The Missionary wooden brig "TRITON" was built in 1838 by William Morgan at Pill, downstreams of Bristol, on the River Avon, England.
The first registration of the "TRITON" on 24 Jan,1838 was under the name of Henry Kemplace (?) Johns at Bristol.
Most probably bought by the Wesleyan Missionary Society before delivering.
Tonnage 120 ts, dim. 66.6 x 18.3 x 12.8ft.. one deck square stern.
During her lifetime her rigging is given as brig, brigatine and schooner.
She sailed on 14 Sept. 1839 from Bristol under command of Capt. Beattie, with 11 missionaries via Madeira, Saldannha Bay, Cape Town and Hobart to Hokianga, New Zealand, where she arrived on 8 May 1840. She was used by the missionaries until 1847 and registered at Bristol.
May 1847 Sold to Wm. S. Grahame, Auckland, and registered there.
Sept. 1847 Sold to J.T. Waterhouse (32 shares) and R.S. & J.T.Waterhouse (16), Wm Waterhouse (16), registered at Hobart Town, Tasmania. (the numbers between the brackets are shares).
Feb. 1848 The owners were J.T. Waterhouse (32), WM. & R.S. Waterhouse (22), And registered at Hobart Town.
Feb. 1850 Wm. Waterhouse was the only owner.
July 1851 Sold to Thomas Stevens, at Hobart Town.
June 1852 Sold to Francis E.Beaver & Fredk. P. Stevens, and registered at Melbourne.
1853 The "TRITON" stranded at Portland, but was refloated.
1855 Was Henry Heron Beauchamp the owner, and was the "TRITON" registered at Sydney.
1856 Sold to Wm. Spear & R.E.H. Cooper, at Sydney.
Nov. 1857 Sold to J.F.Paul.
Feb. 1858 Sold to L.E.Murphy & L.E. Montefiore.
August 1862 wrecked at Pt. Stephens, NSW, but again salvaged
Jan. 1863 Sold to Chas Clark (32) & Jas. Gillan (16) & Thomas Nicol(16), and registered at Newcastle, NSW. She was re rigged as a twomast schooner.
Sept. 1864 Sold to Chas. Clark & J.M. Lamont.
Nov. 1865 Sold to Charles Clark, at Newcastle, his profession was ship chandler at that port.
He was the owner when she was wrecked on a voyage from Port Chalmers, NZ to Newcastle in Palliser Bay, New Zealand, on a voyage from Port Chalmers to Newcastle in ballast. She sailed from Port Chalmers on 4 June 1866 under command of Captain R. Spencer, during the voyage she encountered a very heavy south west gale.
On June 9 and 10 the weather was very thick and the wind light and variable. She made land on the evening of 10 June at Cape Palliser, with a light northerly wind.
Trying to work offshore the wind changed to the south-east and increased to a- strong gale with heavy rainfall. Due to be in ballast the "TRITON" did have a light trim, and she was driven by the strong current and heavy gale into the bight. When she was near the breakers both anchors were dropped. First the anchors held, but after a few minutes both cables parted and the "TRITON" drifted ashore. The Ship heeled over the masts went by the board and in five minutes she broke up, but luckily all hands reached the shore safely.
Tonga 1976 9s/38s, sg 583/87, scott C199-C203.
Tuvalu 1986 60c sg 380
sources: Mr. David Asprey. Mr. von Mach. MARHST-L. Ships of Australia and New
Zealand before 1850 by Ronald Parsons. Australian Shipowners and their fleets V0l. 3, by Ronald Parsons. New Zealand Shipwrecks by C.W.N. Ingram