Margaret (1791 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name | Margaret |
| Namesake | Margaret Magee, wife of Captain James Magee |
| Owner | Thomas Handasyd Perkins, Russell Sturgis, James and Thomas Lamb, and James Magee |
| Launched | Fall of 1791, Boston |
| Fate | Wrecked near Marblehead, Massachusetts, on 7 January 1796 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 161 (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Crew | 25 |
| Armament | 8 cannon; 6–8 swivel guns |
The Margaret was an American ship built in Boston in 1791. It was made for the maritime fur trade, which meant trading animal furs by sea. This ship was owned by several people, including Thomas Handasyd Perkins and Captain James Magee. The Margaret was armed with eight cannon and six to eight swivel guns to protect itself. It had a crew of 25 sailors for its first big trip.
Contents
The Idea Behind the Margaret
Captain James Magee and Thomas Handasyd Perkins decided to build the Margaret. They wanted to join the fur trade. This idea came after they met other famous captains. They met Robert Gray of the Columbia Rediviva and maybe John Kendrick of the Lady Washington. They met these captains in China during the winter of 1789–1790. Besides the Margaret, Magee and Perkins also helped fund another ship, the Hope.
The First Voyage of the Margaret
The Margaret was built in Boston and launched in the fall of 1791. Soon after, it began its first journey. Captain James Magee was in charge. David Lamb was the first mate, like a second-in-command. The crew also included Jonathan Howell, who was like the ship's historian. He and Captain Magee collected many interesting items. These items were from the Pacific Northwest Coast and the Hawaiian Islands. They gave them to the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Sailing to the Pacific Northwest
On October 24, 1791, the Margaret left Boston. It sailed around Cape Horn to reach the Pacific Northwest coast. They arrived at Houston Stewart Channel in Haida Gwaii in April 1792. Captain Magee had become sick during the trip. So, David Lamb, the first mate, took command of the ship.
In May, while still in Haida Gwaii, the Margaret met the Columbia Rediviva. This ship was led by Captain Robert Gray. Captain Magee found that the trade goods he brought were not popular. The indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast did not want them much anymore. In May 1792, he wrote in the ship's logbook: "The things we mostly traded for here were Muskets, Copper, some Clothing, and new Iron Necklaces. But they were not fond of iron tools, except for files. They really liked files, but sadly we had none."
Meeting Other Ships and Chiefs
Robert Haswell, from the Columbia Rediviva, wrote about the Margaret. He said it was "as fine a vessel as ever I saw of her size." He also said it seemed "exceeding well fitted for the voyage." He believed "no expense was spared" in building it.
The Margaret and Columbia met again on July 3, 1792. They were near the southern part of Haida Gwaii. The two ships sailed together down the coast of Vancouver Island. They went to Clayoqout Sound. Chief Wickaninnish, a leader of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nuu-chah-nulth people, came aboard the Margaret. Robert Gray, who was also on the Margaret, convinced Wickaninnish to visit the Columbia. Wickaninnish did, but he "did not appear happy," according to John Boit. This was because Wickaninnish disliked and feared Gray. Gray had destroyed the village of Opitsaht with cannon fire earlier that year.
Trading and Resting in Nootka Sound
In late July, the Margaret sailed to the Columbia River to trade for furs. They did not have much success there. Returning north, on August 8, 1792, the Margaret anchored at Yuquot. This was near the Spanish outpost Santa Cruz de Nuca in Nootka Sound. The ship was with the Hope, led by Joseph Ingraham.
When Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra heard about Captain Magee's illness, he offered him a place to stay on shore. Bodega y Quadra was the commander of Santa Cruz de Nuca. On August 12, the Margaret, still under David Lamb, sailed with the Hope. They went to look for more fur trading chances. Captain Magee stayed at Santa Cruz de Nuca. When George Vancouver arrived at Nootka Sound on August 28, he noted that Captain Magee was living on shore. He was with his doctor and John Howell.
While at Santa Cruz de Nuca, Captain Magee and John Howell were witnesses. They saw an official statement made by Chief Maquinna. He was a leader of the Mowachaht Nuu-chah-nulth. This statement was about the Nootka Crisis and claims made by John Meares. Captain Magee also sent a complaint to Vancouver. He said that British captains William Brown of the Butterworth and James Baker of the Jenny had fired on native people in Clayoquot Sound in August 1792. He thought they should be charged with piracy. Captain Brown had tried to steal furs from the native people. When they resisted, he fired at them, killing four.
Heading to China
The Margaret, still led by David Lamb, returned to Nootka Sound on September 21, 1792. The Hope arrived about a week later. During the 1792 season, the Margaret had collected about 1,200 sea otter pelts. At some point, the Margaret hit a rock in Hecate Strait. This rock became known as "Margaret Rock."
Captain Magee had planned for the Margaret to stay the winter in Nootka Sound. He also wanted to build a small schooner there. This schooner would help collect furs in 1793. The furs collected by the Margaret were supposed to go to China on the Hope. But instead, some men were left to build the schooner. Both the Margaret and Hope sailed together for China. They stopped in the Hawaiian Islands first. They arrived in Hawaii on November 5, 1792.
On November 8, the Margaret and Hope met the Halcyon. This ship was under Captain Charles Barkley. The three ships sailed together to Waikiki, Oahu, to get fresh water. Then they sailed to Kauai, arriving on November 11. On November 13, the Halcyon left for China. The Margaret left on November 21. It arrived at Macau in early January 1793. While in China, David Lamb left the ship. John Howell, the historian, also left. He joined Captain John Kendrick on the Lady Washington.
The Second Trading Season
The Margaret left China in late January 1793. In April, it arrived back on the Pacific Northwest Coast. At Nootka Sound, the schooner was finished months before the Margaret arrived. We don't know much about this schooner. Its name is unknown. It was probably about 30 tons. Mr. Smith, the main carpenter, built it. It was launched in December 1792. By the time the Margaret arrived, the schooner had already collected over a thousand sea otter skins.
Trading for "Clemmons"
While trading near Ninstints, Haida Gwaii, Captain Magee found something new. The Haida people "would not sell them [sea otter furs] for anything but Moose skins." He said, "These skins they call Clemmons." If they had these skins, they could trade one for one. The word "clemmon" (also spelled "clammon" or "clammel") meant hides from moose, elk, or sometimes caribou. The Tlingit and Haida used these hides for many things, including making armor.
Sailing south in the Margaret, Magee got a lot of clemmons. He found them at Barkley Sound and along the Washington coast. Magee then returned north. He sold the hides "at the rate of 3 prime [sea otter] skins for the best sort [of clemmon] & 2 for the second."
A Successful Voyage
Between the Margaret and the schooner, they collected over 3,000 sea otter pelts in 1793. This was amazing because there were at least ten other ships competing for furs. At the end of the 1793 trading season, the Margaret sailed to China. It went via Hawaii, arriving at Oahu in October and Canton in December 1793. We don't know what happened to the schooner.
From Canton, the Margaret returned to Boston. It sailed with another schooner called the Jane. On August 17, 1794, the Margaret arrived back in Boston. When he returned, Captain James Magee gave the Massachusetts Historical Society some important papers. These included parts of the ship's logbooks and journals. He also gave them a large collection of "curiosities." Most of these items are now at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University. The Margaret's journey was very profitable. It inspired many other people from New England to join the maritime fur trade.
The End of the Margaret
After returning to Boston in August 1794, the Margaret was registered under new owners in November 1794. On January 7, 1796, the Margaret was wrecked. It hit Gooseberry Rocks, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Marblehead, Massachusetts.
