John Williams (ship)

For other ships of the same name, see List of ships named John Williams.
History
Name: John Williams
Namesake: The missionary John Williams
Owner: London Missionary Society
Operator: London Missionary Society
Cost: 6200 pounds
Launched: Harwich, 20 March 1844
Fate: Wrecked in May 1864, Pukapuka, Cook Islands
Notes: 10 state rooms
General characteristics
Tonnage: 296 tons
Length: 103 ft (31 m)
Beam: 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
Depth of hold: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Crew: 27

John Williams was a missionary ship under the command of Captain Robert Clark Morgan (1798–1864) and owned by the London Missionary Society (LMS). She was named after John Williams (1796–1839), a missionary who had been active in the South Pacific. She sank in 50 fathoms after drifting onto a reef at Danger Island (Pukapuka) on May 16, 1864. The passengers and crew were rescued.[1]

Six more John Williams ships successively operated in the Pacific as part of the LMS's missionary work, the last, John Williams VII, being built in 1962 and decommissioned in 1968.[2]

General specifications

John Williams was launched at Harwich on 20 March 1844. She was of 296 tons and had a length of 103 feet (31 meters) and beam of 24 feet 8 inches (7.5 meters). The depth of her hold was 16 feet (4.9 meters). She had 10 state rooms. A medal was issued commemorating her first three year voyage and an example of this is held at the Royal Museum of Greenwich.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "TOTAL WRECK OF THE JOHN WILLIAMS, MISSIONARY BARQUE.". Queanbeyan Age and General Advertiser (NSW : 1860 - 1867) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 11 August 1864. p. 2 Edition: EVENING. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Powerhouse Museum. "H4686 Ship model, SS "John Williams IV", London Missionary Society steamer". Powerhouse Museum, Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Commemorative medal depicting the 'John Williams' Missionary ship". Royal Museum Greenwich.

Further reading

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