I am trying to solve a mystery. We (the Nantucket Historical Association) has a log kept by Susan Veeder on the Nauticon; we all love her story, and when someone asked when her husband, whaling Capt. Charles Veeder, died, we investigated. We have found that he left his ship (the William Gifford) in Tahiti (probably Papeete, since the US consul came on board), in May 1872. The consul wrote that Veeder "will remain at one of these islands with the native woman whom he had on board the vessel as his mistress." Since the ship's log records Veeder as "doing her laundry," he must have been in love.

But what happened to Veeder? We know he died in 1878 in the "Society Islands."

Would anyone have information or leads on other places to search? He's not mentioned in the Whalemen's shipping list. Is there a historical society or cemetery inscription project down there? I keep thinking there's probably more information someplace, if I just knew who to ask.

Thanks!

There might be some mention of his death in the Tahitian Government newspaper for 1878. This has been filmed by the Mormon church and is available through their Family history Centres. You have to be able to read French or Tahitian however.
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Title
Le Messager de Tahiti

Notes
Hebdomaire.
Microfilm de l'original publié: Papeete : Imprimerie typographique du Gouvernment, 1852-1883.
Texte en français et en tahitien.
En 1er juin 1860, il porta en sous-titre "Journal Officiel des E. F. O."
Comprend les multiples sujets: textes officiels, articles divers, études scientifiques, nouvelles locales, annonces commercials et d'arrivées de marchandise reçues, par les principales maisons de commerce de Papeete.
Suivie de: Journal Officiel des Etablissements Français de l'Océanie.
Tenues manquent 1852 et 1855.
"The Messenger of Tahiti": official publication of the French Polynesian Government, 1852-1883.
Description d'après: v. 2, nº 1.
Not yet available in PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) at this time. (12 Oct 2005)
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1876-1879 - VAULT INTL Film [ 1084857 ]