Richard Louis McLachlan: From New Zealand to a small place in American History - a Whale of a Tale.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments, corrections or further information to add. I am happy for any of my research to be challenged if it helps find the facts. From my research, I have not found any evidence of any direct descendants of Richard Louis McLachlan, but he will appear in many family trees. 

Note: I have used contemporary spelling for bark meaning a specific style of vessel (also known as barque). 

In my pursuit of researching the life and times of our family's New Zealand founding ancestors Henry Naysmith and Mary McLean (Duchess of Argyle, 1842) I started researching their first generation of descendants.  I have already published a post on their first-born child Alexander Naysmith. 

Moving on to the second-born Naysmith Mary Ann Argyle Naysmith (married Alexander Cleghorn McLachlan), I ended up on a side track looking for information on their first-born son Richard Louis McLachlan. 

I found nothing about him in any New Zealand context, but a Google search found information on Richard Lewis McLachlan who was the model for the Whaleman statue unveiled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1913. 

Postcard of Whaleman statue 

A brief background on the Whaleman statue for the context of the rest of the story: 

The bronze and granite "Whaleman" statue is the most widely recognisable symbol of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and it's high on the list of local tourist attractions. Since its unveiling in 1913, it has been reproduced in postcards, stamps, souvenirs and even cuff links, book ends, glassware and china. Search for "Whaleman Statue" yourself to discover how many of such items are currently for sale. 

A bookend souvenir of the Whaleman statue  - note in this version, he is wearing a shirt. 

The inscription on the statue is: 

" A Dead Whale or a Stove Boat. In honour of the whalemen whose skill, hardihood, and daring brought fame and fortune to New Bedford and made its name known in every seaport of the globe."  Gift of W.W. Crapo. 

The statue was gifted to the city by local Congressman and notable citizen William Wallace Crapo to pay tribute to all the whalemen who set forth from the port of New Bedford on voyages which would typically take several years. Whaling and associated services and industries brought much wealth to New Bedford and also exposure to people from all over the world.  Crapo and the sculptor he commissioned, Bela Pratt, both had a vision of evoking the romance of the glory years of whaling of times gone by. The industry was now in decline, and new technology was taking the risk, skill, "romance" and adventure out of the process. 

Pratt wanted the statue to recall the ideal of the youthful, hardy, stout-hearted and self-reliant Yankee-born (white) whaling men who rose through ship-board hierarchy from the lowliest ranks to master and who, on land, became worthy citizens and civic leaders.  The inscription, "A Dead Whale or a Stove Boat" (succeed or suffer the consequences or, more bluntly, kill or be killed) was a direct quote from Captain Ahab in the novel Moby Dick  by Herman Melville and was described in a local paper as "a glowing, slashing, spirit-stirring phrase to inspire the youth of the city. . . "  The statue captured the moment when either the whale or the harpooner was likely to die.

Pratt insisted that, for authenticity and accuracy, an experienced and skilled boat steerer had to be the model, and so local retired boat steerer Richard Lewis McLachlan was chosen. It must be said that the glory days of whaling were over by this stage and authentic experienced youthful models were not readily available. There had been suggestions that a "Negro Cape Verdean" model would have been more historically accurate, but this did not fit the ideal that Crapo or Pratt had in mind. Whaling crews had become increasingly culturally and racially diverse with, in many cases, the majority of the crew not American born. No one seemed to have doubted Richard L McLachlan's all-American suitability, and he didn't seem to enlighten them of his Thames, New Zealand origins. Rather he alludes to an Oregon upbringing when he says he went to sea as a cabin boy from Portland Oregon.

Extract from "The Standard Times", June 20th, 1913: 

 . . . Mr McLachlan, "Dick" McLachlan as he is known to hundreds of New Bedford people, went down to the Old Dartmouth Historical rooms where he assumed position in a whaleboat and was photographed, and Mr Pratt was so pleased with the result that he summoned Mr McLachlan to his studio in Boston where day after day Mr McLachlan took his position in the bow of the whaleboat and posed for the sculptor as he worked. Of course, the statue is slightly heroic, as all such works must be, but it was from "Dick" McLachlan that the sculptor found the correct detail of position and caught the spirit of strength and power and alertness which he so cleverly worked into the figure. . . " 

From "The Standard Times", Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States,
20 June, 1913.  

The statue was unveiled with great civic fanfare, pomp and ceremony outside the New Bedford Civic Library on June 20, 1913.  Over a thousand  people were present and at least 17 dignitaries were seated in a specially erected and flag-draped stand. At least six men made speeches extolling the impact of whaling on the prosperity and character of New Bedford, the bravery, resilience and hardiness of whaling men, and the beneficence of W.W. Crapo who instigated the project and gifted the statue. There were lengthy and fulsome reports of the event, the distinguished participants, and the speeches in all the local newspapers.  A thorough account of the entire project appears in the Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches journal. 

It really was a big deal. 

Close up of face of whale man statue - shirtless, unlike some of the souvenirs. 
Checkout this one minute video for a closer look at the statue 

Whaleman statue unveiled June 20, 1913, at the front of the New Bedford Public Library

"Wouldn't that be funny if he was our Richard Louis McLachlan," I thought, but when he stated he began his merchant service in Oregon as a cabin boy, the time frame seemed outside what would be possible to be "our" Richard. I decided to look for any official records to locate the Oregon Richard McLachlan as well as the New Zealand-born Richard McLachlan to prove they were different people.  

And I found them. And they are the same person. Irrefutably. Here's his story:  

Richard's father, Alexander Cleghorn McLachlan, was born in Scotland and arrived in New Zealand in1841 on the Blenheim.  His mother Mary Ann Argyle Naysmith was born on the Duchess of Argyle which arrived in New Zealand from Scotland in 1842. Alexander and Mary  married on13th August, 1861, at the Stapleton Registry Office, Coromandel. Alexander McLachlan was involved in gold mining in Coromandel and Otago, and was later a sawyer in the Shortland mill at Thames in 1874. Mary's father, Henry Naysmith,  was also a gold miner in Coromandel at the same time. 

There is no official record available to confirm Richard's date or place of birth. Online family trees give either 10th March, 1862, at Thames, (do the maths) or 3rd October 1862, although most sources cited show his age not a specific date of birth.  If 10th of March was the correct date of birth, I wonder if 3rd October was perhaps a baptism date, or a date from a family Bible, although there is no online evidence to indicate that.  The birth year of 1862 may have been determined by subtracting his age from the date on one of the records sourced. His death certificate (see below) appears to be the only official document to state his date of birth  (March 10th 1864); however, this is likely to be unreliable as the informant (his wife Gertrude) has given his birth place as California and was not able to provide the name and birth place of his parents. Richard either never divulged his New Zealand family and origins, or Gertrude chose not to declare them. 

Even so, and allowing a margin of error,  Richard seems to have adjusted his age to suit the circumstances, with his year of birth being calculated as follows from the following sources included in this post;

- 1890    aged 26         voter registration        approx year of birth     1864

- 1890    aged 28         naturalisation             approx year of birth      1862

- 1906    aged 44         voter registration        approx year of birth      1862 

- 1908    aged 46         Alice Knowles             approx year of birth      1862 

- 1910    aged 46         marriage                     approx year of birth      1864

- 1911    aged 48         immigration                 approx year of birth      1863

- 1919    aged 55         death certificate         given year of birth         1864 

I think Richard deliberately subtracted two years from his age at the time of his marriage, and he maintained that deception to his death. To have been born in 1864 would have made him a very young cabin boy at nine years old (although not unheard of.) Admittedly, it is easy to forget your age the older you get. 

 I will make the assumption that Richard was likely to have been born in 1862, and that makes his age at going to sea as a cabin boy at about 11 or 12 years old which is still at the younger end but not out of the ordinary. It is interesting to speculate on why and how he ended up in this employment.  Did his parents find the job for him? Did he leave under the guardianship of a family member or friend? Was he keen to do the job and leave New Zealand not knowing if he would return or see his family again? Was he an unmanageable or delinquent child and needed strict boundaries and discipline to keep him out of trouble? Was his wage contributing to the family income? There were occasional advertisements in daily papers for "Cabin Boy Wanted - apply (name of ship)" but I can find very little further  information about cabin boys in a New Zealand context. 

According to his Wikitree biography, he attended Waio-karaka school in Thames - but this school was not opened until after he had left New Zealand. There was no source for the information, and it could be that he attended an informal or unofficial school; however, as an adult, he could read and write, as attested on immigration and voter registration records. 

From information given by Richard McLachlan himself at the time of the Whaleman statue's unveiling, he stated that he went to sea in 1873 as a cabin boy in the merchant service, voyaging from Portland Oregon to Queenstown, Ireland, round the horn. He may have been a year out, as his naturalisation document (see below) states he arrived 1874 - which is the more likely date. In his Whaleman interview, Richard may have deliberately not mentioned his New Zealand origins as it may not have fitted the all-American whaler image he had been chosen to represent as the statue model. But it seems his wife wasn't even aware of his New Zealand heritage, so he must have kept it very quiet - for whatever reason. 

 Even so, he still had to get from Auckland, New Zealand, to Portland, Oregon. We know this was his route from details on his naturalisation document declaring that he arrived at Portland on 8th August, 1874 (see below).   I have researched 1874 shipping traffic between New Zealand and Portland, Oregon, and I couldn't find a lot (Papers Past, shipping intelligence). From the only shipping movements to fit these dates, it is most likely that he left on 2nd July, 1874, on the ship Huntly Castle (Captain Macauley) taking ballast from Auckland. The Huntly Castle would then load a cargo of grain from Portland for the "Home country".  This could fit in with Richard's inclusion of Queenstown, Ireland, in the places he had been.  The following year (1875) the Huntly Castle brought cargo to Sydney from Liverpool and departed via Newcastle to Hong Kong. Somehow Richard ended back in USA in California, most likely San Francisco, from where he first embarked on his whaling adventures. 

Advertisement from Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5254, 24 June 1874, Page 1

                                            The Huntly Castle finally left for Portland on the morning of 2 July. 

However he got there, he would have been a young boy, and his New Zealand childhood and family must have faded in its relevance to him over the years for him not to have mentioned it. There is plenty of room for speculation in the absence of any further information - factual or anecdotal. 

Richard stated that (after Ireland) he voyaged from New York to the West Indies and many other voyages to the western ocean. He continued in the merchant service until 1880.  In 1884 he went whaling along the Pacific coast and the Arctic. His very first whaling voyage was certainly memorable as his ship, the bark Rainbow (Capt. Barney Cogan), was caught in ice and shattered and sank within 20 minutes. The crew were rescued by the bark Fleetwing and Richard finished the season in the Artic on the bark Hunter, under the command of his former Rainbow captain,  Barney Cogan. 

In the mid to late 1880s, during the Southern California boom, Richard was employed on dry land as a longshoreman (dock worker) by the Broadway Steamship Company of which I can find no information in online searches. 

In 1890, Richard appeared in the California Voter Register. All the details except "Nativity" fit the likelihood of this being our Richard McLachlan.   (RL McLachlan, aged 26, occupation longshoreman and born Louisiana.)  The Louisiana place of birth may have been a deliberate deception to do with his residency legality or an administrative error. But other details fit.  Possibly not unrelated,  in September 1890, Richard applied for naturalisation, and his certificate confirms his New Zealand origins and his Portland, Oregon, connection.

This single piece of information joins several of the dots linking the New Zealand Richard Louis McLachlan to the Portland, Oregon Richard Lewis McLachlan. 

Next, Richard returned to Arctic whaling in the Berring Sea, employed by the Pacific Steam Whaling Company. He frequently wintered over in the Arctic circle, including the winter of 1895 on the steamer whaler Thrasher. The captain's wife AF (Fanny) Weeks kept  log of daily events and it gives a daily account of activities in the community of ships that wintered over. Tragically, Captain Charles Weeks died in an accident on board the ship.  Richard is not mentioned at all in the log. 

From The Evening Standard. (New Bedford, Bristol County)  Monday May 13, 1895 

The steam whaler Thrasher in the Arctic,1885 (10 years before Richard's time there). 
Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Steam whale ship Beluga

In 1901 Richard was the 3rd mate of the steam whale ship Beluga under the command of the wonderfully named Hartson Hartlett Bodfish.   Here is a link to the logbook, where Richard (Mr McLoughlin) is mentioned two times (September 15th and 17th) being involved in "striking" whales. 

Richard had at least two more whaling voyages from San Francisco,  and was still based in California in 1906 where his name appeared in the California voter register again.  Note this time his birthplace is New Zealand and his occupation is labourer.  His occupation of  a land-based labourer rather than any maritime-based employment fits in with the location of Centreville, Butte County, which is well inland. It is likely that he was a labourer involved in the expanding development of towns and related infrastructure or the mining industry in this area; however, by the end of the year, he was back at sea as a 4th mate on the Alice Knowles, departing from San Francisco. 

1906 Voter Registration from the California Great Registers (1850 - 1920) 
Name: Richard Lewis McLachlan 

Age: 44

Height: 5'11 3/4" 

Occupation: Labourer 

Born: New Zealand 

Householder: No

Address: John Adams (Name of Post Office, named after post master) 

Naturalized: Los Angeles 

Able to read the constitution in English, write own name: Yes 

Precinct /Local residence: Centreville  (Butte, California)

By 1908, Richard had relocated to New Bedford, probably because of his promotion to 2nd mate on the Alice Knowles (which appears to have relocated to New Bedford for its next voyage) and under the command of J.A.M Earle who Richard had previously sailed with in 1903 as 4th mate on the Charles W Morgan. Captain Earle's wife was New Zealand-born Honor Mathews, a school teacher from Russell where Earle met her on a whaling layover.  Earle was quite a frequent visitor to New Zealand and had studied navigation here at one stage. After corresponding with each other, Honor travelled to Hawaii to marry him and eventually became an official navigator as she and their son went with Earle on whaling voyages. I wonder if Richard's New Zealand connection was known or relevant. 

In 1910, Richard married 37-year-old widow Clara Irene Gertrude Sylvia, born Lemos (known as Gertrude). The marriage register further confirms the New Zealand place of birth, although, as mentioned above, Richard's age does not equate with that of his naturalisation document. He either abbreviates or doesn't fully remember his mother's maiden name, but Alexander McLachlan and Mary (Nay)Smith are near enough for an absolute match.  

Detail from marriage register 

Information from marriage register 1910: 

Name: Richard L McLachlan / Clara I Sylvia "Lemos" 

Age: 46 /  37 

Marriage: first / second "W" (widow) 

Residence at time of marriage: New Bedford / New Bedford 

Occupation; seaman /at home 

Place of birth: New Zealand / Boston, Mass

Father's name: Alexander / Manuel Lemos 

Mother's maiden name: Mary Smith /Annie Lemos 

Married by: Charles S Thurber, clergyman New Bedford, Mass

Snapshot of some of the information from Germania Manifest of alien passengers 26th September, 1911

 In 1911 Richard went on his last whaling voyage, as 1st mate on the Valkyria.  While he was away, Gertrude hosted her sister Virginia's very quiet wedding at the McLachlans'  North Second Street home.  It was the same minister, Charles S Thurber who performed Gertrude's and Richard's wedding ceremony the previous year. Note that Gertrude's own first name is used rather than Mrs Richard McLachlan.  The bride and groom were to live with Gertrude in her home. I wonder if Richard knew about this before he arrived home in October.   

LOWDEN - LEMOS 

The wedding ceremony of Virginia V Lemos, daughter of Manuel E Lemos and Addie C Lemos  of the city, and Walter E Lowden of 97 Parker Street, was solemnised Saturday evening at 8 o'clock at the home of the bride's sister Mrs Gertrude McLachlan at 63 North Second Street. Only the immediate families and friends of the bride and bridegroom were present and the ceremony, which was performed by Rev Charles S Thurber, was of a very quiet nature. The best man was John H Tripp and the bridesmaid was Miss Aidlen Barrit  .... . The couple will reside at the home of Mrs Gertrude McLachlan. 

The next we hear of Richard is that he returned from the Azores on 6th October, 1911, most likely before the end of the season as he is travelling as a passenger rather than crew member. The information from the Germania's manifest (see below) further confirms what we've already discovered and, interestingly, he acknowledges his Scots ancestry rather than his NZ birth. It's heartening to discover that he wasn't a polygamist or an anarchist and intriguing to find that such information was required. His physical characteristics are also confirmed confirmed. He is 5' 11" tall, with light brown hair  (probably born blonde) and has blue eyes. A rosy complexion is probably an indication of his Scots heritage. It intrigues me that after so much time at sea  in all  weathers,  his complexion is still described as rosy. Do they mean florid? ruddy? He certainly does not appear to have been swarthy, as I had imagined. Less romantically it could also suggest sunburn, windburn or exposure to any other excess his 100% Scots complexion could not accommodate. 

Information from Germania Manifest of alien passengers 26th September 1911:

Name: Richard L McLachlan 

Age: 48 

Sex and Marita Status: M(ale), M(arried)

Can read and Write:  Ditto marks under Yes and Yes in columns above 

Nationality (Country of which citizen or subject)  USA  - and overwritten "Brit" 

Race or people: Scotch 

Last permanent residence: New Bedford, USA (Stamped: Non-Immigrant Alien )

Final destination: New Bedford, USA 

Ticket: Yes - has one, paid for by himself

Has over $50 or if not, how much: $5 

Been in US before? When and where: Yes 1873/1910, New Bedford and and other places 

Whether a polygamist or an anarchist: No on each count. 

Physical and mental health: Good

Not deformed or crippled: tick 

Notes: Has 350 coming to him, wages accrued from whaling 

Height: 5'11" 

Complexion: rosy 

Hair: Light brown

Eyes: Blue 

After his return from the Azores in October 1911, Richard seems to have remained on land and found employment as a labourer, according to the New Bedford city directories. Within about a year, Richard had been chosen for the Whaleman model (see beginning of post.)  He and  Gertrude continued to live on North Second Street until they relocated to 69 Walden Street, and then by1914 to139 Hillman Street where Richard remained until his death. Gertrude's sister continued to live with them for a while, and for some time without husband Walter E Lowry who lived on State Street, according to the 1917 New Bedford Directory.  Online family tree information indicates that Walter and Virginia had four children between 1914 and 1923, so Richard and Gertrude's household may have included young children.  It seems that Gertrude remained in close contact with her family and siblings who also lived locally. 

Even though he was widely known to have been the model, and his limited biography and illustrious whaling exploits were widely published at the time of the unveiling, Richard is not listed amongst the notable guests and dignitaries present, nor is it noted if he was even present at the event. Surely he was, though. He seems to have sunk back into his former obscurity, probably well enough known in local whaling circles and gatherings of retired whalers.  He may have had to endure the mis-directed scorn of a few vocal critics who found fault with the his stance, the way he held the harpoon, and even the fact that he was shirtless. The sculptor unashamedly used artistic licence in the interests of achieving his vision. 

And that's pretty much all the information there is on Richard L McLachlan until his death on 6th December, 1919 - which was reported on  Page 1 of the local newspaper that evening.  His obituary seems to have been taken straight out of information already published about him at the time of his modelling for the Whaleman statue.  The article also included a photo of him (see above). 

Page 1 headline on Evening Standard, 6th December, 1919 

 From his death certificate (see below) it states that he died of apoplexy as a consequence of acute endocarditis, and he was buried in the Rural Cemetery, New Bedford. on the 9th December.  Apart from the mention in his death certificate, I can find no other indication of his burial or location in this cemetery.

Death Certificate for Richard Louis McLachlan 

Note that his widow Gertrude was either unaware of, or chose not to give, the details that he was born in New Zealand. Surely, at some stage in their marriage Richard would have divulged it? It was certainly entered in the record of their marriage registration. Maybe Gertrude never saw that.  Likewise the date given for his year of birth is questionable.  While 10th March could be correct, the year 1864 is very likely to be 2 years later than his actual birth, as mentioned previously. 

His funeral took place at his home, 139 Hillman St, on Tuesday 9th December at 2pm, from where he was taken to the Rural Cemetery.  Note that his death notice invites relatives to attend, of which Richard had none in USA, although he would have had in-laws.

Richard L McLachlan's  funeral notice, The Evening Standard, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, December 8, 1919.  

From Gertrude's card of thanks, published a few days after his death, it is noted that Richard was a member of at least one of the New Bedford fraternal societies: "The Fraternal Society of Tigers". I can find very little other information about the society apart from it being mentioned in relation to the deaths of other members, and it organising a local dance once.   

From The New Bedford Evening Standard, Wednesday December 10, 1919

Difficult to read but says: I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Fraternal Order of Tigers for their kindness, sympathy and attention shown me during my late bereavement. MRs Richard McLachlan. And the second one says: I wish to extend my sincere thanks to my relatives and friends for their kindness and sympathy during my late bereavement. Mrs Richard L McLachlan. 

Below is a timeline - approximate in places - of the known major events and activities in Richard's life.  I wonder if he corresponded with family in New Zealand and if he was ever aware of the births and deaths of his family members, some of whom were born after his departure.  It is possible that he visited ports in New Zealand, especially in his merchant shipping days, but I can find no evidence. Even if he did visit, family would have had to be living close enough to his port of arrival to have had time to meet him. 

Time line for Richard Louis McLachlan

1862 - 10th March, born in Thames, Coromandel, New Zealand (DOB unconfirmed) 

1865 - birth of brother Henry Alexander McLachlan (1865 - 1944) 

1870 - birth of sister Annie Catherine McLachlan (1868 - 1939) 

1873 - birth of sister Elizabeth Mary McLachlan (1873 - 1939) 

1873 - first went to sea as cabin boy in merchant service, based in Portland, Oregon.(Likely               to be incorrect, more likely to be 1874.  

1874 - 8th August - arrived Portland, Oregon, USA 

1875 - birth of sister Janet Isabella McLachlan (1875 - 1876) 

1876 - death of sister Janet Isabella McLachlan 

1879 - birth of sister Margarita Ewena McLachlan (1879 = 1937) 

1882 - birth of sister Janet Scott McLachlan (1882 - 1944) 

1884 - 10th December, first whaling voyage on bark Rainbow (San Francisco, Capt. Barney Cogan) 

1885 - 14th April, Rainbow crushed by ice off Mys Navarin, Bering Sea, sank in 20 minutes. 

         - 31st December, Arctic whaling voyage, bark Hunter (San Francisco, Capt. Barney Cogan)

1886 - 15th November, Hunter returned to San Francisco

between: Employed by Pacific Steam Whaling Company

1890 - 15th September, applied for naturalisation as US citizen 

1890 - Employed as Longshoreman at San Diego (Broadway Steamship Company)

1894 - 5th mate on steam bark Thrasher 

1895 - Boat steerer on the steamer Thrasher in the Arctic. 

1901 - 3rd mate on steamer Beluga 

1902 - 3rd mate on bark John & Winthrop (Capt. WF Macomber)

         - death of father Alexander Cleghorn McLachlan, New Zealand.  

1903 - 4th mate on Charles W Morgan (San Francisco - Capt. J.A.M  Earle) ) 

1906 - 1st July - living at Centerville, Butte, California

         - 1st December sailed, 4th mate on bark Alice Knowles (San Francisco - Capt. Thomas Scullan) 

1908 - 2nd mate on Alice Knowles (New Bedford - Capt. J.A.M  Earle) to Indian Ocean. Voyage left 4th November for 2 years.   

1910 - 20th August, married widow Clara Gertrude (Lemos) Silva

         - living at 63 N Second (householder)

1911 - 1st mate on whaling schooner Valkyria (left ship in Fayal, Azores, September 1911) 

1911 - 6th October, arrived New York from Azores,  returning from whaling voyage

         - living at 63N Second, occupation: mariner 

1913 - 20th June, Whaleman statue unveiled 

1914 - living at 69 Walden (householder), occupation: labourer

1915 - living at 69 Walden, occupation: Laborer 

1916 - living at 139 Hillman, (householder), occupation: labourer 

1918 - living at 139 Hillman, (householder)occupation: Laborer 

         - death of mother Mary Anne Argyle Naysmith, New Zealand.  

1919 - living at 139 Hillman, occupation: Laborer 

         - died 6th December at 139 Hillman St., New Bedford, MA 

1942 - Gertrude died 

After all that research, and after thinking I was the only person who had found the Whaleman model's New Zealand origins, I discovered an article by maritime writer Andrew German about the various nationalities who had been crew on the historic whaler Charles W Morgan  (Mystic Seaport Magazine, Spring/Summer 2014)  He wrote:

" Another New Zealander was Richard McLachlan, who served as 4th mate on the 1903 - 04 voyage. McLachlan later posed for Bela Lyon Pratt's sculpture A Dead Whale or a Stove Boat which stands next to the New Bedford Free Public Library." 

So there must be more information out there still. I have thoroughly enjoyed researching and unravelling the mystery of what happened to Richard Louis McLachan and confirming the New Zealand connection to the New Bedford Whaleman statue. Richard would have been my grandfather's first cousin (my first cousin three times removed, I think) but I know there will be other descendants of Alexander Cleghorn McLachlan and Mary Argyle Naysmith who will have a closer connection.   

Through his renowned recognition as "The Whaleman"  of New Bedford, Richard Louis (Lewis) McLachlan could very well be the most famous New Zealand Naysmith descendant. In any case, it's a whale of a story.   

References, other Sources and further reading:

- The Evening Standard (New Bedford, Bristol County)

        - May 17, 1894 

        - April 25, 1901 

        - May 5, 1902 

        - May 7 1907 

        - November 5, 1908 

        - December 8, 1919 

        - December 10, 1919 

- The Standard Times

        - June 20, 1913, Page: 5  (includes photo, "My Heritage" site, behind paywall)  

- Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840-1915 (Ancestry.com) 

- New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 (Ancestry.com) 

- California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 (Ancestry.com) 

- U.S., Naturalization Records, 1840-1957(Ancestry.com) 

- U.S., City Directories, 1822 - 1925 (Ancestry.com) 

- California Great Registers, 1850-1920 (Page 176 / 707) (Family Search) 

- New Bedford, Massachusetts, City Directory, (1918) (Ancestry.com) 

- New Bedford, Massachusetts, City Directory, (1918) (Ancestry.com) 

- New Bedford, Massachusetts, City Directory, (1919) (Ancestry.com) 

- New Bedford directory: of the inhabitants, business firms, institutions, streets, societies (1915) 

- Massachusetts, U.S., Death Index, 1901-1980 (Ancestry.com) 

- Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920, ( Family Search), (Page 26/509) 

- The Dukes County Intelligencer (1971) Vol. 13, No.2 

Vineyard Whalemen in the Arctic by Dorothy Cottle 

This is an article about whaling in the Arctic including the time of Richard McLachlan's time there, and mentions the steamer Thrasher, on which Richard McLachlan was, at one time, a boat steerer. 

- The Aug. 1894 to March 1896 Herschel Island diary of Sophie Porter, wife of Captain William Porter of the whaler Jessie H. Freeman 

This is the transcribed journal of one of the wives of the whaling captains based in the Arctic at the same time as Richard McLachlan was there on the  steamer  Thrasher in 1895. It recounts many of the same events as the log kept by the wife of Captain Charles Weeks of the Thrasher. 

- Link to prints showing various aspects of whaling in the Arctic. From William Gilkerson’s book, American Whalers in the Western Arctic published in 1983, which included the 12 color plates

Of particular interest is a painting titled  July Fourth at Herschel Island, 1895 which is where Richard McLachlan was on that very day. 

- News article about the centenary of the Whaleman Statue 

- Congressional Record  June 20, 2013 Richard McLachlan's role as model for the Whaleman statue is noted in an address in the House of Representatives by Hon. William R Keating of Massachusetts to mark the centenary of its unveiling. 

- Old Dartmouth Historical Sketches 

p.325 - 327 are about the "model" Richard Lewis McLachlan, but pages 298 - 336 recount every aspect imaginable about the statue from its original concept to its reception by locals and visitors. 

The Ella Cossill Story (Part 2) Charles A Evans' Story

Please feel free to contact me to correct any errors I may have made or if you would like to add any more information.  If any of these are your ancestors or their families, I would love to hear from you - especially if you can add any further details or photos. This is the story of Charles Albert Evans who Ella/Sarah Cossill appears to have run away to sea with in 1856.

Note: I have used the contemporary spelling Mongonui for Mangonui where relevant.

🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋

See the previous post for Part 1 of this story ending in 1857, where we left  Charles A Evans finally buried on Paewhenua Island, Mangonui, NZ -  within yards of  his parents-in-law Charles and Margaret (Pourewa) Cossill's home - after being stored onboard the whaling ship Arctic since his death the previous October. 

Paewhenua Island abt 1994

Looking down towards Pourewa's grave 1994. Is Charles A Evans buried here too? 

Charles A Evans' widow Sarah Evans (born Ella Cossill) headed for New Bedford on the homeward trip of the whaler Jireh Swift which was conveniently in port at Mongonui at the time of the Arctic's arrival with Charles' body. From there she continued on to his hometown in Northfield,  New Hampshire.  

The whaling ship  Arctic, previously under the command of Charles A Evans, had been captained by second-in-command Peter Butman (also spelled as Beedman) since Charles' death the previous October. After his funeral, the Arctic  left Mongonui  to continue whaling and didn't return to Fairhaven, USA, until 1858 (some sources say 1861 - maybe there were two separate voyages. To be confirmed.) 

Whale ship Jireh Swift on which Sarah returned to America in 1857.

Before we leave Charles A Evans to rest in peace, let's find out a little bit more about him and his family and the people who would have been in his thoughts so far from home. He is, after all,  Pourewa's burial companion on Paewhenua Island, and his family are the people that Sarah returned to after his burial.  

The earliest reference I can find to  Charles Albert Evans'  date of birth is in a history of the Thurstan family published in 1892. It gives his date of birth as 6th February 1827, at Northfield, Merrimack, New Hampshire. I have also seen an "H" used instead of the "A" probably mis-transcribed.   It includes that he married Sarah Corsil of New Zealand on 6th February 1856 - a slight discrepancy with the official document - and that he drowned in the Indian Ocean January 1857 - another discrepancy, but easily confused with his date of burial. 

From Thurston Genealogies (1892) 

Charles' father was John Evans  (possibly junior) - born about 1802 in Northfield New Hampshire where he lived all his life. Charles' mother was Mehitable Thurston (1808 -1852), born in  Gilmanton, New Hampshire - from a well-known family of descendants of early English settlers.  John Evans has been recorded as a mechanic, shoemaker (1850 census), farm labourer(1860 census) and labourer (1870 census). Mehitable was killed in 1852 when she was hit by a horse-drawn vehicle when rescuing her deaf daughter (presumably didn't hear the vehicle?) Six years later, 57-year-old John Evans married again to Laura Willey aged 47 from nearby Canterbury.  She does not appear to have been married before, and I can find no further evidence of her life before marrying John Evans. .  

Various genealogies and  online family trees attribute more children to John and Mehitable  than was humanly possible for poor Mehitable to produce - an easy mistake when so many of their extended families shared the same first and middle name and many local families seem to have been quite inter-related over the generations. In some online family tree sites, Charles A Evans and his siblings have also been incorrectly included as descendants of James T and Mehitable Evans from Strafford, New Hampshire - but I think I've got it sussed now. 

John Evans and Mehitable Thurstan's children  were most likely: 

- Lydia Thurston Evans: (1822 - 1888) married Cyrus Woodruff Lord - a farmer. 

- Lyman Barker Evans: (1824 - 1863) farmer, married Diana Copp. He served in the 8th Vermont Regiment and died in hospital at Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 13th 1863. He is buried in the Baton Rouge National Cemetery.  Note that Lyman Barker Evans has been mistakenly conflated with his brother  - our Charles Albert Evans - in one published genealogy, and also mysteriously, acknowledged as the father of Sarah's son Charles Herbert Evans, in an official birth document. More investigations needed there.

- Charles Albert Evans: (1827 - 1856) "Our" Charles, married our Ella/Sarah Cossill. It seems he was involved in whaling for most of his life. The earliest record of him is as a greenhand in 1845. His details were mixed with his brother Lyman Barker Evans (above) in at least one published book about the family. See below for a more detailed account of his whaling career. And see previous post for details about his death in 1856. 

- Julia Ann Evans: (1829-1905), married Amos Kimball Copp, a carpenter and brother of Lyman Barker Evan's wife Diana Copp. Amos Kimball Copp served "against the rebellion" and was wounded. Julia Ann died in 1905 from malnutrition as a result of paralysis. 

- Mary Francis: born1831 - died in infancy. 

- Gardiner Thurston Evans: (1835 - 1853).  In 1850 he was living with his parents at Merrimack, Northfield, and recorded as a labourer (aged 17 - 1850 census). In 1851 he was a "greenhand" on the whaling ship William C Nye (departed Massachusetts) on which brother Charles was the 2nd mate. On the same voyage in 1853 Gardiner Thurston Evans drowned at sea - unknown date, place and circumstances. 

- Mary Francis Evans: (1837 - 1855) Possibly the daughter who was deaf.

- Hiram Bradbury Evans: (1841 - 1864) twin. By age 19 he was a shoemaker (1860 census) living at home with his parents.  He served in the 9th New Hampshire Regiment (Company G) as a private and was promoted to sergeant. He died in hospital in1864 from wounds received the the Battle of the Wilderness. 

- Horace Bradbury Evans: (1841 - 1864) twin, By age 19 he was an operative (factory worker) (1860 census). He served  as a private in the 12th Massachusetts Regiment, (Company E), was also wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness and died in hospital in 1864. 

- Mahala Etta Evans: (1843 -1904) married  Herbert Goss Chase who was an optician and who served in the 9th NH Regiment as a musician.  (Sad when a woman's biography tells us more about husband than her.) Known as Etta, she died of typhoid at aged 60 and is buried in Lowell MA. Her obituary again refers to her husband's profession as an optician, but includes that she was past president of the Woman's Relief Fund and was "a woman well known for having many friends in the city."

I have searched the data base of New Bedford Whaling Museum and have found the following references to Charles A Evans' whaling career, showing his progress from "greenhand" to Ship's master. Note - some of the details (e.g., 1st mate or second mate, seem to vary according to the source - to be reviewed.) 

 - 1845 - Ship Arab (Fairhaven, MA) as greenhand; Either Loring or Samuel T Braley, master. 

 - 1849 - Ship Benjamin Tucker (New Bedford, MA) as boat steerer (Daniel D Wood, master). 

 - 1851 - Ship William C. Nye as 1st mate  - same ship as his  brother Gardner T Evans. (C.H Adams, master). 

 - 1854 - Ship Arctic as 1st mate

 - 1855 - Bark Byron (New Bedford, MA) as steward; William E Tower, master;  Need to confirm this is our Charles - maybe incorrect. 

 - 1856 - Ship Arctic (Fairhaven, MA)  as master 

Details of the Benjamin Tucker from Ship Registers of New Bedford, Massachusetts published 1940. Note: 285 must have been the voyage our Charles was on, which sailed July 18, 1849. 

Whale ship Benjamin Tucker in Honolulu, 1857 (after Charles A Evans time). On her return passage from the Arctic, Benjamin Tucker encountered a storm which damaged her rigging. Captain Spencer commissioned this ambrotype depicting the damage to send to the vessel's owners. It is one of the earliest known photographs of an American whaleship. (Wikipedia)

Charles' 1849-1851 voyage as a boat steerer on the Benjamin Tucker is particularly interesting as he features significantly in the ship's log  kept by the cooper Daniel Chappell.  It seems to me, from reading as much of it as I could decipher, that Daniel and Charles were good friends - to the point where it is clear from identifying Charles' handwriting that he is the co-writer of a significant amount of the log - especially  towards the end. It looks like he enjoyed handwriting and he has an elegant and well controlled style with flourishing capital letters in his opening initials and headings.   On several pages at the back of  the log he has copied poems, either from a book or memory, and practised various swirls and flourishes and other decorative details. There are also drawings and a few sayings or quotes and possibly a few in-jokes with Daniel Chappell. There are also cartoon-esque drawings  - probably done by Charles, indicating a sense of humour. 

The log is mainly brief factual details of weather at morning and evening,  the number and name of the sails used during the day,  general employment and activities of the crew,  any whale sighting and subsequent  activity,  and which other ships had been sighted or "gammed" (visited). Occasionally, there are some matter-of-fact accounts of ship-board discord.  Of particular interest is the following  entry of January 7th 1850 (page 24 - 25, with spelling and punctuation as per the original): 

"Begins and ends with fresh breezes from the NE Westerly. The watch imployed in helping the cooper [?]in oil at least 1/2 past 3pm saw a [s]chool of sperm whales and lowered the boats the 4th mate struck [harpooned] and the mate also the lines got fowl the 4th mater cut and lost his whale the first mate killed his whale and at sunset took him alongside at dark one of the boat steerers and the capt had some [?] words about getting up the cutting falls the capt jumped down in the fore hold with a mind to check him but he found he had his match and got up again and called him aft he went aft and they tryed to put him in irons but cold not the irons was to small the capt bigins to cus him and kick witch John P Willard also boat steerer interfered and told the capt that he wold not stand and see Charles Evans abused the first mate then struck Willard P witch he returned back the capt had bound Evans hands with spun yarn and sent him into the [?]and then went at Willard and struck him with the irons 3 times in the fais and brused him most shamfully and sent him blow the same fat 8oclcok the capt acknowlage that he was to fast and sent Evans on duty agan and promased it shold drop whare it was the watch [?]the falls. So ends this day. Lat 3000South Long 164 W."

January 8th: 

"Begins light breezes from the NE at daylight cut in the whale at 7AM finish cuting at 9AM  the capat had a long talk with Willard and [you?] in that he was sorry that he had used [?] and at last after treating him sent him on duty again the watch imployed in boyling out  the whale So ends this day." 

It seems that January was a particularly stressful  or discordant time on the Benjamin Tucker because before the month was out " . . . the carpenter and one of the boat steerers had a falling out at the supper table . . ." and  "... the capt struck [Portuguesas?] 5/6 times . . . ", and "... flogged cabin boy." 

  

By September the captain was obviously on good enough terms with the boat steerers as is noted that he " invited boat steerers to take tea in his cabin and eat [?].

Our Charles features again on November 15th:

"...One of the boat steerers Charles Evens got his little finger ground/jammed? off between two barrels.. . "

By November 21st Charles finger must have been in a considerably bad condition as "... The capt went on board the 'Milo' the mate of her came on board and cut Charles Evena's finger off..." 

There are some other references by the log author Daniel Chappell alluding to the exploits he and Charles will get up when back on land. Some key words are indecipherable or may be contemporary references.  It requires further research, but suggests that both Daniel and Charles anticipated having a good time.

"... Today I was athinking if my silf and Charles Evans was at home that I would tack him out on the Rail rode track and get some [?]long with the girls but never mind Charles we will be there soon enough to catch a [june bug?] if nothing happens... "

 Charles writes his own thoughts at the end of the log as they just sighted land  - which proved to be Long Island. His writing at the end of this page is uncharacteristically unclear and annoyingly difficult to decipher some of the key words. Your imagination may have to fill the gaps in the meantime; however, it clearly indicates a sense of shared anticipation;

May 30th:

"Well Dan, we are here and here we are like to be unless the new bedford ladies take the [stering?] into their hand for god almightie ...... and he has got a head wind [? ...] poor devils blowing [16?] knots [?...?...] we will send home and have [our? ] names put on the meeting house door then we can sail [?]" 

On May 31st Charles added at the end of his journal entry: 

"The wind is fair and prospects too

           Of arriving in Bedford the first of june 

            It's eight o'clock and I'll retire 

            Dan! You may call me at three if you dare ..." 

 From all that Charles has written and what I have discovered about him, we know he would  have been well educated, with an interest in literature and poetry.   His spelling is better than Daniel Chappell's, but his punctuation is equally absent - not unusual for the times. We could infer  that he was probably precise and accurate with attention to detail (neat practised handwriting with lots of embellishments when he had time or inclination). He enjoyed handwriting, as he had copied several poems and passages of prose  - with his name at the bottom and occasional reference to the original poets and authors. His selections indicate either a limited choice of literature on board to copy or he was a bit of a romantic and philosopher - with wit and a wry humour. Charles has written at least one poem - an acrostic based on the letters of his name, showing an articulate and creative command of language. He seems to have a recurring comment appearing in personal notes; "Wall [well], what of it." 

He must have been quite large  - or at least had thick wrists if the irons were too small to fit around them.  He sounds like a man who doesn't look for a fight but won't back off either.  Clearly, he will say if he thinks something is wrong. Equally, he must have been able to get over any disagreements and not carry a grudge  - as indicated by making his peace with the captain, certainly enough to take private dinner with him and the other boat steerers. It seems he did not let the loss of a little finger affect his career. 

Charles must have had ambition and skill to have worked his way from green hand to ship's captain in just over ten years. It seems that he may have been the stereo-type whaler when anticipating or enjoying the shore-based delights between voyages, He was obviously a risk-taker or confident in his ability to stand up to any authority. He must have known that he couldn't have hidden a woman in his cabin for several years. Or maybe Sarah stowed away without his knowledge.  When Ella/Sarah was discovered,  Charles did the "decent thing" and married her - evidently willingly. The fact that she travelled with him on the next journey must indicate the relationship was sound and that Sarah was certainly no snowflake. 

May 30th 1851 Log entry by Charles A Evans 

End pages of the book where Charles had been practising his writing.  This is his writing even though he is writing Daniel's name. 

I presume this is Charles drawing as it is his handwriting. 

Finally, Charles the poet.  I found this little gem in the log book. 

An Acrostic 

Cho[o]se ye a proper mate

How happy then will be your fate 

And every step will bring to view 

Resplendent happiness for you 

Lusciously you will ride 

Every swell of liffes uneven tide 

Soon the moonbeams you'll outglide 

And now to what shrine shall I bow 

Ever to beauty  no not I 

Virtue is the shrine for me 

And to that I'll bend the knee

Never from it will I stray 

So[o]ner live single  till I am gray 

Chs A Evans 

of Sanbornton New Hampshire

County of Bellknap 

Charles A Evans' acrostic poem

 

Timeline (continued from Part 1) 

1822: 

- July 4 - John Evans marries Mehitable Thurston 

- October 22 - Lydia Thurston Evans born (Charles' sister).

1824: Lyman Barker Evans born (Charles' brother) 

1827: Charles Albert Evans born 

1829: Julia Ann Evans born (Charles' sister)

1831: Mary Francis Evans born (Charles' sister, dies in infancy, year unknown) 

1835: Gardiner Thurston Evans born (Charles' brother) 

1836: Sarah aka Ella Cossill born. 

1837: Mary Francis Evans born (Charles' sister) 

1841: Hiram Bradbury and Horace Bradbury Evans born (Charles' twin brothers) 

1843: Mahala Etta Evans born (Charles' sister) 

!845: Charles A Evans employed as a greenhand on the Arab.

1849: Charles A Evans employed as a boat steerer on the Benjamin Tucker. 

1851: Charles A Evans (2nd mate) and Gardiner Thurston Evans (greenhand) employed on              William C. Nye 

1852: Mehitable Evans dies in accident (aged about 43) 

1853: Gardiner Thurston Evans dies at sea (aged 18-19)

1854: Charles A Evans employed as 1st mate on the Arctic 

1855: Mary Frances Evans (Charles deaf sister) dies. 

1856: Sarah and Charles married at sea, Charles becomes master of the Arctic, Charles                    drowns (aged 29) 

1857:

           - Charles Evans buried on Paewhenua Isalnd 

            - Sarah returns to New Bedford on Jireh Swift 

            - July 1 - given as date of birth of Charles and Sarah's son Charles Herbert Evans in               Thurston family history. 

            - August 11th -  documented birth of Sarah's son Charles Herbert Evans  

1858: May 25 - Charles Evans' father, John Evans (aged 57) marries Laura Willey (aged 47) at Sanbornton.

          - July 19 - Charles Cossill, Sarah's father dies in New Zealand.  

1861: June 8th - Sarah Corsell Evans marries John G Heath (More about this in Part 3)

1863 - Lyman Barker Evans dies  in hospital - likely war-related 

1864: Hiram Bradbury Evans and Horace Bradbury Evans both die in hospital from war-related wounds.  (aged 23)

So that's probably more than anyone has known about Charles A Evans for a long time.  I've thoroughly enjoyed researching him and found out a lot about whaling and a few small towns in New Hampshire  and his family along the way.  I got to know them all quite well through my research and was  saddened each time I discovered an untimely death in the family - which was the fate of the majority of them.  You wonder what kind of impact this had on the rest of the family each time there was another tragedy.  

After not knowing what happened to Ella/Sarah  a few months ago we now probably know more about her husband Charles than we do about her.  Charles A Evans lies buried on Paewhenua Island  probably somewhere near Pourewa and possibly even confused with the grave of Charles Cossill.  It is wonderful that he is now  remembered and is forever a part of the Cossill family. Likewise our Ella (their Sarah) is forever part of New Hampshire now.  Part 3 (next post) will investigate what happened to Sarah - note: there are some clues in the timeline above. 

References and Sources: 

- William C Nye - harpoon for auction  Could have been one of the very ones our Charles used. Just a lucky discovery thanks to Google.  

- 1860 United States Federal Census

- Thurston Genealogies by Brown Thurston, Dalcassian Publishing Company, 1892)

- The History of Sanbornton New Hampshire, Volume 1, by Rev Moses Thurston Runnels (1882) 

- History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Volume 2 by Rev Moses Thurston Runnels (1881) 

- History of Northfield  New Hampshire, 1780 - 1905 , Part  1 by Lucy Cross (many errors so any information should be verified with separate evidence). 

- History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties (1885) 

- The Boston Transcript - 1861-08-08  Jeremiah C Tilton promotion to captain

- The Boston Transcript - 1939-08-26  (Dates of John Evans marriages - note that James T Evans information is also included. His details are sometimes confused with John Evans' details.) Publication title: The Boston Transcript, Publication place: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, Date: Aug 26 1939, Page: 22  (Link will only work for "My Heritage" subscribers)

The 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Gives background, dates and places

New Hampshire Annual Register, and United States Calendar,

- New Hampshire in the Civil War 

- New Bedford Whaling Museum   Whaling Crew list data base 

- New Hampshire Marriage Records 1637 -1947 

- The log of the Benjamin Tucker 1849 (Check out page 24-25 if you can) 

- Model of Jireh Swift and history of ship 

- Buy your own copy of a print of the whaler Jireh Swift 

Family Search ID Numbers and details: 

1. Charles Albert Evans - K4LJ-TL3  - born 6th February 1827, Northfield,  Merrimack, NH,

    (Death incorrectly given as January, 1857)  

    Sarah Corsil (c1829 NZ -?) K4J5-324 (no marriage events - year of birth clearly incorrect) 

2. Charles H Evans  (1834 - ?) LTNM-5V6  (Marriage incorrectly given as 29 May 1856 Connecticut, US)

   Sarah Corsell (1836 - 1907) LTNM-2B1  

   Charles Herbert Evans (1857 - 1930) LLC8-H9W (Sarah's son) 

3. (From Second wedding details) 

   Charles Corsell (1802 - ?) G95N-81D

   Margaret Leland (1806 - ?) G95N-DF8 

  John G Heath (1833-1901) G9PK-38P 

   Sarah Corsell (1836 - 1907) LTNM-2B1  (as above)