became very important and were passed down from moyher to daughter. The men had landed the English tools from Bounty and made more from local materials as time went on. The food cooked by the Tahitian women from local items became essentially Polynesian. They cooked in traditional Polynesian stone-lined ovens. The food was largely yams, taro and bananas with coconut cream and an occasional meat (pigs, goats, chickens, and birds) was prepated in the in Polynesian style. It was served twice a day at noon and nightfall. Clothes were at first English, made out of sail cloth salvaged from the Bounty. The canvas eventially ran out. Gradually Polynessian loin cloths and skirts of tapa became common. Tapa is traditional Polynesian fibrecloth.

Discovery

The isolated little colony was finslly discovered by Captain Mayhew Folger, an American sealing captain (1808). America at the time was a still small and not very important country. The American Navy was very small, but the young Republic had one of the world's largest merchant marine and whaling fleet. And these American vesselsm especially in the Pacific, were constrantly on the look out for islands where they could obtain provisions abd supplies. Cpt. Folger's visit was brief and he was not very interested in the Bounty. The British finally discovered the colony. HMS Briton and HMS Tagus rediscovered the settlement 6 years after the Americans (September 17, 1814). The passion to hang the mtineers had long since passed. John Adams was the only surviving mutineer on Pitcarin. He was pardoned (1825) and died (1829). At the time he was using the name Alexander Smith.

British Overseas Territory

Pictcairn today is one of the remanents of the British Empire still scatered around the world.






HBC






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Created: 9:47 PM 9/25/2010
Last updated: 9:47 PM 9/25/2010