Abby Jane Morrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abby Jane Morrell
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| Born | Abby Jane Wood 17 February 1809 New York |
| Died | after 1850 |
| Language | English |
| Period | 1833 |
| Notable works | Narrative of a voyage to the Ethiopic and South Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Chinese Sea, North and South Pacific Ocean, in the years 1829, 1830, 1831 |
| Spouse | Benjamin Morrell |
Abby Jane Morrell (born February 17, 1809, New York) was an American writer. She wrote the first book by a woman about traveling to the cold, icy regions near Antarctica. Her book shares her unique experiences on a long sea journey.
Contents
About Abby Jane Morrell
Abby Jane Wood was born in New York on February 17, 1809. Her father, Captain John Wood, passed away when she was very young. Her mother later remarried in 1814.
On June 29, 1824, Abby married Captain Benjamin Morrell. He was a distant cousin and this was his second marriage. They had a son, whom Abby looked after in New York.
However, Abby really wanted to join her husband on his next big trip. She managed to convince him after a week of trying! When they set sail, their son stayed in New York with her mother.
An Amazing Voyage
On September 2, 1829, Abby and her husband began their fourth voyage. They sailed on a ship called the Antarctic. This trip was for both trade and exploration. Abby's brother also joined them on this journey.
Their voyage lasted from 1829 to 1831. They visited many interesting places around the world. These included the Cape Verde Islands, Tristan da Cunha, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Liberia, and South Africa.
Abby kept detailed journals during their travels. These notes helped her write her book when she returned home. Her writings show a focus on trade and business, as their trip was also about making money.
Visiting New Zealand
In January 1830, the ship visited the east coast of New Zealand. Abby went to see a mission in a place called Paihia. She was very impressed by the work of the English missionaries there.
Exploring Cold Regions
Abby Morrell's book is very important for understanding Antarctic history. It is the first time a woman described traveling to the sub-Antarctic region. On December 5, they stopped at a harbor that James Cook had visited. There, they saw "an enormous number of elephant seals."
Interesting Encounters
Many things they saw and wrote about are interesting to historians today. One story tells about meeting a person named Dako. He was a leader from a small island called Uneapea (Bali Island) in Papua New Guinea.
Dako and another person named 'Monday' traveled back to New York with them. In New York, they were introduced to people at places like Tammany Hall and Peale's Museum.
Abby and her husband returned to New York in 1831. Their second son was born just nine days after they arrived home.
Later Life
Not much is known about Abby Morrell's life after 1838. Records from 1841 and 1850 show her in New York. However, details about her later life and when she passed away are not known. She did not write any more books after her famous travel account.
