4TH JULY – INDEPENDENCE DAY

On the 4^th July, Americans around the world celebrated Independence Day. This is an important day in history, when America commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, The United States of America and no longer part of the British Empire.

Norfolk Island has links to America via the early American whalers. This history goes back to Pitcairn Island and continued when the Pitcairn Islanders arrived here on Norfolk Island in 1856.

http://www.immigration.gov.pn/history/index.html

The Bounty Mutineers settled on Pitcairn Island….

“Topaz, an American whaling ship, came across Pitcairn Island on 6 February 1808 and discovered the community. Captain Mayhew Folger sent news of his findings back to England, but the country was preoccupied with the Napoleonic Wars and there was little interest. Again, the island’s existence appeared to have been ignored.”

Many American traditions are part of the Norfolk Island traditions. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on Norfolk Island. In the early years the whalers would visit Norfolk Island and the first Thanksgiving church service was started by a visiting American trader. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Wednesday of November on Norfolk Island and is an annual public holiday.

I read an article, about Isaac Robinson, he was an American trader who settled on Norfolk as agent for Burns Philp & Co Ltd., later becoming Norfolk's Registrar of Lands and the island's first (and so far only) United States consul.

This was information given by the late Tom Lloyd and posted on this internet link.

http://www.ibtimes.com/how-thanksgiving-became-holiday-remote-norfolk-island-893484

Some American hymns, particularly those with special meaning for the islanders, like "Let the Lower Light be Burning" and "In the Sweet Bye and Bye” are sung on Thanksgiving Day and at church services and at Norfolk Island funerals.

Traditional American foods were introduced and Norfolk Island popular fruit pies date back to the American whalers.

Many American whaling boats visited Norfolk Island shores and Norfolk Island men joined the ships and whaling became an important income to the local families.

I found a series of stamps issued in 2010, with artwork by local Norfolk Island artist Tracey Yager, depicting the local whaling history.

“Norfolk Men have always been capable seamen, so starting in 1858 with two boats purchased from American whalers the Island men engaged in whaling which proved to be lucrative occupation during a time of hard economic times, allowing the island families to improve their standard of life with much needed farm and educational supplies.

It was not until 1956 that a modern whaling station was built, but it was not long until the numbers of whales was depleted by the mechanised whaling industry and this too was closed in 1962.

These stamps depict the Blessing of the whalers and their boats and another of them launching for the chase, a third shows the women and children lighting bonfires to show the men the way home at night, the last shows the products that enabled a better way of life for the Islanders. Nowadays the whales have returned and can again be seen frolicking in the waters surrounding Norfolk. We pay tribute to the brave Island men and beautiful cetaceans of the sea that paid for the Island's keep during those days of hardship for our community!”

Check out this link if you would like to view these lovely Norfolk Island postage stamps.

http://www.stamps.gov.nf/stamps2010.htm

On Norfolk Island, there are locals who came from America, I wish them all a Happy 4^th July and we can all celebrate the Independence Day anniversary with them.

Betty Matthews

July 2022