Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Hi,

I have found a lot of information on one of my ancestors James Gray who sailed with Captain Cook. He was with him on his first voyage on June 11, 1768 as an AB this was in the Endeavour, he then became a quartermaster on Feb 5, 1771. He then moved to Cruizer as boatswain. On December 2, 1771 Cook wrote to the Admirality Secretary as James Gray wanted to sail with Cook again. On December 11, the Admiralty recorded minutes that James Gray was to be boatswain of  Drake. Gray did not join  Drake/ Resolution for the second voyage until Jan 3 1772 and as boatswain Gray later became boatswain of Essex on September 13, 1775 the Captain was William Creed. I cant find any more info on William Creed and where he sailed to or a list of his crew members. As I found out some information from your web site I was hoping you may be able to help me. Would be grateful for any info you could give me.Thank you .

Valerie,

This is the detail you obviously found about James Gray in Endeavour.

James Gray (1744-?).

Temporary entry May 2007

James Gray may have sailed to the Pacific with John Byron in 1764 on the Dolphin. He joined the Endeavour for Cook's first voyage on 11 June 1768 as an AB. He became a quartermaster on 05 February 1771. After the voyage, Gray moved to the Cruizer as boatswain. On 02 December 1771, Cook wrote to the Admiralty Secretary:

Mr James Grey, who was with me in the Endeavour Bark and at Present Boatswain of the Cruizer Sloop, has signified his desire to go out with me again. I pray you will be pleased to move my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to appont him Boatswain of His Majestys Sloop Drake. Some days later on 11 December, the Admiralty minutes recorded:

Jas. Gray of Cruzer to be boatswain of Drake.

Gray did not join the Drake / Resolution for the second voyage, until 03 January 1772 and as boatswain. Gray later became boatswain of the Essex on 13 September 1775.

Gray was born in Leith in 1744.

(81) James Gray. Joined on 03 January 1772 as Boatswain. ( ie Resolution ) He is listed here as No 81 on the crew list of Resolution.

I think this is the Essex you refer to, but I am unable to turn up anything about Captain William Creed or the ship's crew list.

Career (Great Britain)  
Name:  HMS Essex
Ordered:  31 January 1759
Builder:  Wells and Stanton, Rotherhithe
Launched:  28 August 1760
Fate:  Sold out of the service, 1799
Notes:  Harbour service from 1777
General characteristics
Class and type:  Essex-class ship of the line
Tons burthen:  1380 tons
Length:  158 ft (gun deck)
Beam:  44 ft 2 in
Depth of hold:  18 ft 10 in
Propulsion:  Sails
Armament:  64 guns:

    * Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs
    * Upper gundeck: 26 × 18 pdrs
    * Quarter deck: 10 × 4 pdrs
    * Forecastle: 2 × 9 pdrs

HMS Essex was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1760 at Rotherhithe.

She was on harbour service from 1777, and was sold out of the service in 1799.

Reference

    * Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.

Regards,
Mackenzie Gregory.

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