With thanks to George Moore of Yorkshire, we believe this to be the artwork of Capt.Robert Rhodes possibly of the vessel 'Alexander' c.1800. One of George's ancestors served on this ship in the South Seas.
This Robert Rhodes, along with Capt.Robert Stewart Walker were both linked to Elizabeth Rafferty and both have a remarkable story of their own. The first is Captain Robert Rhodes whom Elizabeth must have met in old Sydney Town. He was Captain of the whaler 'Alexander' that sailed from Portsmouth in 1802 on a 'South Seas Whaling Expedition'.
Rachael's father Capt.Robert Rhodes was in Tasmanian waters in 1804, just after the first settlement by Gov.David Collins. According to Rev.Robert Knopwood, first Anglican vicar at Hobart, Robert, David Collins and he often dined together. Knopwood's Diary has been edited and published - a great read. Earliest records show Robert to be an experienced mariner and meticulous man, as in the charts he prepared during his expeditions to south seas.
Mr.A.E.G.JONES of U.K.writing about "Kerguelen" Island in the Southern Indian Ocean and the visit of Capt.James Cook in 1776 gives detailed history of it's animal habitation and prior visitors. He then proceeds to write about Capt. Robert Rhodes:-
"The next man to call at Kerguelen, was Capt.Rhodes, master of the 'Hillsborough', a ship of 782 tons, owned by Daniel Bennett a London oil merchant who was fast becoming the leading owner in the south seas trade. He sailed from Gravesend to Botany Bay under William Hingston with 250 convicts on 28th October 1798, arriving on 28th July 1799. The 'Hillsborough' left for England under Rhodes in October 1799 and eventually reached Gravesend on 15.4.1801. He came back to New South Wales 1802/03 as master of the whaler 'Alexander'.
Robert spent 8 months at the island of Desolation 'Kerguelen' during which time he prepared a chart of the north and east coast and a memoir to accompany it. Parts of this memoir were published over forty years later by Captain James Clark Ross. The chart with rough workings and a rough draft is preserved at the Hydrographic Office. It is a magnificent piece of work, on a scale of two miles to the inch, showing the coast in grey wash and great detail of cliffs, shore and rivers. It indicates 400 soundings which must have taken weeks of work. His position of Winter Harbour is only a few miles out of the true position and the amount of detail is such, that Cook himself would have congratulated this merchant service master.
Unfortunately Messrs.Bennett did not publish the chart and memoir. They sold the copyright to the Hydrographic Office in 1808 and though the survey was incorporated in later charts, Captain Rhodes did not receive his fair share of praise. Captain Cook perforce, was superficial in his survey. Where Cook says "...one great bay that extends several leagues to the SW where it seemed to lose itself in several arms running in between the mountains."
RHODES charted the coast in great detail with an accuracy that compares well, with the charts of today. Rhodes dedicated his chart to (King) George 111. He entitled it "A Chart of the N.E.Coast of KERGUELEN'S LAND situated in the SOUTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN, including the great S.Bay extending from HOWE'S FORLAND to CAPE DIGBY..... So named Captain Cook.
A.E.G.Jones continues......Surveyed in 1799 by Captain Robert Rhodes, late Commander of the 'Hillsborough' employed in the southern whale fishery. Even though it was not published, the chart of Kerguelen at the beginning of the present century was largely laid down by Rhodes. End Quote.
SYDNEY GAZETTE May 1803 notes that Robert was again in Sydney to refresh and refit the 'Alexander'. She had been fishing off the north coast of New Zealand, where she got 50 tons of spermaceti oil, while at Norfolk Island where she bought 18,535 lbs of salted pork on account of government. It is here that the late IAN NICHOLSON provided careful detail of Robert's itinery.
'ALEXANDER' 301 tons; 6 guns; built Newcastle U.K. Registered London and in 1804 carried oil; bones (70 tons); 1400 skins - 32 men. In Feb 1802 "Alexander' departed U.K. and was in N.Z.waters in Jan 1803. In May 1803 arrived in Sydney and stayed until September 1803, when she departed for New Zealand for whaling. All was well in December 1803. Depart N.Z. for Sydney May 1804. In 1804 resumed whaling at Van Diemens Land until December. From July to December, in company of Robert Knopwood (vicar) and other pioneers just making settlement, Robert sailed up the Derwent & Huon Rivers where they went fishing and exploring. See Robert Knopwood's Diary.
Owners of 'Alexander' were Hurrys of London. By December 1804 Robert Rhodes in 'Alexander' arrived back in Old Sydney Town with 200 tons of whale oil and 70 tons of bone. Later that same year it was reported that 'Alexander' had procured 1100 barrels of oil.
This is where Jorgen Jorgensen enters our story. He was the 'Viking of Van Diemen's Land' and played a major role in Robert Rhodes' life until our records fail. This will be very brief, as a whole book "Viking of Van Diemen's Land" has been written about this man Jorgen, also known as John Johnson. Robert Rhodes took his mate Jorgen and much cargo on board, as they departed via N.Z. Tahiti, Cape Horn, St.Helena, arriving at Gravesend in June 1806.
DISASTER....On arrival in London, Robert learned that the oil prices had dropped and his cargo was greatly depreciated. Unable to pay his debts, he was sent to the King Bench Prison. We understand that these prisoners were allowed a degree of comfort, as they were not criminals, just debtors unable to pay accounts. That Robert and the very ambitious Jorgen had become friends, was borne out in the way he kept contact with Robert over many years - 1806-1810. Jorgen had been prominent in Danish history, but had been a regular visitor to Robert while in Kings Bench. From that time we have no detail of Robert's birth, death or even his homeland.
A wonderful record of the accounts of Capt. Robert Rhodes is stored in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. Being a descendant, I was able to get a photocopy, for which I am grateful. It is beautifully written and all the accounts are presented in great and neat detail.
Much more concerning the activities of Robert Rhodes and Jorgen Jorgenson can be read in my book 'Mariners Merchants...then Pioneers, which is in all State Libraries in the eastern states of Australia, Liverpool, Chester and Ireland. Capt.Robert Rhodes was my gr.gr.gr.grandfather which brings a sense of pride, along with the disappointments he endured.
CAPT ROBERT STEWART WALKER was another energetic mariner, as he commanded many ships and travelled extensively around the world. From the time he was with Elizabeth, little is known of their relationship after c1812. Thanks to Bill Jocelyn and Phil Bailey, both of Sydney for their dedicated search for Elizabeth and her involvement with their family lines.
Link to publication re Captain Hogan - Mariners c.1800. See web page as follows - http://SixContinents.home.att.net
