Sometime ago I was wondering which whaler was depict on the stamp of Tristan da Cunha issued in 1982, two American whalers carried that name one from New Bedford the other from Bristol R.I and New London.
I did find now a URL http://www.whalingmuseum.org/kendall/am ... boats.html
On the web-site there is a drawing of a whaleship under the name CORINTIAN and there is given that she was from New London. Exact the same vessel is depict on the stamp, so we can be sure that she is the CORINTIAN whaling from New London and not the whaler from New Bedford.
History of the American Whale Fishery by Alexander Starbuck has the following voyages.
1) Of she was built as a whaler and where is not given but her first voyages were from Bristol R.I.
She sailed on 14 Dec. 1832 out under command of Capt. Grinnel for the whaling grounds in the Pacific.
Her owner is given as W.H.De Wolf, ship rigged, tonnage 503 ton.
She returned on 09 June 1836, with on board 1.200 brls. spermoil.
2) The next voyage was under command of Gardner, she sailed out on 07 January 1837 for the Pacific.
Returned on 23 March 1839 with on board 300 brls sperm oil and 3.000 brls. whale oil.
3) Sailed out on 23 Sept. 1839 under command of Capt Heath for the Indian Ocean, returned on 13 May 1842 with on board 300 brls sperm oil, 2.400 brls whale oil and 22.000 lbs. whalebone.
4) Sailed out on 09 Nov. 1842 under command of Capt. Easterbrook for the Pacific Ocean, returned in Bristol R.I on 13 April 1846, with on board 700 brls sperm oil, 2.000 brls whale oil and 6.000 lbs whale. Bone.
She was then sold by W.H.De Wolf to Thomas Fitch in New London.
5) Sailed out under command of Capt. Slate for Desolation Island (now Kergeulen Island.) on 23 Sept. 1847, returned on 26 June 1849 with on board 3.700 brls. whale oil.
And during this voyage she must have made a call at Tristan da Cunha.
6) Sailed out again under Slate on 07 Sept.1849 for Desolation Isld. Returned on 27 April 1851 with on board 18 brls sperm oil, 2.871 brls whale oil and 11.000 lbs. whale bone. Her owner is given this voyage as Perkins & Smith.
7) Sailed out under command of Capt. Rogers on 19 Aug. 1851 for Desolation Isld. Returned on 24 June 1853, with on board 3.058 brls. whale oil and 10.000 lbs whale bone.
8) Sailed out again under command of Capt. Rogers on 15 Nov. 1853 for Desolation Isld, returned09 June 1856 with on board 3.208 brls. whale oil and 8.600lbs. whale bone. During the voyage send home 13.337 pounds whale bone.
9) Sailed out under command of Capt. Rogers on 09 July 1856 for Desolation Isld., returned 10 April 1858 with on board 3.482 brls. whale oil and 436 lbs. whale bone.
She was then withdrawn from whaling for the South America trade in 1859, and sold to Boston owners.
Her fate unknown by my.
The book the Sea Hunters gives that the CORINTHIAN, was the first vessel to land men on Heard Island south of Desolation Island in search for sea-elephants. Not a year given.
Tristan da Cunha 1982 30p sg 325, scott?