Ian & List:
I originally received the query on James CADDELL from Anne Gosnell &
David George "gosnell(a)es.co.nz" (they reside in New Zealand) in one of
my other mail boxes. David and Anne are not subscribers to our CADDELL
List. They had seen a query I had on one of the more than 50 Lists to
which I subscribe. David is doing research for a newspaper article (I
assume a newspaper in NZ).
James CADDELL was during the early 1800s an Australian sealer. He and
his mates were "sealing" in the islands off the southern coast of South
Island, NZ, near the Island of Ruapuke. Ruapuke is an Island between the
South Island of NZ and Stewart Island at the most southern point of NZ.
Ruapuke Island & vicinity is where the activities of James CADDELL
occurred.
He and his wife retired in 1826 to Parramatta near Sydney, NSW, AUS.
Bill Caddell
============================================================
Background from David George:
"James Caddell, aged 16 was on the crew of the Australian sealer, Sydney
Cove in southern New Zealand. The history says that he came ashore with
five others. His mates were killed and eaten by the inhabitants. James
touched the clothing of the chief Honekai, rendering himself tapu, or
sacred. He was adopted into the local tribe and married Tokitoki in 1813
or 15. He came to light in 1823 with a trip to Sydney. He retired to
Parramatta near Sydney in 1826 with his wife.
He played an important role in relations between the Maori and the
newcomers. He had various names. He was called the Chief of Ruapuke.
Ruapuke island was a stronghold of the southern Maori tribe of Ngai
Tahu. I do have a copy of the diary of Shepherd, of an 1826 interview
with James Caddell.
I have visited Sydney Cove, a small beached inlet on Stewart Island,
southern New Zealand. I am not sure it is the place where James
encountered the Maori(s) but would be quite close. The Cove itself is
likely named after the ship of the same name."