Morayshire
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:04 am
After the mutiny of the Bounty, a number of mutineers settled on Pitcairn Island. By 1850 the islanders numbered 156 and were increasing rapidly. The question of moving the entire population to another island was being mooted. This time the islanders were insisting on an uninhabited island. In 1856 the majority of islanders decided to move with British government help to Norfolk Island, which had become vacant a little earlier when the penal settlement had been withdrawn. It was larger than Pitcairn, and after sixty years of convict labour it had large areas of cultivation, roads, houses and was well stocked with domestic animals. So in 1856 when the HMS Morayshire arrived all 194 islanders boarded her. The Morayshire left Pitcairn on May 3, 1856 with 194 persons, landing them on Norfolk Island on June 8, 1856. The 194 Pitcairners were soon joined by a baby born on May 9. Altogether there were: 38 Christians, 48 Quintals, 21 Youngs, 18 Adamses, 16 McCoys, 20 Buffetts, 13 Nobbses, 11 Evanses. They brought with them a cannon and the anvil from the Bounty, both of which can be seen on Norfolk Island today.
The Morayshire was built at Moulmein in 1853 for Duncan Dunbar, who owned the shipyard. Dunbar, already a shipowner on a large scale, was one of the first London owners to encourage the building of high-class sailing ships of teak in Burma. A ship of 788 tons, the Morayshire was under the command of Capt. J. Mathers in 1856. The Norfolk Island stamp design is taken from a painting, by an unknown artist, in the possession of the Norfolk Island Administration.
Sea Breezes 12/67
Norfolk Is SG84, 258 Pitcairn Is SG216, 218
The Morayshire was built at Moulmein in 1853 for Duncan Dunbar, who owned the shipyard. Dunbar, already a shipowner on a large scale, was one of the first London owners to encourage the building of high-class sailing ships of teak in Burma. A ship of 788 tons, the Morayshire was under the command of Capt. J. Mathers in 1856. The Norfolk Island stamp design is taken from a painting, by an unknown artist, in the possession of the Norfolk Island Administration.
Sea Breezes 12/67
Norfolk Is SG84, 258 Pitcairn Is SG216, 218