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The chronometer belonging to Captains Cook and Bligh . Photo courtesy the National Maritim e Museum , Greenwich.
to Admiral Hotham, commander of the British fleet at Gardiner's Bay, Long Island , which was blockadi ng southern New England. The compass was returned to Eng land , but its current whereabouts are unknown. It was Captain Folger who persuaded Alexander Smith to take the name of John Adams , when Smith confessed his fear of being captured by the Royal Navy and being taken back to London. Sm ith retained that name thereafter. T he war of 18 12 convinced Captain Folger that his seafaring days were over and late in that year he led a migration of whaling masters to Ohio where he settled and spent hi s remaining years as an honored c itizen of that state. The first ship to visit Pitcairn after the Topaz was the HMS Briton, Captain Staines , in 18 14. Three years later, the Nantucket whaleship G eorge stopped at Pitcairn , and in 1818 the British merchant vessel Hercules dropped her anchor and brought letters to John Adams from his brothers in England. The first census ever taken of Pitcairn was arranged by Captain Frederick Arthur of Nantucket, who stopped at the island in the ship Russell of New Bedford, in March of 1822. Captain Arthur reported meeting the ''venerable John Adams " and commented on the " regularity and neatness of the houses of the inhabitants." The census totalled fiftyone residents of Pitcairn: nineteen Christians, seven McCoys, six Youngs , twelve Quintals , six Adamses, and one Williams. The lesser known , but all important, role of not one, but several Nantucket islanders in the rediscovery of the Bounty mutineers is remarkable , not simply because they came across the settlement at Pitcairn Island , but because they did not do so by utter chance. They were actively engaged in their seafaring livelihood . And there is a sense of wonder to be felt , as I have felt , when one looks at Captain Cook 's chronometer in the National Maritime Museum and thinks of all the remarkable nav igators through whose hands it has passed to find its way there. '1>
SEA HI STORY , WINTER 1986-87
OLD PRINT CENTER
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619 224-8118
ARST PUBLISHER Of SIGNED DAU UTHOGRAPHS IN THE WORLD 981 2nd Ave at 52nd St., N.Y.C. 10022 HOURS 9-5 :30 Creative Framing TUES.-SAT. (212) 755-1516
"HOW FAR FROM THE SEA CAN A SAILOR EVER BE.•••. "
Especially for the Holidays! LONG ISLAND 'S newest luxury "Country Inn " right on the water at PORT JEFFERSON harbor. The expansion of our current to a full scale 75 boat marina will enhance your stay in the antiques-filled suites and rooms with the panoramic balconies overlooking the harbor activity.
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BAYLES DOCK East Broadway at the harbor of Port Jefferson (516) 928-5200
Boston. Fanueil Hall in the Lale 19th Century.
THEJOHN STOBART GALLERY We co rdially in vite you to visit our new gallery and view these elegant, signed and num bered , li mited ed ition lithographs by the re nowned marine artist, J ohn Stoba rt. "Boston. Fanueil Hall in the Late 19th Century" will be amon g the 1987 prints to be released after Thanksgiving. Watercolors by Bert Wright R.S .M. A. a nd gouache by Roy Perry are also on view.
31 North Summer St., Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02539 (617) 627-9066 Winter Hours : 11-5, Friday-Sunday The gallery will close for the season after the Christmas Holiday, although we can be reached by phone at (6 17) 645-3634
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