Resolution (1793 ship) facts for kids
| History | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Name | Resolution |
| Owner | Josiah Roberts |
| Laid down | 1792 |
| Launched | February 8, 1793 |
| Out of service | 1794 |
| Captured | 1794, Haida Gwaii |
| Fate | Destroyed, 1794, Haida Gwaii |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 90 (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 12 |
The Resolution was a small American schooner, a type of sailing ship. It was built in 1793 in the Marquesas Islands. This ship was meant to be a smaller helper ship, called a tender, for a bigger fur trading ship named Jefferson.
Later in 1793, the Resolution reached the Columbia River. It was only the fourth European ship ever to enter this important river. The Resolution sailed between the Columbia River and Clayoquot Sound for a while. In March 1794, it separated from the Jefferson. After a few more short trips, the Resolution was captured and destroyed by Haida Chief Cumshewa and his people in 1794. Sadly, almost everyone on board was killed, except for one person. That lone survivor was later rescued by another ship called the Despatch.
Contents
Building a Ship Far from Home
The Resolution's wooden frame was made in Boston in 1790. This frame was then carried all the way to the Pacific Ocean on the fur trading ship Jefferson. The Jefferson started its long journey in November 1791.
After a year at sea, the Jefferson dropped anchor in Resolution Bay. This bay is on Santa Christina Island in the Marquesas Islands. This happened just before Christmas in 1792. The bay was named by Captain James Cook many years before. He anchored there in 1773 during his second trip around the Pacific.
Assembling the Resolution
Captain Josiah Roberts of the Jefferson ordered the wooden frame to be taken off his ship. It was then put together to build the small schooner. He named the new ship Resolution to honor the bay where it was built.
The newly built Resolution was launched into the water on February 8, 1793. Tests showed that it sailed very well and was fast. It was strong enough to travel from the Marquesas Islands to the coast of North America.
Captain Roberts chose 12 men from the Jefferson to be the Resolution's crew. He made a man named Mr. Burling the captain of the new ship. The first mate was Solomon Kendrick. He had visited the Pacific Northwest before with his father, John Kendrick, on an expedition in 1788.
Adventures on the Pacific Coast
The Resolution sailed alongside the Jefferson as its helper ship. On May 19, 1793, both ships reached the Pacific Northwest Coast. They then sailed into the Columbia River.
They spent time sailing between the Columbia River and Clayoquot Sound. This lasted until March 1794. At that point, the two ships separated to collect more furs. They planned to meet up again later.
The Resolution's Final Journey
The Jefferson never saw the Resolution again. What happened to the Resolution was later learned from other ships' records. These included logs from the merchant ships Ruby and Despatch.
The Resolution was captured by Haida Chief Cumshewa and his people in 1794. Everyone on the ship was killed except for one person. This included Captain Burling and Solomon Kendrick. The only survivor was later rescued by the Boston ship Despatch.
Years later, in 1799, another merchant ship called the Eliza visited the Kaigani Haida people. This ship was led by Captain Samuel Burling. Chief Altatsee told Captain Burling that the Cumshewa Haida had killed his brother and Solomon Kendrick.
