Independence (schooner)

Artist's impression of Independence
History
United States
Name:	Independence
Launched:	1803
Fate:	Wrecked 1804
General characteristics
Class and type:	Schooner
Tons burthen:	35 tons
Length:	45 ft (14 m)

The Independence , a 35-ton schooner, was the first ship constructed in South Australian waters. She was built between April and August 1803 at what is now known as American River on Kangaroo Island by the crew of the visiting American sealing ship, Union, under the command of Capt. Isaac Pendleton. Daniel Wright, the ship's carpenter was in charge of the construction of Independence.

On 15 June 1805 the Independence set sail from Sydney for the Antipodes Islands and was never seen again. The Sydney Gazette reported the loss on 16 March 1806.

Prehistory

In 1802, Capt. Isaac Pendleton of Stonington, Connecticut was commissioned by Fanning & Coles of New York to sail the brig Union to the waters of New Holland in search of a cargo of seal skins. "Her commander (Captain Isaac Pendleton) was …left unrestricted, and at perfect liberty to act on all occasions as his judgment should direct, to make the most profitable voyage he could of it for his owners."^[1] In early 1803, whilst sealing in King George Sound near what is now Albany, Western Australia Pendleton met the French explorer, Nicolas Baudin, who recommended Kangaroo Island as a place where seals could be found in plenitude.

Arriving in what is now known as Eastern Cove on the north coast of Kangaroo Island, Pendleton took the decision to winter here and, presumably to increase the quantity of skins that could be taken to Sydney, construct a smaller vessel to work alongside Union in its sealing activities.

Construction

As was common practice at the time, Union carried the frame of a small schooner. This, possibly with the addition of some locally sourced timber, was used to build a smaller vessel. It appears^[2] that Baudin had lost a longboat whilst surveying the coastline of Kangaroo Island and his carpenters had found suitable timber to rebuild the longboat near what is now the town of American River. As the new vessel was to be smaller than Union it would have better access to shallow waters. Thus was born Independence.

No plans of Independence are known to exist. In fact, it is possible the original Independence was built without plans.

Reconstruction

In May 2013, the Rebuild Independence Group, a volunteer group based in American River, was formed to set about reconstructing the Independence.^[3]

References