Robert Clark Morgan: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Grwhyte (talk | contribs)
349 edits
Grwhyte (talk | contribs)
349 edits
 
(222 intermediate revisions by 55 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{AFC submission|ts=20081229193813|a=[[User:Grwhyte|Grwhyte]] ([[User talk:Grwhyte|talk]])}} <!--- Important, do not remove this line before article has been created. --->
{{Short description|English sea captain and missionary}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Clark Morgan
| image = Captain Robert Clark Morgan.jpg
| caption = Missionary ship captain
| birth_date = {{birth-date|13 March 1798}}
| birth_place = [[Deptford]], [[London]]
| death_date = {{death-date|23 September 1864}}
| death_place = [[South Yarra, Victoria|South Yarra]], [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
}}


'''Robert Clark Morgan''' (13 March 1798 – 23 September 1864) was an English sea captain, whaler, diarist, and, in later life, a missionary. He captained the ''[[Duke of York (1817 ship)|Duke of York]]'', bringing the first settlers to [[South Australia]] in 1836. His life in the [[Whaling in the United Kingdom|British whaling industry]] has been recorded in the book ''The Man Who Hunted Whales'' (2011) by Dorothy M. Heinrich.<ref>{{cite book |last=Heinrich |first=Dorothy M. |title=The Man Who Hunted Whales: A Tale of Kangaroo Island and a Doomed Ship |publisher=Awoonga |date=2011 |url=http://www.dorothyheinrich.com.au/ |isbn=9780646553009}}</ref> His diaries are held in the [[State Library of New South Wales]].


==Birth==
== '''The Good Captain Morgan ==
Morgan was born on 13 March 1798 at [[Deptford]], Kent, in England. This is recorded in his diary. His parentage is not known. No conclusive record of his birth has been found.


In his diary he does not mention his parentage apart from a few cryptic remarks. On Sunday 5 February 1837 he states, "I could not say that I had a praying Father or a praying mother or a Brother or Sister for I lost them young and knew little of them. I was cast on the world at the age of 11 years to walk the journey of life".


==Religious awakening==
'''Captain Robert Clark Morgan (1798-1864)'''
About ten days before sailing on his first command, he happened upon a [[revival meeting]], and the result to him was eventful. This would have been in 1828. That revival service in [[Greenwich]] was led by Isaac English (baker and lay preacher).


Before he took up his first command in December 1828 on the ''Sir Charles Price'' he had been a reckless, boisterous profligate, living without a thought of God, except to blaspheme his holy name; but Divine grace now wrought so wondrous a change in him, that when he once more went to sea the old hands amongst his crew could scarcely recognise him for the same man. He who once never gave a command unaccompanied by an oath was now never heard to swear; and such was the force of his character and the power of his example, that in a few months' time not a man of his crew dared to use a profane expression while within his hearing. The discipline of the ship was not a bit lessened, and every one was happier, from the sobriety and good feeling of which the captain set example.<ref>''Sunday at Home'', published 1874 and the other in the ''Australian Christian Commonwealth'', published 1913 (both out of copyright).</ref>
'''Introduction'''


Robert Clark Morgan attended the West Greenwich Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, which was founded in King George Street, very close to Blissett Street, in 1816. The foundation stone of the Wesleyan Chapel in George Street was laid in September 1816 and it was opened on December sixteenth of the same year. It was capable of seating 1,000 people. The building may still be there although it has not been used as a chapel for a very long time.
It can be said that Captain Robert Clark Morgan was a man of history and adventure, although he is modest about this in the journals and diaries he kept for most of his life. He was also a deeply religious man. His journals are mostly given over to his religious and devotional life and thoughts. However, they do show some insights into the man.


==Wife and family==
His diaries have been used as a primary source by writers of historical texts on the first settlement of South Australia on [[Kangaroo Island]] and the [[London Missionary Society]]. They are held in the collection of the [[State Library of New South Wales]] also known as the Mitchell Library in Sydney, Australia.
On 30 December 1822, at [[Deptford]], Kent, at the [[Deptford#Churches|Church of St. Nicholas]],<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Nicholas |url=http://www.deptfordchurch.org/ |quote=[[Christopher Marlowe]] is buried in the Church graveyard}}</ref> Robert Clark Morgan married Mary Dorrington. He was 25 and she was 22. He had a lifelong devotion to her. He states that they met when very young - the choice of my youth is an expression he often used in his diaries.<ref name="catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au">{{citation |last=Morgan |first=Robert Clark |title=Personal Diary |url=http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:1083/record=b1007037}}</ref>

It is possible that he met on his voyages many famous people and witnessed many historic events [to be added].

'''His Birth'''

Captain Morgan was born on 13 March 1798 at [[Deptford]], Kent in England. This is recorded in his diary. His parentage is not known. No conclusive record of his birth has been found.

There is a possibility that he was called Robert Clark at birth. The reasoning for this is that there is a Baptism on 8th April 1798 of a Robert Clark, son of Robert and Mary Clark. This Robert Clark was born 14th March 1798 (it is possible that this was n the night of the 13th or early morning etc. in the Parish of [[St Botolph's Aldgate]], City of London. It’s very close and there is no other. To add to this mystery his marriage certificate is in the name Robert Morgan Clark.

In his diary, he does not mention his parentage apart from a few cryptic remarks in this diary. On Sunday 5 February 1837 he states. “I could not say that I had a praying Father or a praying mother or a Brother or Sister for I lost them young and knew little of them. I was cast on the world at the age of 11 years to walk the journey of life”.

It is interesting to note that he named his daughter Maria Clark Morgan. She was baptised at the George St Wesleyan.

In one of his diaries he speaks of his Father’s sister dying and being buried on 2 April 1844. However, he does not give her name. There was a Harriet Morgan, single woman aged 68, who was buried in [[St Dunstan's, Stepney]] on 2 April 1844. It is probably the right one as no other was found. From some research she probably died on 29 March 1844 at 5 Arbor Street West, I assume in [[Stepney]], where the death was registered. The informant was a Charlotte Willoughby of Charles Street, St. George East; also in [[Stepney]]. She could have been a relative.

Harriet’s Will dated 25 February 1843 states that her address at that date was 3 Leg Alley, Long Acre, and states in her will that her “wearing apparel” is to be divided between her two sisters Louisa Johnson (the name Robert Clark Morgan chose for his daughter) and Jane Brooks and that both sisters resided at 3 Leg Alley, Long Acre. She also left to her brother (this is who I assume is Robert Clark Morgan’s father) Thomas Morgan now living at 5 Ward Street [[Lambeth]] her writing equipment. It is interesting to note that Robert Clark Morgan’s grandson was named Robert Clark Thomas Morgan.

'''The man'''

'''His Religious Awakening'''

When a young man, and just appointed to his first command, he, about ten days before sailing on his cruise, happened to enter a chapel in [[Greenwich]] where a revival service was being held, and the result to him was eventful. This would have been in 1828.

That revival service in [[Greenwich]] was being led by a baker and lay preacher named Mr. Isaac English. Mr English is listed in Pigot's Commercial Directory of Kent of 1827/8 and in 1839 and Robson's Directory of 1838 at 12 Blissett Street in [[Greenwich]]. In Bagshaw's 1847 directory he is recorded as Isaac English, Gentleman at 34 Prior Street, Greenwich. He had obviously gone up in the world.

In the 1841 census for [[Greenwich]] he is shown at Blissett Street with the following entry. Isaac English, age 45, baker. Not born in the county [Kent]. Maria or Miriam English, age 40 [his wife] born in the county. Also in the house are: James Earl, age 25, baker, John Mulin, age 15, baker and Ann Cracknell, age 9. Mr English could not be found on the 1851 census for Greenwich.

Robert Clark Morgan attended the West Greenwich Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, which was founded in [[King George Street (song)]], very close to Blissett Street, in 1816. A new chapel was built in London Street (now Greenwich High Road) in 1876, rebuilt in 1906 and destroyed in the war in 1940. The present church building was put up in 1953. However, it is no longer a church and it’s used as offices.

The foundation stone of the Wesleyan Chapel in George Street was laid in September 1816 and it was opened on December 16th of the same year. It was capable of seating 1,000 people. I have been told that the building may still be there although it has not been used as a chapel for a very long time.

'''Wife & Family'''

On 30 December 1822 , at Deptford, Kent, at the Church of St. Nicholas, Robert Clark Morgan married Mary Dorrington. He was 25 and she was 22. He had a lifelong devotion to her. He states that they met when very young - the choice of my youth is an expression he often used in his diaries.


The marriage was registered as:
The marriage was registered as:


“Robert Morgan Clark, bachelor of this Parish and Mary Dorrington, spinster of ('this', written, then deleted) the Parish of Greenwich were married in this Church by Banns this 30th Day of December in the Year one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, by me, D. Jones, Curate.
<blockquote>Robert Morgan Clark, bachelor of this Parish and Mary Dorrington, spinster of ('this', written, then deleted) the Parish of Greenwich were married in this Church by Banns this 30th Day of December in the Year one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, by me, D. Jones, Curate.


This Marriage was solemnised between us (signed:) Robert Morgan Clark
This Marriage was solemnised between us (signed:) Robert Morgan Clark
Mary Dorrington
Mary Dorrington


In the presence of { X The mark of James Gittens and
In the presence of { X The mark of James Gittens and
{Elizabeth Dorrington”
{Elizabeth Dorrington</blockquote>


The reason his marriage was solemnised in the surname of Clark is unknown.
They had seven children, most dying shortly after birth. There was a daughter, Louisa, who died at 7 years of age and only one child, also named Robert Clark Morgan, survived the Captain and his wife.


They had seven children, most [[infant mortality|dying shortly after birth]]. There was a daughter, Louisa Clark Morgan, who died at 7 years of age and only one child, also named Robert Clark Morgan, survived the Captain and his wife. Both were baptised at the George Street Wesleyan chapel.
'''The Royal Navy'''


==Royal Navy==
We know that he entered the Royal Navy at the age of 11 for in his diaries he states that at 11 years of age (he was) sent to sea on board a man o' war. It can be assumed that he did not find life in the Navy to his liking for he talks of the man o' war as a place where all wickedness is committed with greediness and a place where he saw every vice man is capable of committing.
He entered the [[Royal Navy]] at the age of eleven, his diaries state that at that age (he was) sent to sea on board a [[man-of-war|man o' war]]. He talks of the man o' war as "a place where all wickedness is committed with greediness and a place where he saw every vice man is capable of committing".


==South Sea whaling==
In the Marine Society records at the Maritime Museum at Greenwich there is Robert Clark who is in their Register of Boys received and discharged from the Marine Society's ship 1809. This would have been when Robert Clark Morgan was 11. The records show this Robert Clark as joining the Royal Navy ships the Africa, briefly to the Royal William and then to the Alonzo, which was paid off in June 1814. This is the month and year Robert Clark Morgan joined Daniel Bennett’s ship the [[Phoenix (of London)]] (see below).
{{See also|Whaling in the United Kingdom}}
When he left the Royal Navy, in 1814 towards the end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], he transferred to the [[merchant marine]], [[whaling]]. He began as an apprentice on {{ship||Phoenix|1809 ship|2}}, becoming an [[able seaman]] and rising to first and second mate, and became a master at an early age. One of the voyages on ''Phoenix'' is described in the book ''The Dalton Journal'' edited by Niel Gunson. Morgan is not mentioned by name. However, there is a reference to the second mate, which Morgan would have been at that time.


Morgan was the master of the ships {{ship||Sir Charles Price|1815 ship|2}} and [[HMS Lynx (1794)|''Recovery'']], both owned by Daniel Bennett, an owner of many south sea whaling ships, and {{ship||Duke of York|1817 ship|2}}, owned by the [[South Australian Company]]. She was the first pioneer ship to reach [[South Australia]].<ref name="First Pioneer Ship">{{cite web |url=http://historysouthaustralia.net/Duke.htm |title=The Barque Duke of York - First Pioneer Ship to Arrive |website=History South Australia}}</ref>
'''South Sea [[Whaling]]'''


His whaling career in the ''Phoenix'' was: Apprentice June 1814 - June 1819, Able Seaman June 1819 - Sept 1822, second Mate Jan 1823 - Nov 1825, first Mate May 1826 - Sept 1828. ''Sir Charles Price'', Master Dec 1828 - June 1831. ''Recovery'', Master Dec 1831 - June 1835. ''Duke of York'', Master Feb 1836 - Aug 1837.
When he left the Royal Navy, in 1814 towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, he transferred to the merchant marine, whaling. He began as an apprentice on the Phoenix (of London), becoming an Able Seaman and rising to 1st and 2nd Mate and became a Master at an early age. One of the voyages on the Phoenix is well covered in the book The Dalton Journal that is edited by Niel Gunson. If you can get hold of it is very interesting. Captain Morgan is not mentioned by name. However, there is a reference to the second mate, which Captain Morgan would have been then.

He was the master of the ships Sir Charles Price and Recovery, both owned by Daniel Bennett an owner of many south sea whaling ships and the Duke of York, owned by the South Australian Company. (See below)

His whaling career

'''Ships'''

[[''Phoenix (of London'')]], Apprentice June 1814 - June 1819, Able Seaman June 1819 - Sept 1822, 2nd Mate Jan 1823 - Nov 1825, 1st Mate May 1826 - Sept 1828. ''Sir Charles Price'', Master Dec 1828 - June 1831. ''Recovery'', Master Dec 1831 - June 1835. ''Duke of York'' Master Feb 1836 - Aug 1837.

The story below is based on two articles one in Sunday at Home, published 1874 and the other in the Australian Christian Commonwealth, published 1913 (both out of copyright). While some of the facts don’t quite match up the stories generally do. The Sunday at Home article was confirmed as Robert Clark Morgan in a letter in the following edition. It said, The same Captain Morgan subsequently became captain of the Camden and the John Williams. The article in the Australian Christian Commonwealth was obviously written with information from a close family member, probably his son.

'''“A whaling captain who gained more in six days than others in seven.'''

“There once knew the captain of a sperm whaler in the Pacific, whose name was Morgan.

He took up his first command in December of 1828 on the Sir Charles Price. He had hitherto been a reckless, boisterous profligate, living without a thought of God, except to blaspheme his holy name; but Divine grace now wrought so wondrous a change in him, that when he once more went to sea the old hands amongst his crew could scarcely recognise him for the same man. He who once never gave a command unaccompanied by an oath was now never heard to swear; and such was the force of his character and the power of his example, that in a few months' time not a man of his crew dared to use a profane expression while within his hearing. The discipline of the ship was not a bit lessened, and every one was happier, from the sobriety and good feeling of which the captain set example.

This young captain had actually sailed for the fishing grounds, when one night as he was reading his Bible in the cabin, he came upon the commandments, and the question of lowering his boats on the Sabbath, should a whale appear in sight on that day, all at once started up in his mind. He regretted that he had not thought of this before, and told the owner how he would act; for he considered his duty plain. The words were not to be evaded: In it thou shalt do no manner of work; and he resolved to follow the Divine command implicitly, although it was not without great inward struggle that he did so. But, as be thought of his officers and crew, who, like himself, were on the lay - that is, they were not paid by wages, but by proportionate shares of the oil captured - he felt anxious. They might mutiny, and resist him by force. He could only hope that the occasion might not arise; but if so, he would do his duty - the issue was in the hands of God.

They reached their selected station, and many weeks passed without a sperm whale coming in sight. At last, one Sunday afternoon, two hours before sunset, the longed for cry of There she spouts! - there again! reached the deck from the look-out at the mast-head, and instantly all was activity and bustle. Each ship's crew sprang to lower their respective boats, and for one brief moment the young captain hesitated; for the excitement was contagious, and involuntarily he had sprung to his feet like the rest, while his cheek flushed with ardour. It was but for a moment, however. As if spoken actually in his ear, he thought he heard clearly and distinctly the words, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy! and his own voice rang through the ship, declaring that not a boat could leave her that day.

The scene which ensued the amazement, succeeded by rage, when they understood his motive, the violence and tumult - all may be imagined. But the captain was unmoved, and his courageous, undaunted demeanor at last quelled the riot; but not until he had promised them that he would give up to them from his own shares in future captures an equivalent for their loss on the present occasion.

“The owner will think nothing of losing his share, of course! said his mate, who had been foremost in opposition, as he followed his captain into the cabin. “This will be the first and last vessel you'll ever command of his, at any rate! I'd like to have that agreement down in black and white, if you please, Captain Morgan, and so would the crew, and at once, too.

The captain answered mildly, pointing out to the mate that any agreement executed on the Sabbath would be null in law, and promised to, satisfy them on the morrow. There was sadness in his tones as he spoke; for Morgan felt the truth of what his mate had said, and that no owner would ever give him a ship to command again.

The mate was a rough sailor, who had known his commander from boyhood, and he had been more amazed than any at the change which had taken place in the young man, the sincerity of whose convictions he could not doubt, since he had ruined himself in acting up to them. He felt touched with pity for one whose motive in thus acting he respected, and in his blunt way he apologised to the captain for what he had said about the shares.

You see, Captain Morgan, I have a wife and five children to keep; and if Providence sends us a whale on Sunday, I take it as Providence means us to catch that whale - leastways that's my -“

The words were arrested on his lips, and he stood still and motionless, his eyes fixed intently on an object close before him. Morgan had thrown himself down listless after the fierce and turbulent scene he had just passed through, and had sat for some minutes brooding over the probable effect on his future prospects of that day's incident, and trying, in the strength of his newly-found hopes, to say, Thy will be done. He had almost forgotten the mate's presence, and was looking out of the open windows where the sun was now about to set, after a day of calm and oppressive heat. He had continued for some minutes thus, when a sudden exclamation roused him.

Captain Morgan! Come here quick, sir, please! Look!

And he pointed at that which had arrested his attention; while an expression of alarm, mingled with astonishment and incredulity, overspread his features as he actually saw the mercury of the barometer rapidly falling lower and lower as he stood. Morgan jumped up and looked, and both bounded on to the deck to summon the crew. Well was it for that crew that none of them had left the ship in her boats! Well was it for the ship that all her hands were on board! for in half an hour all were engaged in a desperate life and death struggle, which taxed every energy, and demanded the utmost efforts of every individual on board.

For three days they scudded before the hurricane; and when it had passed by they found that they had been driven some hundreds of miles beyond the bounds they had set to their cruising ground; but to their intense delight, they discovered that part of the ocean, which the mate had hitherto declared to be one of the poorest, to be in reality one of the best fishing grounds possible.

Scarcely had the weather moderated, when they found themselves in the midst of a whole “school” of sperm whale and two were secured. Hardly had these been tried out”, i.e., rendered into oil, when more were seen; and, in short, so fortunate were they, that instead of two, or even three years (the usual time taken to fill a good - sized ship), Captain Morgan's vessel returned to Sydney in ten months!

It often happens that grounds which have been favourite resorts for the cachalot, or sperm whale, are temporarily deserted by it, and vice versa; and such had been the case in the present instance. Thus the captain's firmness in acting up to his convictions of duty, instead of causing him loss, actually had a contrary effect; and his owner was so pleased at his speedy return with so rich a cargo, that he told him he might lower or not when he pleased.

Captain Morgan invariably adhered to his rule of never lowering on Sunday; and yet (with one exception) no captain in the whole port, on an average of years, brought more oil to his owners than he did. This exception was an individual who was always extraordinarily fortunate in his cruises. His name was Harris; and he often jeered Morgan upon the Quaker-like proceedings and Methodistical humbug (as he termed it) of himself and his ship's crew; and in particular he derided the teetotal principles which, after much difficulty and persuasion, Morgan had at last induced his men to adopt, and his owners to sanction. It would have been well, however, if both Harris and his owners had followed the example. After a voyage, even more prosperous than usual, the ship he commanded and chored off the Sow and Pigs (shoals), in Sydney Harbour, owing to the wind failing, instead of sailing right up to the town. This was a great disappointment to the hands, who generally after so long and toilsome a voyage rush, ashore the moment the anchor is down. I have seen crews do this repeatedly leaving the ship to furl her own sails - so eager were they to plunge into the excesses of rum from which they had so long been debarred.

Being, however, now safe in port, Harris's crew resolved to make up for their present disappointment by indulging in copious libations of rum. In drawing this off, a cask caught fire, the flames spread, and the ship was burned to the water's edge, the whole cargo being lost. The insurance companies disputed the owners claim; and the result was that the past earnings of the ever-successful Captain Harris were so seriously diminished, that, after all, Captain Morgan stood first on the list of the men who had brought most money to his owners, even though be had lost many a whale by not lowering on Sunday.”


In his diary later in life he reminisces about his whaling experiences:
In his diary later in life he reminisces about his whaling experiences:


Early this morning I went on deck. It was a fine beautiful morning, a clear atmosphere and fine blue sky with the ocean with only a few rippling over its surface. I saw a ship and went to the masthead and saw she had her boats down. Afterwards I saw the sperm whales she was after. She had taken whales before as she was boiling oil and the smoke was going in volleys from her tryworks. The whales were going as nearly as fast as the ship so we kept pace with them for 2 - 3 hours till at last one boat struck a large whale then another struck the same whale and eventually killed it and took it alongside.
<blockquote>Early this morning I went on deck. It was a fine beautiful morning, a clear atmosphere and fine blue sky with the ocean with only a few rippling over its surface. I saw a ship and went to the masthead and saw she had her boats down. Afterwards I saw the sperm whales she was after. She had taken whales before as she was boiling oil and the smoke was going in volleys from her tryworks. The whales were going as nearly as fast as the ship so we kept pace with them for 2 - 3 hours till at last one boat struck a large whale then another struck the same whale and eventually killed it and took it alongside.


Oh how vivid did this bring back all my past experience in this work. The days of my youth and manhood was spent in this trade. This was the part of it I loved. A sight of a whale would make my heart jump and take away all relish for food. How happy if when a boy I could get to be let down in a boat and after I came to manhood how happy if I could but get to kill a whale and I always managed to get my share. All these things came fresh to my memory and these feelings rose up and caused a feeling not easily described, but I left it all for Jesus and his work. I will not repine how many hairs breaths escapes have I had in whaling, how many times has God spared my life when my boat has been staven, time after time.
Oh how vivid did this bring back all my past experience in this work. The days of my youth and manhood was spent in this trade. This was the part of it I loved. A sight of a whale would make my heart jump and take away all relish for food. How happy if when a boy I could get to be let down in a boat and after I came to manhood how happy if I could but get to kill a whale and I always managed to get my share. All these things came fresh to my memory and these feelings rose up and caused a feeling not easily described, but I left it all for Jesus and his work. I will not repine how many hairs breaths escapes have I had in whaling, how many times has God spared my life when my boat has been staven, time after time.<ref name="catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au"/></blockquote>


'''South Australia'''
==South Australia==
[[George Fife Angas]] appointed Captain Morgan master of {{ship||Duke of York|1817 ship|2}}. The [[South Australian Company]] had fitted her to take the first settlers to South Australia,<ref>{{cite web |editor-last=Cummings |editor-first=Diane |title=Duke of York 1836 |website=Bound for South Australia: Passenger Lists for Emigrants to South Australia 1836-1851 |url=https://bound-for-south-australia.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/1836DukeOfYork.htm |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> and then go whaling after that. ''Duke of York'' sailed from [[St Katharine Docks]] on 26 February 1836. ''Duke of York'' finally set sail for the sea on Saturday 19 March 1836, having been unable to get away from the English coast due to bad weather for some five weeks. She carried 42 persons including the crew. (Another source said she left England on 5 April).


Some passengers, including some adults whose passage was charged to the Emigration Fund, were on board as well. The First Report of the [[South Australia Act 1834|Commissioners of Colonisation of South Australia]] gave the ship's complement as thirty-eight. A list compiled from the Company's records gave the names of twenty passengers and twenty-six seamen, in addition to the Captain.
Captain Morgan was appointed Master of the Duke of York. The Duke of York was owned by the [[South Australian Company]] and was fitted out for the Australian run to take the first settlers to South Australia and then whaling after that. This vessel sailed from [[St Katharine Docks]] on 26 February 1836.


Several of the passengers listed had significant appointments in the service of the South Australian Company. Samuel Stephens was the first Colonial Manager, and on behalf of his employers, he established the settlement of Kingscote as a site for their projected whaling venture. From its location in relation to the mouth of the River Murray, and the Gulfs of St Vincent and Spencer, he considered it as a possible shipping port for the future.
The Duke of York finally set sail for the sea on Saturday 19 March 1836, having been unable to get away from the English coast due to bad weather for some five weeks. It carried 42 persons including the crew.


Another of the passengers, [[Thomas Hudson Beare (pioneer)|Thomas Hudson Beare]], was Superintendent of Buildings and Labourers, while D.H. Schreyvogel was engaged as a clerk. Charles Powell and W. West were gardeners; Henry Mitchell was a butcher; and John Neale was an assistant carpenter.
The 189 ton Duke of York was a whaling and trading bark owned by the [[South Australia Company]]. She was under the command of Captain Robert Clark Morgan and left London on 24 February, 1836, equipped for whaling. (Another source said she left England on 5 April). She reached [[Kangaroo Island]] on 27, July 1836.


They reached [[Kangaroo Island]] in South Australia and disembarked on 27 July 1836. When in sight of the island the previous evening Captain Morgan, a devout Wesleyan, gathered the passengers for a prayer meeting. When they landed Samuel Stephens named the river Morgan; it is now called Cygnet. Soon after landing Stephens conducted a short service to give thanks for their safe arrival. This was probably the first religious service on the shores of South Australia.
Some passengers, including some adults whose passage was charged to the Emigration Fund, were on board as well. The First Report of the Commissioners of Colonisation of South Australia gave the ship's complement as thirty-eight. A list compiled from the Company's records gave the names of twenty passengers and twenty-six seamen, in addition to the Captain.


Most of the passengers wished to be the first to land in the new colony, but Captain Morgan settled the dispute very cleverly. He instructed the second mate Robert Russell to have some sailors row the youngest child ashore. This was two and a half year old Elizabeth Beare, daughter of the Company's Deputy Manager, Thomas Hudson Beare. Russell was instructed to carry the child through the shallow water and place her feet on the beach while the adults were at dinner. In doing so she was the first white female to set foot on that strand. When this happened the crew began to cheer and the passengers soon realised that a landing had been made without them knowing it.
Several of the passengers listed had significant appointments in the service of the South Australian Company. Samuel Stephens was the first Colonial Manager, and on behalf of his employers, he established the settlement of Kingscote as a site for their projected whaling venture. From its location in relation to the mouth of the River Murray, and the Gulfs of St Vincent and Spencer, he considered it as a possible shipping port for the future.


The Company had dispatched {{ship||Duke of York|1817 ship|2}}, {{ship||Lady Mary Pelham|1816 ship|2}}, {{ship||Emma|1824 ship|2}}, and {{ship||John Pirie|ship|2}}, with the intention that after they had delivered their passengers they commence whaling operations.
Another of the passengers, Thomas H. Beare, was Superintendent of Buildings and Labourers, while D.H. Schreyvogel was engaged as a clerk. Chas. Powell and W. West were gardeners; Henry Mitchell was a butcher; and John Neale was an assistant carpenter.


After leaving Kangaroo Island ''Duke of York'' sailed on 20 September 1836 to hunt whales. She was at [[Hobart Town]] from 27 September 1836 to 18 October to refresh; from there she proceeded to the South Sea whaling grounds. On Friday, 10 February 1837 Morgan heard of the wreck of the ship ''Active'' in the Fiji Islands and they took on board its Master, Captain Dixon, Willings the mate, and Wilkey.
Passenger List


''Duke of York'' was whaling up the coast of Queensland when she was shipwrecked off [[Port Curtis]] (in Queensland) on 14 July 1837. Port Curtis is near current day [[Gladstone, Queensland|Gladstone]], [[Queensland]]. The whole ship's company got into three boats and rowed and sailed 300 miles to Brisbane, where they arrived Saturday 26 August 1837 after a most uncomfortable time. On the way down aboriginals killed an English crewman George Glansford, of Barking Essex, and a [[Rotumah]] native boy, named Bob, when the boats put in for water. There are parts of Morgan's diary that related to George's death. The Captain said that he was a young man, probably, early 20s. The Captain used to get George down to his cabin for religious instruction. He said that he recalled the Captain writing that George was not a hardened rough type. George apparently accepted his religious teaching. It seems as the captain had a sort of parental role over George. His journal that covers the period that he was master of ''Duke of York'' is water marked to attest to this experience.
Surname Given Names Comments


They finally arrive at Morton Bay and the steamer James Watt took Captain Morgan, the mate and nineteen survivors on to Sydney, leaving the remainder to follow in another vessel.
BEARE Arabella Charlotte
BEARE Elizabeth
BEARE Gertrude H.
BEARE Lucy Anne....
BEARE Lucy Anne jr
BEARE Thomas Hudson Superintendent Buildings & Labourers
BEARE William
HAMILTON W.H.
HAMILTON Mrs. W.H.
HAMILTON W.R. (?)
MAISEY George
MASSING G.
MITCHELL Thos.
MITCHELL Henry Butcher
NEALE D.
NEALE John Assistant Carpenter
POWELL Chas. Gardener
SCHREYVOGELD H. Clerk
STEPHENS Samuel 1st Colonial Manager
of the South Australia Co.
WEST William Gardener


==London Missionary Society==
Crew List
On Tuesday, 6 February 1838, three days after he arrived home from Sydney, he visited the Secretary of the [[London Missionary Society]] to see if he could take command of the missionary ship ''Camden''. On 10 February he met the missionary [[John Williams (missionary)|John Williams]], who was looking to travel back to [[Samoa]] with his wife Mary.


Morgan sailed in the Pacific in ''Camden'' from April 1838 till July 1843. He was with Williams in 1839 when Williams and Harris were murdered in the New Hebrides island of [[Erromango]], now Vanuatu. The London Missionary Society invited children all over the country to contribute to buying a ship in Williams's memory so that his work could continue. [[List of ships named John Williams|Seven mission ships named John Williams]] were successively bought in this way.
Surname Given Names Comments


When ''Camden'' returned to England, Morgan became captain of the London Missionary Society's first such ship, [[John Williams (ship)|''John Williams'']], and sailed it for 3 voyages: June 1844 - May 1847, October 1847 - May 1850 and July 1851 - June 1855.
BATCHELOR Thos.
BRANAN Geo.
BUTLER Henry
CARTWRIGHT Geo.
CLAIDEN John
CLAVELL Wm. Edward
COREY Julian
DORRINGTON Geo.
FORBES Chas. B.
GLANSFORD Geo.
GLORIUS Octavius
GREEN Henry
JAMESON Jos.
JONES John
LIDDIARD Thos.
MARSHALL Thos.
MAZERY Israel (MAISEY (?))
MORGAN Robert Clark Captain
PORTEUS Andrew
PRITCHARD Fredk.
RICHARDS Wm.
RICHARDSON 1st Mate
RILEY Jas.
RUSSELL Robt. 2nd mate
SPRATLEY W.R.
THOMPSON Chas.
WELLS Wm.
WILLIAMS Wm


In 1841 the Samoan Brethren suggested that he sit for his portrait<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-107833 |title=Captain R.C. Morgan, Missionary Ship John Williams |publisher=Royal Museums Greenwich |location=London |access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> when next in Sydney. However, it was finally done in London. The original artwork is held in the collections of the [[National Maritime Museum]], Greenwich, England, and was displayed in the offices of the London Missionary Society. There was a copy reproduced in the journal ''The Congregationalist'' (June 1962 at p.&nbsp;3) with an article about him.
George Glansford was No. 140 in a register of emigrant labourers who had applied for free passage to Sth Australia. Single, age 20, trade or calling: Seaman, address for this purpose 4 Torrens St, near Commercial Road. About 22 names were bracketted together and labelled Crew of Duke of York. Not all on list went, and a few notes added, though children's names for instance were not given. Children, however, had to be paid for. Entry written up 2nd March 1836. He had applied to the S A Company who were noted as going to employ others of various trades from the Register.

I found in the Parish Register of St Margaret's, Barking,Essex, the following Baptism:- 16th Feb 1817. George, son of John & Susan Glansford. Abode Barking. Father Fisherman.

No. 160 on the register was George Dorrington was age 14, a Seaman, address Hornchurch, Essex.

After the historic meeting at Exeter Hall on the 30th June 1834, where the principles, objects, plan and prospects of the New Colony of South Australia were explained to the public, hundreds of enquiries from prospective immigrants started to arrive at the South Australian Association's rooms at 7 John Street Adelphi.

Because the Commissioners were not able to appoint the colonial officers and surveyors until the South Australian Act became law - 19th February 1836 - the South Australian Company was able to organise its ships first.

The Company dispatched the Duke of York, the Lady Mary Pelham, the Emma and the John Pirie, with the intention of commencing whaling operations on [[Kangaroo Island]] - a known safe harbour.

The Commissioners had the extra problem of not knowing exactly where the capital and seat of government were to be placed. They gave explicit instructions to the Surveyor General Colonel Light, to locate the city and harbour within easy communication of the River Murray.

Their first expedition consisted of the Rapid supported by the Cygnet, to complete the maritime survey. The Buffalo, with Governor Hindmarsh in command, was to proceed to Port Lincoln to await the decision of Colonel Light as to the capital site.

The other pioneer ships which departed in 1836 were to rendezvous at Nepean Bay Kangaroo Island and then to proceed to Light's capital and harbour.

Under the Emigration Scheme, labouring classes received a free passage. They had to be between 15 and 30 years of age, preferably married and needed two references. Steerage passengers paid £15-20, Middle Berth £35-40, Cabin class £70. Children under 14 years were charged £3 while those under 1 year were free.

Although the ships had been assessed for their suitability to convey immigrants, the captain was responsible for their welfare once on board.
The larger emigrant vessels each carried a doctor who was paid 10/- per person landed in the colony as an innovative medical insurance scheme.

We can only imagine what it was like to spend 137 days or so cramped up on one of these small wooden ships, sailing half way round the world with the prospect of not even knowing where your final destination was to be or what you would find when you got there.

All emigration to South Australia was voluntary - remarkable also for the high percentage of women and children who arrived on our first fleet.
The 9 ships to arrive in South Australia in 1836 landed:- 343 males, 164 females and 129 children - total 636.

Their average age was only 19 years of age.

They reached [[Kangaroo Island]] in South Australia and disembarked on 27 July 1836. When in sight of the island the previous evening Captain Morgan, a devout Wesleyan, gathered the passengers for a prayer meeting. When they landed Mr. Stevens, the man in charge of the South Australian Company, named the river Morgan, after Captain Morgan. It is now called Cygnet. Soon after landing he conducted a short service to give thanks for their safe arrival. This was probably the first religious service on the shores of [[South Australia]].

Most of the passengers wished to be the first to land in the new colony, but Captain Morgan settled the dispute very cleverly. He instructed the second mate Robert Russell to have some sailors row the youngest, two and a half year old Elizabeth Beare, daughter of the Company's Deputy Manager, Thomas Hudson Beare as close as possible to the shore. Then Russell was to carry her through the shallow water and place her feet on the beach while the adults were at dinner. In doing so she was the first white female to set foot on that strand. When this happened the crew began to cheer and the passengers soon realised that a landing had been made without them knowing it.

Leaving the passengers on [[Kangaroo Island]], the Duke of York sailed off on 20 September 1836 to hunt whales. They called at Hobart Town from 27 September 1836 to 18 October 1836 to refresh and to proceed to the South Sea whaling grounds. On Friday, 10 February 1837 they heard of the wreck of the ship Active in the Fiji Islands and they took on board its Master, Captain Dixon, Willings the mate, and Wilkey.

They were whaling up the coast of Queensland when they were shipwrecked off Port Curtis (in Queensland) on 14 July 1837. Port Curtis is near current day Gladstone. The whole Ships Company was saved and got into 3 boats and rowed and sailed 300 miles to Brisbane, where they arrived Saturday 26 August 1837 after a most uncomfortable time. On the way down aboriginals killed an English crewman George Glansford, of Barking Essex and a Rotumah native boy, named Bob, when the boats put in for water. There are parts of the diary that related to George's death. The Captain said that he was a young man, probably, early 20's. The Captain used to get George down to his cabin for religious instruction. He said that he recalled the Captain writing that George was not a hardened rough type. George apparently accepted his religious teaching. It seems as the captain had a sought of parental role over George.

His journal that covers the period that he was master of the Duke of York is water marked to attest to this experience. They finally arrive at Morton Bay and the steamer James Watt took Captain Morgan, the Mate and nineteen survivors on to Sydney, leaving the remainder to follow in another vessel.

'''London Missionary Society'''

On Tuesday, 6 February 1838, three days after he arrived home from Sydney, he visited the Secretary of the [[London Missionary Society]] to see if he could take command of the Missionary Ship Camden. On the 10th he met the missionary the [[John Williams (missionary)]].

John Williams was a missionary and with his wife Mary went out to the islands in the South Pacific to take the Christian message. They had a very interesting time and their mission was fraught with danger. John was eventually murdered. In 1936 the London Missionary Society invited children all over the country to save their ship halfpennies and contribute to buying a ship in John's memory so that his work could continue. Several ships were bought in this way and PILOTS came into being.

He sailed for the [[London Missionary Society]] in the Pacific, in firstly the Camden, from April 1838 till July 1843. He was with the Rev. [[John Williams (missionary)]], when he and Harris were murdered in the New Hebrides [[Erromango]], now Vanuatu.

In 1839, when the Camden returned to England, he became captain of the London Missionary Society's mission ship, John Williams, and sailed it for 3 voyages; June 1844 - May 1847, October 1847 - May 1850 and the last was July 1851 to June 1855.
Retirement from the Sea

Also of interest is that in the 1851 census that Robert Clark Morgan was residing in England at the time. The entry has his address at 83A Lower Road Deptford.

The entry shows Robert Clark Morgan, his wife Mary, his son Robert Clark Morgan II, aged 21, born in Lewisham, Kent, single, who’s occupation is shown as a Clerk at the East India Docks. He was baptised on 10 July 1829 at the Wesleyan Chapel George St. Greenwich. He died in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 87 years a very wealthy man. I have read on the Internet that the Chapel is still there but that it is not a church. His story, which I am only just learning about, was also very interesting. He lived in Samoa with his parents for a while and went to Sydney in 1849 and then to Melbourne arriving in about 1852 at the time of the gold rush. He joined the civil service on 20 September 1852 as a Revenue Collector. Unfortunately his descendants had a good time with his money and nothing was left soon after.

There is also in the household at the census a Mary A Wallace, Niece, and aged 22, and born in Greenwich, Kent. I don’t know anything further about the niece or what side of the family she was from.


==Retirement from the sea==
Captain Morgan retired from the sea at the end of the voyage in 1855.
Captain Morgan retired from the sea at the end of the voyage in 1855.


As far as can be seen in his diary that covers the period from l6 June 1861 - 29 March 1862 (held by his Great Great Grandson (Robert Hamilton Morgan)) he spent a lot of his time visiting the sick.
As far as can be seen in his diary that covers the period from 16 June 1861 - 29 March 1862 <ref name=gggson>Diaries held by his great great grandson (Robert Hamilton Morgan)</ref> he spent a lot of his time visiting the sick.


His final diary that covers the period 15 March 1863 to 31 March 1864<ref name=gggson/> tells of the voyage the Captain and Mrs Morgan made to Melbourne, Australia on the ''Yorkshire'' from about 30 March 1863 to 19 June 1863. It appears they came to be near their only surviving child (Robert Clark Morgan II). The son was baptised on 10 July 1829 at the Wesleyan Chapel George St. Greenwich. In the 1851 census Robert Clark Morgan II (aged 21) was residing in England with his patents at 83A Lower Road [[Deptford]] (also in the household was Mary A Wallace, niece, aged 22, born in Greenwich, Kent). His occupation is shown as a clerk at the [[East India Docks]]. He had lived in Samoa with his parents for a while and went to Sydney in 1849. He then went to Melbourne arriving in about 1852 at the time of the gold rush. He joined the Victorian civil service on 20 September 1852 as a revenue collector. He died in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 87 years a very wealthy man.{{Quantify|date=January 2009}}
In 1841 the Samoan Brethren suggested that he sit for his portrait when next in Sydney. However, it was finally done in London. The original artwork is held in the collections of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England and was displayed in the offices of the London Missionary Society. There was a copy reproduced in the journal the Congregationalist (June 1962 at p. 3) with an article about him.


==Death==
His final diary that covers the period 15 March 1863 to 31 March 1864 (which is also held by his Great Great Grandson (Robert Hamilton Morgan)) tells of the voyage the Captain and Mrs. Morgan made to Melbourne on the Yorkshire from about 30 March 1863 to l9 June 1863. It appears they came to be near their only surviving child (Robert Clark Morgan II) who arrived in Melbourne in about 1852.
Morgan died 23 September 1864 at Arthur St, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, at the home of his son, aged 66.


His dying words are that when he was asked by his son if he wanted anything was: "I want more love, more love to the Father, more love to the Son and more love to the Holy Spirit".<ref>Recorded in the ''Australian Christian Commonwealth''</ref>
'''His Death'''


The headstone in the [[Melbourne General Cemetery]] reads:
On 23 September 1864 at Arthur St, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, at the home of his son, Captain Morgan died. He was aged 66.


<blockquote>Sacred to the memory of Robert Clark Morgan who died 23 September 1864, aged 66. He brought the first settlers to South Australia in the Duke of York in 1836 and was subsequently Commander of the London Missionary Ships Society's Camden and John Williams. His consecrated life made him a true Missionary and he was much beloved by the natives of the South Pacific. So he bringeth them into their desired heaven.
His dying words that were recorded in the Australian Christian Commonwealth are that when he was asked by his .son if he wanted anything was: “I want more love, more love to the Father, more love to the Son and more love to the Holy Spirit".
</blockquote>


The headstone reads:
And on the other side of the headstone –


<blockquote>Also of Mary his beloved wife who died 12 February 1866 aged 64 years, and their daughter Maria Clark who died 18 October 1843, aged 7 years. Precious the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints</blockquote>
Sacred to the memory of Robert Clark Morgan who died 23 September 1864, aged 66. He brought the first settlers to South Australia in the Duke of York in 1836 and was subsequently Commander of the London Missionary Ships Society's Camden and John Williams. His consecrated life made him a true Missionary and he was much beloved by the natives of the South Pacific. So he bringeth them into their desired haven\


The Reverend A.W. Murray in his book, Forty Years Mission Work, said "I have known many eminent Christians during my not-short life, but I have never met a more lovable, a more Christian like man than was Captain Morgan"<ref>{{cite book |last=Murray |first=A. W. |title=Forty Years Mission Work in Polynesia and New Guinea, from 1835 to 1875 |publisher=James Nisbet & Co. |location=London |date=1876 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TxUWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR3}}</ref>
And on the other side of the headstone –

Also of Mary his beloved wife who died 12 February 1866 aged 64 years, and their daughter Maria Clark who died 18 October 1843, aged 7 years. Precious the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints


On 12 February 1866, Mary Morgan (née Dorrington) his wife, died at Arthur Street.
The Reverent A.W. Murray in his book, Forty Years Mission Work, I have known many eminent Christians during my not-short life, but I have never met a more lovable, a more Christian like man than was Captain Morgan.


On her death certificate it said she was born at Greenwich, Kent.<ref>The 1851 Census record it records Mary as born in Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex.</ref> Mary and her husband Captain Morgan are buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery with their son Robert Clark Morgan II and his wife Martha Jane (née Short).
On 12 February 1866, Mary Morgan (nee Dorrington) his wife, died at Arthur Street.


==Notes==
On her death certificate it said she was born at Greenwich, Kent. Mary and her husband are buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery with their son Robert Clark Morgan II and his wife Martha Jane (nee Short). In the 1851 Census record it records Mary as born in Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex
{{reflist|30em}}


== Sources ==
==References==
* {{cite book |last=Heinrich |first=Dorothy M. |title=The Man Who Hunted Whales: A Tale of Kangaroo Island and a Doomed Ship |publisher=Awoonga |date=2011 |url=http://www.dorothyheinrich.com.au/ |isbn=9780646553009}}
* A Biographical Sketch of Colonel William Light, the Founder of Adelaide and the First Surveyor-general of the Province of South Australia: Founder of Adelaide : Sailor, Soldier, Artist and the First Surveyor-General of South Australia, Thomas Gill, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch
* Gill, Thomas. ''A Biographical Sketch of Colonel William Light, the Founder of Adelaide and the First Surveyor-general of the Province of South Australia: Founder of Adelaide: Sailor, Soldier, Artist and the First Surveyor-General of South Australia '', Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch.
* A Cyclopedia of Missions: Containing a Comprehensive View of Missionary Operations Throughout the World : with Geographical Descriptions, and Accounts of the Social, Moral, and Religious Condition of the People, Harvey Newcomb
* Newcomb, Harvey. ''A Cyclopedia of Missions: Containing a Comprehensive View of Missionary Operations Throughout the World : with Geographical Descriptions, and Accounts of the Social, Moral, and Religious Condition of the People”
* A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands: With Remarks Upon the Natural History of the Islands, Origin, Languages, Traditions, and Usages of the Inhabitants, John Williams, George Baxter
* A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands: With Remarks Upon the Natural History of the Islands, Origin, Languages, Traditions, and Usages of the Inhabitants, John Williams, George Baxter
* Williams, John. ''A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands: With Remarks Upon the Natural History of the Islands, Origin, Languages, Traditions, and Usages of the Inhabitants. Printed by George Baxter.
* A Residence of Eleven Years in New Holland and the Caroline Islands, James F. O'Connell, Saul H. Riesenberg
* O'Connell, James F. Riesenberg, Saul H. ''A Residence of Eleven Years in New Holland and the Caroline Islands''.
* Annual Report Society for Nautical Research (London, England)
* Annual Report Society for Nautical Research (London, England)
* Christian Journal
* Christian Work; or, The News of the Churches
* Christianity in Polynesia: A Study and a Defence, Joseph King, Joseph Hillery King
* CHRISTIAN WORK; OR, THE NEWS OF THE CHURCHES
* Christianity in Polynesia: A Study and a Defence, Joseph King, Joseph Hillery King
* Church of Scotland magazine and review, Scotland Church
* Colonial Magazine and Commercial-maritime Journal,
* Cyclopædia of Christian missions: Their Rise, Progress, and Present Position, John Logan Aikman
* Cyclopædia of Christian missions: Their Rise, Progress, and Present Position, John Logan Aikman
* Dalton, William: The Dalton journal : two whaling voyages to the South seas, 1823 - 1829 / ed. by Niel Gunson; [Sydney] : National Library of Australia, 1990 ISBN 0-642-10505-7
* Dalton, William: The Dalton journal : two whaling voyages to the South seas, 1823 - 1829 / ed. by Niel Gunson; [Sydney] : National Library of Australia, 1990 {{ISBN|0-642-10505-7}}
* Edward Gibbon Wakefield: Builder of the British Commonwealth, Paul Bloomfield
* Edward Gibbon Wakefield: Builder of the British Commonwealth, Paul Bloomfield
* Erromanga: The Martyr Isle, H. A. Robertson, John Fraser
* Erromanga: The Martyr Isle, H. A. Robertson, John Fraser
* Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
* ''[[Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle]]''
* Facts and incidents in the life and ministry of Thomas Northcote Toller, Thomas Coleman
* Facts and incidents in the life and ministry of Thomas Northcote Toller, Thomas Coleman
* Foreign Missionary Chronicle
* Foreign Missionary Chronicle
* Forty Years Mission Work, Reverent A.W. Murray,
* Forty Years Mission Work, Reverent A.W. Murray,
* Founders & Pioneers of South Australia: Life Studies of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Charles Sturt, George Fife Angas, Sir John Hindmarsh, William Light, George Gawler, David McLaren, Augustus Kavel, and Francis Cadell, Archibald Grenfell Price
* Founders & Pioneers of South Australia: Life Studies of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Charles Sturt, George Fife Angas, Sir John Hindmarsh, William Light, George Gawler, David McLaren, Augustus Kavel, and Francis Cadell, Archibald Grenfell Price
* From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions, Ruth Tucker, ISBN 0310239370
* From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions, Ruth Tucker, {{ISBN|0-310-23937-0}}
* Gems from the Coral Islands: Western Polynesia: Comprising the New Hebrides Group, the Loyalty Group, New Caledonia Group, William Gill, William Wyatt Gill
* Gems from the Coral Islands: Western Polynesia: Comprising the New Hebrides Group, the Loyalty Group, New Caledonia Group, William Gill, [[William Wyatt Gill]]
* Gems from the Coral Islands; Or, Incidents of Contrast Between Savage and Christian Life of the South Sea Islanders, William Gill, of Rartonga
* Gems from the Coral Islands; Or, Incidents of Contrast Between Savage and Christian Life of the South Sea Islanders, William Gill, of Rartonga
* George Baxter (colour Printer) His Life and Work: A Manual for Collectors, Charles Thomas Courtney Lewis
* George Baxter (colour Printer) His Life and Work: A Manual for Collectors, Charles Thomas Courtney Lewis
* Great missionaries: a ser. of biographies, Andrew Thomson
* Great missionaries: a series of biographies, Andrew Thomson
* History of the Establishment and Progress of the Christian Religion in the Islands of the South Sea: With Preliminary Notices of the Islands and of Their Inhabitants, Sarah Tappan Smith, A. S.
* History of the Establishment and Progress of the Christian Religion in the Islands of the South Sea: With Preliminary Notices of the Islands and of Their Inhabitants, Sarah Tappan Smith, A. S.
* History of the Propagation of Christianity Among the Heathen Since the Reformation, William Brown
* History of the Propagation of Christianity Among the Heathen Since the Reformation, William Brown
* John Howard Angas: Pioneer, Pastoralist, Politician and Philanthropist, H. T. Burgess
* John Howard Angas: Pioneer, Pastoralist, Politician and Philanthropist, H. T. Burgess
* John Williams Missionary http://www.geocities.com/summerhillroad2002/john_williams.htm
* John Williams Missionary https://web.archive.org/web/20091028041158/http://www.geocities.com/summerhillroad2002/john_williams.htm
* John Williams: The Martyr Missionary of Polynesia, James J. Ellis
* Ellis, James J. ''John Williams: The Martyr Missionary of Polynesia''.
* Journal of the Polynesian Society
* Journal of the Polynesian Society
* Lights and Shadows of Sailor Life, as Exemplified in Fifteen Years' Experience, Including the More Thrilling Events of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, and Reminiscences of an Eventful Life on the "mountain Wave.": As Exemplified in Fifteen Years' Experience, Including the More Thrilling Events of the U. S. Exploring Expedition, and Reminiscences of an Eventful Life on the "Mountain Wave", Joseph G. Clark, {{ISBN|0-8369-5974-4}}
* Kangaroo island 1800-1836,
* Lives of the Leaders of the Church Universal, from Ignatius to the Present Time, Ferdinand Piper, Henry Mitchell MacCracken
* Lights and Shadows of Sailor Life, as Exemplified in Fifteen Years' Experience, Including the More Thrilling Events of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, and Reminiscences of an Eventful Life on the "mountain Wave.": As Exemplified in Fifteen Years' Experience, Including the More Thrilling Events of the U. S. Exploring Expedition, and Reminiscences of an Eventful Life on the "Mountain Wave", Joseph G. Clark, ISBN 0836959744
* London missionary society Catalogue of Engraved Portraits, D. R. Meyers
* Lives of the Leaders of the Church Universal, from Ignatius to the Present Time, Ferdinand Piper, Henry Mitchell MacCracken
* Man on the Ocean, Robert Michael Ballantyne
* London missionary society Catalogue of Engraved Portraits, D. R. Meyers
* Man on the ocean, Robert Michael Ballantyne
* Martha Dryland: or, Strength in quietness, memorials of a Sunday-school teacher, James Spence, Martha Dryland
* Martha Dryland: or, Strength in quietness, memorials of a Sunday-school teacher, James Spence, Martha Dryland
* Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. John Williams, Missionary to Polynesia: Missionary to Polynesia, Ebenezer Prout
* Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. John Williams, Missionary to Polynesia, Ebenezer Prout
* Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. John Williams, Missionary to Polynesia, Ebenezer Prout
* Memoirs of the Rev. John Pyer, John Pyer, K. P. Russell
* Memoirs of the Rev. John Pyer, John Pyer, K. P. Russell
* Misi Gete: John Geddie Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides, R. S. Miller, John Geddie, Presbyterian Church of Tasmania
* Misi Gete: John Geddie Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides, R. S. Miller, John Geddie, Presbyterian Church of Tasmania
* Mission to the Islands: The Missionary Voyages in Bass Strait of Canon Marcus Brownrigg, 1872-1885, Marcus Brownrigg, Stephen Murray-Smith
* Mission to the Islands: The Missionary Voyages in Bass Strait of Canon Marcus Brownrigg, 1872–1885, Marcus Brownrigg, Stephen Murray-Smith
* Missionary enterprise in many lands, by H.L.L., Jane Laurie Borthwick
* Missionary enterprise in many lands, by H.L.L., Jane Laurie Borthwick
* Missionary heroes (in islands of the Pacific), Alexander Williamson
* Missionary heroes (in islands of the Pacific), Alexander Williamson
* Missionary Life in Samoa: As Exhibited in the Journals of the Late George Archibald Lundie, During the Revival in Tutuila in 1840-41, George Archibald Lundie, Mary Grey Lundie Duncan
* Missionary Life in Samoa: As Exhibited in the Journals of the Late George Archibald Lundie, During the Revival in Tutuila in 1840-41, George Archibald Lundie, Mary Grey Lundie Duncan
* Missionary Life in the Southern Seas, James Hutton
* Missionary Life in the Southern Seas, James Hutton
* Missionary ships connected with the London missionary society, Ebenezer Prout
* Prout, Ebenezer. ''Missionary Ships Connected With the London Missionary Society''
* Missions in Western Polynesia: Being Historical Sketches of These Missions, from Their Commencement in 1839 to the Present Time, Archibald Wright Murray, London Missionary Society
* Missions in Western Polynesia: Being Historical Sketches of These Missions, from Their Commencement in 1839 to the Present Time, Archibald Wright Murray, London Missionary Society
* Modern Missions: Their Trials and Triumphs: Their Trials and Triumphs, Robert Young, ISBN0836991532
* Modern Missions: Their Trials and Triumphs: Their Trials and Triumphs, Robert Young, {{ISBN|0-8369-9153-2}}
* Nature and the Godly Empire: Science and Evangelical Mission in the Pacific, 1795-1850, Sujit Sivasundaram, ISBN 0521848369
* Nature and the Godly Empire: Science and Evangelical Mission in the Pacific, 1795–1850, [[Sujit Sivasundaram]], {{ISBN|0-521-84836-9}}
* Nineteen Years in Polynesia: Missionary Life, Travels, and Researches in the Islands of the Pacific, George Turner
* Nineteen Years in Polynesia: Missionary Life, Travels, and Researches in the Islands of the Pacific, George Turner
* Of Islands and Men: Studies in Pacific History, Henry Evans Maude
* Of Islands and Men: Studies in Pacific History, Henry Evans Maude
* Pearls of the Pacific: Being Sketches of Missionary Life and Work in Samoa and Other Islands in the South Seas, Victor Arnold Barradale, London Missionary Society
* Pearls of the Pacific: Being Sketches of Missionary Life and Work in Samoa and Other Islands in the South Seas, Victor Arnold Barradale, London Missionary Society
* Philosophical Magazine: A Journal of Theoretical, Experimental and Applied Physics
* Philosophical Magazine: A Journal of Theoretical, Experimental and Applied Physics
* Pioneers and Founders, Or, Recent Workers in the Mission Field: Or recent workers in the mission field, Charlotte Mary Yonge
* Pioneers and Founders, Or, Recent Workers in the Mission Field: Or recent workers in the mission field, Charlotte Mary Yonge
* Pioneers and Founders: Or, Recent Workers in the Mission Field, Charlotte Mary Yonge
* Pioneers of the Christian faith, Alexander Gruar Forbes
* Pioneers of the Christian faith, Alexander Gruar Forbes
* Proceedings - Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. South Australian Branch, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia South Australian Branch, Francis Edwards
* Proceedings - Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. South Australian Branch, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia South Australian Branch, Francis Edwards
* Puritans in the South Seas, Louis Booker Wright, Mary Isabel Fry
* Puritans in the South Seas, Louis Booker Wright, Mary Isabel Fry
* Quarterly Journal, Baxter Society, London
* Quarterly Journal, Baxter Society, London
* Report of the Directors to the General Meeting of the Missionary Society, London Missionary Society
* Report of the Directors to the General Meeting of the Missionary Society, London Missionary Society
* Robert Clark Morgan (1798-1864) His personal Diary http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:1083/record=b1007037
* Robert Clark Morgan (1798–1864) His personal Diary http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:1083/record=b1007037
* Selections from the Autobiography of the Rev. William Gill: Being Chiefly a Record of His Life as a Missionary in the South Sea Islands, William Gill
* Selections from the Autobiography of the Rev. William Gill: Being Chiefly a Record of His Life as a Missionary in the South Sea Islands, William Gill
* South Australian Exploration to 1856, Gwenneth Williams
* South Australian Exploration to 1856, Gwenneth Williams
Line 347: Line 181:
* Ten Decades: The Australian Centenary Story of the London Missionary Society, Joseph King, London Missionary Society
* Ten Decades: The Australian Centenary Story of the London Missionary Society, Joseph King, London Missionary Society
* The Australian Christian Commonwealth, published 1913
* The Australian Christian Commonwealth, published 1913
* The Australian Encyclopædia, Arthur Wilberforce Jose, Herbert James Carter, Thomas George Tucker
* The Australian Encyclopædia, Arthur Wilberforce Jose, Herbert James Carter, Thomas George Tucker
* The Biblical review, and Congregational magazine [formerly The Congregational magazine
* The Baptist Magazine
* The British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books, 1881–1900, British Museum Dept. of Printed Books, Association of Research Libraries
* The Biblical review, and Congregational magazine [formerly The Congregational magazine
* The Children's missionary newspaper [sometimes entitled The Children's monthly missionary newspaper] ed. by C.H. Bateman
* The Boy's Own Paper
* The Christian guardian (and Church of England magazine)
* The British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books, 1881-1900, British Museum Dept. of Printed Books, Association of Research Libraries
* The Christian Miscellany, and Family Visiter
* The Children's missionary newspaper [sometimes entitled The Children's monthly missionary newspaper] ed. by C.H. Bateman
* The Christian guardian (and Church of England magazine)
* The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review [ed. by R. Aspland], [[Robert Aspland]]
* The Christian journal
* The Christian Miscellany, and Family Visiter
* The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review [ed. by R. Aspland], Robert Aspland
* The Christian Treasury (and missionary review)
* The Christian Treasury (and missionary review)
* The Chronicle, London Missionary Society, London Missionary Society
* The Chronicle, London Missionary Society, London Missionary Society
* The Early History of South Australia: A Romantic Experiment in Colonization, 1836–1857
* The Chronicle, London Missionary Society, Una Long, Van Riebeeck Society
* The Eclectic Review, vol. 1-New [8th], [[William Hendry Stowell]]
* The Coconut War: The Crisis on Espiritu Santo, Richard Shears
* The Encyclopædia of Missions: Descriptive, Historical, Biographical, Statistical. With a Full Assortment of Maps, a Complete Bibliography, and Lists of Bible Versions, Edwin Munsell Bliss
* The Early History of South Australia: A Romantic Experiment in Colonization, 1836-1857
* The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
* The Eclectic Review, vol. 1-New [8th], William Hendry Stowell
* The Evangelical Register: A Magazine for Promoting the Spread of the Gospel
* The Encyclopædia of Missions: Descriptive, Historical, Biographical, Statistical. With a Full Assortment of Maps, a Complete Bibliography, and Lists of Bible Versions, Edwin Munsell Bliss
* The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
* The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
* The Evangelical Register: A Magazine for Promoting the Spread of the Gospel
* The Foreign Missionary
* The Foreign Missionary
* The Gospel in All Lands, Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary Society
* The Gospel in All Lands, Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary Society
* The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society: From Its Institution in 1804, to the Close of Its Jubilee in 1854 : Compiled at the Request of the Jubilee Committee, George Browne
* The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society: From Its Institution in 1804, to the Close of Its Jubilee in 1854 : Compiled at the Request of the Jubilee Committee, George Browne
* The History of the London Missionary Society, 1795-1895, Richard Lovett
* The History of the London Missionary Society, 1795–1895, [[Richard Lovett (writer)|Richard Lovett]]
* The history of the London Missionary Society, William Ellis
* The history of the London Missionary Society, William Ellis
* The Journal of the Polynesian Society, Polynesian Society (N.Z.)
* The Journal of the Polynesian Society, Polynesian Society (N.Z.)
* The Juvenile messenger of the Presbyterian Church in England
* The Juvenile messenger of the Presbyterian Church in England
* The Juvenile Missionary Magazine (and Annual), London Missionary Society
* The Juvenile Missionary Magazine (and Annual), London Missionary Society
* The Last Martyrs of Eromanga: Being a Memoir of the Rev. George N. Gordon and Ellen Catherine Powell, His Wife, N. Gordon, James D. Gordon, Ellen C. Gordon, J. D.
* The Juvenile Missionary Magazine (and Annual), London Missionary Society
* The Last Martyrs of Eromanga: Being a Memoir of the Rev. George N. Gordon and Ellen Catherine Powell, His Wife, N. Gordon, James D. Gordon, Ellen C. Gordon, J. D.
* The Life of John Williams: Missionary to the South Seas, John Williams
* The Life of John Williams: Missionary to the South Seas, John Williams
* The Local Preachers' Magazine and Christian Family Record: For the Year, Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association
* The Local Preachers' Magazine and Christian Family Record: For the Year, Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association
* The London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science
* The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science
* The Magazine of Natural Philosophy
* The Magazine of Natural Philosophy
* The Mariners' Church Gospel Temperance Soldiers' and Sailor's Magazine, Temperance British and Foreign Seamen, Soldiers' and Steamers' Friend Society, Bethel Flag Union
* The Mariners' Church Gospel Temperance Soldiers' and Sailor's Magazine, Temperance British and Foreign Seamen, Soldiers' and Steamers' Friend Society, Bethel Flag Union
* The Martyr Missionary of Erromanga: Or, The Life of John Williams, who was Murdered and Eaten by the Savages in One of the South Sea Islands, Ebenezer Prout
* The Martyr Missionary of Erromanga: Or, The Life of John Williams, who was Murdered and Eaten by the Savages in One of the South Sea Islands, Ebenezer Prout
* The martyrs of Polynesia memorials of missionaries, native evangelists, and native converts, who have died by the hand of violence, from 1799 to 1871: Memorials of Missionaries, Native Evangelists, and Native Converts, who Have Died by the Hand of Violence, from 1799 to 1871, Archibald Wright Murray
* The martyrs of Polynesia memorials of missionaries, native evangelists, and native converts, who have died by the hand of violence, from 1799 to 1871: Memorials of Missionaries, Native Evangelists, and Native Converts, who Have Died by the Hand of Violence, from 1799 to 1871, Archibald Wright Murray
* The martyrs of Polynesia, memorials of missionaries [&c.] 1799 to 1871, Archibald Wright Murray
* The martyrs of Polynesia, memorials of missionaries [&c.] 1799 to 1871, Archibald Wright Murray
* The Missionary Chronicle
* The Missionary Chronicle
* The Missionary Herald, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
* The Missionary Herald, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
* The Missionary Magazine and Chronicle, London Missionary Society
* The Missionary Magazine and Chronicle, London Missionary Society
* The Missionary repository for youth, and Sunday school missionary magazine
* The Missionary repository for youth, and Sunday school missionary magazine
* The Missionary Review of the World
* The Missionary Review of the World
* The Mitchell Library, Sydney: Historical and Descriptive Notes, Mitchell Library, Sydney, Ida Leeson
* The Mitchell Library, Sydney: Historical and Descriptive Notes, Mitchell Library, Sydney, Ida Leeson
* The Mitchell Library, Sydney: Historical and Descriptive Notes, Mitchell Library, Sydney, Ida Leeson
* The New Hebrides and Christian missions, with a sketch of the labour traffic, and notes of a cruise through the group in the mission vessel: With a Sketch of the Labour Traffic, and Notes of a Cruise Through the Group in the Mission Vessel, Robert Steel
* The Monthly Christian spectator
* The New Hebrides and the emergence of condominium
* The Museum of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art, Robert Walsh, Eliakim Littell, John Jay Smith
* The Picture Printer of the Nineteenth Century, George Baxter, 1804–1867: George Baxter, 1804–1867, Charles Thomas Courtney Lewis
* The Nautical Magazine
* The Pilot, or Sailors' magazine. [Continued as] Sailors' magazine, British and foreign sailors' society, Sailors' magazine
* The New Hebrides and Christian missions, with a sketch of the labour traffic, and notes of a cruise through the group in the mission vessel: With a Sketch of the Labour Traffic, and Notes of a Cruise Through the Group in the Mission Vessel, Robert Steel
* The New Hebrides and the emergence of condominium
* The Picture Printer of the Nineteenth Century, George Baxter, 1804-1867: George Baxter, 1804-1867, Charles Thomas Courtney Lewis
* The Pilot, or Sailors' magazine. [Continued as] Sailors' magazine, British and foreign sailors' society, Sailors' magazine
* The Presbyterian review and religious journal
* The Presbyterian review and religious journal
* The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, John W. Sproull, Thomas Sproull, David Burt Willson, James McLeod Willson
* The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, John W. Sproull, Thomas Sproull, David Burt Willson, James McLeod Willson
* The Reformed Presbyterian magazine. Jan. 1855-July 1858, 1862-76
* The Reformed Presbyterian magazine. Jan. 1855-July 1858, 1862–76
* The return to England of the missionary ship, 'John Williams;' containing an account of her voyages as related by captain Morgan [and others], R C Morgan and others
* The return to England of the missionary ship, 'John Williams;' containing an account of her voyages as related by captain Morgan [and others], R C Morgan and others
* The Scottish Congregational magazine [afterw.] The Scottish Congregationalist. New ser., vol.3-10, new [3rd] ser., vol.6- new [7th], Congregational union of Scotland
* The Scottish Congregational magazine [afterw.] The Scottish Congregationalist. New ser., vol.3-10, new [3rd] ser., vol.6- new [7th], Congregational union of Scotland
* The Story of the L.M.S.: With an Appendix Bringing the Story Up to the Year 1904, Charles Silvester Horne
* The Story of the L.M.S.: With an Appendix Bringing the Story Up to the Year 1904, Charles Silvester Horne
* The Story of the Lifu Mission: Illust., S. McFarlane
* The Story of the Lifu Mission: Illust., S. McFarlane
* The Sunday at Home: A Family Magazine for Sabbath Reading
* The Sunday at Home: A Family Magazine for Sabbath Reading
* The Sunday school magazine, and journal of Christian instruction. [Continued as] The Sunday school magazine. 3rd ser. 1841-July 1850
* The Sunday school magazine, and journal of Christian instruction. [Continued as] The Sunday school magazine. third ser. 1841-July 1850
* The United Presbyterian magazine
* The United Secession Magazine
* The vanguard of the Christian army; or, Sketches of missionary life, by the author of 'Great voyagers', Christian Army
* The vanguard of the Christian army; or, Sketches of missionary life, by the author of 'Great voyagers', Christian Army
* The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine
* The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine
* To Live Among the Stars: Christian Origins in Oceania, John Garrett
* To Live Among the Stars: Christian Origins in Oceania, John Garrett
* Trade, Tactics, and Territory: Britain in the Pacific, 1783-1823, Margaret Steven
* Trade, Tactics, and Territory: Britain in the Pacific, 1783–1823, Margaret Steven
* Wonders in the Western Isles: Being a Narrative of the Commencement and Progress of Mission Work in Western Polynesia, Archibald Wright Murray
* Vanguard of the Christian Army: Or, Sketches of Missionary Life
{{Protestant missions to Pacific Islands}}
* Wonders in the Western Isles: Being a Narrative of the Commencement and Progress of Mission Work in Western Polynesia, Archibald Wright Murray

* Wonders in the Western Isles: Being a Narrative of the Commencement and Progress of Mission Work in Western Polynesia
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Robert Clark}}
[[Category:1798 births]]
[[Category:1864 deaths]]
[[Category:English Congregationalist missionaries]]
[[Category:Congregationalist missionaries in French Polynesia]]
[[Category:Congregationalist missionaries in Samoa]]
[[Category:Congregationalist missionaries in the Cook Islands]]
[[Category:Congregationalist missionaries in Vanuatu]]
[[Category:History of South Australia]]
[[Category:British people in whaling]]
[[Category:British expatriates in Samoa]]
[[Category:British expatriates in the Cook Islands]]
[[Category:British expatriates in Vanuatu]]
[[Category:British expatriates in French Polynesia]]
[[Category:Australian people in whaling]]
[[Category:Sailors from London]]
[[Category:People from Deptford]]

Latest revision as of 12:21, 12 January 2024

Robert Clark Morgan
Missionary ship captain
Born13 March 1798 (1798-03-13)
Deptford, London
Died23 September 1864 (1864-09-24)
South Yarra, Melbourne, Australia

Robert Clark Morgan (13 March 1798 – 23 September 1864) was an English sea captain, whaler, diarist, and, in later life, a missionary. He captained the Duke of York, bringing the first settlers to South Australia in 1836. His life in the British whaling industry has been recorded in the book The Man Who Hunted Whales (2011) by Dorothy M. Heinrich.[1] His diaries are held in the State Library of New South Wales.

Birth[edit]

Morgan was born on 13 March 1798 at Deptford, Kent, in England. This is recorded in his diary. His parentage is not known. No conclusive record of his birth has been found.

In his diary he does not mention his parentage apart from a few cryptic remarks. On Sunday 5 February 1837 he states, "I could not say that I had a praying Father or a praying mother or a Brother or Sister for I lost them young and knew little of them. I was cast on the world at the age of 11 years to walk the journey of life".

Religious awakening[edit]

About ten days before sailing on his first command, he happened upon a revival meeting, and the result to him was eventful. This would have been in 1828. That revival service in Greenwich was led by Isaac English (baker and lay preacher).

Before he took up his first command in December 1828 on the Sir Charles Price he had been a reckless, boisterous profligate, living without a thought of God, except to blaspheme his holy name; but Divine grace now wrought so wondrous a change in him, that when he once more went to sea the old hands amongst his crew could scarcely recognise him for the same man. He who once never gave a command unaccompanied by an oath was now never heard to swear; and such was the force of his character and the power of his example, that in a few months' time not a man of his crew dared to use a profane expression while within his hearing. The discipline of the ship was not a bit lessened, and every one was happier, from the sobriety and good feeling of which the captain set example.[2]

Robert Clark Morgan attended the West Greenwich Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, which was founded in King George Street, very close to Blissett Street, in 1816. The foundation stone of the Wesleyan Chapel in George Street was laid in September 1816 and it was opened on December sixteenth of the same year. It was capable of seating 1,000 people. The building may still be there although it has not been used as a chapel for a very long time.

Wife and family[edit]

On 30 December 1822, at Deptford, Kent, at the Church of St. Nicholas,[3] Robert Clark Morgan married Mary Dorrington. He was 25 and she was 22. He had a lifelong devotion to her. He states that they met when very young - the choice of my youth is an expression he often used in his diaries.[4]

The marriage was registered as:

Robert Morgan Clark, bachelor of this Parish and Mary Dorrington, spinster of ('this', written, then deleted) the Parish of Greenwich were married in this Church by Banns this 30th Day of December in the Year one thousand eight hundred and twenty two, by me, D. Jones, Curate.

This Marriage was solemnised between us (signed:) Robert Morgan Clark Mary Dorrington

In the presence of { X The mark of James Gittens and

{Elizabeth Dorrington

The reason his marriage was solemnised in the surname of Clark is unknown.

They had seven children, most dying shortly after birth. There was a daughter, Louisa Clark Morgan, who died at 7 years of age and only one child, also named Robert Clark Morgan, survived the Captain and his wife. Both were baptised at the George Street Wesleyan chapel.

Royal Navy[edit]

He entered the Royal Navy at the age of eleven, his diaries state that at that age (he was) sent to sea on board a man o' war. He talks of the man o' war as "a place where all wickedness is committed with greediness and a place where he saw every vice man is capable of committing".

South Sea whaling[edit]

See also: Whaling in the United Kingdom

When he left the Royal Navy, in 1814 towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, he transferred to the merchant marine, whaling. He began as an apprentice on Phoenix, becoming an able seaman and rising to first and second mate, and became a master at an early age. One of the voyages on Phoenix is described in the book The Dalton Journal edited by Niel Gunson. Morgan is not mentioned by name. However, there is a reference to the second mate, which Morgan would have been at that time.

Morgan was the master of the ships Sir Charles Price and Recovery, both owned by Daniel Bennett, an owner of many south sea whaling ships, and Duke of York, owned by the South Australian Company. She was the first pioneer ship to reach South Australia.[5]

His whaling career in the Phoenix was: Apprentice June 1814 - June 1819, Able Seaman June 1819 - Sept 1822, second Mate Jan 1823 - Nov 1825, first Mate May 1826 - Sept 1828. Sir Charles Price, Master Dec 1828 - June 1831. Recovery, Master Dec 1831 - June 1835. Duke of York, Master Feb 1836 - Aug 1837.

In his diary later in life he reminisces about his whaling experiences:

Early this morning I went on deck. It was a fine beautiful morning, a clear atmosphere and fine blue sky with the ocean with only a few rippling over its surface. I saw a ship and went to the masthead and saw she had her boats down. Afterwards I saw the sperm whales she was after. She had taken whales before as she was boiling oil and the smoke was going in volleys from her tryworks. The whales were going as nearly as fast as the ship so we kept pace with them for 2 - 3 hours till at last one boat struck a large whale then another struck the same whale and eventually killed it and took it alongside. Oh how vivid did this bring back all my past experience in this work. The days of my youth and manhood was spent in this trade. This was the part of it I loved. A sight of a whale would make my heart jump and take away all relish for food. How happy if when a boy I could get to be let down in a boat and after I came to manhood how happy if I could but get to kill a whale and I always managed to get my share. All these things came fresh to my memory and these feelings rose up and caused a feeling not easily described, but I left it all for Jesus and his work. I will not repine how many hairs breaths escapes have I had in whaling, how many times has God spared my life when my boat has been staven, time after time.[4]

South Australia[edit]

George Fife Angas appointed Captain Morgan master of Duke of York. The South Australian Company had fitted her to take the first settlers to South Australia,[6] and then go whaling after that. Duke of York sailed from St Katharine Docks on 26 February 1836. Duke of York finally set sail for the sea on Saturday 19 March 1836, having been unable to get away from the English coast due to bad weather for some five weeks. She carried 42 persons including the crew. (Another source said she left England on 5 April).

Some passengers, including some adults whose passage was charged to the Emigration Fund, were on board as well. The First Report of the Commissioners of Colonisation of South Australia gave the ship's complement as thirty-eight. A list compiled from the Company's records gave the names of twenty passengers and twenty-six seamen, in addition to the Captain.

Several of the passengers listed had significant appointments in the service of the South Australian Company. Samuel Stephens was the first Colonial Manager, and on behalf of his employers, he established the settlement of Kingscote as a site for their projected whaling venture. From its location in relation to the mouth of the River Murray, and the Gulfs of St Vincent and Spencer, he considered it as a possible shipping port for the future.

Another of the passengers, Thomas Hudson Beare, was Superintendent of Buildings and Labourers, while D.H. Schreyvogel was engaged as a clerk. Charles Powell and W. West were gardeners; Henry Mitchell was a butcher; and John Neale was an assistant carpenter.

They reached Kangaroo Island in South Australia and disembarked on 27 July 1836. When in sight of the island the previous evening Captain Morgan, a devout Wesleyan, gathered the passengers for a prayer meeting. When they landed Samuel Stephens named the river Morgan; it is now called Cygnet. Soon after landing Stephens conducted a short service to give thanks for their safe arrival. This was probably the first religious service on the shores of South Australia.

Most of the passengers wished to be the first to land in the new colony, but Captain Morgan settled the dispute very cleverly. He instructed the second mate Robert Russell to have some sailors row the youngest child ashore. This was two and a half year old Elizabeth Beare, daughter of the Company's Deputy Manager, Thomas Hudson Beare. Russell was instructed to carry the child through the shallow water and place her feet on the beach while the adults were at dinner. In doing so she was the first white female to set foot on that strand. When this happened the crew began to cheer and the passengers soon realised that a landing had been made without them knowing it.

The Company had dispatched Duke of York, Lady Mary Pelham, Emma, and John Pirie, with the intention that after they had delivered their passengers they commence whaling operations.

After leaving Kangaroo Island Duke of York sailed on 20 September 1836 to hunt whales. She was at Hobart Town from 27 September 1836 to 18 October to refresh; from there she proceeded to the South Sea whaling grounds. On Friday, 10 February 1837 Morgan heard of the wreck of the ship Active in the Fiji Islands and they took on board its Master, Captain Dixon, Willings the mate, and Wilkey.

Duke of York was whaling up the coast of Queensland when she was shipwrecked off Port Curtis (in Queensland) on 14 July 1837. Port Curtis is near current day Gladstone, Queensland. The whole ship's company got into three boats and rowed and sailed 300 miles to Brisbane, where they arrived Saturday 26 August 1837 after a most uncomfortable time. On the way down aboriginals killed an English crewman George Glansford, of Barking Essex, and a Rotumah native boy, named Bob, when the boats put in for water. There are parts of Morgan's diary that related to George's death. The Captain said that he was a young man, probably, early 20s. The Captain used to get George down to his cabin for religious instruction. He said that he recalled the Captain writing that George was not a hardened rough type. George apparently accepted his religious teaching. It seems as the captain had a sort of parental role over George. His journal that covers the period that he was master of Duke of York is water marked to attest to this experience.

They finally arrive at Morton Bay and the steamer James Watt took Captain Morgan, the mate and nineteen survivors on to Sydney, leaving the remainder to follow in another vessel.

London Missionary Society[edit]

On Tuesday, 6 February 1838, three days after he arrived home from Sydney, he visited the Secretary of the London Missionary Society to see if he could take command of the missionary ship Camden. On 10 February he met the missionary John Williams, who was looking to travel back to Samoa with his wife Mary.

Morgan sailed in the Pacific in Camden from April 1838 till July 1843. He was with Williams in 1839 when Williams and Harris were murdered in the New Hebrides island of Erromango, now Vanuatu. The London Missionary Society invited children all over the country to contribute to buying a ship in Williams's memory so that his work could continue. Seven mission ships named John Williams were successively bought in this way.

When Camden returned to England, Morgan became captain of the London Missionary Society's first such ship, John Williams, and sailed it for 3 voyages: June 1844 - May 1847, October 1847 - May 1850 and July 1851 - June 1855.

In 1841 the Samoan Brethren suggested that he sit for his portrait[7] when next in Sydney. However, it was finally done in London. The original artwork is held in the collections of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England, and was displayed in the offices of the London Missionary Society. There was a copy reproduced in the journal The Congregationalist (June 1962 at p. 3) with an article about him.

Retirement from the sea[edit]

Captain Morgan retired from the sea at the end of the voyage in 1855.

As far as can be seen in his diary that covers the period from 16 June 1861 - 29 March 1862 [8] he spent a lot of his time visiting the sick.

His final diary that covers the period 15 March 1863 to 31 March 1864[8] tells of the voyage the Captain and Mrs Morgan made to Melbourne, Australia on the Yorkshire from about 30 March 1863 to 19 June 1863. It appears they came to be near their only surviving child (Robert Clark Morgan II). The son was baptised on 10 July 1829 at the Wesleyan Chapel George St. Greenwich. In the 1851 census Robert Clark Morgan II (aged 21) was residing in England with his patents at 83A Lower Road Deptford (also in the household was Mary A Wallace, niece, aged 22, born in Greenwich, Kent). His occupation is shown as a clerk at the East India Docks. He had lived in Samoa with his parents for a while and went to Sydney in 1849. He then went to Melbourne arriving in about 1852 at the time of the gold rush. He joined the Victorian civil service on 20 September 1852 as a revenue collector. He died in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 87 years a very wealthy man.[quantify]

Death[edit]

Morgan died 23 September 1864 at Arthur St, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, at the home of his son, aged 66.

His dying words are that when he was asked by his son if he wanted anything was: "I want more love, more love to the Father, more love to the Son and more love to the Holy Spirit".[9]

The headstone in the Melbourne General Cemetery reads:

Sacred to the memory of Robert Clark Morgan who died 23 September 1864, aged 66. He brought the first settlers to South Australia in the Duke of York in 1836 and was subsequently Commander of the London Missionary Ships Society's Camden and John Williams. His consecrated life made him a true Missionary and he was much beloved by the natives of the South Pacific. So he bringeth them into their desired heaven.

And on the other side of the headstone –

Also of Mary his beloved wife who died 12 February 1866 aged 64 years, and their daughter Maria Clark who died 18 October 1843, aged 7 years. Precious the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints

The Reverend A.W. Murray in his book, Forty Years Mission Work, said "I have known many eminent Christians during my not-short life, but I have never met a more lovable, a more Christian like man than was Captain Morgan"[10]

On 12 February 1866, Mary Morgan (née Dorrington) his wife, died at Arthur Street.

On her death certificate it said she was born at Greenwich, Kent.[11] Mary and her husband Captain Morgan are buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery with their son Robert Clark Morgan II and his wife Martha Jane (née Short).

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Heinrich, Dorothy M. (2011). The Man Who Hunted Whales: A Tale of Kangaroo Island and a Doomed Ship. Awoonga. ISBN 9780646553009.
  2. ^ Sunday at Home, published 1874 and the other in the Australian Christian Commonwealth, published 1913 (both out of copyright).
  3. ^ "St. Nicholas". Christopher Marlowe is buried in the Church graveyard
  4. ^ a b Morgan, Robert Clark, Personal Diary
  5. ^ "The Barque Duke of York - First Pioneer Ship to Arrive". History South Australia.
  6. ^ Cummings, Diane (ed.). "Duke of York 1836". Bound for South Australia: Passenger Lists for Emigrants to South Australia 1836-1851. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Captain R.C. Morgan, Missionary Ship John Williams". London: Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b Diaries held by his great great grandson (Robert Hamilton Morgan)
  9. ^ Recorded in the Australian Christian Commonwealth
  10. ^ Murray, A. W. (1876). Forty Years Mission Work in Polynesia and New Guinea, from 1835 to 1875. London: James Nisbet & Co.
  11. ^ The 1851 Census record it records Mary as born in Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex.

References[edit]

  • Heinrich, Dorothy M. (2011). The Man Who Hunted Whales: A Tale of Kangaroo Island and a Doomed Ship. Awoonga. ISBN 9780646553009.
  • Gill, Thomas. A Biographical Sketch of Colonel William Light, the Founder of Adelaide and the First Surveyor-general of the Province of South Australia: Founder of Adelaide: Sailor, Soldier, Artist and the First Surveyor-General of South Australia , Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch.
  • Newcomb, Harvey. A Cyclopedia of Missions: Containing a Comprehensive View of Missionary Operations Throughout the World : with Geographical Descriptions, and Accounts of the Social, Moral, and Religious Condition of the People”
  • Williams, John. A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands: With Remarks Upon the Natural History of the Islands, Origin, Languages, Traditions, and Usages of the Inhabitants. Printed by George Baxter.
  • O'Connell, James F. Riesenberg, Saul H. A Residence of Eleven Years in New Holland and the Caroline Islands.
  • Annual Report Society for Nautical Research (London, England)
  • Christian Work; or, The News of the Churches
  • Christianity in Polynesia: A Study and a Defence, Joseph King, Joseph Hillery King
  • Cyclopædia of Christian missions: Their Rise, Progress, and Present Position, John Logan Aikman
  • Dalton, William: The Dalton journal : two whaling voyages to the South seas, 1823 - 1829 / ed. by Niel Gunson; [Sydney] : National Library of Australia, 1990 ISBN 0-642-10505-7
  • Edward Gibbon Wakefield: Builder of the British Commonwealth, Paul Bloomfield
  • Erromanga: The Martyr Isle, H. A. Robertson, John Fraser
  • Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
  • Facts and incidents in the life and ministry of Thomas Northcote Toller, Thomas Coleman
  • Foreign Missionary Chronicle
  • Forty Years Mission Work, Reverent A.W. Murray,
  • Founders & Pioneers of South Australia: Life Studies of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Charles Sturt, George Fife Angas, Sir John Hindmarsh, William Light, George Gawler, David McLaren, Augustus Kavel, and Francis Cadell, Archibald Grenfell Price
  • From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions, Ruth Tucker, ISBN 0-310-23937-0
  • Gems from the Coral Islands: Western Polynesia: Comprising the New Hebrides Group, the Loyalty Group, New Caledonia Group, William Gill, William Wyatt Gill
  • Gems from the Coral Islands; Or, Incidents of Contrast Between Savage and Christian Life of the South Sea Islanders, William Gill, of Rartonga
  • George Baxter (colour Printer) His Life and Work: A Manual for Collectors, Charles Thomas Courtney Lewis
  • Great missionaries: a series of biographies, Andrew Thomson
  • History of the Establishment and Progress of the Christian Religion in the Islands of the South Sea: With Preliminary Notices of the Islands and of Their Inhabitants, Sarah Tappan Smith, A. S.
  • History of the Propagation of Christianity Among the Heathen Since the Reformation, William Brown
  • John Howard Angas: Pioneer, Pastoralist, Politician and Philanthropist, H. T. Burgess
  • John Williams Missionary https://web.archive.org/web/20091028041158/http://www.geocities.com/summerhillroad2002/john_williams.htm
  • Ellis, James J. John Williams: The Martyr Missionary of Polynesia.
  • Journal of the Polynesian Society
  • Lights and Shadows of Sailor Life, as Exemplified in Fifteen Years' Experience, Including the More Thrilling Events of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, and Reminiscences of an Eventful Life on the "mountain Wave.": As Exemplified in Fifteen Years' Experience, Including the More Thrilling Events of the U. S. Exploring Expedition, and Reminiscences of an Eventful Life on the "Mountain Wave", Joseph G. Clark, ISBN 0-8369-5974-4
  • Lives of the Leaders of the Church Universal, from Ignatius to the Present Time, Ferdinand Piper, Henry Mitchell MacCracken
  • London missionary society Catalogue of Engraved Portraits, D. R. Meyers
  • Man on the Ocean, Robert Michael Ballantyne
  • Martha Dryland: or, Strength in quietness, memorials of a Sunday-school teacher, James Spence, Martha Dryland
  • Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. John Williams, Missionary to Polynesia, Ebenezer Prout
  • Memoirs of the Rev. John Pyer, John Pyer, K. P. Russell
  • Misi Gete: John Geddie Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides, R. S. Miller, John Geddie, Presbyterian Church of Tasmania
  • Mission to the Islands: The Missionary Voyages in Bass Strait of Canon Marcus Brownrigg, 1872–1885, Marcus Brownrigg, Stephen Murray-Smith
  • Missionary enterprise in many lands, by H.L.L., Jane Laurie Borthwick
  • Missionary heroes (in islands of the Pacific), Alexander Williamson
  • Missionary Life in Samoa: As Exhibited in the Journals of the Late George Archibald Lundie, During the Revival in Tutuila in 1840-41, George Archibald Lundie, Mary Grey Lundie Duncan
  • Missionary Life in the Southern Seas, James Hutton
  • Prout, Ebenezer. Missionary Ships Connected With the London Missionary Society
  • Missions in Western Polynesia: Being Historical Sketches of These Missions, from Their Commencement in 1839 to the Present Time, Archibald Wright Murray, London Missionary Society
  • Modern Missions: Their Trials and Triumphs: Their Trials and Triumphs, Robert Young, ISBN 0-8369-9153-2
  • Nature and the Godly Empire: Science and Evangelical Mission in the Pacific, 1795–1850, Sujit Sivasundaram, ISBN 0-521-84836-9
  • Nineteen Years in Polynesia: Missionary Life, Travels, and Researches in the Islands of the Pacific, George Turner
  • Of Islands and Men: Studies in Pacific History, Henry Evans Maude
  • Pearls of the Pacific: Being Sketches of Missionary Life and Work in Samoa and Other Islands in the South Seas, Victor Arnold Barradale, London Missionary Society
  • Philosophical Magazine: A Journal of Theoretical, Experimental and Applied Physics
  • Pioneers and Founders, Or, Recent Workers in the Mission Field: Or recent workers in the mission field, Charlotte Mary Yonge
  • Pioneers of the Christian faith, Alexander Gruar Forbes
  • Proceedings - Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. South Australian Branch, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia South Australian Branch, Francis Edwards
  • Puritans in the South Seas, Louis Booker Wright, Mary Isabel Fry
  • Quarterly Journal, Baxter Society, London
  • Report of the Directors to the General Meeting of the Missionary Society, London Missionary Society
  • Robert Clark Morgan (1798–1864) His personal Diary http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:1083/record=b1007037
  • Selections from the Autobiography of the Rev. William Gill: Being Chiefly a Record of His Life as a Missionary in the South Sea Islands, William Gill
  • South Australian Exploration to 1856, Gwenneth Williams
  • Sunday at Home, published 1874
  • Ten Decades: The Australian Centenary Story of the London Missionary Society, Joseph King, London Missionary Society
  • The Australian Christian Commonwealth, published 1913
  • The Australian Encyclopædia, Arthur Wilberforce Jose, Herbert James Carter, Thomas George Tucker
  • The Biblical review, and Congregational magazine [formerly The Congregational magazine
  • The British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books, 1881–1900, British Museum Dept. of Printed Books, Association of Research Libraries
  • The Children's missionary newspaper [sometimes entitled The Children's monthly missionary newspaper] ed. by C.H. Bateman
  • The Christian guardian (and Church of England magazine)
  • The Christian Miscellany, and Family Visiter
  • The Christian reformer; or, Unitarian magazine and review [ed. by R. Aspland], Robert Aspland
  • The Christian Treasury (and missionary review)
  • The Chronicle, London Missionary Society, London Missionary Society
  • The Early History of South Australia: A Romantic Experiment in Colonization, 1836–1857
  • The Eclectic Review, vol. 1-New [8th], William Hendry Stowell
  • The Encyclopædia of Missions: Descriptive, Historical, Biographical, Statistical. With a Full Assortment of Maps, a Complete Bibliography, and Lists of Bible Versions, Edwin Munsell Bliss
  • The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
  • The Evangelical Register: A Magazine for Promoting the Spread of the Gospel
  • The Foreign Missionary
  • The Gospel in All Lands, Methodist Episcopal Church Missionary Society
  • The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society: From Its Institution in 1804, to the Close of Its Jubilee in 1854 : Compiled at the Request of the Jubilee Committee, George Browne
  • The History of the London Missionary Society, 1795–1895, Richard Lovett
  • The history of the London Missionary Society, William Ellis
  • The Journal of the Polynesian Society, Polynesian Society (N.Z.)
  • The Juvenile messenger of the Presbyterian Church in England
  • The Juvenile Missionary Magazine (and Annual), London Missionary Society
  • The Last Martyrs of Eromanga: Being a Memoir of the Rev. George N. Gordon and Ellen Catherine Powell, His Wife, N. Gordon, James D. Gordon, Ellen C. Gordon, J. D.
  • The Life of John Williams: Missionary to the South Seas, John Williams
  • The Local Preachers' Magazine and Christian Family Record: For the Year, Wesleyan Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association
  • The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science
  • The Magazine of Natural Philosophy
  • The Mariners' Church Gospel Temperance Soldiers' and Sailor's Magazine, Temperance British and Foreign Seamen, Soldiers' and Steamers' Friend Society, Bethel Flag Union
  • The Martyr Missionary of Erromanga: Or, The Life of John Williams, who was Murdered and Eaten by the Savages in One of the South Sea Islands, Ebenezer Prout
  • The martyrs of Polynesia memorials of missionaries, native evangelists, and native converts, who have died by the hand of violence, from 1799 to 1871: Memorials of Missionaries, Native Evangelists, and Native Converts, who Have Died by the Hand of Violence, from 1799 to 1871, Archibald Wright Murray
  • The martyrs of Polynesia, memorials of missionaries [&c.] 1799 to 1871, Archibald Wright Murray
  • The Missionary Chronicle
  • The Missionary Herald, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
  • The Missionary Magazine and Chronicle, London Missionary Society
  • The Missionary repository for youth, and Sunday school missionary magazine
  • The Missionary Review of the World
  • The Mitchell Library, Sydney: Historical and Descriptive Notes, Mitchell Library, Sydney, Ida Leeson
  • The New Hebrides and Christian missions, with a sketch of the labour traffic, and notes of a cruise through the group in the mission vessel: With a Sketch of the Labour Traffic, and Notes of a Cruise Through the Group in the Mission Vessel, Robert Steel
  • The New Hebrides and the emergence of condominium
  • The Picture Printer of the Nineteenth Century, George Baxter, 1804–1867: George Baxter, 1804–1867, Charles Thomas Courtney Lewis
  • The Pilot, or Sailors' magazine. [Continued as] Sailors' magazine, British and foreign sailors' society, Sailors' magazine
  • The Presbyterian review and religious journal
  • The Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, John W. Sproull, Thomas Sproull, David Burt Willson, James McLeod Willson
  • The Reformed Presbyterian magazine. Jan. 1855-July 1858, 1862–76
  • The return to England of the missionary ship, 'John Williams;' containing an account of her voyages as related by captain Morgan [and others], R C Morgan and others
  • The Scottish Congregational magazine [afterw.] The Scottish Congregationalist. New ser., vol.3-10, new [3rd] ser., vol.6- new [7th], Congregational union of Scotland
  • The Story of the L.M.S.: With an Appendix Bringing the Story Up to the Year 1904, Charles Silvester Horne
  • The Story of the Lifu Mission: Illust., S. McFarlane
  • The Sunday at Home: A Family Magazine for Sabbath Reading
  • The Sunday school magazine, and journal of Christian instruction. [Continued as] The Sunday school magazine. third ser. 1841-July 1850
  • The vanguard of the Christian army; or, Sketches of missionary life, by the author of 'Great voyagers', Christian Army
  • The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine
  • To Live Among the Stars: Christian Origins in Oceania, John Garrett
  • Trade, Tactics, and Territory: Britain in the Pacific, 1783–1823, Margaret Steven
  • Wonders in the Western Isles: Being a Narrative of the Commencement and Progress of Mission Work in Western Polynesia, Archibald Wright Murray
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Clark_Morgan&oldid=1195127792"