Wagener Family Down Under: Pacific Missionary Time Line

Time Line

Last updated
19 August 2005

This is a general time line for missionary events in the Pacific, and in Australia and New Zealand. Interwoven with their story are the threads of other stories such as the fate of the 'El Plumier', whose story is told in some detail in 'The Ship that wouldn't sail'.
UNDER

CONSTRUCTION

Australia/England

Pacific Islands



First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay		1788
		14 Jul 1789	Day of the Storming of the Bastille. French Revolution
First official meeting of what would become the London Missionary Society		1 Nov 1794
Convict ship *'Surprize'* arrives at Port Jackson. On board are the so-called Scottish Martyrs, namely Thomas Muir, William Skirving, Thomas Fyshe-Palmer, and Maurice Margarot. Also on board were two young men determined to make a name for themselves in the colonies. They were not convicts, but young scions of English families. Their names were John Boston and James Ellis, and they were destined to become involved with the decrepit Spanish prize *'El Plumier'* later in their lives.		23 Nov 1794
First shipload of missionaries boards the vessel *'Duff'*, Capt. Wilson, at London, in preparation for a voyage to Otaheiti, (today's Tahiti) with the intention of civilising the natives by example.		10 Aug 1796
The *'Duff'* did not get away from England until 22 September, and travelled past Madeira and Palma, reaching St. Jago on October 14, where they remained until the 18th of October. They reached Rio on 11 November, and after a stop of a few days continued on South and East on what would become the standard emigration route in years to come. They arrived at Otaheiti, having sailed via Rio, then south of NZ in an easterly direction.	The following persons were left at Otaheiti; Reverends J. F. Cover J. Eyre and wife J. Jefferson T. Lewis, and Messrs. H. Bicknell, B. Broomhall J. Cock Samuel Clode W. Henry (& wife) P. Hodges, Rowland Hassall (with wife & child) E. Main H. Nott F. Oakes J. Puckey W. Puckey W. Smith, with two other women and one more child	5 Mar 1797
The *'Duff'* went on to the Friendly Isles (today's Tonga) and left more missionaries at Tongabatu.	The following persons were left at Tongabatu; Rev. S. Kelso Messrs. D Bowell J. Buchanan J. Cooper S. Harper I. Nobbs W. Shelly G. Veeson J. Wilkinson S. Gaulton	26 Mar 1797
The *'Duff'* then returned eastwards to the Marquesas and left a single missionary.	William Pascoe Crook
The *'Duff'* arrives back at Matavai Bay in Otaheiti after surveying the Marquesas.		6 July 1797
The *'Duff'* departs from Matavai Bay in Otaheiti to return to England via Tongabatu and Canton.		4 Aug 1797
		Sep 1797	The *'Duff'* leaves Tonga for Whampoa, near today's Hongkong, where she would pick up a cargo for England.
	The missionaries were aghast to see the ship's crew trade firearms for food and other needs.	6 Mar 1798	*'Nautilus'*, Capt. Charles Bishop, arrives at Tahiti. The ship was in poor condition, and had been forced to port by a gale.
	When the ship departed it left behind four Sandwich Islanders.	11 Mar 1798	*'Nautilus'* leaves Matavai bay for Massuefero, on the South American coast.
	2 seamen deserted the ship, taking with them a ships boat. The missionaries were asked to assist in the recovery of the men and the boat, by talking with the local chiefs. In doing so they became victims of a rapidly polarising local political turmoil, wherein Otu, the king, came into conflict with Pomare, his father, who supported the missionaries.	25 Mar 1798	*'Nautilus'* returns to Tahiti, having found it impossible to reach her destination. Instead, Bishop now plans to make for Port Jackson after obtaining more stores. With the missionaries panicked about their safety, he agreed to provide passage for those who wished to go to NSW.
	The missionaries remaining behind in Otaheiti were Rev. Eyre and his wife, Mr Nott, Mr Broomhall, Mr Lewis, Mr Jefferson, Mr Harris and Mr Bicknell.	30 Mar 1798	*'Nautilus'* leaves Matavai bay for Port Jackson.
		24 Aug 1798	Whalers *'Cornwallis'* and *'Sally'* arrive at Matavai Bay.
		27 Aug 1798	Whalers *'Cornwallis'* and *'Sally'* leave.
		20 Feb 1799	The *'Duff'* is captured on her second voyage near Rio by a French privateer. Her crew and missionaries are saved, but the ship is lost
		7 Jul 1799	.	The *'El Plumier'* is captured on by the *'Betsy' , 'Barbar'* and *'Resolution'* off the Californian coast
	Lewis dies or is murdered, the missionaries are unsure which, for he had left their company to live with a native woman.	23 Nov 1799	.
	With an opportunity at last to communicate with their society, and to learn what had become of their previously taken companions, it was decided to send Harris with the *'Betsy'* to Port Jackson.	Dec 1799	Whaler *'Betsy'* , Capt. Ob Clark, of London arrives with Spanish prize *'El Plumier'* in tow, bound for Port Jackson from what today is Southern California. To complete her 'letter of marque' the captain must present to the nearest Vice Admiralty Board, which in this case was Port Jackson. Only thus could the siezure of the ship and her cargo of spirits be legitimised.
*'Betsy'* leaves for Port Jackson with prize again in tow.		1 Jan 1800
*'Royal Admiral'* , Capt. W. Wilson, leaves England for Port Jackson with convicts and missionaries..	The missionaries on board are intended to relieve those on the Pacific stations.	5 Jan 1800
Whaler *'Eliza'* arrives from Port Jackson.	Mr & Mrs Henry arrive back in Tahiti in this ship	6 Jan 1800
	This ship leaves behind 4 men whose subsequent actions caused the missionaries grave trouble.	14 Jan 1800	Whaler *'Eliza'* departs after trading with natives.
*'Betsy'* stops briefly at Tonga, still with prize in tow.	William Shelly uplifted from Tonga and taken on to Port Jackson.	21 Jan 1800
*'Betsy'* arrives Port Jackson with prize *'El Plumier'* in tow.		12 Feb 1800
		11 Nov 1800	*'Royal Admiral', Capt W. Wilson (ex 'Duff') arrives at Sydney with 257 convicts plus small contingent of missionaries, part of the hijacked 'Duff'* voyage.
The news that their supply ship is lost is a heavy blow to the missionaries. In addition, there was a letter from Mr. Harris, who was settled in Norfolk Island, that acquainted them with the murder of three of the Missionaries in the Friendly Islands, the departure of one, the flight of the rest to Port Jackson, and the total destruction of the Tonga Mission.		27 Dec 1800	*'Albion', Capt. Bunker, arrives in islands with news of the loss of the 'Duff'* to French privateers on her way south from England. He is unaware that a replacement ship, the *'Royal Admiral'* has already arrived in Sydney only weeks before.
*'El Plumier'*, Capt. John Reid, leaves Port Jackson, ostensibly for England via NZ.	On board are the two Puckey brothers previously missionaries at Tahiti.	5 Jan 1801	It appears from the dates and the connections that the *'Royal Admiral'* Capt W. Wilson left with or shortly after the *'El Plumier', as she is next recorded as surveying the Thames estuary in New Zealand, the very place we know 'El Plumier'* was laid up and repaired. Presumably the *'Royal Admiral'* left to travel north for Tonga before the work on *'El Plumier'* was complete, for she too went north.
Eight additional missionaries from England came on the ship, plus stores and communications from their society. In addition, William Shelly came from Port Jackson.		10 Jul 1801	*'Royal Admiral', Capt W. Wilson (ex 'Duff'*) arrives at Tahiti.
With the departing ship leaves Broomhall, who has lost his zeal for missionary work, and indeed, has some doubts about religion in general.		31 Jul 1801	*'Royal Admiral', Capt W. Wilson (ex 'Duff'*) sails for Canton and an eventual return to England.
	Shelly is married in Parramatta to Elizabeth Bean.	27 Oct 1801
	Shelly is mentioned as returning to Matavai Bay again, this time with his wife.	25 May 1802	NSW govt ship'Norfolk' (previously named *'Harbinger'*), Capt William House, arrives at Tahiti.
	The Puckey brothers are stuck in Guam.	2 Jun 1802	The Scottish martyr Thomas Fyshe-Palmer from *'El Plumier'* dies in Guam, and is refused burial in consecrated ground by the local religious authorities because of his heretical beliefs. Instead he is buried along the seashore 'among pirates
	The missionaries are forced to take sides and seek the protection provided by the firearms of the castaway crew.	30 May 1802	*'Norfolk'* is wrecked in the bay and lost, although her cargo and crew survived. These latter soon found themselves involved in a local war.