Carpenter's mate on board the Bounty.
A detained loyalist.
Thomas McIntosh was 26 years old when he joined the Bounty.
The description Bligh later gave of him reads as follows:
"Carpenter's Crew. 28 years, 5 feet 6 inches high. Fair complexion, light-brown hair, slender made. Pitted by smallpox."
McIntosh and Norman were kept on board the Bounty by Christian who needed their skills as carpenters; he did not want to force the dour and strong-willed Purcell to remain. Neither one had taken part in the mutiny, and both called out to Bligh to remember that they were kept on board against their will.
McIntosh had a woman on Tahiti whom he called Mary. Mary followed him to Tubuai and back and bore him a daughter. When Christian left with the Bounty, McIntosh was the first one that Morrison approached with his plan to build a ship and he, together with Norman, were of invaluable help in carrying through with the project.
When the Pandora arrived, McIntosh was the only loyalist who ran up into the mountains to hide with the mutineers. We will never know why. Perhaps he had become attached to his wife and daughter and wanted to remain on Tahiti.
His attempted escape evidently did not count against him. He was one of the three prisoners on the Pandora who were released to work the pumps when the ship struck the reef and, once back in England, he did not experience any significant trouble in being acquitted at the court-martial.
When Bligh returned to Tahiti on the second breadfruit expedition, he was approached by "Mary," McIntosh's consort, who showed him a beautiful little girl, about eighteen months old, whose name was Elizabeth and who was McIntosh's daughter.
Whether Bligh ever tried to let his former crew-member know about this encounter when he returned to England, is unknown. It seems most unlikely; Bligh could be sentimental about himself but he had little understanding of the feelings of others.
McIntosh was tried in 1792 and acquitted of mutiny. He was reported to have gone into Merchant marine service. His final fate is unknown.
(added by bluegums)
Carpenter's mate on board the Bounty.
A detained loyalist.
Thomas McIntosh was 26 years old when he joined the Bounty.
The description Bligh later gave of him reads as follows:
"Carpenter's Crew. 28 years, 5 feet 6 inches high. Fair complexion, light-brown hair, slender made. Pitted by smallpox."
McIntosh and Norman were kept on board the Bounty by Christian who needed their skills as carpenters; he did not want to force the dour and strong-willed Purcell to remain. Neither one had taken part in the mutiny, and both called out to Bligh to remember that they were kept on board against their will.
McIntosh had a woman on Tahiti whom he called Mary. Mary followed him to Tubuai and back and bore him a daughter. When Christian left with the Bounty, McIntosh was the first one that Morrison approached with his plan to build a ship and he, together with Norman, were of invaluable help in carrying through with the project.
When the Pandora arrived, McIntosh was the only loyalist who ran up into the mountains to hide with the mutineers. We will never know why. Perhaps he had become attached to his wife and daughter and wanted to remain on Tahiti.
His attempted escape evidently did not count against him. He was one of the three prisoners on the Pandora who were released to work the pumps when the ship struck the reef and, once back in England, he did not experience any significant trouble in being acquitted at the court-martial.
When Bligh returned to Tahiti on the second breadfruit expedition, he was approached by "Mary," McIntosh's consort, who showed him a beautiful little girl, about eighteen months old, whose name was Elizabeth and who was McIntosh's daughter.
Whether Bligh ever tried to let his former crew-member know about this encounter when he returned to England, is unknown. It seems most unlikely; Bligh could be sentimental about himself but he had little understanding of the feelings of others.
McIntosh was tried in 1792 and acquitted of mutiny. He was reported to have gone into Merchant marine service. His final fate is unknown.
(added by bluegums)
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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