Jefferson
The whaler Jefferson frequented the coast of New Zealand between 1812 and 1815.
In 1812, her Captain was L Jones. With the first christian mission station still to be established, the actions and behaviour of the whale captains and their crew could only be checked by their own character. A Tahitian known as Jem living at the Bay of Islands at the time of Jefferson’s first visits accused Captain Jones of cruelty to the New Zealanders. In early new European contact, there are several instances of ship captains abusing Maori whaling crew and New Zealand women and men that boarded the ships anchored in the Bay of Islands.
By 1813, Captain Jones had transferred to King George and Robert Barnes took over as master. He brought Jefferson into the Bay in 1813, and again in December 1814 while on her way to the whaling grounds from Sydney. On 12 February 1815, Jefferson was back at the Bay of Islands where she would have replenished before departing for England.
In 1812, her Captain was L Jones. With the first christian mission station still to be established, the actions and behaviour of the whale captains and their crew could only be checked by their own character. A Tahitian known as Jem living at the Bay of Islands at the time of Jefferson’s first visits accused Captain Jones of cruelty to the New Zealanders. In early new European contact, there are several instances of ship captains abusing Maori whaling crew and New Zealand women and men that boarded the ships anchored in the Bay of Islands.
By 1813, Captain Jones had transferred to King George and Robert Barnes took over as master. He brought Jefferson into the Bay in 1813, and again in December 1814 while on her way to the whaling grounds from Sydney. On 12 February 1815, Jefferson was back at the Bay of Islands where she would have replenished before departing for England.