Thomas Azurbier

Thomas Azurbier was an ordinary seaman on the American whaler, the Iris. It is likely Thomas was a jumpship from a French whaler. He almost certainly signed onto the Iris with an alias that was not recorded anywhere. Or perhaps his name has been misspelled and cannot be recognised. Thomas’ death has a single brief mention in a single newspaper. Sadly, there is no mention of a family, or even where Thomas came from.

The single piece of evidence about his existence is the ship’s log which records Thomas as a crew member of the Iris for the voyage beginning in 1847 out of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Iris was an American whaleship built for EC Jones in New Bedford. She was a three masted barque with two decks and a square stern. At 311 tons she was a good-sized ship for whaling. She measured 29.6 metres in length and 8.4 metres across her beam. She drew 5 metres of water, so could not work inshore or in shallows.

In the 1820s and 1830s Iris whaled in the Pacific Ocean. Then her owner sent her to the Indian Ocean in 1840s and 1850s. She used Vasse and King George Sound for provisioning and fresh water. Port Gregory had a whaling station during this period, and her inlet was generally considered suitable for careening and repairs.

Thomas had signed on in 1847 to this successful whaler. His lay [share of the catch] was 1/135 and provisions. He could expect a healthy pay at the end of the voyage. Iris put off for three-year voyages, often returning early with her holds full of oil. Thomas was an experienced seaman and was one of a few who signed on with a number of greenhands. Iris had a master, four mates and 25 crew. Her crew included a cooper to make and repair her oil barrels, a sailmaker, a carpenter, a cook, boat steerers and four oarsmen for her whaleboats.

On the 1847 voyage the master was Captain William Weeks, a married man, 35 years of age. He had a young crew, with some young boys among them. The first mate was Albert Braily, an experienced and competent seaman. Thomas was a member of this crew. They had signed on until 1850.

On 29 September 1850, the crew were aloft furling the topsails and jib sail to cope with a freshening breeze. Whether the ship lurched, or whether Thomas made an error is unknown. He might have been affected by the knowledge the hold was almost full, and they were getting nearer to home with every nautical mile. He fell into the water.

It was daylight and the crew saw his fall. Captain Weeks responded at once, and a boat party launched their whaleboat to pick Thomas out of the water. According to the crew, Iris sailed over him, and he disappeared. Despite a search of the area, the searchers could not see any trace of Thomas.

Iris was en route to Vasse for provisions. She was off Shark Bay when Thomas disappeared. She resumed her course.

After another six months, Captain Weeks fell ill. He was unable to command the Iris. First mate Braisly stepped up to the helm, and he took command from Vasse back to New Bedford with a full hold and full crew, except for Thomas.

Iris sailed on many more voyages. She was wrecked at Port Gregory in 1955.She was there for careening and repairs to a leak in her hull. people northwesterly wind blew up and she was driven from her anchors onto the shore.

She was condemned after inspection and her crew sailed to Fremantle aboard the Perseverance, to find a ship home to America. The schooner Preston salvaged he gear and cargo from Iris and took it to Fremantle. Iris was deleted from the ship’s register.

A Fremantle merchant bought Iris and after a failed attempt to refloat her, jury rigging helped her limp into Fremantle.

After repairs were made, and alterations to her hull, Iris measured 29.7 x 7.47 metres. Her keel was changed to 3.81 metres. Overall, she was lighter at 271 tons. She was re-registered with the same official number 40474, and a new Fremantle register number 2/1856. She was renamed Frances.

Frances was heavily mortgaged to Bickly and Co., before being sold to Fremantle merchant Wallace Bickley. She continued to whale out of Fremantle until 1866. Then, after 46 years of service, she was sold in Madras and de-registered.

Thomas Azurbier, or whoever he was, we will never know. Did his family know what happened to him? We won’t know that either. He became one of the uncountable lost fishers who has not been identified, but we hope can remembered.