An unusual one: John Williams Missionary Ship medal

Hello everyone! For my last thread of 2025, I have an interesting historical medal to show. I bought this sort of on impulse - it was a cool and unusual looking piece, the bidding was low, so I slapped on a bid and ended up winning.

UNITED KINGDOM
Time of Victoria, 1837-1901
WM Medal (41.2mm, 20.17g, 12)
Minted 1844 on the launching of the John Williams missionary ship. By J.M. Davis, medallist
Obverse: The John Williams missionary ship under full sail right, THE JOHN WILLIAMS MISSIONARY SHIP above; below, ship description in five lines: LAUNCHED AT HARWICH MAR. 20.1844; 296 TONS; LENGTH 103 FEET, BREADTH 24 FEET 8 INCHES, DEPTH IN HOLD 16 FEET; HAS 10 STATE ROOMS. Engraver’s name J.DAVIS BIRMm at bottom
Reverse: Legend in 17 lines: THIS SHIP, THE PROPERTY OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, IS INTENDED TO CONVEY ITS MISSIONARIES TO THE ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC, AND TO BE EMPLOYED IN VISITING THE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF ISLANDS IN THAT OCEAN, IN PROMOTING THE GOSPEL AMONG THEM. SHE HAS BEEN PURCHASED FROM A FUND OF UPWARDS OF £6200, RAISED BY THE JUVENILE FRIENDS OF THE SOCIETY
References: Numista 363968; Eimer 1384; BHM 2201
In PCGS encapsulation, graded MS62. From the Augustana Collection.​

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John Williams (1796-1839) was an English missionary who was among the first to bring the Gospel to the inhabitants of the South Pacific islands.

The Rev. John Williams by George Baxter - http://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/index.php/items/show/5782, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23212763​

He received a commission in 1816 from the London Missionary Society, and within a couple of months he and his wife Mary set sail for the South Sea islands. Over the next 23 years, they travelled from island to island across the South Pacific, teaching and evangelizing, spreading not only Christianity but also civilized life and culture to people untouched by either and where cannibalism was common. Tragically, Williams met his death in 1839 as he was trying to evangelize the fierce cannibals of the New Hebrides islands.
Five years later, in 1844, the John Williams missionary ship was launched by the London Missionary Society to carry on the work her eponym began. The ship remained in use until it ran aground on a reef near Danger Island in 1864.

The John Williams Missionary Ship in 1845 by Robert James Elliot; Edward, Edward; John Snow - https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/140531.html National Maritime Museum], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77540232​

The civilizing work of the London Missionary Society among these remote islands was crucial in opening up lands and people for further contact, a fact recognized by no less a figure than Charles Darwin, who was a contemporary of Williams and also travelled among the South Pacific islands. Speaking of the positive impact of such mission work, Darwin declared that “…human sacrifices…infanticide…bloody wars, where the conquerors spared neither women nor children – that all these have been abolished, and that dishonesty, intemperance, and licentiousness have been greatly reduced, by the introduction of Christianity. In a voyager to forget these things is base ingratitude; for should he chance to be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have extended thus far.”

 

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Cool looking medal. Not sure preaching to cannibals was a good plan "A" though.

 

That is a great piece and in wonderful condition. I would have snapped that one for myself as you did. Congratulations on a great and last item for your collection in 2025.

 

Funny and one of my last purchases of 2025 had ships on it.

 

Thanks everyone!

Thanks! It certainly took courage to attempt. And though he was killed for his troubles, his efforts inspired others, and eventually the missionaries succeeded in reaching and converting the cannibals.

Thanks!

 

Beautiful medal! That obverse design is quite haunting. I'll have to read up on that ship, never heard of it before.

 

Look at that! We all seem to be buying ship medals. Love the detail and design of that one!