Do you have ancestors who went to Patagonia?
Looking at some evocative photos of the Patagonian coast (I seem to know a lot of people who’ve recently been out there), I was reminded of a boat that went through the Straits of Magellan in 1913. This was the auxiliary schooner Mana, registered in Whitstable in 1912, captained by William Scoresby Routledge, stewarded by his wife Katherine Routledge (nee Pease) and crewed by a curious collection of seamen, fishermen, scientists and the odd Royal Navy lieutenant.
The voyage is best known for the months that Katherine spent on Easter Island, and is informed by her records. But what of the rest of the crew? Some years ago – before the internet took off – I tried to track down descendants, in the hope that letters or even diaries might have survived. The best I came across was one person who could remember seeing a folder marked “Expedition”, assumed to have contained material relating to the trip, but which had not seen since around 1950, and probably went in a house clearance. I was unable to trace many of the families.
It occurs to me that now people are searching the web for family histories, posting the full crew list (as I was able to compile it – there remain gaps and some doubts that further work could clear up, the records are not all consistent) may alert someone or other out there who has anything that might help throw light on the voyage. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
THE CREW OF THE MANA
with place of birth and age at time joined ship
ON MANA FROM FALMOUTH TO EASTER ISLAND
March 1913–May 1914
William Scoresby Routledge, master, doctor (Melbourne, 53)
Henry James Gillam, sailing master (Emsworth, 37). Died April 1918 capturing submarines
Lt David R Ritchie, Lieut RN, navigator (Glasgow, 26). Left Easter Island 1 April 1914
Frank Preston, mate (Brixham, 49)
Albert Light, seaman (Brixham, 47)
William Marks, deck-hand (Brixham, 32). Discharged Talcahuano 4 January 1915
Charles G Jeffery, boy (Lowestoft, 18). Died on a minesweeper
Frank T Green, engineer, photographer (Portui [?], Italy, 25). Discharged Talcahuano 9 February 1915
Katherine Routledge, stewardess (Darlington, 48)
OTHERS
Gilbert L Groundsell, steward (Hants, 44). Discharged Falmouth 17 March 1913
O G S Crawford, purser, anthropologist (Bombay, 26). Discharged St Vincent 13 May 1913
George Smith, steward (Liverpool, 32). Deserted Buneos Aaires 15 September 1913
F W Shephard (‘Luke’), cook (Teddington, 20). Deserted Punta Arenas 18 November 1913
Bartholomew De Rosa (‘Tony’), seaman (St Vincent, Cape Verde, 31). Engaged 24 May 1913 St Vincent
L Bailey, cook (Stockport, 39). Engaged Punta Arenas 12 November 1913, discharged Tahiti 18 September 1915
F F Gray (‘Freeman’), steward (Liverpool, 21). Engaged Punta Arenas 17 November 1913, discharged Talcahuano
F Lowry-Corry, purser, geologist (London, 23). Engaged 14 January 1914 Talcahuano, hospitalised Valparaiso 7 February 1914 [KR says joined Punta Arenas], died at war 1915
George Dirschus, seaman, cook, steward (Germany, 30). Engaged 29 January 1914 Talcahuano, discharged Talcahuano 15 June 1914
Peter Tygersen, cook, steward (Hamburg, 45). Engaged 24 June 1914 Talcahuano
Simon Vickisen [?], seaman (Russia, 47). Engaged 13 November 1914 Talcahuano, discharged Talcahuano 18 December 1914
T Hector Jones, mate (England, 34). Engaged 2 January 1915 Talcahuano, discharged Talcahuano 9 April 1915
Eduardo Silva, mate (Chile, 23). Engaged 15 February 1915 Talcahuano
Emilio Vasquez, boy (Chile, 18). Engaged 15 February 1915 Talcahuano, discharged Easter Island 30 May 1915
George Munroe [?], seaman (Scotland, 59). Engaged 15 February 1915 Talcahuano, discharged Tahiti 18 September 1915
Edwin Young, steward (Pitcairn Island, 24). Engaged 2 September 1915 Pitcairn Island
Charles Young, steward (Pitcairn Island, 27). Engaged 2 September 1915 Pitcairn Island
Edward La Blanche, cook (USA, 23). Engaged 23 September 1915 Tahiti, deserted Honolulu 23 November 1915
Robert E Allen, seaman (USA, 23). Engaged 23 September 1915 Tahiti, deserted Honolulu 23 November 1915
Charles Karlsohn, seaman (Russia, 36). Engaged 25 November 1915 Honolulu [Russian Finn died in war]
I Ikarii [?], cook (Japan, 37). Engaged 25 November 1915 Honolulu, deserted Colon 18 March 1916
A Stewart, cook (Panama, 26). Engaged 25 March 1916 Colon, discharged Jamaica 8 April 1916
William B Thomas, cook (Jamaica, 22). Engaged 9 April 1916 Jamaica
