Mayhew Folger facts for kids
Mayhew Folger was an American whaler and ship captain. He was born on March 9, 1774, and passed away on September 1, 1828. Captain Folger is famous for rediscovering the Pitcairn Islands in 1808. He was sailing his sealing ship, the Topaz, when he found the islands. At that time, one of the original mutineers from HMS Bounty was still living there.
Contents
Early Life and Family Connections
Mayhew Folger was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on March 12, 1774. He was the second child of William Folger and Ruth Coffin. Mayhew belonged to the Folger family, who were well-known whalers from Nantucket. They were also prominent Quakers, a religious group.
Mayhew Folger had some famous relatives. He was a great-great-great grandson of Peter Foulger and Mary Morrill Foulger. This means he was a distant cousin of Benjamin Franklin, a very important figure in American history.
On March 7, 1798, Mayhew married his second cousin, Mary Joy, in Nantucket. He was also the uncle of Lucretia Coffin Mott, a famous leader for women's rights. Mayhew's grandson, William Mayhew Folger, later became a United States Navy rear admiral.
Rediscovering the Pitcairn Islands
Mayhew Folger was the captain of the ship Topaz. The Topaz left Boston on April 5, 1807, to hunt for seals. On February 6, 1808, they rediscovered the Pitcairn Islands.
When they arrived, only one of the original mutineers from HMS Bounty was still alive. His name was Alexander Smith, but his real name was John Adams. The Topaz stayed at the island for only ten hours.
The Bounty's Special Clock
Captain Folger received some important items from John Adams. These included the Bounty's azimuth compass and a special clock called a Larcum Kendall K2 marine chronometer. A chronometer is a very accurate clock used to find a ship's longitude at sea.
The K2 was one of the first very precise marine chronometers ever made. It was later taken by the Spanish governor at Juan Fernandez Island. A Spaniard named Castillo bought the chronometer. After he passed away, his family gave it to Captain Herbert of HMS Calliope. Around 1840, it was sent to the British Museum. Today, this historic chronometer is kept in Greenwich, London.
Sharing the Discovery Story
Captain Folger reported his discovery to the Royal Navy in 1808. This report reached the British Admiralty on May 14, 1809. The story was then published in a magazine called the Quarterly Review in 1810.
Captain Folger also told the story of his discovery to his friend, Captain Amasa Delano. Delano later wrote about it in his book, A Narrative of Voyages and Travels in 1817. The story is also included in the book Pitcairn's Island, written by Charles Nordoff and James Hall.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1813, Mayhew Folger and his family moved to Kendal, Ohio. He became the first postmaster of the nearby town of Massillon, Ohio. This happened in 1828 when the post office was created there. Mayhew Folger passed away on September 1, 1828, in Massillon.
See also
- History of the Pitcairn Islands
- A quote about the Folger family from Herman Melville is in the entry for Mary Morrill.
