Christian Melodies (Before 1845)
| Created by: | Reverend John Todd |
| Archive: | National Maritime Museum |
| Reference number: | Object ID no AAA2055 |
| Date: | Before 1845 |
| Notes: | A relic of Sir John Franklin's last expedition 1845-48. A cloth bound pocket book (Christian Melodies) found in an abandoned boat at Erebus Bay, King William Island, in May 1859 by the McClintock Search Expedition 1857-59. An inscription on the flyleaf to 'G.G' indicates that it belonged to Lt Graham Gore, HMS Erebus. The book was published by Thomas Ward & Co., 27 Paternoster Row in 1836 and is a book of Christian verses rather than a hymnbook. McClintock's party reached this site on 30 May and discovered that Hobson had been there a few days before on 18 May. The boat was 28 foot long and mounted on a heavy sledge. McClintock found it just above high tide mark pointing back in the direction of the ships and containing a large quantity of abandoned personal possessions and two skeletons. Graham Gore entered the Navy in April 1820. He took part in the Battle of Navarino whilst serving as Midshipman on HMS Albion. During 1836 and 1837 he served as Mate in Terror under Sir George Back during Back's voyage to the Arctic. Now a Lieutenant, he served in Modest and Volage during the Chinese war. Appointed Lieutenant on Franklin's ship HMS Erebus in 1845, he was promoted to the rank of Commander after the expedition sailed. Commander Fitzjames said he was a 'man of great stability of character, a very good officer, and the sweetest of tempers'. In May 1847, Franklin sent Gore, des Voeux and six men to King William Island, probably to explore the then uncharted link in the North West Passage. The party marched for some distance along the west coast of the island to the south before returning to the ships. By the time the ships were abandoned in April the following year, Gore was dead. |
