HISTORIC MUTINEERS. 97 



Adams lived to be the instructor, the governor, 

 adviser, and in all essential things the father of 

 the entire people. He had a ring with which he 

 for years married every couple that was united 

 on the island. Great harmony prevailed in the 

 little community. If any difficulty arose it was 

 referred to " Father Adams," who always and 

 speedily managed to set things right. 



Some time previous to 1825 a whaleship which 

 anchored off the island left on shore a young man 

 who had become so fascinated with the life of the 

 small colony that he wished to remain among its 

 people. In this man the young people found an 

 enthusiastic instructor, and all a close and 

 unselfish friend. His name was John Buffet. 



John Adams died on March 29, 1829, sixty-five 

 years of age, having lived on Pitcairn Island 

 forty-one years. There had come to the island 

 in 1828 a man named John Hunn Nobbs, who 

 had married Sarah, grand-daughter of Fletcher 

 Christian. Mr. Nobbs having proved an excellent 

 friend and wise counsellor, on him fell the mantle 

 of the expiring "father" of the people. 



When in 1851 Rear-Admiral Fairfax Moresby 

 visited Pitcairn, he took a special interest in Mr. 

 Nobbs and his family, and procured a passage for 

 him to London, where he was ordained a deacon 



