Israel Mazey

Israel Mazey (c. 1812 – 26 June 1894) was a British seaman and pioneer of colonial South Australia.

History Mazey was an ordinary seaman on the barque Duke of York, which on 27 July 1836 was the first ship of the First Fleet of South Australia to make land in the province. The ship dropped anchor in Nepean Bay.

Mazey was one of the oarsmen who pulled the first boat ashore, notably carrying the ship's second mate, Robert Russell and a young daughter of T. H. Beare as the captain's nomination for the honour of "first to set foot on the new province". Once Russell was safely out of the boat, it was Mazey who handed to him the young Miss Beare, and he could carry her ashore. but while trying to retrace their steps encountered a lagoon, with a multitude of wildfowl, so they had no shortage of meat and fresh water.

Six weeks after its arrival, the Duke of York set sail for Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and the whale grounds. Russell and Mazey were amongst her crew but Mazey "jumped ship" in Hobart and found employment locally. He then joined a whaler bound for Sleaford Bay, where a whaling station was being established, and joined their workforce. In May 1837, when their resupply ship failed to materialize and starvation appeared imminent, he was one of those who elected to leave for Kangaroo Island. Once their needs were satisfied, the others returned to their previous employment but Mazey decided to stay. In 1839 he joined a party, led by Ben Germein and his brothers, that took an open boat across Backstairs Passage to Port Adelaide. He worked in a woodyard for a few years, then in 1842 or 1843 left for the Old Port, where he made a living as a fisherman.

At the age of 80 years he was still hale and hearty, but unable to walk very far. He was one of the last survivors of the Duke of York. He died two years later, after suffering two days incapacity. His remains were interred in the Alberton cemetery.

Family Israel Mazey (c. 1812 – 1894) married Hannah Woolman (died 19 June 1878) in 1843 Joseph Mazey (1844 – 10 July 1911) Margaret Mazey ( – ) John Henry Mazey (1848 – 2 July 1928) married Elizabeth Jenkins on 28 February 1878 Sarah Mazey (1850–1933) married William Hone on 24 May 1869 Mary Jane Mazey (1852– ) married George Jarmyn on 24 July 1871 James Cluet Bull Mazey ( –1923) David Wohlman (later Woolman) Mazey (1856 – 1930) married Catherine (c. 1858 – 25 August 1891 Louisa Mazey (1859 – 30 September 1879) married Johann Conrad Schaad on 1 March 1877 Israel Mazey (1860– ) Philip Stephen Mazey ( – c. 14 June 1934) married Mary Ann ?? (died 8 April 1936) Susanna Mazey (1865– ) William Alfred Mazey (1867 – 25 April 1928) married Charlotte Ann Mends on 18 September 1901 For 50 years he lived in a small cottage in King Street, Alberton. Several of his children lived nearby.