George Cooper (abt. 1819 - 1846)

Born about 1819 in United Kingdom

Husband of Mary Ann (Hurren) Douglas — married 15 Nov 1842 (to 21 Nov 1846) in Nelson, New Zealand

Descendants

Died Nov 1846 at about age 27 in At sea near D'Urville Island, Marlborough, New Zealand

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Biography

George Cooper was first mate on the "Fifeshire" which arrived in Nelson on 1 February 1842 via Wellington. It is unclear if he was mate for the entire voyage or merely as part of the replacement crew for the leg across Cook Strait after the crew had deserted.^[1]

George married Mary Ann Hurren on November 15 1842 at Nelson. ^[2]

On 21 November 1846, Captain George Cooper sailed from Nelson for Wellington in the schooner, "Phoenix". The schooner foundered in a storm somewhere between Stephen's and D'Urville Island. All seven crew including George were lost and there was some speculation on the whereabouts of the vessel.^{[3] [4]}

Sources

1. ↑ Fifeshire
2. ↑ Pauline Meads & Diane Fletcher, Meads Family Tree 1803 to 1983 (book) by Pauline Meads and Diane Fletcher For further information click here.
3. ↑ Shipwrecks NZ
4. ↑ SUPPOSED WRECK of the PHOENIX AND LOSS OF ALL HANDS.,New Zealand Spectator and Cooks Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 149, 2 January 1847

• http://shipwrecksnz.blogspot.com/2011/08/phoenix-schooner-december-1846.html

The Schooner Phoenix was built in Nelson in 1846. The first records of her being reported in the newspapers of the time, have her lying in port at Nelson in October of 1846. She left Nelson for Wellington on November 21st 1846 and was never seen again. The first sighting was reported in early December of 1846. She was wrecked near D'Urville Island with the loss of seven lives. This was possibly her first and last voyage.

The Phoenix left Nelson on Saturday the 21st November, about nine p.m., with a fair breeze. There were seven persons on board, namely, Mr. A. Perry, of this place, merchant and owner of the vessel; Cooper, master, formerly mate of the Fifeshire; Manning, mate, from Sydney in the Royal William ; Joseph Hall, a seaman ;' Scott, M'Donald, son of Mr. M'Donald, late of the Wakatu Tavern ; William Rice, shipped as carpenter; and Thomas Lightband, son of Mr. Lightband, leather-dresser.