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William Mariner and Adoption
Biography
Mariner was one of the crew of the Port au Prince, most of whom were massacred by the people of the Ha'apai islands, part of Tonga, under their chief Finau 'Ulukalala II, in 1806. Mariner survived and caught the eye of the chief, was adopted by him to replace a dead son, and given the name Toki 'Ukamea (Iron Axe). He remained in Tonga for four years before being rescued, being tutored by one of his adoptive father's wives.
References
Mariner, William. An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. (Edinburgh: Constable & Co., 1827) Sacks, Oliver. The Island of the Colour-Blind; and Cycad Island. (London: Macmillan, 1996), pp. 249-50 Martin, John. "Tonga Islands: William Mariner's Account." [Includes portrait]. Available at: [1]
Categories:
- Adoption Celebrities
- Adopted Persons
- European
- UK/Great Britain
- 18th Century
- 19th Century
- School-age Years, Adolescence
- To Provide Heirs, As Protégés, etc.
- Captured by Another Tribe or Group
- Others ("Strangers")
- Wealthy, Famous, Noble or Divine Adoptive or Foster Families
- Trans-Racial, Trans-Tribal, International or Trans-Cultural Adoption or Fostering
- Customary or Traditional Adoption, Informal and Extra-Legal Care