Hermes (1811 ship)
Hermes was built in Quebec in 1811. She traded widely before she made two voyages as a whaler to the British Southern Whale Fishery. She was wrecked in 1822 during the second voyage.
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Hermes |
| Builder | Montreal[1] |
| Launched | 1811 |
| Fate | Wrecked 1822 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 258[2][1] (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Armament | 18 × 12&9-pounder guns[2] |
The wreck was found at Pearl and Hermes atoll in the 21st century, an atoll for which the ship is also a namesake along with another ship.
Career
A letter dated 16 May 1812 reported that Hermes had been re-registered at London.[3] She entered Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1813 with Harvey, master, Haslop, owner, and trade London–Smyrna.[2]
LR for 1816 showed Hermes with W.Moore, master, changing to J.Streffen, Haslop, owner, changing to Douglas & Co., and trade London–West Indies.[4]
On 30 November 1818 Hermes, Bond, master, put into Lerwick, leaky. She had been sailing from Archangel to London. She had had to throw part of her cargo overboard.[5]
LR for 1819 showed Hermes with Bond, master, changing to Taylor, owner Douglas, changing to Gales, and trade London–Havana, changing to London–South Seas.[6]
1st whaling voyage (1819–1820): Captain J. Taylor sailed from London 6 April 1819. Hermes returned on 5 September 1820.[7]
Fate
In 1820 Captain Taylor sailed from London bound for the Sandwich Islands, for Hermes's 2nd whaling voyage.[7]
Hermes was lost on 26 April 1822 in the South Seas. Her crew were rescued.[8] She was wrecked on a coral reef in the NW of the Hawaiian Islands. Hermes was in company with the whaler Pearl, which also was wrecked at the same time. Pearl was wrecked first; Hermes wrecked when she came to Pearl's assistance. The 57 men from both crews were able to land on one of the atoll's small islands.[9] They were able to salvage provisions that enabled them to survive for some months. They also salvaged timbers that they used to build a 30-ton (bm) schooner that they named Deliverance. Fortuitously Thames sailed by and rescued most of the survivors before Deliverance had been completed.[lower-alpha 1] Still, James Robinson, carpenter on Hermes who had led the construction, and eleven other survivors chose to sail Deliverance to Honolulu.[12][9] There Robinson and another of the crewmen formed the James Robinson & Co boat repair company.[13]
LL reported on 18 April 1823 that both Hermes and Pearl had been wrecked and that their crews had been saved.[14]
Pearl and Hermes gave their name to the Pearl and Hermes Atoll.[15]
As late as 1870s the keel stem and stern could be seen on the bottom.[16]
Postscript: The wreck of what may have been Hermes or Pearl was discovered 20 September 2004 at the atoll.[12]
Citations
- Marcil (1995), p. 385.
- LR (1813), Supple. pages "H", Seq.№H17.
- Library and Archives Canada Item: 29808: HERMES.
- LR (1816), Seq.№H540.
- Lloyd's List (LL) №5332.
- LR (1819), Seq.№H473.
- British Southern Whale Fishery Database – Voyages: Hermes.
- "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (5795): 78 v. 18 April 1823. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105226310.
- Shipwrecks at Holoikauaua (the Pearl and the Hermes). Accessed 16 August 2019.
- British Southern Whale Fishery Database – Voyages:Thames, voyage #BV0858.60.
- British Southern Whale Fishery Database – Voyages:Earl Morley, voyage #BV0267.10.
- http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/09/30/news/story3.html Leone, Diana (30 September 2004), "182-year-old shipwrecks possibly found". Star Bulletin.
- "The Shipyard at Honolulu". The Polynesian. 3 October 1840.
- LL №5795.
- Fishery Atlas of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands - Page 12
- North Pacific Pilot: The seaman's guide to the islands of the North Pacific by W.H. Rosser. James Imray & Son. 1870.
References
- Marcil, Eileen Reed (1995). The Charley-Man: a history of wooden shipbuilding at Quebec 1763-1893. Kingston, Ontario: Quarry. ISBN 1-55082-093-1.