Francisco Pelsart

The Batavia

Pelsart is well known in history, not for what he found, but because he was shipwrecked. The wreck occurred in June, 1629, when his ship, the Batavia, ran aground on Houtman's Abrolhos. Most of the passengers and crew escaped from the wreck, and landed on a small island. 

Pelsart took a small boat and some of his men, and sailed north. He aimed to reach Batavia, and promised his people he would return with a rescue ship. 

As soon as he was gone, trouble started. An evil man named Jeronimus Cornelisz persuaded some of the survivors to make him their leader. Anyone who opposed him was murdered. Everyone lived in terror of Cornelisz and his cut-throats. 

At last Pelsart  returned with the promised rescue ship. Cornelius and his followers were rounded up. The main offenders were executed for the murders they had committed. 
The wreck of  the Batavia is well known in the pages of Western Australia. Many relics from the Batavia have been recovered, and can be seen at the Fremantle Maritime Museum.