oliverhart

I am a descendent of a line of Master Mariners and Merchants operating in the Far East.  My great great grandfather, Charles Henry Hart, was one of the original successful bidders for marine lots during the first auction of Hong Kong land in 1841. He was based in Macau for many years and ran a trade between Macau, Hong Kong, (probably also Canton) Calcutta and Mauritius. I have come across an interesting reference to the Black Swan, a trading schooner owned by him, which was instrumental in rescuing the shipwrecked crew of the Nerbudda off the coast of Formosa in 1841.

Charles Henry married Areina Maria Pereira in Macau in 1839, but I have been unable to discover any information about her or her family.  Any help in researching Macau records would be much appreciated.

I am interested in any references to Charles Henry, or to his son Alexander Hart, born in Macau in 1850, who was a Commander with the Irrawaddy Flotilla before moving with his family to Paulo Bukom, Singapore in 1883 shortly before his death.

I am also researching his father and brother-in-law, John and John Thomas Gardiner, both Master Mariners, who operated between Mauritius, Moulmein and Shanghai.

My grandfather, Alexander John Campbell Hart was born in Rangoon and moved to Singapore with his father and family. After a spell in England and serving in the Boer War, he returned to Singapore where he went to work for Adamson Gillfillan and Company on Collyer Quay. He rose to become manager, and later to become Company Chairman in London before the the company became engulfed in the crash of the pepper futures maket in 1935.If anyone has information on this financial scandal I would be very interested.

Any leads would be most welcome!

Oliver Hart

Spirit of Oysterhaven Classic Schooner