Arms of
the BOYD
Whangaroa,
Northland, New
Zealand 1809
by John Osborne AA,ACRA,DTT,FSG copyright 20 August 2007, research continuing
The Sailing Ship Boyd was built in India in 1782 and was a special class
of ship known as an "East Indiaman" originally operating under charter to the
British East India Company, 106 foot long, 30 foot beam, 17.5 foot draft, about
400 tons, with three mast-square sail, three decks and carried eight 12 pounder
Carronades nicknamed smashers. She shipped merchandise between India, and England.
The British East India Company (BEIC) was granted a Royal Charter
by Queen Elizabeth 1 on 31 December 1600, the
company transformed from a commercial trading venture to one which virtually
ruled India as it acquired auxiliary governmental and military functions. BEIC
became the biggest and richest company in the world and was able to afford the
best arms available incorporating the latest British arms technology, equally
as good and often superior to British Military arms.
Example of a small three mast square rigged British East Indiaman similar
to the Boyd under full sail, Artist unknown
East Indiamen which ranged from about 400 tons to 1500 tons were designed
to carry both passengers and goods and armed to defend themselves against piracy,
During the Napoleonic Wars from 1799 - 1815 they were often painted to resemble
warships, A number of these ships including the Boyd were purchased by the
British, and commissioned for service as armed transports or warships in the
Royal Navy. Another slightly longer 120 foot East Indiaman built in 1813 (originally
named Hindostan) was also purchased by the
British and commissioned HMS Buffalo wrecked at Mercury Bay, New Zealand in
1840 carried six 18 Pdr carronades and two 6 Pdr long cannons.
In 1778
the Carronade was introduced by the Carron Iron Works , of Falkirk, Scotland. The Carronade was soon in
demand for use on private ships and was eventually accepted by the British
Navy. The Carronade was shorter and much lighter than the long cannon with the
same size bore; thus enabling ships to carry more guns of larger caliber for
the same weight. Carronades were most effective when opposing ships engaged
each other in battle at close quarters, but the limited range of the Carronade
was a major disadvantage. Enemy ships even pirates armed with long barreled
cannon could stand off, out of range
and bombard into submission, ships armed only with carronades.
P1781
Carronade in full recoiled position on sliding bed P1805 Carronade in firing position on
sliding bed
Left; 1781 pattern 12
Pdr Carronade was about 32 inches long, weighed about 660 pounds, had a bore of
4.5 inches and fired a 4.4 inch solid cast iron 12 pound round ball, common
bomb shell or shrapnel shell and had a range of about 870 yards at 5 degrees
elevation; compared to a 12 Pdr long barrel cannon which was about four times
heavier but had twice the range. From contemporary gunnery notebooks.
Right; 1805 pattern
12 Pdr Carronade on pivoting bed and can be traversed on its rear wheels and screw
elevated. Weight of barrel and friction on sliding bed absorbed most of the
recoil, barrel finally checked by the breaching rope. After loading in the
recoiled position the barrel was winched forward with the block and tackle
The Boyd's crew on a convict transport ship would also have been armed
with cutlass's, single shot flintlock, smooth bore, muzzle loading pistols and Brown
Bess, by far the most famous British Musket. According to the Hythe School of Musketry Brown
Bess was first issued in 1700 and was used by Marlborough at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
Brown Bess was issued to the Royal Marines and sailors who accompanied Captain
James Cook on his voyages of discovery including New Zealand from 1768.
c1759 Marine and Militia pattern Brown Bess, a lighter, shorter
barrel version (36"-42" barrel lengths) Type used by the Marines who
accompanied Captain Cook on his voyages of discovery from 1768. Note the four
ramrod pipes and the early type goose neck cock with peg and groove top jaw
location. This cock was replaced with
the slotted top jaw in the 1770s for use by the British East India Company and
later adopted by the British Military. Refer close up image of lock below.
Tower dated some of their locks but it was rarely done because many of the
locks in store at the Tower were not fitted till years after they were made.
The early 1700 to the 1750s Brown Bess's started off with 48" barrels (Long Land
Pattern), as black powder was improved the barrels were reduced to 42"(Short Land Pattern)
from the 1750s, then 39" from the 1770s on. The early Bess's had very
large curved banana shaped locks until the 1759 pattern with a less curved lock
which was about 7" long. Brown Bess was the name given to all British
Smooth bored Muskets of 11 bore .75" cal flintlock from 1700 and
percussion from 1838 till replaced by the rifled muskets (still with a 39"
barrel) in the 1850s. All parts were hand made, most were not interchangeable
from one musket to another. A simple triangular socket bayonet fitted over the
barrel.
During the Napoleonic Wars from 1799
the British Government issued some anti-invasion instructions and the British
people were told that "Any degree of precision with the common musket (Brown
Bess) is not to be reckoned on at a greater distance than from 50 to 60 paces".
c1770 /1796 British Military India Pattern Brown Bess with a 39" barrel
first introduced by BEIC from c1770 this one is the British Military version
officially adopted c1796 with three ramrod pipes. Originally fitted with a
goose neck cock but many of them snapped off through the neck and were replaced
with a reinforced ring neck cock as shown. The triangular socket bayonet was
held in place by a spring lever pressing against the foresight. These Brown
Bess muskets were later in common use in New Zealand by Maori, Military, Police
and Settlers, and can be found cut down into carbine length, and many were
later converted to percussion.
 
From
c1759 Marine and Militia Pattern From c1796 BM India Pattern
Brown
Bess with goose neck cock Brown Bess with
ring neck reinforced cock
   
George III crown
engraved on lock plate Later type
George III crown
Proof marks
stamped on barrel Proof marks stamped on barrel
Brown Bess was the principle arm
that caused such havoc in New Zealand during the intertribal Maori Wars known as the "Musket Wars" from 1819.
The Napoleonic War Surplus British Military India Pattern Brown Bess
was excellent value for money (about £2), British and American Sealers and
Whalers did direct "Deals" with Maori. This situation led Missionary George
Clarke to write: "The great and grand cry of the natives is who will supply us
with muskets, lead and powder. For a musket a New Zealander will make great
sacrifices, he will labour hard for many months to obtain his musket, in fact
it is his idol, he values it above all he possesses. He will not only part with
his slaves for one but even prostitute his children to a diseased sailor for
one of these instruments of destruction".
From 1788 New
Zealand was under the
theoretical jurisdiction and administrative control of the Governor of the
British Colony of New South Wales, Australia. Eventually with such
loss of life and intertribal lawlessness Maori petitioned Queen Victoria for
protection which was granted with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840
and New Zealand became a British Crown Colony in its own right.
Top c1759-on, to suit the Marine and
Militia Brown Bess, light weight and extra long 18" x 1" wide blade,
triangular, fullered blade, 3.75" socket. Socket flange butts against fore-wood
end. Zig-zag slot in socket allows movement to butt against fore-end and to
retain bayonet.
Lower c1770 / 1796 BEIC
/ British Military 15" long x 1" wide blade, 3.75" socket marked with EIC
inside heart and Tower. Retained on musket barrel by flat leaf spring over
foresight / knob.
In 1788 the British Army started to standardize its arms and
equipment the sword at the top is a pattern 1788 English Infantry Officers
single bar stirrup hilted sword 32" long x 1" wide blade with a ribbed ivory
grip, second down is a c1796 straight fullered, cut and thrust blade 32.25"
long x 1" wide, third down a Victorian Police cutlass 23" long by 1.25" wide
blade compared to a Pattern 1796 light cavalry troopers saber, blade 32.5" long
by 1.625" wide, considered to be the finest cutting sword ever manufactured in
quantity. In 1804 the Royal Navy introduced its first standardized cutlass with
a straight blade, iron bowl guard and ribbed iron grip. The Naval Officers
sword had a curved blade, but lighter than the 1796 light cavalry saber. P1804
Naval Officers swords had a lion head pommel, gilded (gold plated) stirrup hilt
guard, and white ivory ribbed grip, with ornate deep etched blades. The
quantities of small arms carried on the Boyd are unknown but would be similar
to the types shown.
British Sea Service smooth bore muzzle loading flintlock
pistol with 12" barrel, 25 bore (.57" caliber) introduced c1760 was improved
over the years, this is the third model of 1790, once fired the pistol was
gripped at the muzzle end and used as a club, the cast brass cap fitted to the
butt was known as a skull crusher
After service in the Royal Navy the Boyd was sold to George
Brown and under the command of Captain
John Thompson sailed from Cork, Ireland on 10 March 1809 with 139 Irish
convicts and a detachment of the 73rd Regiment of Foot bound for New
South Wales, Australia, the ship arrived at Port Jackson (now Sydney) on the 14
August 1809.
Under charter to Simeon Lord of Port Jackson, the Boyd with
a profitable cargo and 70 passengers and crew set sail for England on 8
November 1809 via New Zealand to take on kauri spars for the Cape of Good Hope,
Hori (George) Te Ara a well traveled young Maori Chief from Whangaroa gained
passage to New Zealand. Whangaroa, Hori's home on the far north east coast of New
Zealand was selected as the port of call. During
the voyage Hori was flogged, reasons unclear.
According to the descendants of Hori Te Ara. On return to
his people the marks on his back were seen by his elder brother Chief Te Puhi
who with his people enacted UTU (revenge) by killing all but four of the
passengers and crew and by eating many of them. It must be remembered that UTU
within Maori Tikanga (Protocol) is an act of Tapu (sacredness) and must be
carried out according to, in this case, the indignity carried out upon a person
of rank and mana (ko te mana i tuku iho mai nga tupuna, authority passed down
through ones ancestors).
 
Artists impressions of Maori in their Waka (canoes) paddling
out to board the Boyd in Whangaroa Harbour.
Left,
from a painting c1839 by French artist Louis Auguste Sainson. Note the Boyd is
depicted as a Brig with two masts. Right, artist unknown, the three mast Boyd
reproduced from The Northlander, No 6, 1966.
During the plundering of the Boyd a barrel of gunpowder was
accidentally exploded killing several Maori and setting the Boyd on fire. The
Boyd burnt to the waterline and sank in the harbour where she still lies.
Alexander
Berry, employed as supercargo (ships agent) from the Sailing Ship City of Edinburgh
anchored 20
miles
south in the Bay of Islands led the
first party to reach Whangaroa a few weeks after the disaster. The party rescued
four survivors, being a ships apprentice named Thomas Davis who was later lost
at sea, Mrs Ann Morley who died at Lima, her daughter
Ann and a little girl Betsy Broughton who were returned to Australia.
Berry viewed the remains of the sunken Boyd below the surface and in a letter to
the Sydney Gazette he reported "In
the wreck of the hold could be seen the remains of her cargo of coals, salted
seal skins and planks. On the top lay the ships guns, iron work and standards
which had fallen in when the burning decks collapsed".
Berry
attempted to ascertain which chiefs were responsible for the UTU but took no
retribution or ruthless action.
Another
disaster followed, in retribution several sealer / whaling ships laid up in the
Bay of Islands dispatched long boats with armed crews, and attacked Chief Te
Pahi's Te Puna Island Pa (fort) off the
Kerikeri Inlet in the Bay of Islands. It was reported that every man, woman and
child the sealers / whalers found were shot, and the innocent Chief Te Pahi
himself was severely wounded from which he later died.
According
to descendants of Hori Te Ara -- Chief Te Pahi who was married to Chief Te
Puhi's daughter Nga Ra, who was in Whangaroa and tried to intervene in the
killings . Chief Te Pahi was a highly regarded person amongst his own people
and pakeha (Strangers / Europeans) alike and had been promoting peaceful
relationships in the Bay of Islands
between the Maori and Pakeha. The sealers / whalers attack on Te Pahi's Te Puna Pa and
the killing of his people was another disaster and a sad end to the Boyd saga.
When
Major Richard Cruise (Commanding Officer of a military detachment from the 69th
and 84th Regiments from HMS Dromedary 1100 tons laid up in the Bay
of Islands) visited the Whangaroa area in June 1820 he wrote in his Journal,
"The houses of the Natives were generally at the foot of the pa, (Pohue) near
its summit three of the carronades of the Boyd were planted and three others
and an anchor lay on the banks of the river"
Site of Pohue Pa (fort)
as it appeared in April 2007, was constructed on top of the conical extinct
volcanic hill. 200 years ago the river skirted the foot of the hill and flowed
into Whangaroa Harbour to the
left. The depression in the foreground is where the river flowed 200 years ago,
the Kaeo River now
flows 100 meters to the right.
According to legend some time later during days
of very heavy rain, the three carronades mounted near the summit slid down the
hill side into the river and were washed down stream where they may remain today,
it is also possible that the other three carronades and the anchor are also in
the old river bed covered by silt. Hokianga (west coast Maori) legend tells
that during the intertribal wars their raiding parties captured at least some
of Boyd's cannon / carronades, transported them to the Hokianga and mounted
them on waka taua (war canoes)
The present day whereabouts of
Boyd's Carronades / Cannon / Anchor is unknown.
  
The Whangaroa Museum (housed
in the old Kaeo Post Office) has items recovered from the Boyd including a 4"
diameter (9Pdr) cannon ball. At right a woodcut of Te Pahi (Tippahee) from a
contemporary drawing.
In December 1968 the mud filled 106
foot burnt out hull of the Boyd submerged in 15 to 20 feet of water was
excavated by Kelly Tarlton and Wade Doak using
high pressure water forced through a venturi to create fierce suction and
waterlift action, a variation of the gold dredge technology, to suck up through
a 4 inch tube the hull contents to the surface where it passed through metal
screens which retained the artifacts and allowed the liquefied mud to fall back
into the water well clear of the hull. Some of the larger objects that would
not pass through the 4 inch diameter suction tube were recovered individually
once the hull had been empted of mud. Many one pound and four pound cast iron
balls were recovered (possibly cannon balls) and other approximately 10 pound
cast iron balls which could have been for the 12 pdr Carronades.
In the authors opinion the Boyd
would have carried at least two long barreled cannon possibly 6 or 9 Pdrs as
well as the carronades. The effective range of a 9 Pdr long cannon was about
1300 yards compared to about 870 yards of a short barreled 12 Pdr carronade. If
the Boyd had only been armed with carronades it would not have been able to
defend itself against pirate ships armed with long barreled cannon. Another slightly
longer 120 foot East Indiaman HMS Buffalo built in 1813 wrecked in New Zealand
in 1840 carried six 18 Pdr carronades and two 6 Pdr long cannons.
The author continues research on
the Arms of the Boyd and would appreciate any information on the Boyd or the
aftermath.
Please forward any information to
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or PO
Box 52, Kaitaia, 0441, NZ
Acknowledgements
and special thanks to;
Dave Hemi, direct
decendant of Chief Hori Te Ara younger brother of Chief Te Puhi
Terry Smith, Chairperson, Te Runanga O Whaingaroa, Kaeo
Jannye Freeman, Leighton
Collins, Moira Henderson, Whangaroa Museum, Kaeo
Des Cotman,
Curator Manager, Far North Regional Museum, Kaitaia.
Nick Freeman, Noel
Hilliam, New Zealand Underwater Heritage Group Inc.
Wade Doak -The
Burning of the Boyd, by Wade Doak 1984, Hodder and Stoughton, ISBN 0 340
338857
Handguns and
Police in New Zealand by John Osborne 1990, ISBN 0 908873 00 X
Wayne Nelson,
Senior Information Officer, Wellington City Council, www.wcc.govt.nz
Tim Healy,
Historian, Whangaroa County History 1769-1822
Major Richard Cruise's
Journal - Ten Months residence in New Zealand, 1820, Pegasus.
Osborne Arms
Museum, for images of the arms,
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Port Jackson (Sydney) New South Wales Gazette, reports relating to the Boyd from 5 November 1809
Alexander Turnbull
Library, Wellington, New Zealand National Achieves, Wellington. Victoria University, Wellington
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