Pandora Home Minutes & Appendix Fryer Testimony
Revised Jun 5 2021
M I N U T E S
OF THE
P R O C E E D I N G S
OF THE
COURT-MARTIAL held at PORTSMOUTH
ON
TEN PERSONS charged with MUTINY
on Board His Majesty's Ship the B O U N T Y.
WITH AN
A P P E N D I X,
CONTAINING
A full Account of the real Causes and Circumstances of that
unhappy Transaction, the most material of which have
hitherto been withheld from the Public.
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THE FOLLOWING MINUTES of the Trial of the Mutineers of the BOUNTY were taken by myself and my Clerks, being employed to give Assistance before the Court-Martial, to William Musprat, one of the Prisoners. They were not continued beyond the Evidence for the Prosecution, nor do they comprize the Whole of the Evidence respecting the Capture of all the different Prisoners at Otaheite. They were not intended for Publication. Repeated Assurances have been given that an impartial State of all the Circumstances attending that unhappy Mutiny, as well as a complete Trial of the Prisoners, would be published. The anxious Relations of the unfortunate Parties in that Mutiny, worn out with Expectation of that Publication, have repeatedly solicited my Consent to publish my Minutes, and as such Publication may in some Degree alleviate their Distress, I cannot think myself justified in withholding such Consent, and hope this will be a sufficient Apology for my Conduct.
I affirm,that as far as those Minutes go, they contain a just State of the Evidence given at the Court-Martial.
The Trial, &c.
AT A COURT MARTIAL, assembled and holden on the 12th Day of August 1792, on Board His Majesty's Ship DUKE, in Portsmouth,
BEFORE
The Right Honourable Lord HOOD,
Vice Admiral of the Blue, President.
CAPTAINS
and
On a Charge of Mutiny on the 28th April 1789, on Board His Majesty's Ship Bounty, for running away with the Ship, and deserting his Majesty's Service;
AGAINST
The following Letter from Captain Bligh to the Lords of the Admiralty was read, as containing the Charge of Mutiny and Desertion:
COUPANG IN TIMOR, AUGUST 18, 1789.
SIR,
I am now unfortunately to request of you to acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty's armed vessel Bounty under my command, was taken from me, by some of the inferior officers and men, on the 28th April 1789, in the following manner:
A little before sunrise, Fletcher Christian,
who was mate of the ship, and officer of the watch,
with the ship's corporal, came into
my cabin, while I was asleep, and seizing me, tied my hands with a
cord, assisted by others who were also in the cabin, all armed with
muskets and bayonets. I was now threatened with instant death if I
spoke a word; I however called for assistance and awakened every one;
but the officers who were in their cabins were secured by sentinels
at their doors, so that no one could come to me. The arms were all
secured, and I was forced on deck in my shirt with my hands tied,
and secured by a guard abaft the mizen-mast, during which the mutineers
expressed much joy that they would soon see Ottaheite.
I now demanded of Christian the cause of such a violent act,
but no other answer was
given but "Hold your tongue, Sir; or you are dead this instant"; and
holding me by the cord, which tied my hands, he as often threatened to
stab me in the breast with a bayonet he held in his right hand. I
however did my utmost to rally the disaffected villains to a sense of
their duty, but to no effect. The boatswain was ordered to hoist the
launch out, and while I was kept
under a guard with Christian at their head abaft the mizen mast,
the officers and men not concerned in the
mutiny were ordered into the boat. This being done,
I was told by Christian, "Sir, your officers and men
are now in the boat, and
you must go with them"; and with the guard they carried me across
the deck, with their bayonets presented on every side, when attempting
to make another effort, one villain said to the others, "Blow his
Apr 4, 1789
Apr 24, 1789
Apr 26, 1789
Apr 30, 1789
May 2, 1789
brains out." I was at last forced into the boat, and we were then
veered astern, in all, nineteen souls.
I was at this time
10 leagues
to the S.W. of Tofoa,
the North Western most of the Friendly Islands,
having left Ottaheite the 4th of April
with 1015 fine bread-fruit plants and
many fruit kind, in all 774 pots, 39 tubs, and 24 boxes. These plants
were now in a very flourishing order.
I anchored at Annamocha 24th April,
and left it on the 26th.
The boatswain and carpenter, with some others,
while the boat was along side, collected several necessary things and
water, and with some difficulty a compass and quadrant were got, but
arms of no kind, or any maps or drawings, of which I had many very valuable
ones. The boat was very deep and much lumbered, and in this condition we
were cast adrift, with about 28 gallons of water, 150 lbs. of pork, six
quarts of rum, and six bottles of wine. The day was calm, attended with
light breezes,
and I got to Tofoa by seven o'clock in the evening,
but found no place to land, the land being so steep and rocky.
On the 30th I found landing in a cove,
on the North West part of the island, and
here I remained in search of supplies until the 2d of May;
when the natives discovered we had no fire-arms,
they made an attack on us with clubs and
stones, in the course of which I had the misfortune
to lose a very worthy man, John Norton quarter-master,
and most of us were hurt, more or less.
But getting into our boat was no security, for they followed us in canoes
loaded with stones, which they threw with much force and exactness; happily
night saved the rest of us.
I had determined to go to Amsterdam,
in search of Paulchow the king;
but taking this transaction as a real sample of their
native dispositions, there was little hope to expect much from them; for I
considered their good behaviour hitherto owing to a dread of our fire-arms,
which now knowing us to have none would not be the case, and that Supposing
our lives were in safety, our boat and every thing would be taken from us,
and thereby I should never be able to return. I was also earnestly solicited
by all hands to take them towards home, and when I told them no hopes of
relief remained for us
but what I might find at New Holland,
until I came to Timor, a distance of
1200 leagues
they all agreed to live on one ounce of
bread per day and a gill of water. I therefore, after recommending this
promise for ever to their memory,
bore away for New Holland and Timor,
across a sea but little known, and in a small boat deep loaded with 18 souls, without
a single map of any kind, and nothing but my own recollection and general
knowledge of the Situation of places to direct us. Unfortunately we lost part
of our provision; our stock therefore only consisted of 20 pounds of pork,
May 28, 1789
Jun 4, 1789
Jun 12, 1789
three bottles of wine, five quarts of rum, 150 lbs. of bread, and 28 gallons
of water. I steered to the W.N.W. with strong gales and bad weather, suffering
every calamity and distress. I discovered many islands,
and at last, on the 28th May, the coast of New Holland,
and entered a break of the reef in
latitude about 12° 50′ south, and longitude 145° 00 east. I
kept on in the direction of the coast to the northward, touching at such places
as I found convenient, refreshing my people by the best means in my power.
These refreshments consisted of oysters and a few clams; we were however
greatly benefited by them and a few good nights' rest.
On the 4th June, I passed the north part of New Holland
and steered for Timor, and made it on the 12th,
which was a happy sight to every one, particularly several who
perhaps could not have existed a week or a day longer.
I followed the direction of the south side of the island, and on the 14th in the afternoon saw the island Rotty and west part of Timor, round which I got that night, and took a Maloy on board, to show me Coupang, where he described to me the governor resided. On the next morning before day I anchored under the fort, and about eleven, I saw the governor, who received me with great humanity and kindness. Necessary directions were instantly given for our support, and perhaps more miserable beings were never seen.
Thus happily ended, through the assistance of Divine Providence, without accident, a voyage of the most extraordinary nature that ever happened in the world, let it be taken either in its extent, duration, or so much want of the necessaries of life.
The people who came in the boat were,
John Fryer, ................... Master. William Cole, ................. Boatswain. William Peckover, ............. Gunner. William Purcell, .............. Carpenter. Thomas Ledward, ............... Acting Surgeon. William Elphinstone,........... Master's Mate. Thomas Hayward,................ Midshipman. John Hallet, .................. Midshipman. John Samuel, .................. Clerk. Peter Linkletter, ............. Quarter Master. John Norton, .................. Ditto, killed at Tofoa. George Simpson, ............... Quarter Master. Laurence Labogue, ............. Sail Maker. Robert Tinkler, ............... Able Seaman. John Smith, ................... Ab. Thomas Hall, .................. Able Seaman. Robert Lamb, .................. Ab. David Nelson, ................. Botanist, since dead. Total 18.
The people who remained in the ship were,
Fletcher Christian, ............. Master's Mate. George Stewart, ................. Acting ditto. Peter Heywood, .................. Midshipman. Edward Young, ................... Ditto. Charles Churchill, .............. Corporal. James Morrison, ................. Boatswain's Mate. John Mills, ..................... Gunner's ditto. Charles Norman, ................. Carpenter's ditto, Thomas McIntosh, ................ Ditto Crew, Joseph Coleman, ................. Armourer, Thomas Burkett, ................. Able Seaman. John Sumner, .................... Ab. John Williams, .................. Ab. Matthew Thompson, ............... Ab. Thomas Ellison, ................. Ab. William Mackiehoy, .............. Ab. John Millward, .................. Ab. Richard Skinner, ................ Ab. Matthew Quintal, ................ Ab. Michael Byrn, ................... Ab. Henry Hilbrant, ................. Ab. Isaac Martin, ................... Ab. Alexander Smith, ................ Ab. William Muspratt, ............... Ab. William Brown, .................. Botanist's Assistant. Total 25.
The secrecy of this mutiny was beyond all conception, so that I cannot discover that any who were with me had the least knowledge of it; and the comparative lists will shew the strength of the pirates.
I found three vessels here bound to Batavia, but as their sailing would be late, I considered it to the advantage of His Majesty's Service, to purchase a vessel to take my people to Batavia, before the sailing of the fleet for Europe in October, as no one could be hired but at a price equal to a purchase I therefore gave public notice of my intent, and assisted by the governor, I got a vessel for 1000 rix dollars, and called her The Resource.
We have not yet our health perfectly established. Four of my people are still ill, and I had the misfortune to lose Mr. Nelson the botanist, whose good conduct in the course of the whole voyage, and manly fortitude in our late disastrous circumstances, deserve this tribute to his memory.
I have given a summary account of my proceedings to the governor, and have requested, in His Majesty's name, that necessary orders and directions may be given to their different settlements, to detain the ship wherever she may be found.
There is but little chance that their Lordships can receive this before I arrive myself; I therefore have not been so particular as I shall be in my letters from Batavia.
I shall sail in the morning without fail, and use my utmost exertions to appear before their Lordships, and answer personally for the loss of His Majesty's ship.
I beg leave to acquaint their Lordships, that the greatest kindness and attention have been shewn to us while here, by the second governor, Timotheus Wanjon, whose zeal to render services to His Majesty's subjects has been unremitting during the sickness of the governor William Adrian Van Este, who is now at the point of death.
The surgeon of the fort, a Mr. Max, has also been ever attentive to my sick people, and has daily and hourly attended them with great care.
I have the honor to be, SIR,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
WILLIAM BLIGH.
Pandora Home Minutes & Appendix Fryer Testimony