Cyrus South Seaman
The barque Cyrus South Seaman, also simply known as "The Cyrus", was the British whaling vessel captained by Richard Spratly, namesake of Spratly Island and the group of islands and reefs known as the Spratly Islands. The Cyrus sailed during the 1840s. The Cyrus also transported valuable cargo between the South Pacific and Great Britain. [1]
The vessel was owned by a man known only as "Mr. Joe".[2]
This vessel should not be confused with the American whaler, the Cyrus of Nantucket, of similar name which sailed during the same era.[3] A bill of sale in the Nantucket Historical Association Research Library shows that a whaling vessel named Cyrus had several owners and was registered in London in 1916.[4] Several sources speak of a Cyrus and an incident at Pitcairn, but some call it a London whaler and others an American whaler.[4] However, testimony from the crew confirms this ship was sailing elsewhere under a different Captain.[5]
Known Crew Manifesto
Captain Spratly's Crew
Circa. 1838 - 1844
Captain Richard Spratly, Master[1]
Chief Officer George Cotton[1]
Second Officer William Spratly[1]
Dr. Francis Rankin, Surgeon[1]
Mr. William Heron, Cooper's Mate (Abandoned in Keimes, Celebes 1841)[1]
Mr. Howland (Abandoned in Keimes, Celebes 1841)[1]
Mr. Robson[1]
Mr. Brown[2]
Possible Location
There are a few whalers named Cyrus from the same era. Spratly's Cyrus may be one of these shipwrecks:
- Port San Juan, 23 December 1858.[6]
- Hartepool, England. 9 February 1861. [7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 http://www.pratley.info/spratley/FONS.php
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.historyscape.org.uk/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I2552&tree=ruth
- ↑ http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9401E5D91F31E132A25754C1A9679C94669ED7CF
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.nha.org/library/ms/ms15.htm
- ↑ http://scholarship.rice.edu/jsp/xml/1911/9248/1/aa00027.tei.html Correspondence Between the Consuls of the United States at Rio de Janiero, &c, with the Secretary of State, on the Subject of the African Slave Trade.
- ↑ http://www.crd.bc.ca/jdf/tourism/history.htm
- ↑ http://portcities.hartlepool.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConNarrative.18
