Overview

Life as a boy and as a merchant seaman (1728-1755)

1728

Oct. 27 Sun. Born at Marton (N. Riding, Yorkshire), now Cleveland.
Nov. 3 Sun. Baptised at The Parish Church of St. Cuthbert, Marton.

1730-1731

Family moved to nearby Parish of Ormesby

1732-1733

Family returned to Marton.

1736

Nov.-Dec. Family removed to Aireyholme Farm, Great Ayton.

1737

Goes to Postgate’s School, Great Ayton.

1745

Becomes “shop-boy” to Mr. William Sanderson, grocer and haberdasher at Staithes.      

1746

Becomes apprentice to Mr. John Walker, Whitby. Lodges with his master.      

1747

Sep. 29 Tue. Servant aboard “Freelove” (collier); Tyne and London.
Dec. 17 Thu. Discharged at Whitby.

1748

Feb. 26 Fri. Servant aboard “Freelove” (collier); Tyne and London.
Apr. 26 Fri. Discharged at Whitby. Works on rigging of new ship “Three Brothers”.
Jun. 14 Tue. Servant aboard “Three Brothers” (horse transport).
Oct. 14 Fri. Returns to Whitby. Sails again, same day, on “Three Brothers” (troop transport) as servant to Liverpool, Dublin and Middleburg (Holland).

1749

Apr. 20 Thu. Returns to Whitby. Sails again, same day, in “Three Brothers”(transport) as Seaman to Norway.
Sep. 26 Tue. Returns to Whitby.
  27 Wed. Sails from Whitby as Seaman in “Three Brothers” (transport).
Dec. 8 Fri. Returns to Whitby. Spends Christmas at Ayton.

1750

Feb. 18 Thu. Sails from Whitby as Seaman in “The Mary of Whitby” (transport) to the Baltic(?).
Oct. 8 Mon. Discharged at London. Makes way to Yorkshire. (May possibly have sailed in “The Hopewell” during this time.)

1751

Feb. 19 Tue. Sails from Whitby as Seaman in “Three Brothers” (transport).
Jul. 30 Tue. Returns to Whitby.
  31 Wed. Sails from Whitby as Seaman in “Friendship” (collier).
Oct. 28 Mon. Discharged at Whitby.
Nov. 21 Thu. Sails from Whitby as Seaman in “Friendship” (collier).

1752

Jan. 7 Fri. Discharged at Whitby.
Mar. 30 Thu. Sails from Whitby as Mate in “Friendship” (collier)
Nov. 10 Fri. Returns to Whitby.

1753

Feb. 2 Fri. Sails from Whitby as Mate in “Friendship” (collier).

1754

Feb. 4 Mon. Returns to Whitby.
Apr. 2 Tue. Sails from Whitby as Mate in “Friendship” (collier).
Jul. 25 Thu. Returns to Shields.
Aug. 9 Tue. Sails from Whitby as Mate in “Friendship” (collier).
Dec. 18 Wed. Returns to Whitby.

1755

Feb. 15 Sat. Sails from Whitby as Mate in “Friendship” (collier).
Jun. 14 Sat. Discharges himself at London.
  17 Tue. Joins Royal Navy at Wapping on H.M.S. Eagle.

Approximate length of voyages

Whitby to Tyne 2 days.
Loading, etc. 7 days.
Tyne to London 7-12 days.
Unloading, etc. 10 days.
London to Tyne 7 days.

 

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