Robert Clark Morgan
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The Good Captain Morgan
Captain Robert Clark Morgan (1798-1864)
Introduction
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.
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.
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 and his parents died and was brought up by the Morgan family. My reasoning for that is 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. 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. It is only conjecture, however, was this to maintain the Clark Morgan name. 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 I found 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; I assume that this is also in Stepney. This could also be a relative but I am not sure.
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. I believe that the congregation now meet in Welling.
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:
“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”
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.
The 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.
Still on the fact that he may have been originally Robert Clark, 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 (see below).
South Sea Whaling
When he left the Royal Navy, in 1814 towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, he transferred to the merchant marine, namely 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 is as follows
Ship Rank Period
Phoenix (of London) Apprentice June 1814 - June 1819 Able Seaman June 1819 - Sept 1822 2nd Mate Jan 1823 - Nov 1925 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. 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:
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.
South Australia
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. Catherine Docks on 26 February 1836.
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.
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.
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 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.
Passenger List
Surname Given Names Comments
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
Crew List
Surname Given Names Comments
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
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 (Erroamonga), 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.
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.
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.
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.
His Death
On 23 September 1864 at Arthur St, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, at the home of his son, Captain Morgan died. He was aged 66.
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".
The headstone 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 haven\
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 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 12 February 1866, Mary Morgan (nee Dorrington) his wife, died at Arthur Street.
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
Sources
- Robert Clark Morgan (1798-1864) His personal Diary http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:1083/record=b1007037
- The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle
- 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