Pitcairn (schooner)

Pitcairn as originally constructed
History
US
Name:	Pitcairn
Owner:	Seventh-day Adventist Church
Builder:	Turner and Chapman
Cost:	$12,000
Launched:	28 July 1890
History
Philippines
Name:	Florence S
Owner:	Clark and Spencer
Cost:	$6,500
Acquired:	1900
Out of service:	17 October 1912
Struck:	17 October 1912
General characteristics
Class and type:	Schooner (Later re-rigged as a brigantine)
Tons burthen:	115
Length:	90 feet (27 m)
Beam:	27 feet (8.2 m)
Draft:	10 feet (3.0 m)
Propulsion:	Sail

The Pitcairn was a schooner built in 1890 for the Seventh-day Adventist Church for use in missionary work in the South Pacific. After six missionary voyages, the schooner was sold in 1900 for commercial use, and renamed Florence S. She was lost by stranding on the island of Mindoro, Philippine Islands, on 17 October 1912.

The Seventh-day Adventist John Tay, a former sailor, was advised by his doctor to take a sea voyage in 1886. He paid his way by working as a carpenter. At Tahiti he found passage on HMS Pelican, a British man-of-war. Tay reached Pitcairn Island on HMS Pelican on 18 October 1886, and stayed until the last week of November. At the time Pitcairn was inhabited by descendants of the mutineers on HMS Bounty. The islanders were already familiar with Adventist concepts, as they had received a box of Adventist tracts about ten years earlier. In five weeks Tay converted the whole population to Adventism. He was unable to perform baptisms since he was not ordained, but promised to return with a minister.

The Adventists had devoted relatively little effort to foreign missions up to the time of Tay's voyage, despite the urging of Ellen G. White. The news of Tay's success galvanized the church. A resolution was passed at the California Adventist conference in October 1887 to buy a ship for use in missionary work in the Pacific islands. At the General Conference in Oakland that started on 13 November 1887 a committee was established to consider a resolution to use up to $20,000 to buy or build a ship, to be ready early in 1888. The committee recommended postponing the project so funds could be raised and the requirements studied.

In April 1888 the committee decided to dispatch Elder Andrew J. Cudney with Tay to Pitcairn and other islands to determine what type of vessel would be needed. Cudney left for Honolulu on 20 May 1888 on the Sonomo. When he arrived he arranged to outfit a schooner at a cost of about $900 to the Conference, with the option for the Conference to buy the ship for $1,100 after a trial voyage. Cudney left Honolulu for Tahiti on the Phoebe Chapman on 31 July 1888. There he was to join Tay, who had left Oakland for Tahiti on 5 July 1888. The plan was for Cudney and Tay to continue to Pitcairn Island, where Cudney could perform the promised baptisms.