Obed Hendrix (Hendricks/Hendrick)

Obed was a boatsteerer on the whaling vessel, the "Essex." He was lost at sea after leaving the sunken vessel that had been struck by a sperm whale.

Philbrick, Nathaniel, "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex'",Penquin Ptnam, Inc., NY, 2000

He was a member of the crew, a Boatsteerer, of the whaling ship Essex of Nantucket. On the morning of 20 Nov 1820 the ship was rammed by a whale. The ship sank 2,000 miles (3,700 km) west of South America. The crew feared the closest islands, 1,200 miles (1,900 km) to the west, would be inhabited by cannibals and voted to make for South America (sailing against the wind). Obed Hendrick commanded one of three boats. His boat was last seen 28 Jan 1821; Obed Hendricks, Joseph West and William Bond disappeared at sea.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81663513