Chamorro Whalers of the Charles W. Morgan Ship

Details: Written by: Bernard Punzalan; Published: 26 March 2014

In the second edition of the book "The Mariana Islands 1884-1887: Random Notes," by Governor Francisco Olive y Garcia and translated and annotated by Marjorie G. Driver (2006), there are several accolades of Chamorro men as sailors and harpooners. Within the book, one of the American whaling ships that frequented the Mariana Islands between 1851-1904 was the Charles W. Morgan.

Economic Driver

The whaling industry was a significant economic driver for the Mariana Islands. For instance in 1788, the situado (subsidy) for the Mariana Mission was 20,137.50 pesos. By 1828, that amount was severely reduced to 8,016 pesos. Meanwhile, the whaling industry contributed an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 pesos a year to the economy; mostly trade articles and some cash to buy or exchange products. (Driver in Olive, 2006)

Bayeneru/Ballonero

Several Chamorro men (known as Bayeneru/Ballonero) had taken up the opportunity to become a part of the Morgan whaling ship. I was fortunate to find some historical information (www.mysticseaport.org) on the Morgan as well as a crewmember manifest listing. Many of these Chamorro men never returned home and settled in Hawaii, California and other places of preference.

Mystic Seaport.org

"After the Morgan began operating out of San Francisco in 1887, her crews reflected the islands of the Pacific even more. Men from Guam served on most of her voyages from San Francisco. Enos Aflague, Joaquin de la Cruz, Lino Patricio, Jose Santos and Pedro Taitano were Spanish subjects when they signed aboard in 1897. They became Americans with the signing of the treaty concluding the Spanish-American War." (Mysticseaport.org)

Charles W. Morgan Whaling Ship in 1920

Crewmembers Listed with Guam as Birthplace

Below is a crewmember list of the Morgan that had their birthplace listed as Guam and how it appears on the Mystic Seaport website. Do note that some men's names appear more than once because they had more than one voyage. Also in some cases, names appear to be phonetically spelled. (www.mysticseaport.org)

Name	Position	Description
Aflague, Enos	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'10" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Aflague, Enos	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 6'0" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Aflague, Enos	Prev. Boatsteerer	Age: 24 Height: 6'0" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Aflague, Felix	Steward	Age: 34 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Aflague, Nicholas	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 6'0" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Allen, John		Age: 30 Height: 5'6" Eyes: Black Hair: Black Complexion: Black
Antonio, Jose	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Arriola, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 19 Height: 5'4" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Augustine, Jose	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'8" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Basilles (Basilleo), Joe	Seaman	Age: 32 Height: 5'10" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Blas, Domingo	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'8" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Blas, Domingo	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Blass [Blas], Louis	Seaman	Age: 19 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Camacho, Joe (Jose)	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'3" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Castro, Ben	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Castro, Ben	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Castro, Lucas	Cabin Boy	Age: 19 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Castro, Lucas	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Chaco, Enos	Seaman/Prev. Boatsteerer	Age: 23 Height: 5'8" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Cruz, Joe	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Cruz, Joe	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De Castro, John	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'8" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De Castro, Jose	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'10" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
De Castro, Jose	Seaman	Age: 26 Height: 5'9" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De la Concepcion[?], Manuel
De la Cruz, Antonio	Cabin Boy	Age: 21 Height: 5'3" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De la Cruz, Antonio	Steward	Age: 22 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
De la Cruz, Enos	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
De la Cruz, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De la Cruz, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De la Cruz, Jose	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De la Cruz, Juan
De la Rosa, Manuel	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
De Los Santos, Joe (Jose)	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'4" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De Los Santos, Jose	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
De Salas[?], Nicholas
Denorio, Joaquin	Cabin Boy	Age: 17 Height: 5'0" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Domingo, Philip	Steerage Boy	Age: 20 Height: 5'1" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Fausta, Ben	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Foster (Fausto), Ben	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'10" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Gamatuatan, Luis	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'7" Hair: [?] Complexion: Dark
Ganotantou (Mantotanta, Hanotanto), Luis G.)	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'9" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Guamatasas[?], Luis
Guerro (Gareno), John	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Ignacio, Ben	Seaman	Age: 26 Height: 5'8" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Kanago, Joaquim	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'8" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Kanaka, Joaquim	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'9" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Karada, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'9" Hair: [?] Complexion: Dark
Langrero, Vicente	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Lena, Jacob	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'9" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Longrero, Ben	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Lopes, Joaquin	Cabin Boy	Age: 17 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Mailio, Nicholas	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'9" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Maina, Jose	Prev. Boatsteerer	Age: 21 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Malaia, Nicholas	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Manilisea, Joe	Seaman	Age: 18 Height: 5'3" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Martines, Felix	Steerage Boy	Age: 24 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Martinez, Felix	Steerage Boy
Materna, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 19 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Materne, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Mendiolo, Jose	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Mendiolo, Jose	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Mendiolo, Joseph	Cabin Boy	Age: 22 Height: 5'0" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Mesa, Ramon	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Nego, Jose	Cabin Boy	Age: 19 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Nego, Jose	Steerage Boy	Age: 21 Height: 5'3" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Palacio, Joaquin	Seaman	Age: 17 Height: 5'8" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Pangalino, Ben	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Pangalino, J.	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Pangalino, Joe	Steerage Boy	Age: 21 Height: 5'3" Hair: Black Complexion: Brown
Pangalino, Joe	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Pangolino, Antone	Prev. Boatsteerer	Age: 42 Height: 5'8" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Patricio, Lino	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'9" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Patricio, Lino	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Patrico, Frank	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'8" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Patrico, Lino	Seaman	Age: 29 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Peres, Juan	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Peres, Juan	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Peres, Peter	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Peres, Peter	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Perrado, Joe	Boatsteerer	Age: 28 Height: 5'10" Hair: Black Complexion: Brown
Regis, Cole	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Roberts, F. H.	Steerage Boy	Age: 18 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Roberts, John	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'9" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Rosario, John	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Rosario, John	Seaman	Age: 26 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Rose, Ben	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Rose, Vicente	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'3" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sablan, Felix
Sablan, Felix	Cabin Boy	Age: 17 Height: 5'2" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sablan, Ignacious	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'4" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sablan, John	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sablan, John	Seaman	Age: 26 Height: 5'8" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sablan, Joseph	Steward	Age: 43 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sablan, Joseph	Steward	Age: 46 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Santos, Antone	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Santos, Ben	Boatsteerer	Age: 33 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, Jo[s?]e	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Santos, Joe	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Santos, Joe	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'9" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Santos, Joe [Jose]	Seaman	Age: 27 Height: 5'7" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, John	Seaman	Age: 20 Height: 5'4" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, John	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'3" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, John	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'5" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, John	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, John	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, Jose	Seaman	Age: 21 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, Jose	Steward	Age: 26 Height: 5'4" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Santos, Manuel	Cabin Boy	Age: 21 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Santos, Mariano	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'11" Hair: Light Complexion: Light
Sequinda, Joe	Boatsteerer	Age: 25 Height: 5'7" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sequinda, Joe	Boatsteerer	Age: 25 Height: 5'10" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Silva, Antone	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Sirvinca[Servance], Joe	Seaman
Taguata [Tagnata], Jose	Seaman	Age: 25 Height: 5'6" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Taitano, Jose	Seaman	Age: 22 Height: 5'5" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Taitano, Jose	Seaman	Age: 23 Height: 5'8" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Taitano, Pedro	Boatsteerer	Age: 38 Height: 5'10" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Taitano, Peter	Boatsteerer	Age: 36 Height: 5'11" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Thurston, Luis	Seaman	Age: 24 Height: 5'10" Hair: Black Complexion: Dark
Vincent, Joseph	Seaman/Prev. Boatsteerer	Age: 23 Height: 5'6" Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark

Chamorro Whalers of the Charles W. Morgan Ship

CHamoru Roots