French Polynesia Genealogy: Difference between revisions
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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> | 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<br>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. | Customs<br>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 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.) | “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. | ||
Case Study<br>My name is Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi. My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. We are currently serving as missionaries in the Family History Department (May, 2004) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following is a description of how I have been gathering and working on my family history. | Case Study<br>My name is Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi. My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. We are currently serving as missionaries in the Family History Department (May, 2004) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following is a description of how I have been gathering and working on my family history. | ||
1. The first thing I did was to talk to my mother and ask what information she had. My mother kept her genealogy in a book. It was legal size, like the archive binders. She would read to me out of it, but would not let me borrow it to copy it down in writing. She wanted me to memorize it. There were 7 of these books. My mother gave them to some missionaries to bring to Church Headquarters to have them input for the IGI and Ancestral file. They were supposed to have been taken here. I have not seen them since. But, the information for my ancestors is in the IGI, so I am assuming the information got there. | 1. The first thing I did was to talk to my mother and ask what information she had. My mother kept her genealogy in a book. It was legal size, like the archive binders. She would read to me out of it, but would not let me borrow it to copy it down in writing. She wanted me to memorize it. There were 7 of these books. My mother gave them to some missionaries to bring to Church Headquarters to have them input for the IGI and Ancestral file. They were supposed to have been taken here. I have not seen them since. But, the information for my ancestors is in the IGI, so I am assuming the information got there. | ||
2. I copied the information from the IGI and put in on a pedigree chart. | 2. I copied the information from the IGI and put in on a pedigree chart. | ||
3. I looked on the Internet on Ancestry.com and got a lot of information. One line goes back to 1513. The Internet makes it possible. I copied that information onto the pedigree chart. | 3. I looked on the Internet on Ancestry.com and got a lot of information. One line goes back to 1513. The Internet makes it possible. I copied that information onto the pedigree chart. | ||
4. I remembered the stories my mother told me about my ancestors so I could put them together with other information I got as clues to lead me to more information. I saw that my cousins had submitted the same people for temple work, but with different dates and sometimes different spellings of the names. Some temple work had been done several times. I recorded the temple ordinance dates on my records so they will not be done again in the temple. | 4. I remembered the stories my mother told me about my ancestors so I could put them together with other information I got as clues to lead me to more information. I saw that my cousins had submitted the same people for temple work, but with different dates and sometimes different spellings of the names. Some temple work had been done several times. I recorded the temple ordinance dates on my records so they will not be done again in the temple. | ||
5. I’m writing the stories that go along with the names, dates, and places so other people can understand why my ancestors lived where they did, and what the sacrifices were that the ones who were early members of the Church made for their faith. The following story is what I remember of what my mother told me.<br> | 5. I’m writing the stories that go along with the names, dates, and places so other people can understand why my ancestors lived where they did, and what the sacrifices were that the ones who were early members of the Church made for their faith. The following story is what I remember of what my mother told me.My great grandfather was born in France (See Page XX for the pedigree chart which records him as Pierre Jules Buchin, born in 1833.).<br> | ||
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 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. | |||
Queen Pomare fought against the Mamia chiefs. They finally all died out. | |||
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. | |||
At this time, Church Brethren were imprisoned in Tahiti and in Anaa. My ancestors hid in caves under the reef by day and got their food by night. They built canoes and provided them with food. The men worked on the canoes while the women got food and clothing ready and put water into gourds for drinking. Some gourds were several feet tall. They only grow on volcanic islands, so families had to trade for them. | |||
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 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 members would travel and work together, keeping their organization as branches. They would meet once a month in a church house, and have regular gatherings more often. This kept them from the evils of gambling, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. that were around them. There is no school during the diving. | |||
The fathers and the oldest boys go diving. The men would dive down, sometimes as deep as 30 yards, holding their breath from 3 to 5 minutes. My grandfather (Kaheke Mariteragi or Fakapeka) was one of the best divers. He could hold his breath for 5 minutes. He made 50 dives a day at the height of his manhood. There are sharks around, and they have to come up gradually after a dive so they won’t get the “bends” from the change in pressure. They have to stop diving at age 55 because it is so hard on them. | |||
The women would make dresses, shirts, and bread to sell. They would dry the abalone meat and get the pearls and prepare the mother-of-pearl in the shells. They would sell the dried abalone meat, the pearls, and the mother of pearl to a Chinese owner. This owner would lend them the money to equip them for the diving voyage. They would dive for 3 weeks to earn the money to repay him. He would pay them for the rest of the things they had gotten from their labors. They lived for the rest of the year on this money, and would go to Tahiti to get the supplies they needed for the rest of the year. My Grandfather was Branch President at Faaite. When children are 8 years old they go to Makemo. | |||
My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. His parents are from the Leeward Islands, Huahine. His family now lives in New Zealand. People of the Tehaavi family are in the Cook Islands also. And in the Mangaia Islands near Rarotonga. It took a fisherman 6 months to sail to Rarotonga from Tahiti a few years ago when he got lost. The winds and currents led him from Tahiti to Rarotonga.<br><br>My mother’s name was Teuruhei Kokura Mariteragi. I was born on Hikueru. Some of the people there have red hair. Some Stories about Hikueru are that the 5th king went to Bora Bora on his canoe to get his wife. It took him 5 months. The people had to prepare for long voyages, and had to navigate well to reach their destinations.<br><br>Tumukiva, the 7th king, also went to Raiatea (near Bora Bora) to get his wife. | |||
Instead of using a canoe, Tumukiva is said to have walked underground through a lava tube. His wife, Tiai Tau (which means Always Waiting), lived by a well. He saw her there. Her husband was always gone a lot on voyages, so he had a bird watching over her. Because Tumukiva came up through a well, the bird didn’t see him. He took her home to be his wife. She had red hair. The people on Hikueru who are of his family have red hair. Tumukiva said “Maehara, taku hinganaui” means “My wish has been fulfilled.” | |||
My ancestors who built the chapel in Takaroa came from Mangareva. They learned to build gothic style churches using crushed coral. The Takaroa chapel was rebuilt, but in the same style as the original one. It is the pride and joy of the Members there. My Great Grandfather, Kaheka Mariteragi, took up the chapel the members of the Church had built in Fakareva and towed it to Takaroa on a platform between 2 canoes. There were no members in Fakareva any more, so he wanted it where the members would be. President Caumet published some pictures of the chapel in a book. He was one of the temple presidents in Tahiti. | |||
There is also a picture of the Mission Schooner. It was in use from 1950 to 1956. I sailed to all of the islands with the mission president when I was a member of the Church Band. He organized it and I was in it for 3 years. I later became a teacher in the elementary schools of our Church. Our home is now in Moorea, Tahiti. | |||
The Island groups and their historical background | |||
Marquesas Islands <br>These islands are known in Polynesian legends of the Maori, Hawaiians, Rarotongans, and Easter Islanders as the Sacred Land of Hava`iki, from whence their ancestors came. They lie ten degrees south of the equator, are 4,000 miles west of Peru, and are the northernmost of French Polynesia. Population is about 1,800 people, most of them living on Hiva Oa. | |||
The Marquesan language is the ancestor of modern Polynesian languages. Tahitian and Hawaiian are dialects of ancient Marquesan. Though 1,200 miles further away than Tahiti, the Hawaiian language more nearly parallels Marquesan than Tahitian. It is also similar to Mangarevan (Gambier Islands) and Rarotongan (Cook Island) languages. | |||
Mendana (southeast) group: Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Mohotani, Rouatoua, and Fatu Huka. Washington (northwest) group: Nuku hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Ituka, Eiao, Hiao, Hatutu,, and Motu-Oa. | |||
Historical background <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<br>Composed of 80 coral atolls, of which 50 are inhabited, the name means Islands Under the Clouds. Once heavily populated, the population is now only about 5,200 because people moved to better jobs.<br> | |||
The islands include: Ahe, Manihi, Takaroa, Tepoto, Napuka, Mataiva, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Takapoto, Tikei, Puka Puka, Arutua, Aaptaki, Aratika, Makatea, Kaukura, Toau, Kauehi, Takume, Fangatau, Fakahina, Niau, Raraka, Taenga, Raroia, Fakarava, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Makemo, Nihiru, Rekareka, Faaite, Tepoto, Marutea Nord, Tahanea, Motutunga, Tekokota, Tauere, Anaa, Haraiki, Hikueru, Amanu, Reitoru, Marokau, Hao, Ravahere, Akiaki, Pukarua, Negonego, Paraoa, Vahitahi, Reao, Manuhangi, Vairaatea, Nukutavake, Pinaki, Hereheretue, Ahunui, Anuanuraro, Anuanurunga, Nukutepipi, Vanavana, Tureia, Vahanga, Tenararo, Tenarunga, Marutea Sud, Matureivavao, Mururoa, Tematagi, Fangataufa, Maria, and Morane | |||
Historical background <br>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. | |||
Gambier Islands or Mangareva <br>These atolls have a population of about 6,500 people. Whaling ships stopped here in the 19th century. One of the last strongholds of cannibalism, overzealous missionaries worked the population to death. The majority are Protestant. LDS Missionaries have begun to work here. | |||
They are: Mangareva (Pearl), Taravai (Belcher), Temoe, Aukena (Elson), and Akamaru (Wainwright) | |||
Historical background <br>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. | |||
Society Islands <br>Papeete, Tahiti is the administrative center of this chain of islands, 7 volcanic and 7 atolls, running in 2 lines, east and west. Of the 100,000 population of Polynesian, French, Chinese and half-caste people in the Society Islands, about 50,000 live on Tahiti, which is 37 miles long. Agriculture and tourism support the economy. Cacao, vanilla, and fruits are grown. Religion is mostly Protestant, with some Catholic and some LDS. | |||
The islands are: Leeward Islands (Iles sous le Vent) (population about 28,000).<br>Bellingshausen, Scilly, Tupai, Scilly, Maupiti, Bora Bora, Tahaa, Hauhine, Mopelia, Raiatea<br>Windward Islands (pop. About 170,000) <br>Tahiti, Tetiaroa, Moorea (formerly called Eimeo or Aimeho), Maiao, Mehetia | |||
Historical background <br>300 Polynesians reached the Society Islands. Local chiefs ruled.<br>1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards.<br>1769 British James Cook reached Tahiti, Anaa (Tuamotu), and Rurutu (Austral) Islands.<br>1773 Second voyage of Cook reaches Tahiti, Raiatea, and Tabuate (Marquesea) and the war of Tutaha beginning the reign of Chief Tu begins. It continues until 1803.<br>1774 French missionaries attempt evangelization at Tautira, Tahiti<br>1775 Evangelization program ends.<br>1777 Third visit of Cook’s ship. Numerous Tahitians die of venereal diseases. <br>1788 Crew of the Bounty mutiny against Captain Bligh and escape to the islands.<br>1789 Bounty mutineers try to settle at Tubuai. Sixteen settle at Tahiti and help the father of Chief Tu.<br>1790 Tu is invested as chief of Tahiti. His father takes the name of Pomare.<br>. 1792 Three white seamen visit Tahiti.<br>1793 Pomare is the victor of Punaauia chiefs, and the Vehiatua chiefdom ends.<br>1797 Pomare extends his authority on the Leeward islands and becomes king. <br>James Wilson reaches Tahiti. <br>Eighteen missionaries of the London Missionary Society land there. <br>1798 Eleven of the London missionaries leave Tahiti.<br>1800 The French begin keeping public records.<br>1801 More missionaries arrive. Hapai, the father of Pomare I , dies.<br>1803 Pomare I dies. Missionaries sustain Pomare II.<br>1805 The first book written in the Tahitian language is published in London.<br>1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central Tuamotu islands. His wife, Tetua, dies.<br>1807 Pomare II wars with the Punaauia and Papara chiefs.<br>1808 Uprising of Tahiti against Pomare II. All misionaries but Henry Nott leave for Huahine.<br>1810 Pomare II marries Teremoemee, daughter of Tametea, King of Raiatea.<br>1812 Pomare is baptized a Christian.<br>1813 Birth of Aimate, daughter of Pomare II. Church and school built at Papetoai in Moorea.<br>1814 Christianity is brought to the Leeward Islands.<br>1815 High Priest Patii of Moorea is converted to Christianity. Pomare and the converts war against the Opuhara. Battle of Feipi and victory to the Christians. The defeated are forgiven.<br>1817 Pomare publishes the first Tahitian language book in Tahiti.<br>1819 First common law code is written. Pomare II is christened.<br>1820 A Russian expedition reaches Tahiti. Teri`itaria, son of Pomare II is born.<br>1823 Frenchmen Duperrey and d’Urviolle reach Tahiti. <br>1826 The Founding of the English society for the “Exploitation of Lagoon resources.” <br>A ban on foreigners is decreed. <br>The founding of the syncretistic sect of the Mamaia in Tahiti.<br>1827 Death of Pomare II. Reign of Pomare Vahine IV begins. <br>The Mamaia sect is spread to other islands. Unstable period begins.<br>1829 Whaling is developed on French Polynesian islands. <br>The New Testament is printed in Tahitian.<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>1836 Failure of the Catholic missionaries in Tahiti.<br>1837 Frenchman Abel Thouars is sent to keep order in the Pacific and control the whalers.<br>Tahitian-European intermarriages forbidden. <br>Pritchard appointed consul of Great Britain.<br>1838 Pomare Vahine IV asks for British protection.<br>1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas. <br>Treaty of religious freedom in Tahiti ratified. <br>Son of Pomare Vahine IV (Ariiaue) is born.<br>1840 Anarchy reigns. Pomare IV is powerless. <br>Pritchard asks for British protection and leaves for London.<br>1841 Marriages between Tahitians and Europeans allowed during three days in September.<br>The last members of the Mamaia sect die because they refused vaccination.<br>1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva. <br>Establishment of a French protectorate on Tahiti.<br>Herman Melville (author of Moby Dick) arrives.<br>1843 The French protectorate of the islands is acknowledged by Britain, in spite of Pritchard’s return.<br>Mormon missionaries arrived in Tubuai and in Papeete, Tahiti, before the Latter-day Saints left for Utah. The LDS Church has had some kind of presence there ever since.<br>1844 Pritchard arrested and deported. Tahitian chiefs Tati, Hitoti and Paraita accept the French protectorate, but a war begins in Punaauia, Faaa and Teva I Uta districts. Pomare IV flees to Raiatea.<br>1845 The chief Paraita reigns. Laws are revised.<br>Mormon missionariy Grouard is in Anaa, having rapid and successful activities.<br>1847 Peace after the French victory at Punaruu. Pomare IV is re-established and comes back to Papeete.<br>1847 French-British treaty on the Leeward Islands is signed, and a legislative assembly is in Tahiti.<br>1851 The first Tahitian-English dictionary is published.<br>1852 Independence of the Tahitian Churches is proclaimed.<br>Mormon Anaans revolt against the Catholic faith. They are imprisoned and martyred.<br>French Government restrictions halt the growth of the LDS mission and it is closed. Mormon Saints go into hiding. Missionaries Grouard and Pratt are deported.<br>All British missionaries depart except Orsmond.<br>1857 Tamatoa V (1842-1881) a son of Pomare Vahine IV, is crowned king of Raiatea.<br>1862 The French language becomes compulsory. Seven Tahitian students sent to Nantes, France.<br>Cadastral survey taken. <br>A Tahitian-French dictionary and a Tahitan grammar are published by Mgr T. Jaussen.<br>1864 A large cotton plantation is established by an Englishman, and he imports 1,000 Chinese workers.<br>1869 Pomare IV asks for a British protectorate on Tahiti. It is not given.<br>1873 The cotton plantation goes bankrupt and the Chinese become market gardeners, hawkers, and opium dealers.<br>1874 Missionaries of the Reorganized LDS Church visit and record the situation on the islands.<br>1875 Ariiaue marries Marau Taarou Salmon.<br>1877 Pomare Vahine dies. Ariiaue reigns under the name of Pomare V.<br>1880 The Leeward Islands are annexed to France, and Pomare V gives his territories to France.<br>1882 Civil law applies to schools. Lay teachers replace nuns and brothers in Tahitian schools. Catholics found independent schools.<br>A ban on the tattooing of entire bodies is made.<br>1890 The last British missionary leaves the Leeward Islands.<br>1891 Arrival of Paul Gaugain. Death of Pomare V. Death of Mgr. Jaussen.<br>1892 Honorary succession of the Pomares: Prince Hinoi (l869-1916) declared king.<br>LDS (Mormon) mission is re-opened by Joseph Damron and William Seegmiller.<br>1894 Development of sugar and rum production. Problems with opium.<br>1895 Birth of Pouvanaa a Oopa in Huahine.<br>1900 Constitution of the Etablissements Français d’Oceanie. <br>1904 The Pomare family gives Tetiaroa to the Canadian dentist W. J. Williams for his service.<br>1914 Leprosarium built at Orofara, Tahiti. <br>1914 German raiders are shelled at Papeete and exiled to the Marquesas.<br>1916 Death of Prince Hinoi Pomare. <br>Battalion of 906 Tahitians levied to fight in World War I.<br>1918 Flu epidemic kills 20 percent of the population. <br>1919 540 Tahitian warriors of World War I return. <br>1924 A tourism campaign is launched.<br>1934 Death of Marautaarou Salmon, last queen of Tahiti. <br>1940 The islands join a Free French Goverment of De Gaulle after a referendum.<br>1946 American soldiers depart from base in Bora Bora, where it was built in 1942.<br>1947 Thor Heyerdahl’s ship “Kon Tiki” lands and is then taken to Tahiti.<br>1948 757 Chinese depart for China.<br>1949 Founding of Radio Tahiti.<br>1951 Aerial cartography of Polynesia accomplished.<br>1952 Founding of Air Tahiti.<br>1957 Territory reconstituted as French Polynesia. Extended powers for the Territorial Assembly and Governmental council created. <br>Pouvanaa became the first vice president.<br>1958 Jehovah’s Witness missionaries arrive. <br>Pouvanaa’s plan to make an independent republic and levy income taxes fails. People vote to remain French and Pouvanaa is jailed.<br>1960 Filming of “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando. <br>1964 Chinese settlers begin to apply for French citizenship.<br>LDS French elementary school opens.<br>1966 First nuclear test. Tetiaroa Island sold to Marlon Brando.<br>1968 Thermonuclear testing in the islands. Pardoned Pouvanaa returns from France.<br>1970 Hurricane Emma causes destruction.<br>1972 Anti nuclear crusades. <br>Creation of the school the Tahitian Academy.<br>The first LDS Stake is organized in Tahiti on May 5.<br>1974 Mitterrand elected president. Tahitian Academy opens officially. <br>The 43rd nuclear test is made.<br>1975 First underground nuclear test. <br>Tahitian flag is officially acknowledged.<br>1980 Tahitian is recognized as the official language of Tahiti.<br>1983 Five hurricanes ravaged all the islands of French Polynesia. Coconut plantations destroyed.<br>An LDS temple is dedicated in Papeete. <br>2000 There are 16,200 LDS Church members, divided into 6 stakes, comprising one LDS Mission. | |||
Tubuai Islands or Austral Islands<br>A volcanic island group, it is comprised of seven atolls, the biggest being six miles long. Two are inhabited. Tubuai is very fertile. Oranges, coffee, arrowroot, tobacco, and copra are grown. The climate is healthy and temperate. Population is abt. 2,400, mainly Polynesian people. <br>There are 3 branches of the LDS Church in the Austral Islands, and they are the earliest in the Pacific, dating back to 1844-1852. <br>The islands are:<br>Maria (Hull), Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Rapa Islands, Rapa (Oparo), Bass (Marotiri)<br><br>Historical background <br>1775 Spaniard Gayanges discovers Raivavae (Austral).<br>1777 Tubuai was visited by British Captain James Cook.<br>1797 Wilson discovers Mangareva and Vaitahu.<br>1843 Mormon missionaries arrived in Tubuai and in Papeete.<br>1867 Epidemics in Rapa of the Austral Islands. A French protectorate is established.<br>1880 Tubuai was annexed by France.<br>1900 Rurutu and Rimatara of the Austral Islands are annexed by France. <br>1938 French authorities imposed strict regulations on immigration and tourism. | |||
Instructions for French Polynesian Family History work from Ives Perrin<br>Brother Perrin served as LDS Mission President in Tahiti, and as a Church educator in the islands of French Polynesia for several years. His suggestions for the steps a person from French Polynesia should take to get records after interviewing family members are as follows: | |||
1. We must secure an official government record.<br>Citizens are required to do this by law, but people on the outer islands sometimes put it off. People have a Polynesian name and an official French name. We must have the French name when we declare births with the government. We can find our parents’ records, which tell where we are from. | |||
2. We can then go to the Family History Center in Papeete and ask for help from the directors.<br>Presently, Elder and Sister Gautier are the FHC Directors. They both are fluent in French, and Sister Gautier knows Tahitian. They both understand the full situation of getting access to records. | |||
3. A person needs to know the French language to use the government records. <br>If we do not speak French, we should ask a translator to go with us. | |||
4. We can use the Family History Library Catalog to gain access to the records the Family History Library has. | |||
One oral genealogy which a member gave to Ives contained 77 generations. It is also in the Family History Library Catalog under the subject French Polynesia - Church History. It also appears in the book Seasons of Faith and Courage, by S. George Ellsworth and Kathleen C. Perrin, Published by Yves R. Perrin. This book is also in the Family History Library Catalog. | |||
Ives recommended that we read the book Tahiti in Ancient Days. It has information about Thor Heyerdahl’s expeditions. Another book with information about Heyerdahl’s research is American Indians in the Pacific. | |||
Resources available<br>• Go to the Internet at familysearch.org and click on the Library. From that tab, click on the Family History Library Catalog. We can type in French Polynesia to get a list of the islands and island groups and to see what records were made under this large jurisdiction. Then we should type in the name of each island group for records in that jurisdiction and then type in the name of the island that interests you. On <br>Tahiti, records are listed under the name of the town. Also, we should do a keyword search on Tahiti. Over 220 items will appear. | |||
Note: All of these islands are a protectorate of France. The people of these islands are full citizens of France. School children must learn French history. French is the governing language, and the civil records are kept in French. Jurisdictions are organized the same way | |||
• Births, marriages, and deaths are recorded by the government, and citizens are required to have an official government record. Tables are published by the government every ten years giving an index to the names in the records. This facilitates genealogical research up to the time when the French first came to the islands. They have been keeping records since the early 1800's. <br>• Notarial records are available from the year 1862.<br>• Large numbers of civil registration records are available from 1843.<br>• A large number of oral genealogies and land records are also available. <br>Tahiti: 795887, 795889<br>Tuamotos: 795889 <br>Tubuai (Austral Islands): 795889<br>We can also use a Film/fiche number search and look at the descriptions of the following microfilms, all of which contain French Polynesian information: 795887, 795888, 795889,181746 Item 7, and 1515054. | |||
Revision as of 19:54, 28 October 2008
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.
Customs
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 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.
Case Study
My name is Gisele Maeva Takanga Buchin Tehaavi. My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. We are currently serving as missionaries in the Family History Department (May, 2004) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following is a description of how I have been gathering and working on my family history.
1. The first thing I did was to talk to my mother and ask what information she had. My mother kept her genealogy in a book. It was legal size, like the archive binders. She would read to me out of it, but would not let me borrow it to copy it down in writing. She wanted me to memorize it. There were 7 of these books. My mother gave them to some missionaries to bring to Church Headquarters to have them input for the IGI and Ancestral file. They were supposed to have been taken here. I have not seen them since. But, the information for my ancestors is in the IGI, so I am assuming the information got there.
2. I copied the information from the IGI and put in on a pedigree chart.
3. I looked on the Internet on Ancestry.com and got a lot of information. One line goes back to 1513. The Internet makes it possible. I copied that information onto the pedigree chart.
4. I remembered the stories my mother told me about my ancestors so I could put them together with other information I got as clues to lead me to more information. I saw that my cousins had submitted the same people for temple work, but with different dates and sometimes different spellings of the names. Some temple work had been done several times. I recorded the temple ordinance dates on my records so they will not be done again in the temple.
5. I’m writing the stories that go along with the names, dates, and places so other people can understand why my ancestors lived where they did, and what the sacrifices were that the ones who were early members of the Church made for their faith. The following story is what I remember of what my mother told me.My great grandfather was born in France (See Page XX for the pedigree chart which records him as Pierre Jules Buchin, born in 1833.).
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 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.
Queen Pomare fought against the Mamia chiefs. They finally all died out.
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.
At this time, Church Brethren were imprisoned in Tahiti and in Anaa. My ancestors hid in caves under the reef by day and got their food by night. They built canoes and provided them with food. The men worked on the canoes while the women got food and clothing ready and put water into gourds for drinking. Some gourds were several feet tall. They only grow on volcanic islands, so families had to trade for them.
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 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 members would travel and work together, keeping their organization as branches. They would meet once a month in a church house, and have regular gatherings more often. This kept them from the evils of gambling, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. that were around them. There is no school during the diving.
The fathers and the oldest boys go diving. The men would dive down, sometimes as deep as 30 yards, holding their breath from 3 to 5 minutes. My grandfather (Kaheke Mariteragi or Fakapeka) was one of the best divers. He could hold his breath for 5 minutes. He made 50 dives a day at the height of his manhood. There are sharks around, and they have to come up gradually after a dive so they won’t get the “bends” from the change in pressure. They have to stop diving at age 55 because it is so hard on them.
The women would make dresses, shirts, and bread to sell. They would dry the abalone meat and get the pearls and prepare the mother-of-pearl in the shells. They would sell the dried abalone meat, the pearls, and the mother of pearl to a Chinese owner. This owner would lend them the money to equip them for the diving voyage. They would dive for 3 weeks to earn the money to repay him. He would pay them for the rest of the things they had gotten from their labors. They lived for the rest of the year on this money, and would go to Tahiti to get the supplies they needed for the rest of the year. My Grandfather was Branch President at Faaite. When children are 8 years old they go to Makemo.
My husband is Emile Auguste Tehaavi. His parents are from the Leeward Islands, Huahine. His family now lives in New Zealand. People of the Tehaavi family are in the Cook Islands also. And in the Mangaia Islands near Rarotonga. It took a fisherman 6 months to sail to Rarotonga from Tahiti a few years ago when he got lost. The winds and currents led him from Tahiti to Rarotonga.
My mother’s name was Teuruhei Kokura Mariteragi. I was born on Hikueru. Some of the people there have red hair. Some Stories about Hikueru are that the 5th king went to Bora Bora on his canoe to get his wife. It took him 5 months. The people had to prepare for long voyages, and had to navigate well to reach their destinations.
Tumukiva, the 7th king, also went to Raiatea (near Bora Bora) to get his wife.
Instead of using a canoe, Tumukiva is said to have walked underground through a lava tube. His wife, Tiai Tau (which means Always Waiting), lived by a well. He saw her there. Her husband was always gone a lot on voyages, so he had a bird watching over her. Because Tumukiva came up through a well, the bird didn’t see him. He took her home to be his wife. She had red hair. The people on Hikueru who are of his family have red hair. Tumukiva said “Maehara, taku hinganaui” means “My wish has been fulfilled.”
My ancestors who built the chapel in Takaroa came from Mangareva. They learned to build gothic style churches using crushed coral. The Takaroa chapel was rebuilt, but in the same style as the original one. It is the pride and joy of the Members there. My Great Grandfather, Kaheka Mariteragi, took up the chapel the members of the Church had built in Fakareva and towed it to Takaroa on a platform between 2 canoes. There were no members in Fakareva any more, so he wanted it where the members would be. President Caumet published some pictures of the chapel in a book. He was one of the temple presidents in Tahiti.
There is also a picture of the Mission Schooner. It was in use from 1950 to 1956. I sailed to all of the islands with the mission president when I was a member of the Church Band. He organized it and I was in it for 3 years. I later became a teacher in the elementary schools of our Church. Our home is now in Moorea, Tahiti.
The Island groups and their historical background
Marquesas Islands
These islands are known in Polynesian legends of the Maori, Hawaiians, Rarotongans, and Easter Islanders as the Sacred Land of Hava`iki, from whence their ancestors came. They lie ten degrees south of the equator, are 4,000 miles west of Peru, and are the northernmost of French Polynesia. Population is about 1,800 people, most of them living on Hiva Oa.
The Marquesan language is the ancestor of modern Polynesian languages. Tahitian and Hawaiian are dialects of ancient Marquesan. Though 1,200 miles further away than Tahiti, the Hawaiian language more nearly parallels Marquesan than Tahitian. It is also similar to Mangarevan (Gambier Islands) and Rarotongan (Cook Island) languages.
Mendana (southeast) group: Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Tahuata, Mohotani, Rouatoua, and Fatu Huka. Washington (northwest) group: Nuku hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Ituka, Eiao, Hiao, Hatutu,, and Motu-Oa.
Historical background
1595 Spaniard Mendana de Neyra and Quiros discovered the southeastern group of the Marquesas.
1791 Englishman Marchand Ingraham discovers the northern Marquesas
1792 Whalers visit the Marquesas
1837 Englishman Pritchard is appointed consul to the Marquesas.
1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas.
1840 Pritchard leaves for England to ask for British protection.
1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva.
Islanders kill 26 Frenchmen in Tabuate, Marquesas.
1843 The French protectorate of the islands is acknowledged by Britain, in spite of Pritchard’s return.
1849-50 French troops withdraw from the Marquesas.
1860 War begins in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas,
Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin.
1863 Former slaves, returned from Peru, bring small pox to the Marquesas.
There is a rapid depopulation, due to smallpox, drunkenness, human sacrifice, cannibalism, warfare, and prostitution.
1881 France establishes a civil administration in the Marquesas.
1914 German raiders are shelled at Papeete and exiled to the Marquesas.
1961 Taiohae is chosen as the site of the vicariate of the Marquesas.
Tuamotu (Low and Dangerous) Archipelago
Composed of 80 coral atolls, of which 50 are inhabited, the name means Islands Under the Clouds. Once heavily populated, the population is now only about 5,200 because people moved to better jobs.
The islands include: Ahe, Manihi, Takaroa, Tepoto, Napuka, Mataiva, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Takapoto, Tikei, Puka Puka, Arutua, Aaptaki, Aratika, Makatea, Kaukura, Toau, Kauehi, Takume, Fangatau, Fakahina, Niau, Raraka, Taenga, Raroia, Fakarava, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Makemo, Nihiru, Rekareka, Faaite, Tepoto, Marutea Nord, Tahanea, Motutunga, Tekokota, Tauere, Anaa, Haraiki, Hikueru, Amanu, Reitoru, Marokau, Hao, Ravahere, Akiaki, Pukarua, Negonego, Paraoa, Vahitahi, Reao, Manuhangi, Vairaatea, Nukutavake, Pinaki, Hereheretue, Ahunui, Anuanuraro, Anuanurunga, Nukutepipi, Vanavana, Tureia, Vahanga, Tenararo, Tenarunga, Marutea Sud, Matureivavao, Mururoa, Tematagi, Fangataufa, Maria, and Morane
Historical background
1543 Magellan’s Portugese fleet discovers Puka Puka, northeast Tuamotu
1616 Dutchmen Jacob Le Maire and Willem Scheuten reached Puka Puka, Takaroa, Takapoto, Manihi, and Rangiroa, all of the Tuamotu islands.
1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards.
1765 Englishman John Byron reached Tepoto, Napuka, Takeroe, Takapoto, and Rangirao.
1767 Englishman Samuel Wallis charted and claimed the islands for Britain.
1768 The French claim the islands.
1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central Tuamotu islands. His wife, Tetua, dies.
1826 Tahitians who will not accept the Mamaia religion flee to the Tuamotos.
1831 Uprising of chiefs against Pomare Vahine IV, who is forced to condemn the Mamaia sect.
1833 First Catholic Vicar Apostolic in the islands.
Defeat of the chiefs of the Taiarapu (supported by the Mamaia sect) heralds its decline.
1841 Last members of the Mamaia sect die because they refused vaccination.
1842 Establishment of a French protectorate on Tahiti.
1845 Mormon missionary Grouard has great success on the island of Anaa.
1852 Catholic persecution of Mormons on Anaa. They are forced to flee, die, or attend the Catholic Church.
1860 Raids of the Peruvian slave traders begin.
1862 Slave traders captured in the Tuamotus.
1903 Hurricane in Tuamotu.
1905 Phosphates discovered in Makatea, Tuamotu.
1908 Leprosy spread to the eastern Tuamotu islands.
1918 Flu epidemic kills 20 percent of the population.
Phosphates are exploited in Makaeta, Tuamotu.
Gambier Islands or Mangareva
These atolls have a population of about 6,500 people. Whaling ships stopped here in the 19th century. One of the last strongholds of cannibalism, overzealous missionaries worked the population to death. The majority are Protestant. LDS Missionaries have begun to work here.
They are: Mangareva (Pearl), Taravai (Belcher), Temoe, Aukena (Elson), and Akamaru (Wainwright)
Historical background
1823 Frederick Beechey enters the lagoon of the Gambier islands.
1834 A Catholic mission is begun in the Gambier islands.
1841 Hurricane in the Gambier islands.
Society Islands
Papeete, Tahiti is the administrative center of this chain of islands, 7 volcanic and 7 atolls, running in 2 lines, east and west. Of the 100,000 population of Polynesian, French, Chinese and half-caste people in the Society Islands, about 50,000 live on Tahiti, which is 37 miles long. Agriculture and tourism support the economy. Cacao, vanilla, and fruits are grown. Religion is mostly Protestant, with some Catholic and some LDS.
The islands are: Leeward Islands (Iles sous le Vent) (population about 28,000).
Bellingshausen, Scilly, Tupai, Scilly, Maupiti, Bora Bora, Tahaa, Hauhine, Mopelia, Raiatea
Windward Islands (pop. About 170,000)
Tahiti, Tetiaroa, Moorea (formerly called Eimeo or Aimeho), Maiao, Mehetia
Historical background
300 Polynesians reached the Society Islands. Local chiefs ruled.
1722 Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen reached Maketea of the Tuamotus and Bora Bora of the Leewards.
1769 British James Cook reached Tahiti, Anaa (Tuamotu), and Rurutu (Austral) Islands.
1773 Second voyage of Cook reaches Tahiti, Raiatea, and Tabuate (Marquesea) and the war of Tutaha beginning the reign of Chief Tu begins. It continues until 1803.
1774 French missionaries attempt evangelization at Tautira, Tahiti
1775 Evangelization program ends.
1777 Third visit of Cook’s ship. Numerous Tahitians die of venereal diseases.
1788 Crew of the Bounty mutiny against Captain Bligh and escape to the islands.
1789 Bounty mutineers try to settle at Tubuai. Sixteen settle at Tahiti and help the father of Chief Tu.
1790 Tu is invested as chief of Tahiti. His father takes the name of Pomare.
. 1792 Three white seamen visit Tahiti.
1793 Pomare is the victor of Punaauia chiefs, and the Vehiatua chiefdom ends.
1797 Pomare extends his authority on the Leeward islands and becomes king.
James Wilson reaches Tahiti.
Eighteen missionaries of the London Missionary Society land there.
1798 Eleven of the London missionaries leave Tahiti.
1800 The French begin keeping public records.
1801 More missionaries arrive. Hapai, the father of Pomare I , dies.
1803 Pomare I dies. Missionaries sustain Pomare II.
1805 The first book written in the Tahitian language is published in London.
1806 Pomare II extends his power on the northern and central Tuamotu islands. His wife, Tetua, dies.
1807 Pomare II wars with the Punaauia and Papara chiefs.
1808 Uprising of Tahiti against Pomare II. All misionaries but Henry Nott leave for Huahine.
1810 Pomare II marries Teremoemee, daughter of Tametea, King of Raiatea.
1812 Pomare is baptized a Christian.
1813 Birth of Aimate, daughter of Pomare II. Church and school built at Papetoai in Moorea.
1814 Christianity is brought to the Leeward Islands.
1815 High Priest Patii of Moorea is converted to Christianity. Pomare and the converts war against the Opuhara. Battle of Feipi and victory to the Christians. The defeated are forgiven.
1817 Pomare publishes the first Tahitian language book in Tahiti.
1819 First common law code is written. Pomare II is christened.
1820 A Russian expedition reaches Tahiti. Teri`itaria, son of Pomare II is born.
1823 Frenchmen Duperrey and d’Urviolle reach Tahiti.
1826 The Founding of the English society for the “Exploitation of Lagoon resources.”
A ban on foreigners is decreed.
The founding of the syncretistic sect of the Mamaia in Tahiti.
1827 Death of Pomare II. Reign of Pomare Vahine IV begins.
The Mamaia sect is spread to other islands. Unstable period begins.
1829 Whaling is developed on French Polynesian islands.
The New Testament is printed in Tahitian.
1831 Uprising of chiefs against Pomare Vahine IV, who is forced to condemn the Mamaia sect.
1833 First Catholic Vicar Apostolic in the islands.
Defeat of the chiefs of the Taiarapu (supported by the Mamaia sect) heralds its decline.
1836 Failure of the Catholic missionaries in Tahiti.
1837 Frenchman Abel Thouars is sent to keep order in the Pacific and control the whalers.
Tahitian-European intermarriages forbidden.
Pritchard appointed consul of Great Britain.
1838 Pomare Vahine IV asks for British protection.
1839 French commander Laplace intervenes to gain freedom for Catholic activities. War goes on in the Marquesas.
Treaty of religious freedom in Tahiti ratified.
Son of Pomare Vahine IV (Ariiaue) is born.
1840 Anarchy reigns. Pomare IV is powerless.
Pritchard asks for British protection and leaves for London.
1841 Marriages between Tahitians and Europeans allowed during three days in September.
The last members of the Mamaia sect die because they refused vaccination.
1842 French annex the Marquesas and land a detachment of troops at Taiohae, Nuku Hiva.
Establishment of a French protectorate on Tahiti.
Herman Melville (author of Moby Dick) arrives.
1843 The French protectorate of the islands is acknowledged by Britain, in spite of Pritchard’s return.
Mormon missionaries arrived in Tubuai and in Papeete, Tahiti, before the Latter-day Saints left for Utah. The LDS Church has had some kind of presence there ever since.
1844 Pritchard arrested and deported. Tahitian chiefs Tati, Hitoti and Paraita accept the French protectorate, but a war begins in Punaauia, Faaa and Teva I Uta districts. Pomare IV flees to Raiatea.
1845 The chief Paraita reigns. Laws are revised.
Mormon missionariy Grouard is in Anaa, having rapid and successful activities.
1847 Peace after the French victory at Punaruu. Pomare IV is re-established and comes back to Papeete.
1847 French-British treaty on the Leeward Islands is signed, and a legislative assembly is in Tahiti.
1851 The first Tahitian-English dictionary is published.
1852 Independence of the Tahitian Churches is proclaimed.
Mormon Anaans revolt against the Catholic faith. They are imprisoned and martyred.
French Government restrictions halt the growth of the LDS mission and it is closed. Mormon Saints go into hiding. Missionaries Grouard and Pratt are deported.
All British missionaries depart except Orsmond.
1857 Tamatoa V (1842-1881) a son of Pomare Vahine IV, is crowned king of Raiatea.
1862 The French language becomes compulsory. Seven Tahitian students sent to Nantes, France.
Cadastral survey taken.
A Tahitian-French dictionary and a Tahitan grammar are published by Mgr T. Jaussen.
1864 A large cotton plantation is established by an Englishman, and he imports 1,000 Chinese workers.
1869 Pomare IV asks for a British protectorate on Tahiti. It is not given.
1873 The cotton plantation goes bankrupt and the Chinese become market gardeners, hawkers, and opium dealers.
1874 Missionaries of the Reorganized LDS Church visit and record the situation on the islands.
1875 Ariiaue marries Marau Taarou Salmon.
1877 Pomare Vahine dies. Ariiaue reigns under the name of Pomare V.
1880 The Leeward Islands are annexed to France, and Pomare V gives his territories to France.
1882 Civil law applies to schools. Lay teachers replace nuns and brothers in Tahitian schools. Catholics found independent schools.
A ban on the tattooing of entire bodies is made.
1890 The last British missionary leaves the Leeward Islands.
1891 Arrival of Paul Gaugain. Death of Pomare V. Death of Mgr. Jaussen.
1892 Honorary succession of the Pomares: Prince Hinoi (l869-1916) declared king.
LDS (Mormon) mission is re-opened by Joseph Damron and William Seegmiller.
1894 Development of sugar and rum production. Problems with opium.
1895 Birth of Pouvanaa a Oopa in Huahine.
1900 Constitution of the Etablissements Français d’Oceanie.
1904 The Pomare family gives Tetiaroa to the Canadian dentist W. J. Williams for his service.
1914 Leprosarium built at Orofara, Tahiti.
1914 German raiders are shelled at Papeete and exiled to the Marquesas.
1916 Death of Prince Hinoi Pomare.
Battalion of 906 Tahitians levied to fight in World War I.
1918 Flu epidemic kills 20 percent of the population.
1919 540 Tahitian warriors of World War I return.
1924 A tourism campaign is launched.
1934 Death of Marautaarou Salmon, last queen of Tahiti.
1940 The islands join a Free French Goverment of De Gaulle after a referendum.
1946 American soldiers depart from base in Bora Bora, where it was built in 1942.
1947 Thor Heyerdahl’s ship “Kon Tiki” lands and is then taken to Tahiti.
1948 757 Chinese depart for China.
1949 Founding of Radio Tahiti.
1951 Aerial cartography of Polynesia accomplished.
1952 Founding of Air Tahiti.
1957 Territory reconstituted as French Polynesia. Extended powers for the Territorial Assembly and Governmental council created.
Pouvanaa became the first vice president.
1958 Jehovah’s Witness missionaries arrive.
Pouvanaa’s plan to make an independent republic and levy income taxes fails. People vote to remain French and Pouvanaa is jailed.
1960 Filming of “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando.
1964 Chinese settlers begin to apply for French citizenship.
LDS French elementary school opens.
1966 First nuclear test. Tetiaroa Island sold to Marlon Brando.
1968 Thermonuclear testing in the islands. Pardoned Pouvanaa returns from France.
1970 Hurricane Emma causes destruction.
1972 Anti nuclear crusades.
Creation of the school the Tahitian Academy.
The first LDS Stake is organized in Tahiti on May 5.
1974 Mitterrand elected president. Tahitian Academy opens officially.
The 43rd nuclear test is made.
1975 First underground nuclear test.
Tahitian flag is officially acknowledged.
1980 Tahitian is recognized as the official language of Tahiti.
1983 Five hurricanes ravaged all the islands of French Polynesia. Coconut plantations destroyed.
An LDS temple is dedicated in Papeete.
2000 There are 16,200 LDS Church members, divided into 6 stakes, comprising one LDS Mission.
Tubuai Islands or Austral Islands
A volcanic island group, it is comprised of seven atolls, the biggest being six miles long. Two are inhabited. Tubuai is very fertile. Oranges, coffee, arrowroot, tobacco, and copra are grown. The climate is healthy and temperate. Population is abt. 2,400, mainly Polynesian people.
There are 3 branches of the LDS Church in the Austral Islands, and they are the earliest in the Pacific, dating back to 1844-1852.
The islands are:
Maria (Hull), Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Rapa Islands, Rapa (Oparo), Bass (Marotiri)
Historical background
1775 Spaniard Gayanges discovers Raivavae (Austral).
1777 Tubuai was visited by British Captain James Cook.
1797 Wilson discovers Mangareva and Vaitahu.
1843 Mormon missionaries arrived in Tubuai and in Papeete.
1867 Epidemics in Rapa of the Austral Islands. A French protectorate is established.
1880 Tubuai was annexed by France.
1900 Rurutu and Rimatara of the Austral Islands are annexed by France.
1938 French authorities imposed strict regulations on immigration and tourism.
Instructions for French Polynesian Family History work from Ives Perrin
Brother Perrin served as LDS Mission President in Tahiti, and as a Church educator in the islands of French Polynesia for several years. His suggestions for the steps a person from French Polynesia should take to get records after interviewing family members are as follows:
1. We must secure an official government record.
Citizens are required to do this by law, but people on the outer islands sometimes put it off. People have a Polynesian name and an official French name. We must have the French name when we declare births with the government. We can find our parents’ records, which tell where we are from.
2. We can then go to the Family History Center in Papeete and ask for help from the directors.
Presently, Elder and Sister Gautier are the FHC Directors. They both are fluent in French, and Sister Gautier knows Tahitian. They both understand the full situation of getting access to records.
3. A person needs to know the French language to use the government records.
If we do not speak French, we should ask a translator to go with us.
4. We can use the Family History Library Catalog to gain access to the records the Family History Library has.
One oral genealogy which a member gave to Ives contained 77 generations. It is also in the Family History Library Catalog under the subject French Polynesia - Church History. It also appears in the book Seasons of Faith and Courage, by S. George Ellsworth and Kathleen C. Perrin, Published by Yves R. Perrin. This book is also in the Family History Library Catalog.
Ives recommended that we read the book Tahiti in Ancient Days. It has information about Thor Heyerdahl’s expeditions. Another book with information about Heyerdahl’s research is American Indians in the Pacific.
Resources available
• Go to the Internet at familysearch.org and click on the Library. From that tab, click on the Family History Library Catalog. We can type in French Polynesia to get a list of the islands and island groups and to see what records were made under this large jurisdiction. Then we should type in the name of each island group for records in that jurisdiction and then type in the name of the island that interests you. On
Tahiti, records are listed under the name of the town. Also, we should do a keyword search on Tahiti. Over 220 items will appear.
Note: All of these islands are a protectorate of France. The people of these islands are full citizens of France. School children must learn French history. French is the governing language, and the civil records are kept in French. Jurisdictions are organized the same way
• Births, marriages, and deaths are recorded by the government, and citizens are required to have an official government record. Tables are published by the government every ten years giving an index to the names in the records. This facilitates genealogical research up to the time when the French first came to the islands. They have been keeping records since the early 1800's.
• Notarial records are available from the year 1862.
• Large numbers of civil registration records are available from 1843.
• A large number of oral genealogies and land records are also available.
Tahiti: 795887, 795889
Tuamotos: 795889
Tubuai (Austral Islands): 795889
We can also use a Film/fiche number search and look at the descriptions of the following microfilms, all of which contain French Polynesian information: 795887, 795888, 795889,181746 Item 7, and 1515054.