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==== Background information ==== | ==== Background information ==== | ||
[[Portal:French Polynesia|French Polynesia]] lies south of Hawaii and east of Tonga and Samoa. It is composed of 118 islands. From north to south they are Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Society Islands, and Austral or Tubuai Islands. Papeete, Tahiti is the capital. The population is about 92,000. About half of the people live on the island of Tahiti.<br> | [[Portal:French Polynesia|French Polynesia]] lies south of Hawaii and east of Tonga and Samoa. It is composed of 118 islands. From north to south they are Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Society Islands, and Austral or Tubuai Islands. Papeete, Tahiti is the capital. The population is about 92,000. About half of the people live on the island of Tahiti.<br> | ||
==== Customs ==== | ==== Customs ==== | ||
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When we put our family history together, we may not have many dates to work with. Because of this, we need to '''''study the history of the islands where our ancestors lived by starting with the historical background for the island group of our ancestors'''''. Historical dates from these publications and from the Internet can be used to estimate the dates of our ancestors’ lives more accurately. See the Bibliography at the end of this guide for a list of Internet resources with further information. | When we put our family history together, we may not have many dates to work with. Because of this, we need to '''''study the history of the islands where our ancestors lived by starting with the historical background for the island group of our ancestors'''''. Historical dates from these publications and from the Internet can be used to estimate the dates of our ancestors’ lives more accurately. See the Bibliography at the end of this guide for a list of Internet resources with further information. | ||
“''The Sacred Land of Hawaiki''” which some ''Maoris'' refer to as the place where their ancestors came from is ''Raiatea'', in the ''Leeward Islands''. They call it “''Hawaiki Nui”'' and it has a place on it called “''Taputaputea'',” which is a holy place. It is a small triangle of land and it contains a wooden platform which is built high and has three levels. The levels represent to the | “''The Sacred Land of Hawaiki''” which some ''Maoris'' refer to as the place where their ancestors came from is ''Raiatea'', in the ''Leeward Islands''. They call it “''Hawaiki Nui”'' and it has a place on it called “''Taputaputea'',” which is a holy place. It is a small triangle of land and it contains a wooden platform which is built high and has three levels. The levels represent to the islanders what we think of as Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial glories. (There is a picture of one of these “prayer platforms” in Cole and Jensen’s ''Israel in the Pacific'', Page 146.) | ||
Each island had a''taputaputea'', which would face either north, south, east, or west. At the time when the ''Mamaia'' were in power, they destroyed many of these ''Taputaputeas'' in order to bring down the power of the priests. | Each island had a''taputaputea'', which would face either north, south, east, or west. At the time when the ''Mamaia'' were in power, they destroyed many of these ''Taputaputeas'' in order to bring down the power of the priests. | ||
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He married a woman whose father was ''English''. (The pedigree chart shows her as Elizabeth Moehauti P. Gibson, whose father is Andrew Gibson, born in ''Liverpool England ''in 1813 and her mother as Vahinerii Moehauti Pupa). | He married a woman whose father was ''English''. (The pedigree chart shows her as Elizabeth Moehauti P. Gibson, whose father is Andrew Gibson, born in ''Liverpool England ''in 1813 and her mother as Vahinerii Moehauti Pupa). | ||
My mother’s people were born in ''Taega'' (pronounced Taenga), which is in the western part of the ''Tuamotu Islands ''to the east of the | My mother’s people were born in ''Taega'' (pronounced Taenga), which is in the western part of the ''Tuamotu Islands ''to the east of the island of ''Anaa.'' | ||
A powerful sect which combined Tahitian traditions with Christian ideas called the ''Mamia'' rose up in the island of ''Tahiti'' in about 1827. They were rebelling against the teachings and power of the Christian missionaries. They had ''Mana, or power''. This sect did not keep the ways of ''Mana ''according to the ''Tup`una,'' who are our ancestors. ''Mana'' is like the priesthood, and they did not keep the rules of it. To gain more power, the ''Mamaia'' told people they had to join them or be killed. The other choice was to flee. This sect and others, along with drought and over-population and seeking for freedom caused many of the people to migrate to other islands. | A powerful sect which combined Tahitian traditions with Christian ideas called the ''Mamia'' rose up in the island of ''Tahiti'' in about 1827. They were rebelling against the teachings and power of the Christian missionaries. They had ''Mana, or power''. This sect did not keep the ways of ''Mana ''according to the ''Tup`una,'' who are our ancestors. ''Mana'' is like the priesthood, and they did not keep the rules of it. To gain more power, the ''Mamaia'' told people they had to join them or be killed. The other choice was to flee. This sect and others, along with drought and over-population and seeking for freedom caused many of the people to migrate to other islands. | ||
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''Queen Pomare ''fought against the ''Mamia'' chiefs. They finally all died out. | ''Queen Pomare ''fought against the ''Mamia'' chiefs. They finally all died out. | ||
My mother’s father’s family lived on the | My mother’s father’s family lived on the island of Anaa in the ''Tuamotos''. In 1845, the Mormon missionaries Benjamin Grouard and Addison Pratt were having great success on the island of ''Anaa.'' They baptized almost every inhabitant of the island, and there were 3,500 members and 7 branches of the Church in the late 1840's. The members were strong and faithful, and by 1852, the Church had spread, scattered on 20 islands. | ||
The Catholic Church, being the national church of the ''French Protectorate ''which was in power at the time, became concerned and started to persecute the Mormons. They passed a law against Mormons meeting together, even in family homes. They were forbidden to read, sing, and pray, and were continually watched. | The Catholic Church, being the national church of the ''French Protectorate ''which was in power at the time, became concerned and started to persecute the Mormons. They passed a law against Mormons meeting together, even in family homes. They were forbidden to read, sing, and pray, and were continually watched. | ||
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They hid the canoe while they built it, and then they finally fled at night. There were two weeks when the sea was calm enough. They had to time their departure so as to not all leave at once. They could guide their canoes at night by looking at the stars. My mother could find places at night by doing the same thing, although I never learned the skill. | They hid the canoe while they built it, and then they finally fled at night. There were two weeks when the sea was calm enough. They had to time their departure so as to not all leave at once. They could guide their canoes at night by looking at the stars. My mother could find places at night by doing the same thing, although I never learned the skill. | ||
The missionaries (Pratt and Grouard) were deported by the government in 1852, and the members were forced to attend the Catholic Church at bayonet point. Six of the native brethren were killed by bayonet, rather than attend the Catholic Church. Finally, the imprisoned native brethren were allowed to return to their homes. But, no other church besides the Catholic Church can have meetings on the | The missionaries (Pratt and Grouard) were deported by the government in 1852, and the members were forced to attend the Catholic Church at bayonet point. Six of the native brethren were killed by bayonet, rather than attend the Catholic Church. Finally, the imprisoned native brethren were allowed to return to their homes. But, no other church besides the Catholic Church can have meetings on the island of ''Anaa,'' even now.*1 | ||
The Church members populated the islands of ''Taenga, Fakaava, Faaite, Katiu, Makemo, Marutea, Hikuereu, Marokau, and Hao. ''They lived on their home islands for six months of the year, and then would travel to ''Hikueru'' to dive to get pearls and mother of pearl. This is why I was born in ''Hikueru'' rather than ''Taenga.'' | The Church members populated the islands of ''Taenga, Fakaava, Faaite, Katiu, Makemo, Marutea, Hikuereu, Marokau, and Hao. ''They lived on their home islands for six months of the year, and then would travel to ''Hikueru'' to dive to get pearls and mother of pearl. This is why I was born in ''Hikueru'' rather than ''Taenga.'' | ||
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==== Historical background ==== | ==== Historical background ==== | ||
1595 Spaniard Mendana de Neyra and Quiros discovered the southeastern group of the Marquesas.<br>1791 Englishman Marchand Ingraham discovers the northern Marquesas<br>1792 Whalers visit the Marquesas<br>1837 Englishman Pritchard is appointed consul to the Marquesas.<br>1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas. <br>1840 Pritchard leaves for England to ask for British protection.<br>1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva. <br> | 1595 Spaniard Mendana de Neyra and Quiros discovered the southeastern group of the Marquesas.<br>1791 Englishman Marchand Ingraham discovers the northern Marquesas<br>1792 Whalers visit the Marquesas<br>1837 Englishman Pritchard is appointed consul to the Marquesas.<br>1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas. <br>1840 Pritchard leaves for England to ask for British protection.<br>1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva. <br> islanders kill 26 Frenchmen in Tabuate, Marquesas.<br>1843 The French protectorate of the islands is acknowledged by Britain, in spite of Pritchard’s return.<br>1849-50 French troops withdraw from the Marquesas.<br>1860 War begins in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas,<br> Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin.<br>1863 Former slaves, returned from Peru, bring small pox to the Marquesas.<br> There is a rapid depopulation, due to smallpox, drunkenness, human sacrifice, cannibalism, warfare, and prostitution.<br>1881 France establishes a civil administration in the Marquesas.<br>1914 German raiders are shelled at Papeete and exiled to the Marquesas.<br>1961 Taiohae is chosen as the site of the vicariate of the Marquesas. | ||
==== Tuamotu (Low and Dangerous) Archipelago ==== | ==== Tuamotu (Low and Dangerous) Archipelago ==== | ||
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==== Historical background ==== | ==== Historical background ==== | ||
1543 Magellan’s Portugese fleet discovers ''Puka Puka'', northeast ''Tuamotu<br>''1616 Dutchmen Jacob Le Maire and Willem Scheuten reached ''Puka Puka, Takaroa, Takapoto, Manihi, and Rangiroa, all of the Tuamotu islands.<br>''1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached ''Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards.<br>''1765 Englishman John Byron reached ''Tepoto, Napuka, Takeroe, Takapoto, and Rangirao''.<br>1767 Englishman Samuel Wallis charted and claimed the islands for ''Britain.<br>''1768 The ''French'' claim the islands.<br>1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central ''Tuamotu | 1543 Magellan’s Portugese fleet discovers ''Puka Puka'', northeast ''Tuamotu<br>''1616 Dutchmen Jacob Le Maire and Willem Scheuten reached ''Puka Puka, Takaroa, Takapoto, Manihi, and Rangiroa, all of the Tuamotu islands.<br>''1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached ''Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards.<br>''1765 Englishman John Byron reached ''Tepoto, Napuka, Takeroe, Takapoto, and Rangirao''.<br>1767 Englishman Samuel Wallis charted and claimed the islands for ''Britain.<br>''1768 The ''French'' claim the islands.<br>1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central ''Tuamotu Islands''. His wife, Tetua, dies.<br>1826 ''Tahitians ''who will not accept the ''Mamaia ''religion flee to the ''Tuamotos.<br>''1831 Uprising of chiefs against Pomare Vahine IV, who is forced to condemn the Mamaia sect.<br>1833 First Catholic Vicar Apostolic in the islands.<br> Defeat of the chiefs of the ''Taiarapu ''(supported by the ''Mamaia'' sect) heralds its decline.<br>1841 Last members of the ''Mamaia'' sect die because they refused vaccination.<br>1842 Establishment of a ''French protectorate ''on ''Tahiti.<br>''1845 Mormon missionary Grouard has great success on the island of ''Anaa. <br>''1852 Catholic persecution of Mormons on Anaa. They are forced to flee, die, or attend the Catholic Church.<br>1860 Raids of the ''Peruvian'' slave traders begin.<br>1862 Slave traders captured in the ''Tuamotus.<br>''1903 Hurricane in ''Tuamotu. <br>''1905 Phosphates discovered in ''Makatea, Tuamotu.<br>''1908 Leprosy spread to the eastern ''Tuamotu Islands.<br>''1918 Flu epidemic kills 20 percent of the population. <br> Phosphates are exploited in Makaeta, Tuamotu. <span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1225252115296_925"></span> | ||
==== Gambier Islands or Mangareva <br> ==== | ==== Gambier Islands or Mangareva <br> ==== | ||
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==== Historical background ==== | ==== Historical background ==== | ||
1823 Frederick Beechey enters the lagoon of the Gambier | 1823 Frederick Beechey enters the lagoon of the Gambier Islands. <br>1834 A Catholic mission is begun in the Gambier Islands.<br>1841 Hurricane in the Gambier Islands. | ||
[[Category:French_Polynesia]] [[Category:Pacific_Island_Research]] | [[Category:French_Polynesia]] [[Category:Pacific_Island_Research]] | ||