Armorer on board the Bounty.
A detained loyalist, who was kept on board against his will.
Joseph Coleman was 36 years old when he mustered on the Bounty. He was married and had children. Bligh's description of Coleman is as follows:
"Armourer, 40 years, 5 feet 6 inches high. Fair complexion, grey hair, strong made, a heart tattooed on one arm. (Bligh adds to this description, "This man declared to me publickly when I was in the Boat that he knew nothing of the transaction and begged of me to remember he told me of it and that he was kept against his consent.")
The armorer on board a ship was an extremely important member of the crew. Not only did he keep the arms in repair, but he served as a highly skilled blacksmith who often had to manufacture gear that had been damaged or lost.
On Tahiti, Coleman was one of the busiest men on shore. He had to serve all the needs of the Bounty, but he also – as a gesture of goodwill towards the Tahitians – had to repair and sharpen the iron tools that they had received from previous visitors.
Christian, even though he was obviously in extreme emotional turmoil during the mutiny, probably experiencing a brief psychotic episode, was not so out of touch with reality that he did not realize Coleman's importance for the ship and he therefore forbade him to go in the launch.
When Christian arranged his "farewell party" on Tahiti in order to kidnap enough women for the mutineers, he had also planned to kidnap Coleman. However, he could not get Coleman drunk enough, and when the ship started moving, the armorer immediately became suspicious, jumped overboard, and swam ashore. It was a disappointment for Christian but not a disaster: John Williams, one of the mutineers who had cast their lot with Christian, was something of a blacksmith himself and had assisted Coleman on board the Bounty.
Coleman helped Morrison build the Resolution. When the Pandora arrived, he was the first to go on board, happy in the knowledge that Captain Bligh had promised to do him justice. He was also the first one to be put in irons. However, when the Pandora was about to founder, he – together with Norman and McIntosh (who had also been promised 'mercy' by Bligh) – was released from his shackles to help in manning the pumps.
Since there was no evidence against Coleman, and Bligh had stated that he had been detained in the Bounty against his will, he had no difficulty in getting acquitted at the court-martial. Coleman was Frequently admitted to hospital after the court-martial.
(added by bluegums)
Armorer on board the Bounty.
A detained loyalist, who was kept on board against his will.
Joseph Coleman was 36 years old when he mustered on the Bounty. He was married and had children. Bligh's description of Coleman is as follows:
"Armourer, 40 years, 5 feet 6 inches high. Fair complexion, grey hair, strong made, a heart tattooed on one arm. (Bligh adds to this description, "This man declared to me publickly when I was in the Boat that he knew nothing of the transaction and begged of me to remember he told me of it and that he was kept against his consent.")
The armorer on board a ship was an extremely important member of the crew. Not only did he keep the arms in repair, but he served as a highly skilled blacksmith who often had to manufacture gear that had been damaged or lost.
On Tahiti, Coleman was one of the busiest men on shore. He had to serve all the needs of the Bounty, but he also – as a gesture of goodwill towards the Tahitians – had to repair and sharpen the iron tools that they had received from previous visitors.
Christian, even though he was obviously in extreme emotional turmoil during the mutiny, probably experiencing a brief psychotic episode, was not so out of touch with reality that he did not realize Coleman's importance for the ship and he therefore forbade him to go in the launch.
When Christian arranged his "farewell party" on Tahiti in order to kidnap enough women for the mutineers, he had also planned to kidnap Coleman. However, he could not get Coleman drunk enough, and when the ship started moving, the armorer immediately became suspicious, jumped overboard, and swam ashore. It was a disappointment for Christian but not a disaster: John Williams, one of the mutineers who had cast their lot with Christian, was something of a blacksmith himself and had assisted Coleman on board the Bounty.
Coleman helped Morrison build the Resolution. When the Pandora arrived, he was the first to go on board, happy in the knowledge that Captain Bligh had promised to do him justice. He was also the first one to be put in irons. However, when the Pandora was about to founder, he – together with Norman and McIntosh (who had also been promised 'mercy' by Bligh) – was released from his shackles to help in manning the pumps.
Since there was no evidence against Coleman, and Bligh had stated that he had been detained in the Bounty against his will, he had no difficulty in getting acquitted at the court-martial. Coleman was Frequently admitted to hospital after the court-martial.
(added by bluegums)
