Cook in Newfoundland

1762. August to October

Introduction

HMS Northumberland, with Nathaniel Bateman as Captain and James Cook as Master, sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in August 1762, heading for Newfoundland. It was part of a small fleet under Alexander, Lord Colvill.

The French had surrendered to the British at Montreal in 1760 thereby relinquishing all rights to land on the American mainland. The war had continued in Europe but was nearing its end and the French, keen to have some land with which to bargain at the impending treaty negotiations, saw an opportunity to attack Newfoundland. French fishermen had long fished the Grand Banks off the southeast coast of Newfoundland and the French Government wanted to maintain a base from which their vessels could continue to operate.

The Duc du Choiseul, the French Minister of Marine, arranged for a force to be assembled at Brest in early 1762, which would carry out an attack on Newfoundland. On 08 May, four French ships, under the command of Charlea-Henri-Louis d'Arsac de Ternay, set off and managed to evade the British blockade of Brest. Ternay was aboard the Robuste and also on board this ship was the 20 year old Jean-Francois de Galaup de Laperouse, who would later emulate Cook in exploring the Pacific.

The French ships were transporting 600 troops under the command of Colonel d'Haussonville and Ternay was able to land them at Bay Bulls, south of St. John's, on 24 June. Three days later, after marching overland, easily captured St. John's which had only been defended by less than 100 British soldiers. A British frigate, the Gramont, lying at anchor in the harbour was also captured.

The French then began destroying fishing vessels and equipment both in St. John's and in harbours around Conception Bay.

Meanwhile, HMS Syren, under the command of Captain Charles Douglas, heard of the attack and began alerting British authorities. Word was dispatched to Thomas Graves, the new Governor of Newfoundland who was accompanying a fishing fleet across the Atlantic in HMS Antelope. Word reached Alexander, Lord Colvill, the Commander-in- chief of the British fleet on the North America station based in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 10 July 1762. Colvill passed on the news to General Amherst, in charge of British troops in North America. It was arranged that Placentia, on the western coast of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, would be the rendezvous.

Many of Colvill's ships were away on normal duties and so only the Northumberland and HMS Gosport (under Captain John Jervis) assembled in Chedabucto Bay at the northern end of Nova Scotia. They sailed for Newfoundland on 10 August 1762.

So it was that on 13 August 1762, the Northumberland and the Gosport reached the islands of St.-Pierre and Miquelon, off the western end of the Burin Peninsula in Newfoundland. They were heading for Placentia.

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James Cook in Newfoundland 1762: from his Remarks book while Master of HMS Northumberland.

Official correspondence from 1762

Alexander Colvill to Admiralty (02 July 1762)

Sir
Yesterday Captain Charles Douglas of the Syren arrived from
Newfoundland, and gave me the inclosed Intelligence, which was
sent him by the commanding Officer at St. John's, whilst he lay with
the Syren at Aquafort, so that he could not inform me of any other
Circumstances than what are mentioned in the Affidavit. However, I
intended to sail tomorrow with the Northumberland for
Newfoundland, and acquainted the Lieutenant Governour with my
Resolution, but am prevented by a public application from him and
the Council, requesting me to continue at this place for their
Protection on account of the defenceless condition of the Province.
Therefore I directed Captain Douglas to return immediately to his
Station at Newfoundland, and to give such further Intelligence as he
might think necessary for his Majesty's Service I should know, that
thereby I may be enabled to judge if the Exigency be so great as to
require me to proceed directly to Newfoundland, notwithstanding the
Remonstrance of the Government of this Province.

Before Captain Douglas left Aquaforte, he sent all his Marines with
their Officer to St. John's to reinforce that Garrison; and likewise
dispatched a small Vessel to the Banks, to look out for Captain
Graves of the Antelope and give him the Intelligence he had received.

  Affidavit of William Wood.    St. John's Newfoundland.
22 June 1762.

Appeared before me Michael Gill Esq’r. one of his Majesty's Justices
of the Peace for the District of St. John's in Newfoundland, William
Wood Master of the Schooner Squid, and made Oath, that yesterday,
the 21st Instant, being then in Latitude 47° 20" distance about Eight
Leagues from the Land they saw three sail of Men of War, which they
suppose to be Spanish one of which was very near them, and ordered
the Deponent to haul their Sails down; they hauled their Jib partly
dawn; the Flying Jib, Topmast staysail, and Mainstaysail they hauled
down being then within a few yards of one of the Men of War's stern,
when the Deponent ordered the People to hoist their Sails again
which they did, and made Sail in for the Land, the Man of War
putting about at the same time, but night coming on they soon lost
sight of the Man of War, and arrived in this Harbour at six this
morning; they also saw two other Sail to Leeward about three
Leagues, and a small Vessel in company with the Man of War, which
was very near them, which Men of War fired more than a Hundred
small shot at them.

A True Copy of the Oath taken before me this Day.
Michael Gill. Commissary Etc.
A true Copy, Given under my hand on board his
Majesty's Ship Syren at Sea June 30 1762.
Chas. Douglas.

A true Copy COLVILLE
July 2d 1762

Alexander Colvill to Admiralty (24 July 1762)

Sir
A small Vessel going directly to England gives me an opportunity of
transmitting to you the Duplicate of my Letter of the 2d Instant,
which i sent to New England to go by the Launceston: and at the
same time of acquainting you, that several Vessels have since come in
from Newfoundland by which we learn that on the 24th past two
French Ships of the Line and two Frigates anchored in the Bay of
Bulls, and landed a Number of Troops without any Resistance; that
the Enemy was joined by a fifth Ship, and marched thirteen hundred
Men in a very bad Road of twenty four Miles through the Woods to
St. John's, Which Place surrendered on the 27th at the first Summons,
without coming to Action or obtaining a Capitulation.

I would have sailed for Newfoundland immediately on receiving this
Intelligence but was again prevented by a second Remonstrance from
the Governour and Council, intreating me in the strongest Terms to
continue with them.

I have a Letter from Captain Mouat of the Gramont Sloop, dated the
26th of June in St. John's Harbour. He says he got in there the Day
before, with the Trade from Ireland, and with his People was to stay
in the Place for its Defence. We are informed that the Gramont fell
into the Hands of the Enemy. Most of her Convoy escaped by getting
out in time. I sent the above Account to Sir Jeffery Amherst without
loss of time, and desired him to communicate it to the Commander in
Chief of the Fleet in the West Indies, as I did not know how to direct
to him.

We are informed from several Hands, that some large Ships were
seen standing towards Placentia, and that afterwards the noise of great
Guns was heard in that Quarter, for two Days together; from which
'tis conjectured that another Division of the Enemy's Ships has
attacked Placentia.

I am doing every thing in my Power for the Security and Defence of
this Place.

Alexander Colvill to Admiralty (17 August 1762)

Sir
On the 10th. Instant I sailed from Halifax with the Northumberland,
Gosport and King George, and next Day spoke with a Sloop
dispatched by Captain Graves from Placentia with Letters for Sir
Jeffery Amherst, Colonel Forster and myself, urging the necessity of a
Reinforcement of Troops, with a Supply of Stores, and Materials for
building Barracks, at Placentia. I seconded Captain Grave's
Application by a Letter to Colonel Forster, and sent the Sloop directly
to Halifax, from Whence the Supplies must come.
[line missing]
who arrived on the 22d. (On the 14th, I anchored here, where I found
the Antelope and Syren. Captain Graves, Governour of
Newfoundland, has been employed in repairing the ruined July
Fortifications of this Place, and putting every thing in a posture of
Defence, with all possible diligence, and I Have joined with him in
his Work.) Before my arrival he had taken a Bilander into the
Service, to carry home an account of his Proceedings, which gives me
an opportunity of sending you this Letter (together with Copies of
those, I already write on the same Subject). As you will receive from
Captain Graves a full and circumstantial Account, of the Situation of
Placentia, with all he has done for its security, 'tis unnecessary for me
to trouble you with a repetition of these Matters. Four of the
Gosport’s lower Deck Guns are added to the Fort, and Sixty eight
Marines, including two Officers, are to be landed, as soon as a Place
can be provided for their Accommodation, or sooner if the Wind
comes fair, from the Northumberland, Antelope and Gosport, to
reinforce its Garrison.

As we have now done every thing for the security of Placentia, which
our time and Circumstances will admit of, and as I am impatient to
get off St. John's, I shall sail with all the Ships as soon as the
Antelope and Syren can be got out of the inner Harbour, but if that
cannot be in a few Days, I shall not wait for them.

In my Letter of the 2d. past I mentioned Captain Douglas's having
sent his Marines with a view to reinforce the Garrison of St. John's.
But in their way having heard of the surrender of that Place, they
landed at the Isle of Boys near Ferryland Head; and Captain Graves
having sent twenty four of his Marines; and 6 Gunners from
Placentia, with a Supply of Ammunition and Stores to the same
Place, 'tis thought very defensible; especially as it is exceeding strong
from its natural Situation, and has three Batteries of 18 and 24
Pounders, in all 16 Guns.

I send you inclosed the latest Intelligence we have from St. John's.
August 18th. 10 A.M. The Antelope and Syren are just come out of
the inner Harbour.

Seven of the French Soldiers made their Escape from St. Johns on the
third of this Instant August, and delivered themselves up to the
Officer at the Isle of Boys, who sent them round in a Chaloupe which
arrived at Placentia on the 15th. They have been examined separately
and agree pretty well in the following Intelligence.

The Squadron commanded by the Chevalier De Ternay sailed from
Brest on the 8th of last May, and consisted of the following Ships-
The Robuste of 74 Guns, Eveille 64, Garron 36, and L’Acorn 28.
They were badly manned with regard to Seamen but ther land Forces
were choice Men composed of Six Companies of Grenadiers of 45
Men each, Six Picquets of 50 each, and three hundred Marines
properly belonging to the Ships: In all 870 Men.

The Grenadiers are all to return to France, and were to embark the
15th of this Month, leaving only the Picquets to Garrison St. John's,
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Belcombe.

Some thought the Ships were to sail very soon; while others imagined
they would stay untill the Works at St. John's were compleated, which
might take them up untill the middle of next Month at farthest, as
every Body worked without ceasing, Seamen, Soldiers and
Inhabitants. Three hundred Irishmen enlisted with them at the Bay of
Bulls and St. John's. With these they have entirely manned the
Garron Frigate, Commanded by an Irishman, whose Name is Sutton.

They have fitted out the Gramont for Sea.

The Troops were very healthy, but the Seamen sickly and to
appearance but few of them, not above 500 in the Robuste and 400 in
the Eveille.

They had twelve Months Provisions in the Garrison for the Number
to be left behind; and did not expect any Supply this Fall, but that
Monsieur De Ternay engaged to send them out some in the Spring,
and that rather than fail he would come out himself. They had no
fresh Previsions at all, and but little Flour. The Inhabitants were all
sent away to the Continent of America, or to England, except a few of
the principal People, and those that would take the Oaths to the
French.

They had taken down all the old Palisades and placed new in their
room, and likewise were surrounding the Place with a good Ditch,
Covertway and a second Row of Palisadoes. They had advanced a
Work before the Gate of the Fort, upon the Brow of the Hill going
down to the Town; at which Place in its former Situation a Body of
Men might have marched up under cover, without molestation from
the Fort, within Pistol shot of the Gate.

Had the Place not surrendered immediately, they intended to have
stormed it the same Night, for they could with ease have marched
over the Ditch and the Ramparts, and Pulled down the Palisadoes
with their Hands. It does not seem very probable that the Enemy will
leave only three hundred Men to Garrison St. John's, when they may
as well leave double that number; nor does there appear any Necessity
for embarking the Grenadiers untill a Day or two before they intend
to sail. Especially if they are in so great haste to get away, as to make
every Body work without ceasing.

If I may venture to give my opinion, I should think the French will
remain at St. John's with all their Force, untill they know whether any
Endeavour is to be made to retake the Place before Winter.

Northumberland in Placentia Road
16th. August 1762.

Alexander Colvill to Admiralty (25 October 1762) Adm 1/482.

Sir
On the 23d. of last Month, Captain Douglas in the Syren, sailed for
England from St. John's Harbour, with an Account of the Recovery of
that Place from the Enemy, and of the Proceedings of the Squadron
untill that time. Two Days after the Syren, the french Troops that
were made Prisoners of War, sailed for Brest, in the two largest
Transports that came from New York with Colonel Amherst: I
inclose an Account of them as made out by the Count D'haussonville,
their commanding Officer, and also a Copy of the Orders I gave to the
Masters of the Transports that carried them; both which I also send to
the Commissioners for Sick and hurt Seamen.

Captain Jervis of the Gosport took all the wounded Men amounting
to nineteen, and one hundred of our Troops into his own Ship, and
with about as many more in a Transport, sailed for New York on the
25th of September, where he was to make no stay, but prosecute his
Orders from their Lordships, as mentioned in my last Letter.

Captain Hallowell of the King George, took on board his own Ship
and a Transport Schooner, about one hundred and sixty of the Troops,
and sailed for Louisbourg on the 26th of September, where they were
to be landed, and one hundred Provincials taken aboard and carried to
Halifax, from whence they had been lent to supply the place of the
Louisbourg Troops, that went on the Expedition. From Halifax the
King George was to return to Boston.

All the rest of the Troops to be sent from St. John's were put on board
eight Transport Vessels, except about forty, which Captain Peyton of
the Minerva took into his own Ship, and as Convoy to the whole
sailed on the 1st of October for Halifax; where all the Troops except
about twenty, and four of the Transports, were to be left; Captain
Peyton with the other four, containing Military Stores, was to proceed
to New York, the place of their Destination. From New York he was
to proceed to Spithead; and if Sir Jeffery Amherst should think it
necessary to send any Transports to England in order to their being
discharged, he was to take them under his Care.

On the 25th of September Captain Houlton in the Enterprize anchored
in St. John's Harbour. He had convoyed a number of Transports with
Sick and wounded Soldiers from the Havannah to New York, and
joined me from thence. He sailed again under my Orders the 2d. of
October, with Colonel Amherst for New York; and was afterwards to
join Captain Spry at Halifax, unless upon consultation with Sir
Jeffery Amherst it should be thought necessary to employ the
Enterprize upon some other Duty, more essential for his Majesty's
Service.

Colonel Amherst saw all his Troops disposed of before he left St.
John's. Two hundred and fifty remained in Garrison under the
command of Captain Gualley of the 45th Regiment, and a Subaltern
with twenty eight Men relieved the Marines on the Isle of Boys. The
Marines at Placentia were sent for, on the first notice I had of the
Army's approach, that sixty eight Men might be added to it; but they
did not arrive untill after the Gosport sailed, and I divided her
Marines being twenty four in all, between the Minerva and
Shrewsbury. Seventeen, the number of the Syren's Marines, did not
arrive from the Isle of Boys, untill after Captain Douglas had sailed;
they are now on board the Northumberland. All the rest of the
Marines are returned to their proper Ships. The Syren's and Gosport’s
were discharged from their's when they sailed from St. John's.

There are six Guns, twenty four and eighteen Pounders, on the south
Battery, which defends the Mouth of St. Johns Harbour, these were
spiked up by the Enemy, and the Commanding Officer of the
Artillery, reported to Colonel Amherst that they could not be made
serviceable at present for want of proper drilling Tools, therefore I
directed Captain Houlton of the Enterprize to land six of his lower
Deck Guns, being eighteen Pounders, to supply their Place. However,
the Armourer of the Superb, a Foreigner accustomed to such Work,
afterwards undertook the Task and performed it, so that the Guns are
again as fit for Service as ever.

I have mentioned in another Letter that the Fortifications on the
Island of Carbonera, were entirely destroyed by the Enemy. Colonel
Amherst sent thither Mr. Desbarres an Engineer, who surveyed the
Island and drew a Plan for fortifying it with new Works; when these
are finished, the Enterprize's six Guns will be ready to mount on
them. But I believe nothing will be under taken this Year, as the
Season is so far advanced, and no kind of Materials on the spot for
building Barracks or Sheds to cover the Men, should any be sent
there. Mr. Cook, Master of the Northumberland, accompanied Mr.
Desbarres. He has made a Draught of Harbour Grace, and the Bay of
Carbonera; both which are in a great measure commanded by the
Island, which lies off a Point of Land between them. Hitherto we have
had a very imperfect Knowledge of these Places, but Mr. Cook who
was particularly carefull in sounding them has discovered that Ships
of any size may lay in safety both in Harbour Grace and the Bay of
Carbonera.

I was informed by Captain Pallisser, that the Senegal and another
Sloop had sailed from England a little before him; and that it was
supposed they had Orders to join me in North America. I naturally
concluded that the Captain of one of the Sloops, was charged with my
Orders from their Lordships of the 31st of July, and not finding me at
Halifax, would agreeable to the Rendezvous I left with Lieutenant
Governor Belcher, follow me to Newfoundland; therefore I directed
Captain Graves of the Antelope, to employ conditionally, any Sloop
that might arrive at St. Johns after my Departure, as a Convoy, if any
Vessels should be bound to England, to make the same necessary and
I inclose a Copy of my Orders to Captain Graves.

From what I have wrote their Lordships will know now I have
disposed of all the Ships under my command. It remains only for me
to say that on the 7th Instant I sailed from St. Johns Harbour in
Newfoundland with the Northumberland, Shrewsbury, Bedford and Superb; and
this Day we all anchored at Spithead without meeting
anything remarkable on our Passage.

COLVILLE.

Note in Clevland's Writing: 26 Oct. Own receipt congratulate him
upon his safe arrival inform him that his conduct having given the
King great satisfaction his Majesty has been pleased to cause him to
be promoted to be Rear Adm'l of the Whyte for which purpose my
Lords have approved Commission which I send by this conveyance
with Com. Hughes at Portsmouth and beg to congratulate his Lords'p
on his Promotion.
Acq't him likewise that the Lords being desirous to see him he may
expect an Order in a day or two to strike his Flagg and come to Town.

Alexander Colvill to Admiralty (30 December 1762) Adm 1/482.

       On this occasion I beg leave to inform their Lordships that,
from my experience of Mr Cook's genius and capacity, I think
him well qualified for the work he has performed, and for greater
undertakings of the same kind. These draughts being made
under my own eye, I can venture to say they may be the means
of directing many in the right way, but cannot mislead any.

            I am, &c.,
                  Colvill

Sources

David, Andrew. James Cook's 1762 Survey of St. John's Harbour and Adjacent Parts of Newfoundland. Terrae Incognitae, 1998, vol.30, pp. 63-71.

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