Description:
A stone box tomb covered with a large slab, and sited in the churchyard of St Mary’s, Greasley, south-east from the chancel.
History:
Dr Benjamin Drawwater was surgeon’s mate to the Surgeon James Patten on Captain Cook’s second voyage on the ship Resolution.
Born in 1748, he died 2nd June 1815.
The Erewash Countryside Volunteers who funded the plaque near the tomb, were established in 1986, and work on conservation of the Erewash and Leen valley areas.
Inscription:
The tomb inscription:
“UNDERNEATH
LIES INTERRED THE MORTAL REMAINS OF
BENJ. DRAWWATER. GENTLEMAN OF
MANSFIELD. LATE OF EASTWOOD
WHO SUDDENLY DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON
THE 2ND OF JUNE 1815 IN THE
68TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
IN HIS PROFESSIONAL DUTY HE HAD
ACCOMPANIED THE GREAT CIRCUMNAVIGATOR
COOK IN THE YEARS 1772-1775.
HIS VIRTUES WERE COMMENDABLE
AND EXEMPLARY AND WERE HIGHLY
ESTEEMED BY FRIENDS AND RELATIONS
AND HIS SURVIVING FAMILY.
HE WAS A PIOUS AND GOOD CHRISTIAN.
HE LIVED RESPECTED AND DIED
LAMENTED”
A plaque in front of the tomb repeats the above, and added below is:
FUNDED BY 1991
THE EREWASH COUNTRYSIDE VOLUNTEERS
GPS Coordinates: 53.018138, -1.266752
References:
Cook’s Log, page 34, vol. 27, no. 2 (2004)
Cook’s Log, page 48, vol. 30, no. 2 (2007)
Cook’s Log, page 27, vol. 40, no. 1 (2017)
Website: http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/greasleychurch/greasley4.html
Website: http://www.erewashvols.co.uk/?page_id=8