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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => Topic started by: spades on Friday 31 January 25 23:40 GMT (UK)
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I am compiling resources for a new topic on whaling and whalers for Resources & Offers.
So far I have the following resources, but can anyone provide any others, please?
I'm looking for websites or book titles discussing the profession, names of whalers and their families, voyages and ships etc.
Checklist of Whaleship arrivals at the ports on the North-East coast of New Zealand 1803-1895
https://sites.google.com/site/kororarekapublication/
The (US) National Maritime Digital Library features three databases useful to genealogists researching maritime ancestors:
Whalemen’s Shipping List and Merchants’ Transcript, 1843-1914
https://nmdl.org/projects/wsl/
American Offshore Whaling Voyages - a Database
https://nmdl.org/projects/aowv/aowv/
San Francisco Shanghaiers—A Database
https://nmdl.org/projects/sfshangaiers/sfs/
Any contributions or ideas gratefully received.
Spades
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National Library of Australia has a number of resources indexed. Not sure if they are of interest.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/search?keyword=whaling (scroll down)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/search?keyword=whalers (scroll down)
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Thanks Neale 1961, much appreciated. :)
Spades
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Hi Spades,
Not necessarily what you have in mind but I couldn't resist putting forward the name of Johnny Jones, a well known whaler from Waikouaiti [Otago]. There are many references to him on line.
https://www.toituosm.com/collections/smith-gallery/wall-1/john-sarah-jones
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1j4/jones-john
Minniehaha.
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Thanks Minniehaha. :)
And I've just seen a topic here regarding a whaler named William BAKER with a reference to a book,
Whaling in southern waters by Frank Tod. One to add.
https://phoenixbooksnz.com/products/whaling-in-southern-waters-by-frank-tod
Spades
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Spades, do you get Barney Brewster's books lists?
His latest one has at least 7 Whaling titles
including for example
62. DINGWALL, P.R. et al (eds) - Enderby Settlement Diaries: Records of a British Colony at the Auckland Islands, 1849-1852. Akld: Wild Press & Wordsell Press, 1999. [18]267 pages. 23.5 cm. Illus (some col), maps. The ill-fated, soap opera colony of the Southern Whale Fishery Company, as documented in the diaries of William A. Mackworth and William J. Munce.
Commentaries include chapter on "The Maori-Moriori community". Limpcovers, very good. Signed by two of the editors. $75
134. McKILLOP, Capt Bill - The Last of the Sail Whalers: Whaling Off Southern New Zealand and Tasmania. Porirua: Paremata Press, 2019. [18]280 pages. 25 cm. Illus, maps. Indexes. Edited by Rhys Richards & Graeme Broxam.
McKillop was born on Stewart Island in 1865, grew up in Riverton and was the last of the sail whalers in Foveaux Strait, Fiordland and the southern islands: Chathams, Solander, the Snares, Auckland ("the most inhospitable coast I ever saw") and Campbell. He died in Hobart in 1938. As well as the many NZ references there is considerable detail on sealing, on whale capture and processing, and the life of
whalemen ashore and at sea. Chapter headings: Early life and sealing in New Zealand; The whale chase; Whaling out of New Zealand and Tasmania; Incidents on our voyages; Some famous Hobart whalemen; Whales; The merchant mariner; Valedictory (by Will Lawson); William McKillop, a brief biography. An interesting resource. NEW in softcovers. $55
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This Wiki article gives a good overview and has links to a number of whalers. Whales migrated up the east coast of NZ and in Wairoa HB there is a try pot from operations carried out near Portland Island, I think. Some local museums have good indexes to people from the districts who stepped ashore and had other occupations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling_in_New_Zealand
I found my gt grandfather's (a master mariner) whaling career on list out of Maine?? I cannot open the refs you have given so cannot see if these are the links. Many whalers stepped ashore or were recorded as a mariner/master mariner later on.
https://whalinghistory.org/av/crew/
https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/library/whaling-database/#:~:text=A%20Crew%20List%20is%20a,Question:%20What%20is%20an%20attachment?
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22618171
https://whalinghistory.org/wr/az256/
https://whalinghistory.org/bv/crew/
https://nmdl.org/projects/wsl/
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22625303
https://www.cplay.co.nz/stories/300-sealers-and-whalers-started-to-arrive-early-1800s
https://www.visitwairoa.co.nz/see-and-do/attractions/waikokopu/
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22605809
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I believe Heberley, James, 1809-1899 was a whaler in the Marlborough Sounds, it is mentioned in a couple of books that a family member wrote (autobiography ... "H") about their life on a remote bay in the sounds, rescues at sea, etc
Cheers
KHP
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Hi KHP,
Yes, I worked with a Heberley some years ago. I recall a connection they had been whalers. I'll look it up.
Cheers,
Spades
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The Perano family in the Marlborough Sounds were also whalers originally.
The town of Bluff also has a place in whaling history.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/20100/whaling-in-foveaux-strait-1820s-to-1840s.
I think connections to my family the Ryans, and through them, I think, the Stirlings, may also have been part of whaling families in early Bluff.
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I also dabble - particularly regarding the life of John Wesley Hawkins (Mohaka and Mahia). I have found good info on: https://teara.govt.nz/en/hawkes-bay-region/page-5. Ngati Pahauwera have some info in their history documents as many whalers married maori women: https://www.tearawhiti.govt.nz/assets/Ngati-Pahauwera-Affidavit-on-behalf-of-Trustees.pdf
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https://whalewatch.co.nz/our-home/whaling-history/
Robert Fyffe.
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Thanks mckha489, KHP, Shanreagh, KiwiJes and Ann W,
Sorry, I've been very busy since posting the topic. I'll compile all your information and post it on Resources & Offers.
Thanks again,
Spades
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My 2x great grandfather Captain Owen Davies (Davis) was a whaler out of Hobart working for Charles & Phyllis Seal on numerous whaling boats but the "Sussex" was a ship that was well known in New Zealand waters. He was also the first Harbour Master at Whangaroa and he married for a second time to Hariata Tarahau Hongi, a daughter of Hare Hongi 11. You might come across mention of him?
Cheers
Webby