In the 1840s at Tristan D'Acunha (or Tristan Da Cunha) were the nine families which are listed everywhere on the internet. There was also a deserter from a whaling ship, name of Lind. There are not many references to this man. From all I have learned, he was not accepted by the nine families and eked out the existence of an exile, not allowed to trade with passing ships and not participating in the island's social life.
A small book titled 'The Utmost Parts of the Earth' by the Rev William F Taylor says that in 1826 there were five single men on the island: surnamed Riley, Cotton, Peterson, Pert and Swain. (Also some married men including Governor Glass). They made a bargain with a Captain Amm who agreed to fetch five wives from St Helena for the single men. The five islander ladies arrived on the island on 12th April 1827. It appears there were children too, at least some daughters, who came with the women.
Some time in circa early/mid 1830's the sailor Lind arrived and though living in isolation, he took as a wife one of the daughters of the islander women. They had at least six, maybe seven children. It appears the wife and children were also kept in exile from the other inhabitants.
On 29 March 1850 the sailor Lind's body was found and the story was he took his own life. Possibly this is true, information is too sketchy. His widow and children suffered greatly over the next several months, almost starving to death. Possibly some of the children did starve.
In late 1850 the whaling ship Bengal from America, captained by a man named Philips, stopped at Tristan D'Acunha and discovered the plight of Mrs C Lind and her children. He took them on board and brought them to Hobart. They were described in the arrivals list as being 'in a state of great destitution'.
The book by Rev William Taylor says, following the description of Lind's death, "His worthless partner soon after went away with her children in a whale-ship bound to Hobart Town."
In Hobart, three of Mrs C Lind's daughters were placed in the Queen's Orphanage. The others were presumably older and able to find positions of employment. There is no further reference to Mrs C Lind, I've no idea what happened to her.
My questions:
Is there anyone who has researched the families of this island group who has names for the five islander women and/or the islander daughters who came with them from St Helena?
Has anyone come across my Mr Lind?
Is there any record anywhere of United States whaling ships which might list deserters or declare them as criminals or some such? (I gather most though not all whaling ships were American so worth investigating)
I've found a few online forums for people studying this island but last posts were all about 8 years ago and I've not managed to contact anyone through them.
Irene
This family:
Mr Lind
Mrs C Lind
Lucinda born 1836
Agnes born 1841
James born 1843
Clara born 1845
Three other children Margaret, John and David listed as arriving but no further information located.
