Lammermuir Party

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The Lammermuir Party sailed on 26 May 1866.

The tea clipper Lammermuir built in 1864.

Lammermuir Party ( May 26, 1866 – September 30, 1866), was a British Protestant Christian group of missionaries to China with the China Inland Mission led by James Hudson Taylor, who were identified with the tea clipper that brought them to China – the Lammermuir (clipper). Mission historians have indicated that this event was a turning point in the history of missionary work in China in the 1800’s. This was the largest party of Protestant missionaries to arrive at one time on Chinese shores. It was also noteworthy that none of the members of the mission were ordained as ministers, and only 2 had any previous overseas experience. In addition to this there were among them 9 unmarried women traveling to a place where single European women were rare for many reasons.

In the cool morning air of May 26th, 1866 the bright sun rose on 34 sailors and 18 missionaries with 4 children who boarded the Lammermuir which lay tied up to the East India Docks of London. It was only a 2 year old clipper ship with 3 masts and square-rigged sails. Her frame was built of iron and by the standard of the day she was a first class sailing vessel. A voyage halfway around the world would only take 4 months – a fast trip – compared to the 6 month duration of some of the older ships of the decade previous.

Henry Grattan Guinness wrote a hymn in honor of their departure that echoed Hudson Taylor’s 1865 book “China: It’s Spiritual Need and Claims:

“Over the dark blue sea, over the trackless flood, A little band is gone in the service of their God; The lonely waste of waters they traverse to proclaim In the distant land of Sinim, Immanuel’s saving Name. They have heard from the far-off East the voice of their brothers’ blood: A million a month in China are dying without God.”

The Lammermuir was nearly wrecked by 2 typhoons before limping into the Shanghai harbor in late September.

Hudson Taylor recalled the most perilous time in the voyage:

““The appearance of things was now truly terrific. Rolling fearfully, the masts and yards hanging down were tearing our only sail... and battering like a ram against the main yard. The deck from forecastle to poop was one scarcely broken sea. The roar of the water, the clanging of chains, the beating of the dangling masts and yards, the sharp smack of the torn sails made it almost impossible to hear any orders that might be given.” ”

The badly damaged ship caused a local stir because it was so badly damaged. Even more so, the intent of the passengers to don Chinese clothes and embark into the interior of China with single women among them caused a greater consternation among the “Westerners” in China.

1 List of Missionaries and children
2 Chronology of Voyage
3 See also
4 External links
5 Further Reading

[edit] List of Missionaries and children

James Hudson Taylor
Mrs. Maria Jane Taylor (Maria Jane Dyer) (died of cholera 4 years later - 1870)
Grace Dyer Taylor (died of meningitis in the first year - 1867)
Herbert Hudson Taylor
Frederick Howard Taylor
Samuel Dyer Taylor (died less than 4 years later in 1870)
Lewis Nicol, Arbroath
Mrs. Eliza Nicol
George Duncan (missionary), Banffshire (died seven years later in 1873)
Josiah Jackson, Kingsland
William David Rudland, Eversden
John R. Sell, Romford (died of smallpox in the first year - 1867)
James Williamson (missionary), Arbroath
Susan Barnes, Limerick
Mary Elizabeth Bausum, Walthamstow
Emily Blatchley, London (died of tuberculosis eight years later in 1874)
Mary Bell, Epping (later married William David Rudland - she died in 1873)
Mary Bowyer, London (later married Frederick W. Baller)
Louise Desgraz, Liverpool and Switzerland
Jane Elizabeth Faulding, London (later second wife of Hudson Taylor)
Jane McLean, Inverness
Elisabeth Rose, Barnsley (later married James Joseph Meadows)

[edit] Chronology of Voyage

Departed East India Docks, London Saturday, 26 May 1866
Last sight of England is Start Point Lighthouse, Devon
June 3 near Cape Finnisterre
June 12 near Canary Islands
June 18 near Cape Verde Islands
June Atlantic Ocean doldrums
abt. July 7 near Trinidad Island
pass great Tea clipper race Firey Cross (clipper), Taeping (clipper), Ariel (clipper), Serica (clipper), & Taistsing (clipper)(later 3 others) bound for London
pass Belted Will (clipper), Flying Spur (clipper) bound for London
sighting Cape Town lighthouse
passing the Min (clipper), Falcon (clipper) bound for London
conversion of many of crew to Christianity
Friday, early AM, Aug 3rd Taylor wakes several to tell of First Mate Brunton’s conversion
Saturday, Aug 4 heavy seas – Sternsail boom breaks and hits William Carron. Jennie Faulding talks with Grace Taylor and it is evident that she has had a Christian conversion experience
abt. Aug 14 near Amsterdam Island
sighting flying fish in Indian Ocean
Monday, Aug 27 Sunda strait past Mt. Krakatoa
Tuesday, August 28 1866 Anjer Roads, Java: shore leave & baptism service
Friday, Aug 31 Selat Gelasa (Gaspar Strait) (past wrecks of other ships including the Lammermuir (first) (clipper))
Saturday, Sept. 1 South China Sea cross Equator
Sep 10-14: 1st Typhoon in the East China Sea
Sept 14-19 Stormy detour around Taiwan
Monday, Sept 18 near Fujian coast
Sept 20-24 Second Typhoon in Pacific Ocean nearly wrecks the ship
Sept 21 bulwarks gone
Sept 22 all 3 topmasts gone
Sept 23 Hudson Taylor kisses children and then goes out in storm to help crew
Sept 28 near Ma-an Liedao (Saddle Islands)
The Lammermuir arrived 29 September 1866 near Wusong, China
30 Sept arrived Shanghai