John Pitcairn

“ A surgeon there may stop the gushing wound, And gain a short respite to life, that yet I may return, and fight one half hour more. Then shall I die in peace, and to my God Surrender up the spirit which he gave." ** Major Pitcairn was carried by his son to a boat, and conveyed to Boston, where he soon died. He left eleven children. The British government settled a pension of one thousand dollars a year upon his widow.
*** Colonel Richard Gridley, the able engineer and brave soldier in this battle, was born in Boston in 1721. ”

“ Pitcairn Island lies at the south-eastern extremity of a chain of islands, which, including the Society and Friendly Islands, exceed a hundred in number, many of them wholly uninhabited, and the rest but thinly peopled, all speaking the same or nearly the same language, which is also spoken by the natives of Pitcairn Island; and all of the two groups are richly clothed with the spontaneous products of nature fit for the use of man. ”

“ In the month of October, 1823, an English whaleship, the Cyrus, Captain Hall, visited Pitcairn Island. John Adams, being now somewhat advanced in years, and beginning already to feel the infirmities of age, expressed to Captain Hall the wish that he could find among the ship’s crew someone to assist him in the arduous task of trying to impart instruction to his [55] young people. The captain listened kindly, and promised to do what he could. Calling his men around him, he made known to them the wishes of the old man, and asked if any of them would be willing to accede to his request. ”

“ A pleasant break in the busy weeks was the visit of Admiral Sir John Kingcome in his flagship, the Sutlej, on the 29th of March, 1864. The day was perfect, with scarce a ripple on the sea, and the sky was wearing its loveliest blue. The sight of the large boats [173] crowded with men going and returning between the shore and the ship, was greatly enjoyed by the islanders. A large crowd both of officers and men landed, and all seemed to enjoy their visit much, and they gladly availed themselves of the privilege of taking free whatever the island produced. ”

“ Further, how was it possible that a people sprung from such a debased stock as settled the island over a century ago, and in whom runs the blood of those who stopped short at no crime, could be pure and stainless in character? A beautiful simplicity no doubt characterized the lives of the little community that grew up under the fostering care of John Adams, and, indeed, all through a century’s period much of that simplicity still remains, but it is a mistake to cherish the idea that sin does not have a kingdom on the little island ”

“ Neither John Adams nor his pupils knew at that time, though doubtless their descendants have learned long ere now, that after all truth is in very deed stranger than fiction.
As time passed changes more or less momentous occurred in the lonely island. True, none of those convulsions which rack and overturn the larger communities of men on earth visited that favoured spot; but forces of Nature were being slowly yet surely developed, which began to tell with considerable effect on the people of Pitcairn. ”

“ A year subsequent to the death of John Adams the Seringapatam, man-of-war, Captain Waldegrave, visited the island, bringing gifts of clothing and other useful presents to the islanders. Previous to that time the people, on account of their rapidly increasing numbers, had been considering whether the island, with its limited resources, would be adequate to their [72] support and maintenance, not the least cause of anxiety being the scarcity of water. ”

“ Four families decided to go. These were, first, Thursday O. Christian, his wife and nine children. Mrs. Christian’s aged mother also accompanied them for the purpose of seeing again her son, Mayhew Young, who was of the first party. The old lady was Elizabeth Mills, only daughter of John Mills, of the Bounty, and the son whom she was going to see was one named in affectionate remembrance of her much esteemed and well-remembered friend, Captain Mayhew Folger, who had discovered the colony on Pitcairn Island fifty-five years before. ”

“ The Pitcairn Islanders are tall, robust, and healthy. Their simple food and early habits of exercise give them a muscular power and activity not often surpassed. It is recorded among the feats of strength which these people occasionally evince, that two of the strongest on the island, George Young and Edward Quintal, have each carried, at one time, without inconvenience, a kedge anchor, two sledge hammers, and an armourer’s anvil, amounting to upwards of six hundred weight; and that Quintal, at another time, carried a boat twenty-eight feet in length. ”

“ The young people, both male and female, speak it with a pleasing accent, and their voices are extremely harmonious.
The little village of Pitcairn is described as forming a pretty square; the house of John Adams, with its out-houses, occupying the upper corner, near a large banyan tree, and that of Thursday October Christian the lower corner opposite to it. The centre space is a fine open lawn, where the poultry wander, and is fenced round so as to prevent the intrusion of the hogs and goats. ”

“ It is only fair to acknowledge that at the time of his coming the condition of affairs on the island did not witness favorably to the management of those who [76] were the acknowledged leaders. Like the Israelites in the times of the judges, “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” for, since the patriarchal rule of John Adams, no one had supplied, as he did, the place he held so long in the confidence, as well as the affection, of the people. ”

“ Nearly twenty-five years had passed since 105 John Adams was left on Pitcairn’s Island, the sole protector and teacher of the women, and of the young children who were growing up around him. He was himself but a common sailor, who had enjoyed only a few advantages of education, his only acquirements the simple lessons which had been taught him in his boyhood, and a new but straightforward and earnest desire to serve God in the way which God should teach him, and in penitence and faith to walk himself and to lead others to walk in the way that leads to everlasting life. ”

“ But the Boston boy did not flinch. He merely gazed back with inquiring interest, nodded and smiled genially.
“Yes,” replied the hawk-nosed lieutenant, glancing at Nat and replying to a question of Major Pitcairn’s. “That is the person.”
“You are quite sure, lieutenant, that he is in sympathy with the rebels?” asked Gage.
“I am positive,” answered Chesbrook.
“And you?” turning to the other.
“It is the same boy,” replied young Prentiss.
There was a moment’s silence, broken by [276] the rattle of hoofs. At the sound, Gage glanced at Pitcairn and the major nodded. ”

“ The inhabitants of Pitcairn’s island at this time consisted of 41 persons, old and young, the whole in such perfect health that they had not so much as a head ache among them. It is almost needless to say, that they all looked up to the old Englishman, Alexander Smith, alias John Adams, as their head and adviser, both in temporal and spiritual matters; and, says Sir Thomas Staines, “his exemplary conduct and fatherly care of the whole little colony, could not but command admiration.”
The young men were very athletic, and of the finest forms ”

“ It turned out, however, that the cutter Juanita from Cooktown, with a party of eight diggers or prospectors, had arrived, with Mr. Whyte as leader. I knew Whyte and one or two of the others. Water diluted with a little whisky was at once produced, when numerous questions were eagerly asked and answered.
In answer to my query what was their object in coming to New Guinea, Mr. Whyte said that the party was organised by himself under the authority of the Hon. John Douglas, at that time "Special Commissioner" for British New Guinea under the "Protectorate." ”

“ Nobbs, to whom the early Pitcairners are indebted for so much, carried on the work of John Adams so well and so piously that he was sent home to England, ordained a clergyman of the Established Church, returned to Pitcairn, and then accompanied the emigrants to Norfolk Island, where he died about ten years ago. ”

“ Carteret complained of the Swallow as entirely unfit for the voyage. He was, however, ordered to sail in her, but was separated from the Dolphin while clearing the Straits of Magellan (11 April 1767) . He resolved to proceed in his ill-found ship, and after watering at Spanish Isle, Masafuero, discovered Pitcairn's Island on 2 July 1767, which in 1790 was occupied by the mutineers of his majesty's ship Bounty [see Adams, John, 1760?–1829] . ”

“ Twenty young people were confirmed (including the two lately arrived from Pitcairn’s Island) , nearly all being descendants of the Bounty mutineers. The hymns were particularly well sung by nearly the whole congregation, one of them to the tune Cambridge New, said to have been a great favorite with Bishop Patteson. A son and a daughter of John Adams, of the Bounty, viz., George Adams and Rachel Evans, both over seventy years of age, were at the service, and I went to see Arthur Quintall, now quite imbecile, the son of another of the mutineers. ”

“ The mutineers were accompanied thither by six Otaheitan men and twelve women; the former were all swept away by desperate contentions between them and the Englishmen, and five of the latter died at different periods, leaving at present only one man (Adams) and seven women of the original settlers.
'The island must undoubtedly be that called Pitcairn, although erroneously laid down in the charts. We had the altitude of the meridian sun close to it, which gave us 25° 4' S. latitude, and 130° 25' W. longitude, by the chronometers of the Briton and Tagus. ”

“ They laid him in a grave upon the land he had cultivated, and over him was said the first word of funeral sermon pronounced in Pitcairn. John Adams, the preacher, of the fifteen males who had sailed in the Bounty from Tahiti, was sole survivor. Fourteen had perished, thirteen violently, in the search for happiness and freedom from restraint. Man had almost annihilated his brother. ”

“ The article from which the foregoing extract was taken, concludes with a very pleasing description of the writer’s feelings on awaking in the morning and hearing the voice of praise and prayer ascending from more than one family altar, a custom begun by John Adams, the converted mutineer, and which continues still.
The visit of the Cormorant will always be among the bright and pleasant remembrances of the island, although she stayed only two days. On the first day [236] every youth and child, as well as many adults, underwent the light operation of being vaccinated. ”

“ Some questions that have been put to those who go on board ship, even at this late date, are very amusing. “Do you know what that is?” was asked of one of the islanders, the article in question being a lump of sugar. “Can you read writing?” “Can anyone on the island read?” or, “You do not know what reading is?” and similar questions have been earnestly asked by some who for the first time have become acquainted with the people.
In March of 1868 John Buffett, now over seventy years of age, but still hale and active, came to visit his only daughter, Mrs. ”

“ Tay, whose name was so closely associated with the ship, and also with the island, had died at Suva, in Fiji, and the captain, Mr. Marsh, had fallen a victim to the influenza, and died in Auckland, New Zealand.
Elder Gates and his wife remained on the island, while the Pitcairn returned to California. Too much cannot be said of the good that their stay accomplished. Although, physically, the gentleman was not strong, he made every effort to elevate the minds of the people, who naturally had, owing to their isolated situation, very narrow and limited views of life. ”

“ Several among the people of the island have taken short trips to Tahiti and Mangareva, and have returned, and in 1891 two young men went to California and Oregon, on a British bark, the Earl Dunraven, whose captain, a friend of the islanders, brought a large gift of clothing and many useful things from kind friends in the places he visited.
In writing this account of facts concerning Pitcairn Island it is felt that it would be unjust not to mention everyone to whom the people are indebted for favors unnumbered ”

“ He left his passengers to the hospitality of the islanders, and the kind favor of the first captain that should call going the same way, and took away with him one of the islanders who was on board when the ship sailed. This man went to California and returned by way of Sydney.
When the surprised and forsaken passengers had ascertained that they had been left behind, they wisely decided to make the best of the circumstances. Mr. Carleton, who was highly gifted with musical talent, mentioned to John Buffett the matter of trying to improve the singing of the people. ”

“ Richard Brydges Beechey, midshipman, and a crew of eight seamen and marines.
About ninety miles to the northward of Pitcairn, there is a coral formation, which has been named Oeno Island, after a whale-ship, whose master supposed that it had not before been seen ; though the discovery belongs to Mr. Henderson, the commander of a Calcutta trader. It is so low that it can be discerned at only a very few miles distance, and is highly dangerous to a night navigation.
“Lieutenant Belcher was sent to ascertain the depth of water round this island, with permission to land if unattended with danger ”

“ There is no printing press on the island, and this is the only contemporary record of its doings enjoyed by the settlement. But then, with only one hundred and thirty people to keep track of, doubtless everybody who is so inclined contrives to be pretty well posted. On two different occasions Pitcairn has been deserted by its inhabitants, for one reason or another, and the present inhabitants are descended mostly from two families who returned to the island as late as 1858. ”