The Heritage of Capt Isaiah Puckett and his beloved wife Hinareva
The 150 year saga of an American-Tahitian whaling family set on Nantucket, Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Marquesas Islands.
In January when fierce winter blizzards battered Nantucket Island with gale force winds, snow, and zero temperatures.
"Read us a story from Captain Puckett's Ships Logs and 'Tahiti Journals!" Isaiah begged his Dad to read their Great Grandfather's adventures aboard the 'Molly Puckett' hunting whales in the South Pacific Ocean.
Captain's Log, July 1, 1839
"In 1839 Capt Puckett sailed his whaling ship through the dangerous pass in the coral reef and dropped anchor in the warm water port of Papeete, Tahiti."
Captain's Log, July 4, 1839
"Today I was invited to a 4th of July 'Independence Day' fete on Paofai beach fronting the US Consulate."
"The laughter of the Tahitians and their children playing on the beach brought back childhood memories of our family picnics and clambakes on Nantucket's beaches."
"Too many years at sea, the War of 1812, whaling in the polar seas have hardened my heart and troubled my soul."
"Wake up! Capt Puckett. You're having a bad dream!" A soft melodious voice whispered in my ear.
"My name is Hinareva." She said watching me slowly open my eyes. "And your name is Isaiah."
"Tell me all about your Tahitian family." I said, focusing my total attention on this magnificent barefoot Vahine sitting next to me on the beach mat. "And I will tell you all about my family and home on Nantucket Island."
"Hinareva." I said taking her hand in mine. "I want to see you again." Tahitian?"
"We must never say goodbye, Isaiah Puckett." Hinareva smiled, snatching a Tiare Tahiti flower from her hair, tucked it behind my right ear, and dashed up the beach to her parents waiting in a horse drawn carriage.
"They fell madly in love and lived happily ever after!" Isaiah butted in teasing his Mother. "Now tell us about hunting the whales! Mom."
"Capt Isaiah Puckett and Hinareva were married by the London Missionary Pastor in the Protestant church at Point Venus." Mary sighed recounting the 'Love Story' of Captain Puckett and Hinareva.
"His marriage to Hinareva and the birth of his 1st daughter Sarah made him the happiest whaling master in the South Seas Whaling Fleet!"
"In 1849 a smallpox epidemic ravaged Tahiti killing 1000's of pure race Tahitians in a few months!"
"His beloved Hinareva was struck down by this terrible disease! The sudden tragic loss of his beloved Hinareva broke the heart of our intrepid Capt Puckett."
"He decided to take his oldest children, Sarah and Joshua; sail home to Nantucket, buy a 2nd whaling ship for his prospering whale oil business, and return to Tahiti."
"Capt Puckett died on Nantucket Island in 1852."
"Sarah / Manava and Joshua / Tohora, our direct descendants, never returned to Tahiti, separating our families for over 150 years."
"I always dreamed of flying to Tahiti, searching for and reuniting with our American and Tahitian Puckett families."
"It just wasn't my destiny." Joshua said with a tinge of regret smiling at his two young sons. "Someday you guys must fly to Tahiti and reunite our Tahitian and American Puckett Families!"
A whale of a tale your families of all ages will enjoy!
