Rosalind Amelia Young (1853–1924) was a Pitcairn Island historian, educator, and author. She is primarily recognized for her documentation of the social and political history of Pitcairn Island, providing a rare internal perspective on the community descended from the mutineers of the HMS Bounty.
Biography Born on Pitcairn Island, Young was the daughter of Simon Young and Sarah McCoy. Through her lineage, she was a direct descendant of the mutineers Edward Young and William McCoy. In 1856, she was part of the community-wide relocation to Norfolk Island, though she returned to Pitcairn in 1864 when a small group of families chose to resettle their original home. Young served as a schoolteacher on Pitcairn Island for many years, playing a central role in the intellectual and religious life of the community.
Literary Contribution Young is best known for her book, Mutiny of the Bounty and Story of Pitcairn Island 1790–1894, published in 1894. The work is considered a significant historical primary source because it was written by a native resident of the island rather than a visiting explorer, naval officer, or missionary. Her accounts detail the daily lives, religious transitions (including the island's conversion to Seventh-day Adventism), and the logistical challenges faced by the isolated population during the 19th century.
Historical Significance Young’s writings have been utilized by historians and anthropologists to understand the demographic and cultural evolution of the Pitcairn and Norfolk Island communities. Her work is noted for its factual approach and its focus on the moral and social development of the islanders following the period of lawlessness that characterized the immediate years after the Bounty mutiny. She remained on Pitcairn Island until her death in 1924.