ST JEAN-BAPTISTE 1767
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:50 pm
On a stamp of $1.20 issued in February 1997 by New Zealand you can find a ship it is an image of the ship, Jean Françoise-Marie de Surville used during his voyage in the Pacific. The stamp shows also the “pa” (protected Maori village) at Tokerau where the ship anchored. The Surville’s anchor is shown, indicative of the successive anchors which were lost on the coast of New Zealand.
When the Seven Year war ended destroying the French Empire in India, this was a heavy blow to the French East India Company, at least the company was liquidated on 13 August 1769 and the company dissolved 13 April next year.
One of the more adventurous captains of the company was Surville, and on one of his voyages to the East as Captain of the DUC DE PRASLIN of the East India Company, he was taking the new appointed Governor to Pondicherry, during the voyage the two discussed the possibilities of the trade to India, now peace was signed.
This two men and the Governor of Chandernagor, who was very wealthy were setting up a syndicate. When de Surville arrived back in France, he got permission from the East India Company to trade to India
For the syndicate a new wooden ship was built at Nantes in 1767 with a tonnage of 650 tons, with an armament of 26-12 pdr. and 10 – 6 pdr. She was named ST JEAN-BAPTISTE.
During building he was running out of money and two new partners were brought in the syndicate from Lorient, Mr. Bougeois and Mr. Callois, later some other partners were brought in at India, when there still was not sufficient capital to finances the expedition.
03 June 1767 the ST JEAN-PAPTISTE sailed from Port-Louis in Brittany, under command of Captain Surville and after a call at Ile de France, the vessel arrived at the mouth of the River Ganges in March 1768.
First the ship traded between the French Indian ports Madras, Chandernagor and Binganapali.
In 1769 a rumour spread that a fabulously island (Tahiti) was discovered by Captain Samuel Wallis during his voyage on board of the HMS DOLPHIN.
The decision was made by the partners of the syndicate to send the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE on a discovery voyage to the Pacific. According the rumours the island was situated about 500 leagues of the coast of Peru and between the 27th and 28th degree of latitude south.
The ST JEAN-BAPTISTE was fitted out at Bengal for a voyage of three years, and the cost for the expedition including the ship and cargo was around £150,000 a lot of money when we known that Cook’s voyage of 1768 cost less than £10,000.
The ST JEAN-BAPTISTE sailed from Bengal on 3 March 1769, first to Yanaon, to load some 35 bales of textiles and some bullocks, then the vessel sailed to Mazulipatam and Pondicherry where firewood and water was taken in and some additional cargo loaded. 23 Soldiers embarked also at this port.
On 2 June the vessel set sail from Pondicherry with a south-south-east course. She arrived at Malacca 27 days later, and sailed from that port on 14 July with destination Pulau Tioman Island where she lost an anchor after a stay of three days. The anchor was wedged between some coral and could not heaved in.
From there she sailed to Trengannu for fresh fruit, vegetables and cattle.
The first of August she sailed from this port and via the China Sea set course to Bashi Channel between Luzon and Formosa (Taiwan). She anchored on 21 August off Bashi Island (Batan Isl.) for fresh fruits and water. Three sailors deserted there. After leaving the Batan Isl. The course was in a southerly direction.
8 October she arrived off Choiseul Island, one of the southernmost Solomon Islands.
The 13th the anchor was dropt in a natural harbour on Gagi Island. From there they sailed along the islands to the south, the situation on board deteriorated, many slaves from Madagascar, Lascars from India and crewmembers died on scurvy, and the morale on the vessel fell rapidly. Surville did not like to make a landing, afraid of the savages living on the islands. On Malaita Island the natives were coming out in canoes and they were given some gifts, most probably in exchange for fresh fruits. On 2 November they headed for the coast again, to try to get some refreshment for the sick crew of which many already had died. But the landing attempt had to be abandoned, due to the surrounding of the boats by many canoes with unfriendly natives.
On 7 November she left from there as Surville wrote; the land of the Papuans, and set a south-south-east course and entered the Coral Sea. They narrowly missed New Caledonia, and after two months at sea, while scurvy ravaged the crew, on 22 December Surville set course to New Zealand, a land discovered by the Dutchman Abel Tasman in the HEEMSKERCK more as a century before, Surville did have a account of this voyage, it was not encouraging for him to go there, Tasman had commented on the fertility and attractiveness of the country, but they were also the victim of an attack by the Maori.
12 December at half past eleven in the morning they saw land off Hokianga Harbour, they proceeded slowly along the coast of New Zealand and on the 15th they reached Cape van Diemen, North Cape. In the evening of the 17th they anchored in what Surville named Lauriston Bay, which is now called Doubtless Bay, named by Cook only six days before. He missed Captain Cook on his discovery voyage in the ENDEAVOUR only by miles.
The Maori were friendly and the surviving crew soon regained their strength after a few days on fresh food supplied by the Maori.
The anchorage was not so safe in Doubtless Bay, and when on the 27 December a strong north easterly wind rose, the bay was wide open and did not give any shelter, the ST JEAN BAPTISTE was in real danger, the anchors dragged and the vessel drifted near the rocks. At the last minute Surville managed with his crew to save the vessel. They found shelter in a small cove, with the cost of a broken rudder and damage to the masts, rigging and sails and the loss of two anchors.
The yawl which was missing during the storm was stolen by the Maori, and by all Surville’s efforts to get the boat back, it remained hidden. In retaliation he set fire to a number of huts, food stores and a canoe. He took a Maori with the name Ranginui as prisoner (he died on scurvy on board on 24 March 1770 the day they did see land.)
The anchorage was not safe and with the trouble he had with the Maori, there was little alternative but to leave the bay, the ship was in a poor condition already 62 men had died, many ill.
In Surville’s instructions it was forbidden to sail to any Spanish settlement in America, but to sail back to Manila or China was also not an option, with a vessel without anchors and cables save one, no food nor amenities. The decision was made to sail to South America, as being the place that the soonest could be reached and against the written instructions, they sailed from Doubtless Bay on 31 December at 09.00 p.m. and across the Pacific, the first voyage made from east to the west. Surville sailed between the latitudes of 40 and 35 degree south, the weather was mostly fine but the seas often mountainous by a high swell. The sails already worn out tore frequently, most of the crew again with scurvy and the ship in a bad shape.
On 24 March 1770 land was seen, it was Mas Afuera the westernmost of the Juan Fernandez group. To land on one island was not possible, stormy weather prevented this. On 28 March Surville set a northerly course with the intention to call a Peruvian port and finally on 7 April the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE dropt her anchor of Chilca a small port not far from Callao. On the bar in front of the town a heavy surf was breaking and by an attempt the next day by Surville in a boat to land, the boat capsized and Surville drowned. Labé the second in command not sure Surville was drowned waited and then took the vessel to Callao the morning of the 9th were he got the message that Surville was drowned.
In Callao the vessel was arrested and a guard put on board and the cargo placed under seal. After a long legal battle with the authorities which involved the French and Spanish governments of three years at least on 7 April 1773 the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE set sail including 63 Spaniards, recruited to make up for the already lost French sailors.
The vessel arrived 20 August at Port Louis, Brittany.
During the voyage, of the original 173 crew who set sail from India, 79 died and 28 deserted.
The voyage was financially a disaster, the widow of Surville lost everything she had, and the other shareholders lost all the money they invested in the expedition, the ship and cargo left on board were auctioned.
What has happened afterwards with the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE is unknown.
New Zealand 1997 $1.20 sg2054, scott1416
Sources: French Explorers in the Pacific by John Dunmore. Ships of the World by Lincoln P. Paine. Info from the New Zealand Post.
When the Seven Year war ended destroying the French Empire in India, this was a heavy blow to the French East India Company, at least the company was liquidated on 13 August 1769 and the company dissolved 13 April next year.
One of the more adventurous captains of the company was Surville, and on one of his voyages to the East as Captain of the DUC DE PRASLIN of the East India Company, he was taking the new appointed Governor to Pondicherry, during the voyage the two discussed the possibilities of the trade to India, now peace was signed.
This two men and the Governor of Chandernagor, who was very wealthy were setting up a syndicate. When de Surville arrived back in France, he got permission from the East India Company to trade to India
For the syndicate a new wooden ship was built at Nantes in 1767 with a tonnage of 650 tons, with an armament of 26-12 pdr. and 10 – 6 pdr. She was named ST JEAN-BAPTISTE.
During building he was running out of money and two new partners were brought in the syndicate from Lorient, Mr. Bougeois and Mr. Callois, later some other partners were brought in at India, when there still was not sufficient capital to finances the expedition.
03 June 1767 the ST JEAN-PAPTISTE sailed from Port-Louis in Brittany, under command of Captain Surville and after a call at Ile de France, the vessel arrived at the mouth of the River Ganges in March 1768.
First the ship traded between the French Indian ports Madras, Chandernagor and Binganapali.
In 1769 a rumour spread that a fabulously island (Tahiti) was discovered by Captain Samuel Wallis during his voyage on board of the HMS DOLPHIN.
The decision was made by the partners of the syndicate to send the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE on a discovery voyage to the Pacific. According the rumours the island was situated about 500 leagues of the coast of Peru and between the 27th and 28th degree of latitude south.
The ST JEAN-BAPTISTE was fitted out at Bengal for a voyage of three years, and the cost for the expedition including the ship and cargo was around £150,000 a lot of money when we known that Cook’s voyage of 1768 cost less than £10,000.
The ST JEAN-BAPTISTE sailed from Bengal on 3 March 1769, first to Yanaon, to load some 35 bales of textiles and some bullocks, then the vessel sailed to Mazulipatam and Pondicherry where firewood and water was taken in and some additional cargo loaded. 23 Soldiers embarked also at this port.
On 2 June the vessel set sail from Pondicherry with a south-south-east course. She arrived at Malacca 27 days later, and sailed from that port on 14 July with destination Pulau Tioman Island where she lost an anchor after a stay of three days. The anchor was wedged between some coral and could not heaved in.
From there she sailed to Trengannu for fresh fruit, vegetables and cattle.
The first of August she sailed from this port and via the China Sea set course to Bashi Channel between Luzon and Formosa (Taiwan). She anchored on 21 August off Bashi Island (Batan Isl.) for fresh fruits and water. Three sailors deserted there. After leaving the Batan Isl. The course was in a southerly direction.
8 October she arrived off Choiseul Island, one of the southernmost Solomon Islands.
The 13th the anchor was dropt in a natural harbour on Gagi Island. From there they sailed along the islands to the south, the situation on board deteriorated, many slaves from Madagascar, Lascars from India and crewmembers died on scurvy, and the morale on the vessel fell rapidly. Surville did not like to make a landing, afraid of the savages living on the islands. On Malaita Island the natives were coming out in canoes and they were given some gifts, most probably in exchange for fresh fruits. On 2 November they headed for the coast again, to try to get some refreshment for the sick crew of which many already had died. But the landing attempt had to be abandoned, due to the surrounding of the boats by many canoes with unfriendly natives.
On 7 November she left from there as Surville wrote; the land of the Papuans, and set a south-south-east course and entered the Coral Sea. They narrowly missed New Caledonia, and after two months at sea, while scurvy ravaged the crew, on 22 December Surville set course to New Zealand, a land discovered by the Dutchman Abel Tasman in the HEEMSKERCK more as a century before, Surville did have a account of this voyage, it was not encouraging for him to go there, Tasman had commented on the fertility and attractiveness of the country, but they were also the victim of an attack by the Maori.
12 December at half past eleven in the morning they saw land off Hokianga Harbour, they proceeded slowly along the coast of New Zealand and on the 15th they reached Cape van Diemen, North Cape. In the evening of the 17th they anchored in what Surville named Lauriston Bay, which is now called Doubtless Bay, named by Cook only six days before. He missed Captain Cook on his discovery voyage in the ENDEAVOUR only by miles.
The Maori were friendly and the surviving crew soon regained their strength after a few days on fresh food supplied by the Maori.
The anchorage was not so safe in Doubtless Bay, and when on the 27 December a strong north easterly wind rose, the bay was wide open and did not give any shelter, the ST JEAN BAPTISTE was in real danger, the anchors dragged and the vessel drifted near the rocks. At the last minute Surville managed with his crew to save the vessel. They found shelter in a small cove, with the cost of a broken rudder and damage to the masts, rigging and sails and the loss of two anchors.
The yawl which was missing during the storm was stolen by the Maori, and by all Surville’s efforts to get the boat back, it remained hidden. In retaliation he set fire to a number of huts, food stores and a canoe. He took a Maori with the name Ranginui as prisoner (he died on scurvy on board on 24 March 1770 the day they did see land.)
The anchorage was not safe and with the trouble he had with the Maori, there was little alternative but to leave the bay, the ship was in a poor condition already 62 men had died, many ill.
In Surville’s instructions it was forbidden to sail to any Spanish settlement in America, but to sail back to Manila or China was also not an option, with a vessel without anchors and cables save one, no food nor amenities. The decision was made to sail to South America, as being the place that the soonest could be reached and against the written instructions, they sailed from Doubtless Bay on 31 December at 09.00 p.m. and across the Pacific, the first voyage made from east to the west. Surville sailed between the latitudes of 40 and 35 degree south, the weather was mostly fine but the seas often mountainous by a high swell. The sails already worn out tore frequently, most of the crew again with scurvy and the ship in a bad shape.
On 24 March 1770 land was seen, it was Mas Afuera the westernmost of the Juan Fernandez group. To land on one island was not possible, stormy weather prevented this. On 28 March Surville set a northerly course with the intention to call a Peruvian port and finally on 7 April the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE dropt her anchor of Chilca a small port not far from Callao. On the bar in front of the town a heavy surf was breaking and by an attempt the next day by Surville in a boat to land, the boat capsized and Surville drowned. Labé the second in command not sure Surville was drowned waited and then took the vessel to Callao the morning of the 9th were he got the message that Surville was drowned.
In Callao the vessel was arrested and a guard put on board and the cargo placed under seal. After a long legal battle with the authorities which involved the French and Spanish governments of three years at least on 7 April 1773 the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE set sail including 63 Spaniards, recruited to make up for the already lost French sailors.
The vessel arrived 20 August at Port Louis, Brittany.
During the voyage, of the original 173 crew who set sail from India, 79 died and 28 deserted.
The voyage was financially a disaster, the widow of Surville lost everything she had, and the other shareholders lost all the money they invested in the expedition, the ship and cargo left on board were auctioned.
What has happened afterwards with the ST JEAN-BAPTISTE is unknown.
New Zealand 1997 $1.20 sg2054, scott1416
Sources: French Explorers in the Pacific by John Dunmore. Ships of the World by Lincoln P. Paine. Info from the New Zealand Post.