Monday, August 8, 2011

The Phoenix (Schooner) - December 1846



The Schooner Phoenix was built in Nelson in 1846. The first records of her being reported in the newspapers of the time, have her lying in port at Nelson in October of 1846. She left Nelson for Wellington on November 21st 1846 and was never seen again. The first sighting was reported in early December of 1846. She was wrecked near D'Urville Island with the loss of seven lives. This was possibly her first and last voyage.

SUPPOSED WRECK of the PHOENIX AND LOSS OF ALL HANDS.
It is our painful duty to state that there is every reason to fear the beautiful little, schooner Phoenix, lately built at this port and which sailed hence for Wellington, on her first voyage, on the 21st ult., has been wrecked somewhere between Stephen's Island and the Rangitoto side of D'Urville' Island.

All the information we at present possess relative to this most unfortunate event has been obtained from Mr. James M'Laren, of Croixelles, who arrived here in a boat from Rangitoto on Monday evening last.

Mr. M'Laren left Croixelles in a boat, accompanied by a canoe, on Monday the 23rd of  November, and proceeding through the French Pass, reached Rangitoto on the day following.  A native lad who had accompanied him having strolled into an adjoining bay, picked up. there a piece of the bulwark of a vessel, and , bringing it back with him, Mr. M'Laren immediately suspected it belonged to the Phoenix, which he had seen in Nelson a short time before she sailed, and that she had been wrecked in the neighbourhood. On the morning of Wednesday, the 25th, he himself . proceeded along the same coast, and picked  up several pieces of bulwark, part of the wreck of a boat, one of the main hatches and the false keel of a vessel, and a piece of sawn .limber. When he arrived opposite to Stephen's  Island, Mr. M'Laren remained there till low water to take a survey of the sunken rocks, but discovered nothing further that day.

On the following morning he started again on the same track at daylight, but finding nothing, he crossed the hills to Port Hardy, and ranged the whole of the north-west coast to Cape Stephens, without discovering a particle of the wreck.

At daybreak, on the 27th, Mr. M'Laren manned his boat and started for the Admiralty Islands. On the northernmost one he discovered part of a boat, a main-hatch, a forecastle scuttle, a handspike, and several small pieces of bulwark.

Proceeding to the next island, he there picked up part of a bag of flour, one of the companion stanchions, two of the companion doors, and  a curtain roller. As it came on to blow heavily, Mr. M'Laren was obliged to discontinue further search.

On his return to Rangitoto, a native brought him a parcel he had picked up containing letters and papers belonging to Mr. Perry, which proved at once that the wreck was that of the Phoenix. Another bag with flour, and a cask which had been stoved, supposed to have contained brandy, were also picked up by the natives ; the bags were marked AP.

On Monday, the 30th, Mr. M'Laren started for Nelson, but the state of the weather did not permit him to reach here before Monday last. The above is all we know regarding the fate of this unfortunate vessel ; what remains is mere conjecture.

The Phoenix left Nelson on Saturday the 21st November, about nine p.m., with a fair breeze. There were seven persons on board, namely, Mr. A. Perry, of this place, merchant and owner of the vessel; Cooper, master, formerly mate of the Fifeshire; Manning, mate, from Sydney in the Royal William ; Joseph Hall, a seaman ;' Scott, M'Donald, son of Mr. M'Donald, late of the Wakatu Tavern ; William Rice, shipped as carpenter; and Thomas Lightband, son of Mr. Lightband, leather-dresser.

The probability is that the night after she started, she ran in the dark inside Stephen's Island, supposing she had passed it, and was in the Straits, and striking on one of the sunken rocks there, bilged, or went down at once by the head in deep water.

The finding of Mr. Perry's parcel of private papers on the beach, leads us to think that when the vessel struck, the unfortunate gentleman seized it and rushed on deck, but whether he succeeded or not in getting into the boat, the wreck of which was found, it is impossible for us to say. As no part of the rigging or spars was found, it would seem that the vessel must have gone down bodily.

The weather at the time was very foggy, and the wind strong, without however blowing a gale. The pilot boat started on Tuesday evening, with Mr. Tinline, who had charge of Mr. Perry's affairs in his absence, to endeavour to learn something more of the fate of the vessel and those on board. Whether we view this unfortunate event as a public or private calamity, it is equally distressing. In a small community such as ours, the loss of any single member leaves a hiatus ; to lose at once seven, and among them a man who acted a prominent part in the mercantile affairs of the settlement, is a blow we shall long feel.

Mr. A. Perry was, we believe, the son of Dr. Perry, of Glasgow, and emigrated to Wellington with the first settlers. For the last four years he has carried on business in this place, and was always characterized by his indefatigable industry. No man more willingly assisted struggling enterprise, or exerted himself with greater energy to develop our resources.

If we could persuade ourselves the thing were possible, we should hope the lives of those who were on board the ill-fated vessel may yet prove safe; but, had they been carried ashore in any of the bays or on the islands in the neighbourhood, they must have been heard of ere now through the natives.

The loss of the vessel to the port is also a serious matter. Strongly built, and fitted up in the most tasteful and complete manner, we looked to her to supply the want we have long laboured under— a regular communication with the neighbouring settlements.

The captain of the Phoenix has left a wife and young family, for whom a subscription will be opened at the Custom House. Nel. E.
-         New Zealand Spectator & Cook’s Strait Guardian 2 January 1847



In February of 1847 it was reported that two masts had been seen on the sand spit, which were possibly the wreck of the Phoenix.

The Elora reports having seen the wreck on the sand spit at the mouth of the bay which we noticed last week. Two masts were distinctly visible, but whether she way a brig or a schooner does not appear, though Captain Turnbull inclines to the latter opinion, as the masts appeared to be slender. We still think it will prove to be the Phoenix. A whaleboat started on Tuesday for the spot, and we may therefore expect quickly to have full intelligence.
 -         Nelson Examiner & New Zealand Chronicle 6 February 1847


The last reported possible sighting of the wreck came in July of 1847.


Captain Watson, of the Fisherman, reports having passed a vessel, keel uppermost, off Port Gore. She was apparently about thirty tons, but as it was night when she was seen, no very accurate description of her can be given. We think it not improbable, but this may have been the hull of the Phoenix, supposed to have been lost near the spot, and which the late heavy gales may have liberated.

- Nelson Examiner & New Zealand Chronicle 17 July 1847




11 comments:

  1. Thanks for the detailed information Liz. George Cooper (Captain of the Phoenix) is my Great, Great, Great Grand Father. This information is of real interest and much appreciated by myself and my family.

    Regards,
    Peter Wood

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Peter

    That's great it has given you and your family a bit more history to add. Feel free to use the information by all means. That's why this blog is here and that is to share. The image I used isn't the Phoenix I got it from Wikipedia Commons. Its story though interested me greatly. Sadly there were no further reports on her fate. So she lies there where she sank. Sad for those who went down with her.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Liz,
    Thats alot of interesting infomation on the "Phoenix", very interesting to read !,Ive afew things to share too :) ,
    Ive been helping my father with afew holes in our family tree for awhile now.
    One of the hardest people too find in our family tree,was Thomas Lightband aged 14 who lived with his family in Nelson,since comming to New Zealand aboard the "Thomas Harrison" in 1842 from England,
    and then disapeard four years later,in 1846.

    With abit of research, Ive since found that Thomas Lightband was given a job,I can only assume as a deckhand,onboard the "Phoenix",a brand new schooner that was built at Nelson.
    In 1846 the "Phoenix" was fully laiden, and set sail on its maiden voyage to wellington early in the morning,and a young Charles Heaphy,Yes thee Charles Heaphy who went on to become New Zealands first colonial soldier
    to win the Victoria Cross,

    http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/charles-heaphy

    was a local artist at the time,and he just happed to be sitting next to the port that morning and was looking for something to paint,He did a watercolour painting of the "Phoenix" as she sailed past,
    This would of made him, one of the last people to see the "Phoenix" afloat.

    Ive since found that the water colour painting he done of the "Phoenix" is at the Auckland museum,and if you contact Shaun Higgins he will be able to send you a copy of it,
    and, Ive found a complete list of all those onboard.

    http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZSCSG18470102.2.6&srpos=24&e=-------100--1----0lightband+phoenix--


    Its almost sad to note,that when you look at the painting, How Charles Heaphy had panited the oncomming "dark storm" in the back ground,and how "choppy" the seas were.



    Regards

    Martin Lightband

    ReplyDelete
  4. Part 1

    Ive just found alot of other interesting info on the Phoenix !!

    To start with, the Phoenix was actually a cutter called "the Lively".

    The Lively was built by Wm.Jenkins of Torbay,WA in 1838, and was used to move cargo and livestock to differnt Australian ports, she was
    sold in 1841 to Melbourne.

    Melbourne later sold "The Lively" to Nelson New Zealand.in June 1845.

    http://www.australianshipwrecks.info/easw-parsonslist-j-o.html

    "The Lively" sailed to nelson, New Zealand in 1844, with Mr Hopkins the agent of the cutter and Captian Pearce.

    On the 10 February 1844, "The Lively" started to sail around to differnt North Island ports delivering mail,supplys and general cargo,
    This also included the odd trip to Wellington.

    Here is a list of the "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE"

    http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=q&r=71&results=1&e=-------10--61-byDA---0++Lively++--

    Alittle later, on 30th March around 10pm, Mr Hopkins the agent,used a small boat that belonged to Mr Schroeder, to get to "the Lively".
    and unfortunately due to not being able to manage the small boat properly, he was swept out of the harbour by the tide
    and before daylight,was carried a considerable distance down into the bay.

    He was later very lucky to be picked up by Mr Wells of the "Suburban North" the next day.

    http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18440330.2.6&srpos=89&e=-------10--81-byDA---0++Lively++--

    (His story is about halfway down in the newspaper clipping)

    Captian Pearce is later replaced by Captian Murphy,and Captian Murphy continue's to deliver general cargo mail etc until 4th of April 1846,
    when Captian Murphy is replaced by Captian George Cooper.

    http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18460404.2.2&srpos=220&e=-------10--211-byDA---0++Lively++--

    Captian George Cooper was previousy the first mate on the "Fifeshire" a most unlucky ship,On arrival to Wellington from london,the Fifeshire sailors deserted.
    “ (2 weeks waiting in Wellington for a new crew to assemble) “...Saunders, probably foolishly, told Colonel Wakefield,
    that the desertions had been caused by the swearing and bullying behaviour of the First Mate.”

    however Its not clear if George Cooper was the original First Mate that apparently caused the desertions, or part of a replacement crew that was in Wellington already.
    During the voyage fever broke out and 17 passengers died, their bodies being buried at sea.

    When navigating Cook Strait the ship nearly came to grief. The pilot took her between Stephen's Island and the mainland and, the wind failing at a critical moment,
    it looked as though she would go ashore, but Captain Arnold sent away a boat with a kedge, which dropped in the nick of time and the ship hauled of into port safety.


    http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NEW-ZEALAND/2010-11/1290482468

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Part 1

    Ive just found alot of other interesting info on the Phoenix !!

    To start with, the Phoenix was actually a cutter called "the Lively".

    The Lively was built by Wm.Jenkins of Torbay,WA in 1838, and was used to move cargo and livestock to differnt Australian ports, she was
    sold in 1841 to Melbourne.

    Melbourne later sold "The Lively" to Nelson New Zealand.in June 1845.

    "The Lively" then sailed to nelson, New Zealand in 1844, with Mr Hopkins the agent of the cutter and Captian Pearce.

    On the 10 February 1844, "The Lively" started to sail around to differnt North Island ports delivering mail,supplys and general cargo,
    This also included the odd trip to Wellington.


    Alittle later, on 30th March around 10pm, Mr Hopkins the agent,used a small boat that belonged to Mr Schroeder, to get to "the Lively".
    and unfortunately due to not being able to manage the small boat properly, he was swept out of the harbour by the tide
    and before daylight,was carried a considerable distance down into the bay.

    He was later very lucky to be picked up by Mr Wells of the "Suburban North" the next day.


    Captian Pearce is later replaced by Captian Murphy,and Captian Murphy continue's to deliver general cargo mail etc until 4th of April 1846,
    when Captian Murphy is replaced by Captian George Cooper.


    Captian George Cooper was previousy the first mate on the "Fifeshire" a most unlucky ship,On arrival to Wellington from london,the Fifeshire sailors deserted.
    “ (2 weeks waiting in Wellington for a new crew to assemble) “...Saunders, probably foolishly, told Colonel Wakefield,
    that the desertions had been caused by the swearing and bullying behaviour of the First Mate.”

    however Its not clear if George Cooper was the original First Mate that apparently caused the desertions, or part of a replacement crew that was in Wellington already.
    During the voyage fever broke out and 17 passengers died, their bodies being buried at sea.

    When navigating Cook Strait the ship nearly came to grief. The pilot took her between Stephen's Island and the mainland and, the wind failing at a critical moment,
    it looked as though she would go ashore, but Captain Arnold sent away a boat with a kedge, which dropped in the nick of time and the ship hauled of into port safety.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Part 2

    However when the "Fifeshire" was in the Nelson port,and cleared for China, they never made it out of Nelson Harbour.

    On the morning of 27th February 1842, in charge of an acting Pilot (Captain F. G. Moore-the regular Pilot was unwell), she got under way.
    She had nearly passed through the narrow channel entrance when the wind failed, and the tide carried her onto Arrow Reef,and was a total loss.


    When George Cooper takes on the role as Captian of the "Lively", he only makes one voyage on the "Lively",on April 1846,to take pigs,maize,wheat and barley to Kawhia,
    After that voyage, the "Lively" is then taken back to Nelson for a refit.

    On the 8th July 1846,she is taken out of the water and "rebuilt" into a larger ship,that will increase her tonnage to about 20 tons,and will be lengthened 10ft.


    In October of 1846, work on the hull is complete,and the "Lively" is renamed the "Phoenix" and relauched back into Nelson port,
    A short time later while shes still in the Nelson port, the people of nelson are talking and asking about the meaning of the new ships name, "the Phoenix"
    and wish her well for her continued voyages.


    Sadly its around this time, a teenager Thomas Lightband,a member of our family tree,got a job that we can only assume as a deckhand,aboard "the Phoenix".

    The Lightband family who having arrived from England in 1842 onboard the "Thomas Harrison" and after spending so much time at sea,
    would of more than likely, thought that this would of been quite a safe job to do.

    even more so, on a ship thats just been rebuilt.


    Captian George Cooper left the Nelson port on "his" first trip to Wellington with the newly named schooner"Phoenix" on November 21st 1846,
    she was fully laiden,and family and freinds waved her goodbye,
    as "the Phoenix" sailed out of Nelson port, a young Charles Heaphy,who went on to become New Zealands first colonial soldier
    to win the Victoria Cross,was a local artist at the time,and he just happend to be sitting next to the port that morning and was looking for something to paint,
    He did a watercolour painting of the "Phoenix" as she sailed past,
    This would of made him, one of the last people to see the "Phoenix" afloat.

    its sad to note,that when you look at the painting, How Charles Heaphy had panited the oncomming "dark storm" in the back ground,
    and how "choppy" the seas were.

    The Painting is at the Auckland museum,and if you contact Shaun Higgins he will be able to send you a copy of it.

    "the Phoenix" disapeared sometime after November 21st 1846,and wreakage was spotted on Monday 23 November 1846.


    Its assumed that the "Phoenix" ran aground on rocks near between Stephens Island and the Rangitoto side of D'Urville's Island.


    Captian Walker of the "John" spots wreakage from the "Phoenix" on January 30, 1847

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Martin sorry I haven't replied sooner. This is fantastic to read. Thank you so so much for all of your amazing information. Is it okay with you if I add the information you have provided with of course credit properly and rightly given to you for your research.

    Great to see this post has helped in some small way.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It would be great to share this with anyone interested,

    Regards

    Martin Lightband

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can provide you with all the links to the details of what Ive found, if you need them.

    I tried to put the links in with the content above but it exceeded the blog comment size

    Regards

    Martin Lightband

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Martin

    It seems every time I try to get back to this blog something comes up. I have a proposal for you. Would you like to create a guest blog post for me. I do post on behalf of others as a guest blog post with the writer's name credited. You can email me the text etc at crewmadbushfarm@gmail.com. I'm posting in my farm account profile in this comment feel free to contact me and I'd be really thrilled if I could post a guest blog post on your behalf. You've done all of the research so it's only right it should be in your name. Let me know when you are able

    All the best!

    ReplyDelete