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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:
From Salem Deaths
Forbes, Charles, Capt., master
of ship Thetis, [died at] Madagascar, ------, 1822, a[ge] 30
y. [Issue of Dec. 3, NR 9]
From The Diaries of William Bently , Pastor of the East
Church, Salem, Massachusetts.
August 19, 1791 John Forbes,
who went with Capt. Strout from this port in December last, as
a mate, was by orders from Mr. Derby dismissed in Virginia &
another person sent out to take his place. Whatever
was the cause, the Captain under whom he served had no complaint.
But the effect was supposed to be a voluntary death as he was
found drowned in the river, without the knowledge of an accidental
cause which could occasion it. He has left a wife, lately
delivered 1. At present I have but an imperfect knowledge of
the event, & its circumstances & must enquire.
February 8, 1817 Mr. Whittemore...is father-in-law
2 to
Charles Forbes, a most promising young man.
March 30, 1817 My little friend 3 Charles Forbes
recollected me in his letter to his parents. The letter was sent
to me. In the letter he informs that he had visited the South
Sea Islands for Sandal Wood. That he saw nothing to admire or
prefer in the manners of the Islanders, but they certainly were
not so savage as they had been represented. As soon as all fear
of superior artifice & power is lost, they admit the utmost
confidenc & safety. They enjoy a delightful climate &
cultivate our vegetables in great perfection. Several Whites
have tarried & have married among them & were in seemingly
great content. But still his own convictions were against
their Society....Charles speaks particularly of the Sanwich Islands
which he visited from the Marquesas.
August 17, 1817 Charles Forbes, returned from
Sea, having been among the Islands of the Great Ocean. He was
patronized by Mrs. Rogers & myself & was the son of John
Forbes who drowned in Virginia in 1791, aet. 28 & left a
wife & 4 children. The wife has since married James
Whittemore.
Footnotes
1 Charles is this child delivered after his father's
death.
2 Father-in-law
simply means he is not his father by blood, but by law. ( marriage
to Charles' mother)
3 Dr.
Bently was often accompanied on his long walks around Salem by
groups of children, whom he taught about nature.
(see Reverend
William Bentley )
Footnotes 1-3 : NHC,
10/2001
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REFERENCES:
Vital Records of Salem, Mass
Vol. 5 - Salem Deaths
Essex Institute [Salem, Ma] 1916
US/Can 974.45/S1 V2e v.5
The Diaries of William Bentley
Essex Institute [Salem, Ma] 1906
JSMB US/Can 921.73 B446b volumes 1 and 4
 Reverend
William
Bentley
1759 - 1819
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