Category Archives: Whaling

Boldixum Church, Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Memorial at Boldixum Church, Fohr, Germany commemorating Pay Harmens d. 1828

Location

Boldixum Church, Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Details

Description: Relief carving of a ship with a Danish ensign.
Type: Gravestone
Position: Churchyard

People

Harmens, Pay
Age: 64
Date of Death: 14/12/1828
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Born 17 May 1765.
Bibliography: T. Sheppard 'Old Dutch Whalers', 'Mariners Mirror' vol. 25, pp. 50-61 (Cambridge, 1939).
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Museum in Docklands, London, England

Memorial in Museum in Docklands, London to John Lydekker d. 1832, owner of whaling ships

Location

Museum in Docklands, London, England

Transcript

'ERECTED / BY THE GOVERNORS OF THE / SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL SOCIETY, / of the Port of London, / IN MEMORY OF / JOHN LYDEKKER, ESQR. / South Sea Ship Owner. / GRATEFULLY TO RECORD HIS / MUNIFICENT BEQUEST TO THAT / INSTITUTION. / HE DIED ON THE 23rd JULY 1832, / and was buried in the North Vault / OF THE CHURCH OF ST DIONIS, BACKCHURCH, / FENCHURCH STREET.'

Details

Description: An impressive pedimented memorial consisting of an inscribed tablet bordered by two figures depicting injured seamen. The tablet and figures stand on a shelf supported on two corbels each showing two fish in relief. The corbels encase a shallow relief depicting a whaling scene. The recently skilfully carved replacement apron is of stylised scallop shells. The Seaman's Hospital Society is better known today as The Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The Society was set up on 8th March 1821 for the purpose of caring for the relief of sick and helpless seamen. The 8th March has become known as 'Founders Day'- the birth of Tropical Medicine.
Type: Wall monument
Position: By entrance
Materials: White marble
Artists: J.J. Sanders, William Tite

People

Lydekker, John
Age:
Date of Death: 23/7/1832
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Ship owner
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: The memorial originally hung on the staircase at The Royal Exchange. Lloyds vacated the building in the 1920's. It was removed from the building in the 1980's and was stored in various buildings until it was transferred to The Museum of London in 1997. It is now in pride of place at The Museum in Docklands, being recently restored and installed for the museum by Cliveden Conservation Workshop.
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Island of Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Memorial on the Island of Fohr, Germany commemorating Julius August Ketels d. 1839

Location

Island of Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Transcript

'for 30 years a Greenland venturer'

Details

Description: A ship carved above the inscription.
Type: Gravestone

People

Ketels, Julius August
Age:
Date of Death: 31/7/1839
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: whaler
Organisation:

Extra

Bibliography: T. Sheppard 'Old Dutch Whalers','Mariners Mirror' vol. 25, pp. 50-61, (Cambridge, 1939).
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Spring Bank Cemetery, Hull, England

Column at Spring Bank Cemetery, Hull commemorating John Gravill d. 1866

Location

Spring Bank Cemetery, Hull, England

Transcript

'In memory of John Gravill of Kingston upon Hull, Master Mariner who during a period of 40 years was engaged in the Northern Whale and Seal Fishery. He died on board the steam whaler Diana in Davis Straits 26th December 1866 aged 64 years. His death resulted from exposure anxiety and shortness of provisions during a four months imprisonment in the ice surrounded by all the dreariness and perils of a cold and desolate Arctic winter the subsequent death of the crew from scurvy and starvation rendered the voyage one of the most disastrous and melancholy on record. This monument was erected by the subscription of the friends of Captain Gravill as a token of the esteem in which he was held as a skilful commander a kind and considerate master and an affectionate husband and father. His remains were brought home in the ship and are interred in the vault beneath'

Details

Type: Column
Vessel: Diana

People

Gravill, John
Age: 54
Date of Death: 25/12/1865
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master mariner
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: On reverse a reference to a Captain John Gravill died at Dundee 13 November 1882 aged 51 only son of John and Anne. On left side refers to daughter Emily. See also a granite drinking fountain erected on Victoria Pier, Lerwick in 1890.
Recorder: David Saunders
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Boldixam Church, Isle of Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Gravestone at Boldixam Church, Isle of Fohr, Germany commemorating Paye Volkerts d. 1745

Location

Boldixam Church, Isle of Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Details

Description: Carved with a whaling scene.
Type: Gravestone
Position: Churchyard
Materials: Sandstone

People

Volkerts, Paye
Age:
Date of Death: 10/8/1745
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Born 3 August 1705.
Bibliography: T. Sheppard 'Old Dutch Whalers','Mariners Mirror' vol. 25, pp. 50-61 (Cambridge, 1939).
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Fellfoot Point, Baffin Island, Canada, Rest of the World

Memorial at Fellfoot Point, Baffin Island, Canada commemorating John Peterhead, d. 1885

Location

Fellfoot Point, Baffin Island, Canada, Rest of the World

Transcript

'IN / MEMORY / OF / JOHN DAVIDSON / PETERHEAD / WHO DIED / 1ST AUGUST 1885 / AGED 42 YEARS / S.S. RESOLUTE / DUNDEE'

Details

Type: Gravestone
Materials: Plexiglass, oak
Vessel: SS Resolute

People

Davidson, John
Age: 42
Date of Death: 1/8/1885
Cause of Death: Infectious disease
Rank / Occupation: Whaler
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Bibliography: Fiona Jane Brown 'The Mystery of the Arctic Grave', 'Your Family Tree' p. 28 (Nov, 2006)
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Church, Boldixum, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Gravestone at Boldixum Church,  Schleswig-Holstein commemorating Tucke Olves d. 1757

Location

Church, Boldixum, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Details

Description: Carved with a ship in harbour.
Type: Gravestone
Position: Churchyard
Materials: Sandstone

People

Olves, Tucke
Age:
Date of Death: 26/8/1757
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Born 10 Aug 1695, died in Amsterdam 26 Aug 1757 after 50 years at sea, had sailed 33 times as skipper to Greenland.
Bibliography: T. Sheppard 'Old Dutch Whalers', 'Mariners Mirror' vol. 25, pp. 50-61, (Cambridge, 1939).
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St Clement's Church, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England

Tomb in St Clement’s Church, Leigh-on-Sea, commemorating  Captain William Goodland d. 1639

Location

St Clement's Church, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England

Transcript

'In hope of the Joyfull Resurrection Here lieth (Expecting ye Second coming of His Saviour) Captain William Goodland Chief Commander of the Grenland Fleet XX yeare and Master of the Trinity Howse in Anno 1634. Hee departed this life the 13th day of January 1639 in the sixty two yeare of his age'

Details

Type: Chest-tomb
Position: East end

People

Goodland, William
Age: 62
Date of Death: 1639
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master. Master of Trinity House
Organisation:

Extra

Recorder: Reverend William Henry Donnan
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Suderende, Island of Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Gravestone at Suderende, Island of Fohr, Germany commemorating Mattias Petersen d. 1706

Location

Suderende, Island of Fohr, Germany, Rest of the World

Transcript

‘MATTHIAS . PETERSEN / NAT : OLTSUMID . 24 DEC : 1632 / DENAT : D 16 SEPT : 1706 . REI / NAUTICAE . IN GRONLANDIAM / PERITISSIMUS UBI / INCREDIBILI SUCESSU / 373 BALENAS / CEPIT, UT INDE OMNIUM / SUFFRAGO NOMAN / FELICIS / ADEPTUS SIT : ET CONIU / INGE MATTHIESSEN / NAT . D . 7 OCT 1641 / DEN . D : 5 APRIL 1727’

Details

Description: Coats of arms in relief depicting a whale. A helmet above with elaborate mantling and a crest depicting a nude female figure standing on a globe (Fortune).
Type: Gravestone
Materials: Sandstone

People

Petersen, Matthias
Age: 73
Date of Death: 16/9/1706
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Born 24 Dec 1632. Accounted for 373 whales and was called the fortunate.
Bibliography: T. Sheppard 'Old Dutch Whalers','Mariners Mirror' vol. 25, pp. 50-61, (Cambridge, 1939).
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New Bedford Seamen's Bethel, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, Rest of the World

Memorial at New Bedford Seamen’s Bethel, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA commemorating Quincy A. Harlow d. 1848

Location

New Bedford Seamen's Bethel, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, Rest of the World

Transcript

'This Tablet was erected by / the Captain, Officers & Crew, / of the Ship Braganza / of New Bedford / In memory of / QUINCY A. HARLOW / of Bridgewater Mass. / aged 19 y'rs, who fell overboard / Dec. 8, 1848 and was lost. / But why mourn his loss, or in sorrow repine, / For he's now at rest, in mansions divine; / Where the storm and the billow, shall assail him no more, / But with spirits made perfect, he'll praise ever more'

Details

Description: Above the inscription, a weeping willow and tomb, it is surrounded by a leaf border.
Type: Tablet
Vessel: Braganza

People

Harlow, Quincy A.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 8/12/1848
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: DOSSIER.
Bibliography: Martha Lawrence 'Scrimshaw: the whaler's legacy' (Atglen, 1993).
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