Sophia
Captain James Kelly’s visit to Otago on his ship Sophia in December 1817 ended in the violent deaths of several crew and many local Maori. On 12 December the crew of Sophia were set upon and killed at Murdering Beach. When the tribe attempted to take Sophia, the surviving crew fought back with their sealing knives and 16 of the local inhabitants were killed while many others drowned.
Years later when Captain Kelly had taken up residence in Foveaux Strait, Joseph Weller wrote to him warning that the Otago Maori intended to take another of Kelly’s ships, Amity, from Captain Lovett while it was anchored in Otago Harbour in 1833, most likely in revenge for what had happened in 1817.
Years later when Captain Kelly had taken up residence in Foveaux Strait, Joseph Weller wrote to him warning that the Otago Maori intended to take another of Kelly’s ships, Amity, from Captain Lovett while it was anchored in Otago Harbour in 1833, most likely in revenge for what had happened in 1817.