Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Podcast
Tales of mishaps. misfortune, and misadventures
Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs
Photo of a statue of Wiebbe Hayes wearing 17th century Dutch clothing and holding a pike.

Batavia’s Graveyard – Part 3

The Dutch East India Company (Dutch: Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC for short) was one of the largest and most profitable companies ever to exist. In 1628, the company built a stunning new flagship, the Batavia. Led by the Upper Merchant Francisco Pelsaert, the Under Merchant Jeronimus Cornelisz, and its Schipper Ariaen Jacobz, the ship left The Netherlands with its fleet in October of 1628 on a voyage to the settlement of Batavia (modern day Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies.

Summary

In this final installment of Batavia’s Graveyard, Jeronimus Cornelisz and his fellow mutineers begin their reign of terror on the other survivors of the Batavia shipwreck. Cornelisz orders the senseless murders of countless survivors. Pelsaert, Jacobsz and over 40 others reach the Dutch settlement of Batavia on the island of Java in the longboat, and Pelsaert is dispatched with a rescue ship to recover survivors and cargo. Meanwhile Cornelisz launches attacks on Wiebbe Hayes and his soldiers on “The Highlands.” Pelsaert arrives just in time during a pitched battle. Cornelisz and the mutineers are captured, and the interrogations begin.

Cover photograph of the book Lucretia's Batavia Diary, by Howard Gray, with a worn looking diary cover and a young woman in 17th century dress.
Lucretia’s Batavia Diary, a novel by Dr. Howard S. Gray

Dr. Howard Gray (B.Sc., Dip.Ed., Ph.D.) joins me as my guest. Dr. Gray is one of the world’s foremost experts about the story of the Batavia, the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago, and Western Australian history. He is the chair of the Batavia Coast Maritime Heritage Association, Reviews Editor for the Australian Association for Maritime History, frequent guest lecturer, researcher, and educational tour guide. Dr. Gray has also authored several books, including the novel Lucretia’s Batavia Diary, and the non-fiction Spice at Any Price.

You can find Dr. Gray’s books at Westralian Books or reserve an educational tour of Houtman’s Abrolhos with Dr. Gray here.

The partial remains of the Batavia at the Western Australian Shipwreck Museum in Fremantle, W.A., Australia.
The partial remains of the Batavia at the Western Australian Shipwreck Museum in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Photo of the recovered stern section of the Batavia, a cannon, and the stone arch that was intended for Castle Batavia on the island of Java.
The recovered stern section of the Batavia, a cannon, and the stone arch that was intended for Castle Batavia on the island of Java. Western Australian Shipwreck Museum in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Photo of a skeleton in a mass grave.
One of the skeletons found in mass graves on Beacon Island, also known as Batavia’s Graveyard.
Photo of a statue of Wiebbe Hayes wearing 17th century Dutch clothing and holding a pike.
This statue of Wiebbe Hayes, hero of the Batavia massacre, was unveiled in Geraldton, Western Australia in November of 2009.
Photo of the inscription on the Wiebbe Hayes statue in Geraldton. The inscription reads: Wiebbe Hayes - Hero of the Batavia Five days after the wreck of the Batavia at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in 1629, Commander Francisco Pelsaert and skipper Arien Jacobsz with forty six others left in the ship's longboat to search for water, ending up in Batavia (Java, Indonesia) and not returning for three and a half months. In their absence VOC's undermerchant Jeronimous Cornelisz assumed control of the 200 survivors marooned on Beacon Island and he and his accomplices embarked on a reign of terror and murder. Cornelisz isolated soldier Wiebbe Hayes and some twenty others on East Wallabi Island, expecting they would die, but they crossed to West Wallabi Island where they found water and food. Escapees from the bloodshed on Beacon Island alerted Hayes, and he organised the defence of his companions, repelling attacks from Cornelisz and eventually capturing him. When Pelsaert returned, Hayes raced ahead of the remaining mutineers to warn him of their plans to overwhelm the rescue ship. Wiebbe Hayes actions undoubtably saved many lives and saw Cornelisz and his conspiritors bought to justice. Dedicated 8 November 2009 by Max Cramer OAM Life member BCMHA Sculptor : Anthony Horn
Photo of a low stone fort used by Wiebbe Hayes and his men on West Wallabi Island.
A stone fort used by Wiebbe Hayes and his men on West Wallabi Island.
Original pencil drawing of the execution of Jeronimus Cornelisz.
Hanging on Seals Island of Jeronimus Cornelisz and other mutineers. [Photo: Plate 6, 1647 Dutch book Ongeluckige voyagie, van’t schip Batavia (‘Unlucky voyage of the ship Batavia). ]
Photo of a hole in the coral surface of West Wallabi Island
One of the wells found by Wiebbe Hayes on West Wallabi Island. It was a pit such as this where Jeronimus Cornelisz was imprisoned.
A map of Houtman's Abrolhos just off the coast of Western Australia.
Houtman’s Abrolhos is only 50 miles (80 km) from the coast of Western Australia.
Satellite image of the Wallabi Group of Houtman's Abrolhos
The layout of the islands of the Wallabi Group of Houtman’s Abrolhos. Traveling between the islands was difficult and dangerous.
Map of the Wallabi Group where the events of the Batavia shipwreck took place.
The islands of the Wallabi Group of Houtman’s Abrolhos. Note the very small size of Traitor’s Island; it is only about 50 m wide.
Aerial photograph of the small, hook-shaped Beacon Island, also known as Batavia's Graveyard.
Beacon Island, or “Batavia’s Graveyard,” in the Wallabi Group of Houtman’s Abrolhos. Survivors of the Batavia shipwreck eventually were transported to this small island. The tiny strip of land in the distance is Traitor’s Island.
Close-up satellite photo of Traitor's Island
Traitor’s Island is just a speck of coral, only about 50 meters long. Survivors of the Batavia gathered here first after the wreck.
Dr. Howard Gray standing at the grave site of Frederick de Houtman.
Dr. Howard Gray found Frederick de Houtman’s grave under a stack of chairs in Alkmaar’s Great Church, which is no longer used for worship. Houtman discovered the archipelago of islands off the coast of Western Australia in 1619. Image Credit: Howard Gray
A full sized replica of the longboat taken by Francisco Pelsaert, Ariaen Jacobsz, and about 40 others from Houtman’s Abrolhos to the island of Java.
Drawing of a suspicious looking Jeronimus Cornelisz with a ship in the distance.
Pencil sketch of Jeronimus Cornelisz
17th Century drawing of Francisco Pelsaert
17th Century drawing of Francisco Pelsaert
Lucretia van der Miljen was a young woman who may have looked and dressed something like this.

Sources

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