Mercury
Captain Edwards sailed Mercury into the Bay of Islands in mid November 1822. He was on his way to the whaling fishery from Sydney. When he arrived back on 29 March 1924, Mercury’s cargo was almost full of oil but Captain Edwards was not a well man. After just a few days at land to recuperate from his illness, he sailed Mercury for the fishery again.
In March 1825, the brig Mercury entered Whangaroa Harbour eager for supplies, but the ship was quickly boarded and over run by local Maori. The New Zealanders stayed on board all night, much to the dismay of the fear filled crew. The next day William White from the missionary station boarded Mercury and managed to persuade some of the Maori to leave, before going back ashore himself. Mercury’s captain, desperate to get out, began towing to sea, but the remaining Maori attacked and the captain and crew fled in the ship’s jolly and whaleboats.
John Marmon was among the captured crew. He later wrote a book of his time in New Zealand, one of the few written accounts of an early European resident among New Zealand Maori. Missionary White again boarded Mercury where he found the ship’s mate, cook, and steward. When the Maori had finally left the ship, White tried to help the men get Mercury out to sea but she was in such a state that they had to abandon her and return to Whangaroa in White’s boat. Mercury’s survivors where taken to the Bay of Islands where they were given passage back to Sydney on Pocklington.
In March 1825, the brig Mercury entered Whangaroa Harbour eager for supplies, but the ship was quickly boarded and over run by local Maori. The New Zealanders stayed on board all night, much to the dismay of the fear filled crew. The next day William White from the missionary station boarded Mercury and managed to persuade some of the Maori to leave, before going back ashore himself. Mercury’s captain, desperate to get out, began towing to sea, but the remaining Maori attacked and the captain and crew fled in the ship’s jolly and whaleboats.
John Marmon was among the captured crew. He later wrote a book of his time in New Zealand, one of the few written accounts of an early European resident among New Zealand Maori. Missionary White again boarded Mercury where he found the ship’s mate, cook, and steward. When the Maori had finally left the ship, White tried to help the men get Mercury out to sea but she was in such a state that they had to abandon her and return to Whangaroa in White’s boat. Mercury’s survivors where taken to the Bay of Islands where they were given passage back to Sydney on Pocklington.