George Curgenven
Contact by email
Removal of the descendants of the Mutiny on the Bounty from the Pitcairn Islands in 1856

Brendon & Curgenven Family Trees
including brother Dr John Curgenven

George James Curgenven

Removal of the decendents of the
Mutiny on the Bounty
from the Pitcairn Islands in 1856

Birth Certificate
 
George James Curgenven was born on 21 Dec 1837 Birth Certificate >> Baptism Certificate >>
 
Mariners Ticket
 
He received his Mariners Ticket on 25 May 1852 at the age of 14yrs 7mts.
 
Mariners Ticket
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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3rd Mates Certificate
 
George James Curgenven became a 3rd Mate on 3 Sep 1858.
 
3rd Mates Certificate
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Discharge Papers
 
G.J. Curgenven signed on the Morayshire as 3rd Mate on 4 Oct 1855 in London for a voyage to Australia. He was discharged after 34 Months 16 Days on 20 Aug 1859 in London at the age of 22. Signed G. Mathers. Master.
 
Discharge Papers
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Morayshire
 
  Morayshire was the second sailing ship of that name owned by Duncan Dunbar. She was built of Teak in 1853 in his yard at Moulmein, Burma. Registered at London in 1853 but does not appear in Lloyd’s Shipping Register of 1856. Sold to C Scott in 1862 and condemned 1863.
  3 masted Barque with a Poop in the East Indies style. 788 tons, 145.1 x 28.7 x 19.8 ft draught. Felt, sheathed with Yellow Metal (60% brass, 40% copper). Iron Bolts. Surveyed 55.
  London to Australia 1856 to 58. London to India 1861/62. Capt Joseph Mathers
Lloyds Register>>
 
Painting of the ship Morayshire

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Morayshire Stamp >>
Similar ship Edwin Fox >>
Emigrant's Costs >>
Assault and Absences >>
From the Papers >>

August 2012 - March 2021

Mutiny on the Bounty.
 
  In 1788, The HMS Bounty arrived in Tahiti after a hard 10 months at sea. Captain Bligh allowed the crew to stay on shore and it was not surprising that most wanted to remain. Some had even got married.
  The Bounty left Tahiti on 4th. April 1789 and 24 days later, 18 men joined Christian in the mutiny. Captain Bligh and 18 men were put into an open boat and they made an epic 47 day journey to Timor.
  Mutiny on the Bounty has been made into several films. For further information use this link.
More info >>
 

The removal of the descendants of the Mutiny on the Bounty
 
  George James Curgenven was an Officer on the Ship Morayshire which took the descendants of the Mutiny on the Bounty from the Pitcairn Island to the Norfolk Island in 1856. Pitcairn Journey >>
 

  George wrote a list of the Islanders onboard the Morayshire June 1856. Islanders List >>
 
  The Morayshire arrived with 194 Islanders but the names do not correspond with the "Pitcairn Register". The list has been revised to show possible names. Islanders List Revised>>
 

  George wrote an account of his journey from Sydney to Pitcairn via Norfolk then back to Norfolk. His account was a typed draft submitted to Cassell Co Ltd in 1910. It includes the pencil sketches.
Letter to Cassell >>
 

  The Cornwall Chronicle carried an article about a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society at which the removal of the Pitcairn Islanders was discussed.
Cutting >>
 

Morayshire's Journey
 
  The Morayshire left London October 1855 and arrived in Sydney on 22 Jan 1856 and left for Norfolk Island on 2 Feb. GJC. was 3rd Mate.
  The Morayshire took 23 days to sail the 1000 miles to Norfolk Island @46 miles/day to drop off stores.
  She then took 35 days to sail the 5500 miles around the south of New Zeland to Pitcairn Island @160 m/day.
  The journey with the Pitcairn Islanders took 34 days to sail 3500 miles back to Norfolk Island @106 miles/day. (Cutty Sark's best was 360m/d)
  The Morayshire then left for Hobart Town, Tasmania, arriving 28 July. 1400 miles of heavy weather in 32 days (44 m/d). She arrived back in Sydney on 12 Aug 1856.
 
Map of the Morayshire's journey
 
 
 
 
Large Map >>
 
Newspaper Cutting >>
 

Sketches from Pitcairn
 
John Adam's Grave
John Adam's House
John Adam's Tapa Mallet     Info on Tapa Cloth
John Adam's Dish
Bounty Bay
Surf Boat

  George's Diaries   3 Oct 1855 to 20 Aug 1858
 
    1. Introduction
 
    Emigrant's Voyage London to Sydney - 4 Oct 55 to 19 Jan 56
        Voyage to Sydney
        Voyage Log
        Crew & Emigrants List
 
    Sydney 1 - 19 Jan to 23 Feb 56
        3. Sydney 1
        Map of Sydney 1856
 
    Transportation of Pitcairn Islanders - 23 Feb to 12 Aug 56
        4. Sydney to Norfolk 1
        5. Norfolk 1
        6. Norfolk to Pitcairn
        7. Pitcairn
        8. Pitcairn to Norfolk 2
        9. Norfolk 2
        10. Norfolk to Hobart
        11. Hobart to Sydney
 
    Sydney 2 - 12 Aug - 21 Sep 56
        12. Sydney 2
 
    1st Voyage to Manila - 21 Sep 56 to 5 Mar 57
        13. Sydney to Norfolk 3
        14. Norfolk 3
        15. Norfolk to Manila 1
        16. Manila 1
        17. Manila to Sydney
 
    Sydney 3 - 5 Mar to 21 Apr 57
        18. Sydney 3
 
    2nd Voyage to Manila - 21 Apr to 30 Dec 57
        19. Sydney to Norfolk 4
        20. Norfolk 4
        21. Norfolk to Manila 2
        22. Manila 2
        23. Manila to Sydney
 
    Sydney 4 - 30 Dec 57 to 4 Apr 58
        24. Sydney 4
 
    Sydney to London - 4 Apr to 20 Aug 58
        25. Voyage Home
 

        The Anglican Island Mission 4 July 1856
 
        Naval joke.