Swains Island
From Open Encyclopedia
Swains Island is an atoll in the Tokelau chain, the most northwesterly island administered by American Samoa. Politically, it is a territory of United States of America. It has variously been known as Olosenga Island, Olohega Island, Quiros Island, Gente Hermosa Island, and Jennings Island throughout its history. The current population of the island is 37, all located in the one village.
History
The Portuguese navigator sailing for Spain, Pedro Fernandes de Quiros, is believed to be the first European explorer to discover the island in the year 1606. He named the island Isle de la Gente Hermosa which means "island of the handsome people".
Later, there was an expedition from Fakaofo to the island. The male inhabitants of the island either fled or were killed by the invaders, while the women were taken with the invaders to Fakaofu. The infertility of the island is attributed to a curse the chief places on it.
The American captain Henry Hudson of the Peacock visited the island in 1841 but was unable to land because of stormy weather. He then went to rename the island, Swains Island, for the whaler who had alerted him to it.
In 1856 an American, Eli Hutchinson Jennings, started a community on Swains Island. He claimed that he received the title from Captain Turnbull who was an explorer that had claimed rights to the island. He had recently married a Samoan, Malia. He established a coconut plantation which flourished under his son, Eli Jr. The Resident Commissioner of Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony supposedly demanded an $85 tax because of the plantation's success. He paid the tax but was upset and brought the matter to the U.S. State Department and was later refunded.
The matter of who owned the island came into question after Eli Jr.'s death in 1920 and his wife's in 1921. The United States decided to give the right of administration jointly to Eli's daughter and son while making it officially part of the American Samoa in 1925. Alexander Jennings, the son of Eli Jr., became the managing owner of the island. The population at the time was around 100. In 1954 the United States demanded a local government. Since then the island has sent one non-voting member to the territorial legislature.
External links
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Cook Islands N.Z. | Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Chile | French Polynesia Fr. | Hawai‘i U.S. | Kermadec Islands N.Z. | Loyalty Islands Fr. | New Zealand (Aotearoa) | Niue N.Z. | Pitcairn Islands U.K. | Samoa (American) U.S. incl. Swains I. | Samoa (western, independent) | Tokelau N.Z. | Tonga | Tuvalu | Wallis and Futuna Fr. | ||
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In the Federated States of Micronesia: |
Kapingamarangi | Nukuoro | |
