Last night's talk by Sally Ayres was about Rear Admiral Francis Godolphin Bond, who lived for a time in Starcross. The rare artefacts he brought back from Tahiti are on display in the
Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.
 |
| Tahitian funery costume worn by nobleman |
Bond travelled to Tahiti, as Second Lieutenant, with his uncle, who was Captain William Bligh; of
Mutiny on the Bounty fame.
Bond was the son of William Bligh's half-sister, Catherine.
Bligh and his nephew were to go on to forge a close relationship. They jointly owned what is now
The Ship in Exeter
Here's their signatures on a legal indenture.
Document from Hordern House, Australia: manuscripts
Sally's interest in Bond comes from her research into RAMM's
Pacific Collection
Much of the
collections in RAMM was donated by the
Devon and Exeter Institution
"
THE DEVON & EXETER INSTITUTION was founded in 1813 by some two hundred gentlemen of the county and city, [which included Francis Godolphin Bond.]
‘for promoting the general diffusion of
Science, Literature and Art, and for illustrating the Natural and Civil
History of the county of Devon and the city of Exeter’.
A lease, later to be followed by a freehold, was obtained from the Dean
and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral of the former town house of the
Courtenay family and one-time home of the Parliamentary general, Sir
William Waller. Retaining part of the Tudor house at the rear, which
still stands, and the gatehouse range fronting the Close, the founding
fathers demolished the old hall and kitchen and in their place and on
the former courtyard built two lofty libraries lit by domed lanterns,
each library with its own gallery, glazed cupboards and extensive
shelving. The building, unchanged except for the installation of
electric light and gas-fired central heating has a Grade II* rating in
the statutory list of historic buildings in the city.
"
It is of local interest to note that the site of the Devon and Exeter Institution was originally owned by the Courtenay family, of nearby Powderham Castle.
Also, the chairman of this institution today, lives in Starcross.
Although the Tahitian artefacts attributed to Bond in RAMM are spectacular, the interest of his voyage was to procure plants; many of which are in our gardens today. The Victorian system of cataloging the exhibits was not rigorous, so there may be more items from the RAMM archives which were brought back by Bond.
Sally showed us the routes of Bligh's expeditions to collect breadfruit and other plants. The excellent seamanship of Captain Bligh is beyond doubt.
Breadfruit had been hailed as the plant to save the world from starvation, but what was intended was to use the
remarkable, if unpalatable, Breadfruit, to feed the slaves in the plantations.
Many of the records concerning Bond and Bligh's journeys across the Pacific are held in Australia:
"
while Bligh's second breadfruit voyage to Tahiti
was being
arranged, a great deal of other British shipping moving into the
Pacific was also being contemplated. Bligh's latest ship, HM
Providence (a new West Indiaman) was launched on 25 April.
Bligh
had received his comission for her by 16 April. Francis Godolphin
Bond was appointed First Lt to Providence (420 tons
launched
at Blackwall, purchased from Mr Perry, ship to have marines from
Chatam, a complement of 134 men.)
"
One of Rear Admiral Godolphin Bond's sons was Rev. Edward Copleston Bond M.A. of Exeter College, Oxford. From 1865, the Reverend Edward Coplestone Bond lived in the vicarage,
"
net yearly value £184, with residence and about 5 ¾ acres of
glebe, in the gift of the Deans and Chapters of Exeter and Salisbury
alternately,
"
forbears.co.uk
The only known image of Bond is a silhouette. He was badly injured
when serving on board ship at the age of 13, so probably would not want
to record his disfigured face.
Bond died on October 26 1880. He was buried in the cemetery of Exeter's Holy Trinity Church, with
his wife Sophia,
who died on 2 February 1870 and their daughter Margaret who died on 3
February 1831.
This graveyard was removed by the City Council in l987-88 and the remains were reinterred in Exeter Higher Cemetery. All that remains of the Bond family tomb is a simple gravestone.
Holy Trinity Church was deconsecrated in 1969, and stood empty and derelict for 20 years.The Royal Navy rescued this lovely Victorian building, which is now The White Ensign Club
Sally is interested to hear from anyone who might know any more about the Bond connection to Starcross.
