VOYAGE FOR THE COMMANDER

Commander George Chaworth-Musters

1841 - 1879 is remembered in Annesley, not just as a son of the Hall and Estate, but an explorer and traveler. His memorial in the Old Churchyard at the side of Annesley Hall is so unusual, telling of some of his life at sea.

John George Musters and his wife Emily were touring Italy when George was born, making him a grandson of John (Jack) and Mary Ann Chaworth-Musters. An aunt, Mary Anne Musters had wed Anthony Hamond of Norwich, which led to the move of the Annesley Children to Norfolk for some years after the death of their parents. They came back to Annesley in 1850 and developed the Hall and the Estate for the family’s future.

A love of travel and exploration was first introduced when older brother John went with George and their guardian in 1850 to Spain, both Musters boys wrote daily diaries. At age 15 in 1854 he was in the area of the Crimean War on HMS Algiers, changing to other ships, HMS Gorgon, Chesapeake, and Marlborough in the later years. By 1862 George was in South America until 1866. By 1869 he was, at the age of 28, a Commander.

Family funds enabled him to take time out of the Navy and buy land at Montevideo for a new venture in sheep farming. It failed and he came back to Annesley to prepare for more travels in the lands he enjoyed.

Meetings with the chief of Tehuelche Tribe of Indians, George’s plans to explore came into being and it resulted in the book ‘At Home with the Patagonians’, the Royal Geographical Society being very impressed with his journey and the routes investigated. Before long, George tried a similar journey from Vancouver Island, into the interior of British Columbia with the Indigenous peoples of British Columbia. This was not successful and George had to flee from the situation. During his return journey he met a merchant from Bolivia called Williams, he was to become his father-in-law as his daughter Herminia wed him in 1873. There were 3 daughters born to the couple, arrangements were made for them to return to Bolivia as a new political role for George as British Consul to Mozambique was made in 1879. Unfortunately, a short illness in London caused his death, and he was buried at Annesley, his family returned to South America.

When the Hall held its Auction in 1973 the Portrait of Commander George was purchased by Patricius Chaworth-Musters living in Vancouver. His son, Bob Chaworth-Musters traveled George’s journey through Patagonia a few years ago and recreated it on a blog.

The Musters, by Patrick T A Musters, is a valuable source of the family information.

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