Hi John, Thanks so much for this post. Lynn Bowen in her books regarding the earlier miners has made mention of this mutiny by the miners on board. I will find the book and send further info. Also I have this article from an earlier research: http://bcgenesis.uvic.ca/getDoc.htm?id=V55104.scx The images are clear and easily read penmanship. According to this dispatch,( Despatch to London Douglas to Grey, Sir George 6876, CO 305/6, p. 47; received 23 July) the barque Colinda, owned by Mr. Tomlin of London, was chartered by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1853 to carry supplies and new emigrants to Victoria from London. Off the coast of Chile, the passengers of Colinda incited a mutiny and forced Captain John Powell Mills to anchor at the Port of Valdivia. The passengers were tried at Valparaiso and acquitted based on lack of evidence. They remained in Chile and refused to continue on under the command of Mills. Mills, who was also part owner of Colinda, sold much of the cargo owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company. He refused to pay the HBC in full for the undelivered goods and was arrested upon landing at Victoria. Colinda eventually returned to London under the command of James M Reid. Mills’ account of the incident can be found in this dispatch. He claims that Governor Douglas “seized the ‘Colinda’ in the Queens Name” and “converted [the ship] into a brothel for prostitutes and drunkards.” Douglas’ response to Mills’ complaints can be found in this dispatch. Mentions of this vessel in the documents Mentions of this vessel in the documents ◦24 November 1853 (CO / 305 / 4 / 96 / 738 / received 24 January 1854 / 10 / Executive) Colinda ◦6 September 1853 (CO / 305 / 4 / 272 / 9032 / received 7 September / Secret / Memo) Colinda ◦28 February 1854 (CO / 305 / 5 / 33 / 4064 / no received stamp / 6) Colinda ◦26 October 1854 (CO / 305 / 5 / 122 / 1917 / received 27 February 1855 / 41) Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda ◦13 May 1855 (CO / 305 / 6 / 47 / 6876 / received 23 July / 4) Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda ◦9 January 1855 (CO / 305 / 6 / 313 / 276 / received 10 January) Colinda, Colinda, Colinda, Colinda ◦16 January 1855 (NAC / 229 / received 7 May 1955 / RG7 / G8C/1 / 9) Colinda -----Original Message----- From: ayrshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ayrshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of John Ferguson Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 1:49 PM To: ayrshire-l@rootsweb.com Subject: [AYR] EMIGRANT AYRSHIRE COAL MINERS - 1853 On August 4 1853 the British sailing ship Colinda left London headed for Fort Victoria, Vancouver Island. The Hudson's Bay Company sought to develop coal deposits on the island. Native people seemed lacking in the skills and attitudes required to mine coal so experienced miners from Ayrshire became the solution. The 43 miners, contracted in Kilmarnock, never arrived to Fort Victoria, as they abandoned ship in Valparaiso, Chile. Following four months at sea, a hard passage through the Straits of Magellan, deaths of children, and hunger, the passengers mutinied. The miners disembarked after their wives refused to sail any further, and promised to stay in Chile, with or without their husbands. These miners went on to contribute to the local Chilean coal industry. I am interested in finding out if any list member had heard of this voyage, and perhaps can add some more family detail to this unfortunate journey during which ten babies died. I do not have any more details other than what is listed here. Beveridge, David 21, wife & son 4 months Bowman, William 18, Dick, James 43, wife, 4 sons & 3 daughters ( I know this family did work at Nanaimo, B.C.) Ewart, Robert 26, wife, 1 son, 2 daughters & brother Frew, James 23, & wife Gilmour, John 28, wife, 2 sons Heron, Thomas 25, & wife Hunter, Andrew 49, wife, 3 sons & 2 daughters Kerr, John 43, wife, 3 sons & 1 daughter Little, Gilbert 22, wife & son 5 months (an ancestor on my mother's side of the family) McCullum, Archibald 30, wife, son & daughter McKie, William 27, wife, son & daughter McMurtrie, Thomas 24, wife & brother Muir, John 31, wife, son & daughter Nesbit, James 26, wife, son & daughter Pearson, Ralph 21, wife & son Reid, James 33, wife & 7 sons Seal, Francis 24, wife, son & daughter Shaw, David 30, wife & 4 sons Simpson, Adam 28, wife & 2 sons Smith, Thomas 27, wife, son & 3 daughters Sutherland, William 29, & wife Watt, Alexander 23, wife & son Wilson, Jacob 28, wife & daughter Wyllie, Robert 21, wife & daughter John Australia _________________________________________________________________ View photos of singles in your area! Looking for a hot date? http://clk.atdmt.com/NMN/go/150855801/direct/01/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message