Cook in Newfoundland in 1764 September to December

Remarks etc on Board His Majesty's Schooner the Grenville, James Cook Master, between the 14th of June 1764 and the 15th of January 1765. Part 2: September to December.

   

September 1764.

At the beginning of the month, Cook and the Grenville were surveying on the Newfoundland shore of the Strait of Belle Isle. They had reached Ferrol by the end of September.

 

Week
Days		 Month
Day		 Winds Weather Remarks Notes
Saturday 1st Sep. E

Calm
ESE
SE

E

S

 (1) Light airs.
(8) Light breezes and fair weather.
(12) Ditto weather.

(2) Light airs and variable.
(4) Light breezes and cloudy.
(12) Ditto weather.

(1) Perceived the current setting strong to the eastward. Came to with the small anchor and hawser in 18 fathoms. Offshore half a mile.
(3) weighed and came to sail and stood to the SW to fetch. Plyed off and on and sounded at convenient distances. Half past came on board the boat with the Master, etc.
(10) half past. Made sail and stood to the eastward.
(11) half past tacked. Sounded 28 fathoms.
(12) Half past tacked. Sounded 30 fathoms.

(2) Half past tacked. Sounded 12 fathoms.
(8) Bore away. The boat went inshore to sound.
(9) Brought to. Sounded 30 fathoms. Made sail and stood to the westward.
(11) Came past 2 French snows standing to the eastward.
(12) Green Island SE by E threequarters of a mile. Sounding 32 fathoms.

 Again Cook returned on board only to return ashore the next morning.

A hawser is a large rope or cable used in warping and mooring.

A snow is a small sailing-vessel resembling a brig, carrying a main and fore mast and a supplementary trysail mast close behind the mainmast.

Green Island (51° 24'N, 56° 25'W) is a small island, about 2 km off the Newfoundland coast in the Strait of Belle Isle. It is 2 km long.
Sunday 2nd S (1) Fresh breezes and hazy with rain.
(4) Ditto weather with much rain.

(4) Ditto weather with rain.
(12) at noon fresh breezes with much rain.

(4) A cove which we took for Anse Savage SSW, half a mile. Half past, the boat came on board, etc.
(5) half past, touched the ground about a mile and a half to the wxxxx of said cove.
(6) made the private signal to a ship in the offing which we took to be the Solebay but was not answered.
(10) sounded 18 fathoms, wore and ran offshore and brought to with her head to the westward.
(11) brought to with her head the other way.

(7) Tacked and stood to the westward.
(12) Anchored between Green and the main in 4 and a half fathoms water, coral bottom.E point of the point of the main E quarter S, SE breakers ENE. E point of the island NE, W point of Ditto, NW, W point of the main W by S.

 Savage Bay (51° 20'N, 56° 42'W) (French Anse Sauvage).

A cove is a small bay or inlet.

A ship that touched the ground without running aground was scraping its keel on the sea bottom but not running.

If, in fact, it was HMS Solebay Cook had sailed as master on an earlier version in Scotland in 1757.

The offing is the part of the visible sea distant from the shore or beyond the anchoring ground.
Monday 3rd SSW
W by N		 The first part fresh breezes and hazy with rain. The later strong gales and clear weather. The boat employed about the survey.  
Tuesday 4th W by N Strong gales and cloudy. Employed as before.  
Wednesday 5th Ditto The first part Ditto weather. The later more moderate. At 10 AM weighed and came to sail. The boat away with the Master continuing the survey.  
Thursday 6th W by N (1) Fresh gales and cloudy weather turning to the westward.
(4) Strong gales and cloudy weather.
(10) More moderate.
(12) Light breezes and cloudy weather.

(8) Light airs.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (5) Split the mainsail and jibb.
(6) Came on board the boat, etc. Bore away. Half past, anchored between the Green Island and the main in 5 fathoms water. Unbent the mains and jibb and bent new one.

(4) weighed and came to sail. The boat left the vessel to proceed on the survey.
(8) Found the current to set to the Exxx. Came to with the small bower anchor in 18 fathoms water.

 
Friday 7th W

SW by S
S by W

 (1) Light breezes and cloudy weather.
(4) Ditto weather turning to westward.
(12) Light breezes and cloudy.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Fresh breezes with some rain.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (2) weighed and came to sail.
(6) the cove which we took to be Anse Savage SSW. about 1 and a half miles offshore.
(7) sent the small boat in to sound the cove. Half past the cutter with the Master came on board.
(9) stood to the westward.
(12) Tacked. A large western swell.

(2) Tacked. Sounded 48 fathoms.
(3) half past Tacked. Sounded 15 fathoms.
(4) Sounded 46 fathoms.
(8) Half past, anchored with the stream anchor in 7 and a half fathoms water. West Cove S by E quarter of a mile. Off the boat went on the survey.

 A stream anchor is an anchor intermediate in size between the bower and the kedge, used to moor a ship in a sheltered position, and for warping.

No chart records a West Cove and the log is not sufficiently precise to allow identification. There are several possible coves west of Green Island.
Saturday 8th WSW

SW
S by W
W

S

 (1) Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Moderate and cloudy weather.

(4) Fresh breezes and hazy with rain.
(5) Strong gales with rain.
(12) Something more moderate.

(1) Weighed and came to sail. Employed sounding the coast off and on.
(5) Came on board the Master with the cutter, etc. Turning to westward.
(8) Stood to the northward.
(10) half past tacked.

(1) half past tacked.
(4) Tacked.
(5) Took two reefs in the mainsail and one in the foresail.
(6) Doubled reef the foresail. Wore xxx. Lay to with her head to the northward.
(10) Wore and brought to on the other tack.
(12) Made sail. Anse Savage S by E 2 or 3 miles.

  
Sunday 9th W by N
N by E
S
calm
NW
WNW
NW		 (1) Fresh gales and cloudy weather.
(3) Hard squalls with rain.
(8) Hard gales and squally.
(11) Very hard squalls.
(12) Ditto weather.

(8) Fresh gales and cloudy.
(9) Strong gales and squally.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (1) Wore and sounded 26 fathoms about 7 or 8 miles off the Labrador coast.
(3) Hauled down the mainsail.
(6) half past wore.
(8) Lay to under the foresail with her head to the northward.
(11) Took the other reef in the foresail. Sounded 35 fathoms.
(12) Brought to on the other tack and sounded 30 fathoms.

(4) A large swell from the westward.
(5) Sounded 34 fathoms.
(8) Sounded 30 fathoms.
(9) Took 2 reefs in the mainsail. Wore, carried the fore gaff.
(12) Employed mending the gaff. Green Island, SW 4 or 5 miles.

 A gaff is a spar used in ships to extend the heads of fore-and-aft sails which are not set on stays.
Monday 10th NW by N
NW
W by N		 (1) Strong gales and hazy with hail and rain.
(4) Ditto weather.

 (6) Finished the gaff. Double reef and set the foresail. Cape Norman S by W 3 or 4 miles.
(9) Standing to westward. Sounded 20 fathoms.
(10) Sounded 38 fathoms.
(12) Wore and stood to the northward. Sounded 20 fathoms.

(4) Tacked and stood to the northward. Reefed the mainsail.
(8) Cape Norman ESE 5 miles.
(12) Ditto Cape SE by S 3 or 4 leagues.

 
Tuesday 11th WSW
W
NW
ESE		 (1) Strong gales with hard squalls.
(2) The gale still increasing.
(4) Hard gales with excessive hard squalls.
(5) still much harder.

(4) More moderate.
(8) Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
(10) Light airs.
(12) Light breezes and fair weather.

 (2) Split the foresail. Unbent it and bent another.
(4) Laying to under the jibb. Burnt Cape WSW 2 or 3 miles.
(5) Could bear no sails. The jibb sheet broke. With difficulty got the jibb down and stowed. Cape Norman SE 3 or 4 miles.
(8) Great Sacre Isle SSE 2 miles. Took all the reefs in the foresail.

(6) Wore and made sail.
(8) Quirpon W by S, 3 or 4 leagues.
(10) Let all the reefs out.
(12) Cape de Grat W threequarters N 7 or 8 miles.

  
Wednesday 12th ESE
SE by S
E by S		 (1) Light breezes and fair weather.
(4) Fresh breezes and cloudy.
(10) Ditto weather with rain.
(12) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Ditto weather.		 (4) Cape de Grat SSW 2 or 3 miles.
(6) Cape de Ognon SW half S 2 leagues.
(8) Cape Norman W by N half N distance 1 mile.

(1) Green Island S qurter of a mile. Lowered down the mainsail and reefed it.
(2) Hauled down the square sail.
(3) Hauled down the foresail.
(4) Brought to with her head to the northward.
(5) Wore and made sail.
(8) Sent the boat in shore to sound in a bay.
(12) Standing off and on the Bay Genevieve.

 St. Genevieve Bay (51° 09'N, 56° 49'W).

A square sailwas one set on the fore yard of a schooner, used when running before the wind.
Thursday 13th SSE
W
W by N		 (1) Light breezes and fair weather.
(3) Light airs.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Ditto weather.

(4) Ditto weather.
(6) Ditto weather.
(8) Fresh breezes and cloudy.
(12) Fresh gales with a large sea.

 (3) Anchored with the small anchor in 15 fathoms water.
(4) weighed and came to sail.
(8) Half past anchored with the best bower anchor in 6 and a half fathoms water off one of the islands in Bay St. Genevieve.

(6) Weighed and came to sail.
(8) Sent the boat in shore to sound a bay which we took to be that of St. Barbe.

The island was probably Gooseberry Island, the largest island, which stretches across the mouth of the bay.

St. Barbe Bay (51° 'N, 56° 'W) is a small inlet on the north Newfoundland Strait of Belle Isle coast.
Friday 14th W
S
S by W
W		 (1) Fresh gales and cloudy weather.
(4) The wind freshening.
(7) Strong gales and squally.
(12) Ditto weather.

(4) More moderate weather.
(5) Light airs and clear.
(8) Fresh breezes and clear.
(12) Fresh gales and clear weather.

 (1) Standing off and on. The boat came on board.
(4) Lowered the mainsail and reefed it. The Master with the cutter went ashore with six days provisions in order to continue the survey.
(8) Layed to under close reefed foresail with her head to the northward and sounded 32 fathoms.
(10) Sounded 45 fathoms.
(12) Sounded 39 fathoms.

(2) Sounded 25 fathoms.
(4) Made sail.
(5) Let the reefs out of the foresail and one out of the mainsail. And set the jibb. Sounded 42 fathoms.
(8) Tacked. Sounded 20 fathoms.(12) Point to the eastward of Green Island S by W 2 leagues.

  
Saturday 15th W
WSW
NE
E
ENE		 (1) Light breezes and clear weather.
(6) Moderate and clear.
(12) Light breezes and fair weather.

(6) Came on a very thick fog.
(7)the fog clearing up

 (2) Tacked. Sounded 38 fathoms.
(3) Tacked. Sounded 11 fathoms. Green Island W by S distance one mile.
(6) Tacked. Sounded 52 fathoms.
(8) Flying to windward.
(12) Sounded 35 fathoms.

(7) Brought to. Sounded 35 fathoms. Half past made sail.
(9) Bore away. Saw our boat and people on shore to the eastward of us.
(12) Close in with the land. Sent the small boat in to look for a place to bring the vessel to an anchor.

 
Sunday 16th NNE
NW

W by S

 (1) Light airs, inclinable to calm.
(5) Light airs.
(8) Calm.
(12) Ditto weather.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Strong gales and hazy.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (1) Anchored with the small bower anchor in 7 fathoms water.
(5) Weighed and towed in between some islands.
(8) Anchored with the best bower in 4 and threequarter fathoms water in a small cove.

(7) Carried the small anchor out with two hawsers to warp further in.
(8) Could not heave a head. Let go the best bower. Began brewing of beer, and getting water on board.

 To warp is to move a ship from one mooring in a harbour to another.
Monday 17th W by S
NW		 The first part strong gales and hazy with rain. The later much snow. Employed brewing and getting water on board.  
Tuesday 18th NW
W 		The first part strong gales with snow. The middle and later excessive hard gales and squally. PM Employed as before. At 1 came on board the Master with the cutter, etc.  
Wednesday 19th NNW
NW
SW 		The first part strong gales with very hard squalls. The later less wind with very hard rain. Employed making points<.b> and gaskets. A point is a short piece of flat braided cord attached near the lower edge of a sail for tying up a reef.

A gasket is a short line attached to the yard, used to secure a furled sail.
Thursday 20th SW
W
NNE 		The first part fresh gales with rain. The later clear weather. AM The cutter with the Master employed about the survey.  
Friday 21st NE
ENE 		The first part fresh gales and cloudy. Xxx the later little wind. Cutter employed as before. Employed wooding and watering.  
Saturday 22nd Ditto
ESE
ENE 		Light breezes and cloudy. PM The cutter employed as before.
AM Employed getting wood on board and completed the water and beer. Cleared hawser. 		 
Sunday 23rd NE
ENE
E by N 		The first part light breezes inclinable to calm. Middle fresh breezes with much rain. Later fresh gales and hazy with rain. At 1 PM began to unmoor. At 3 hove short on the best bower and carried the small anchor out to the NE to warp over to windward. At half past 4 came to sail. At 7 anchored in the fair way for going out in 7 fathoms water.

At 7 AM weighed and came to sail and sounded at small distances at about half a mile from the shore. Runing toward Old Ferrol, the boat likwise employed sounding nearer the shore. At noon, lying to for the boat. The fish stages of Ferrol S by E half E, about 1 mile.

 Old Ferrol (51° 05'N, 56° 54'W).

A fish stage is an erection at a fishing station consisting of a platform and other apparatus for drying fish.

Monday 24th E The first part fresh gales with much rain. Later, clear weather. At 1 PM the boat came on board. Made sail. Half past, anchored in Old Ferrol in 6 fathoms water. Moored with the small anchor.

AM The Master employed on the survey. Got the guns down in the after hold.

 
Tuesday 25th E Fresh breezes and clear weather PM The boats employed about the survey.

AM The small boat employed getting wood on board.

 
Wednesday 26th ditto First part fresh breezes and fair. Later little wind. PM Unmoored. At 6 weighed and ran to the southward. At half past 7 anchored off one of the west stages of Old Ferrol in 9 fathoms water and moored with the small anchor.

AM The cutter employed as before. Heeled the starboard side out. Scrubbed and payed it with varnish of pine and bends with tar.

  
Thursday 27th NE
NNE 		Fresh breezes and fair weather. PM Scrubbed and payed the other side.

At 11 AM unmoored, weighed and came to sail. At noon, standing to the westward and sounding at small distances. And the boat likewise, sounding nearer the shore.

 
Friday 28th NE
variable 		Moderate breezes with some rain. PM Anchored inside Grat Ferrol off one of the stages in 2¾ fathoms water, and moored with both bowers.

AM The cutter with the Assistant went to survey the Bay of St. Margaret.

 Grat Ferrol

St. Margaret Bay
Saturday 29th W The first part fair weather. The later fresh breezes with rain. Employed on the survey and getting wood on board.  
Sunday 30th Sep. ditto Fresh gales and hazy weather. Employed in the survey. PM Employed fitting and overhauling the rigging.  

 

October 1764.

Cook and the Grenville were still at Ferrol at the beginning of October. The weather was deteriorating and Cook was nearly finished his survey work for the season. On the 6th, he sailed for St. John's round the north of Newfoundland passing Cape Norman on the 7th and Cape Bonavista on the 11th. St. John's was reached on 14 October and the remainder of the month was spent preparing the vessel to cross the Atlantic.

 

Week
Days		 Month
Day		 Winds Weather Remarks Notes
Monday 1st Oct. W Fresh breezes and fair weather. At 3 PM the cutter returned. Struck main and top masts and fixed stays fore and aft.

AM Sent the boats to sound off and about Point Ferrol. The small boat got ashore on one of the ledges, which bilged and filled. With the assistance of the cutter, the people were saved.

 Point Ferrol.

ledges
Tuesday 2nd ditto The first part fresh gales. Later moderate and hazy. PM Tarred the rigging. Began brewing. Sent all our empty water and beer casks ashore.  
Wednesday 3rd W
calm 		The first part moderate and hazy. The later calm. Employed cutting wood, brewing, and getting water on board.  
Thursday 4th W
NE 		Light airs inclinable to calm the first part. The later strong gales and hazy. PM Employed as before.  
Friday 5th NE
variable
WSW 		The first part fresh gales and hazy. The middle little wind, inclinable to calm. Later fresh breezes and hazy with rain. At 6 AM began to unmoor and hove short on the best bower. Got all our beer and water on board. Employed getting things in order to sail.  
Saturday 6th WSW
WSW
NW
calm 		(1) Fresh gales and hazy.
(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Little wind and hazy.

(4) Light airs with thick foggy weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Something clearer.

 (4) Weighed and came to sail. Single reefed the mainsail.
(5) Half past the Isle of Chien S½E 3 or 4 miles. Point Ferrol SW by S. Sounded 34 fathoms.
(12) With a large swell from the westward.

(4) Ditto swell.
(7) Sounded 27 fathoms.
(12) Saw the coast of Labrador. Imagined ourselves to be abreast of Green Island.

 Dog Island (Isle de Chien)
Sunday 7th SE by E
ENE
E by N
SE by S 		(1) Thick fog.
(8) Thick fog.
(12) Light breezes and thick fog.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Moderate breezes and dark cloudy weather.
(11) Strong gales and dark cloudy weather.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (1) Calm in her head to the eastward.
(4) Sounded 41 fathoms.
(5) Sounded 44 fathoms. Calm in her head to the eastward.
(9) Sounded 44 fathoms. (11) Sounded 39 fathoms.

(3) Tacked in 28 fathoms water.
(5) Tacked. Distance offshore. (8) Black Point SE by S, distance 4 or 5 miles. (11) Took 2 reefs in the mainsail.
(12) Tacked. Cape Norman E 4 leagues. Black Point SE.

Black Point.
Monday 8th SE by S
SW
W by S
W by S
SW by S

W

 (1) Strong gales and hazy with rain.
(3) Hard gales.
Half past (5) Much more moderate.
At (7) the wind freshening.

(2) Moderate breezes and clear weather.
(4) Fresh breezes and cloudy.
(6) Little wind.
(7) Wind freshening.
(8) Fresh gales and hazy weather.
(12) Fresh breezes and cloudy.

 (3) Close reefed the foresail and jib. Split the jib sheet blocks. Set the foresail and lay to.
(5) Set the mainsail and jib.
(7) Lowered down the mainsail and foresail.
(9) Cape Norman S. distance ¾ mile.
(11) Burnt Cape SW. Jack Island E by S.
(12) Jack Island S distance ¾ mile. Cape de Grat SE by S.

(2) Set the fore and mainsails. xxxx Cape de Grat SW ½ mile.
(4) With a SE swell.
(5) White Island SW by W. Distance 4 or 5 miles.
(6) With a very large swell from the SE.
(7) Half past wore.
(8) Cape de Grat NW by W. Middle of large White Island W by N. Distance 4 or 5 miles.
(10) Tacked.
(12) Cape de Grat NW. Distance 3 miles.

  
Tuesday 9th W
W by S
W
SW by W
N by W 		(1) Fresh gales and cloudy.
(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Moderate and fair weather.
(12) Fresh gales and clear weather.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(9) Strong gales and squally.
(12) Ditto weather.

(1) with large swell from the SE quarter.
(5) At sunset the middle of Groais Islands SW½W. Cape de Grat N by W.
(7) Close reefed the foresail.

(7) Wore.
(9) Lowered down the mainsail and hauled down the jib. And brought to under the foresail.
(12) Groais Island W by N. Distance 10 leagues.
Latitude observed 50º 52' North.

  
Wednesday 10th WSW
SW by W
WNW
W
WSW 		(1) Moderate and clear weather.
(4) Ditto weather.
(6) Fresh breezes and clear weather.
(8) Moderate and fair weather.
(12) Fresh breezes and cloudy.

(4) Moderate and clear weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Light breezes and clear.

 (2) Saw a sail standing to the NW.

(4) Saw the land bearing SSW½W. Half past bore away.
(8) The Round Head on Large Fogo Isle W by S about 2 leagues distance.
(12) Round Head of Fogo NW¾W distance 3 leagues. Eastenmost of Wadhams Island S by W½W 2 miles. Sounded 60 fathoms.
Latitude observed 49º 45' North.

 Fogo Isle.

Round Head.

Wadham Islands.
Thursday 11th WSW
NW
SSW
WSW 		(1) Light breezes and clear weather.
(4) Ditto weather.
(6) Ditto weather.
(8) Moderate and clear.
(12) Fresh gales and clear weather.

(4) Ditto and cloudy.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Fresh gales and clear weather.

 (2) Wadhams Island W distance 2 miles.
(5) Variation xx amplitude 21º 35' 10"
(6) Cape Freels SW By S, 4 or 5 miles.
(8) Tacked.
(9) Tacked.

(3) Single reefed the mainsail.
(6) Saw the land bearing south.
(8) Cape Bonavista NW by W distance 2 leagues. Cape Larjan SW½W 2 leagues.
(10) Tacked.
(12) Cape Bonavista NW by N 5 miles. Cape Larjan WNW distance ½ a league.
Latitude observed 48º 45' N.

 Cape Freels.

Cape Bonavista.

Cape Larjan.
Friday 12th     **No entry appears for this date.**  
Saturday 13th W
WSW 		(1) Fresh gales and clear weather.
(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Fresh gales and cloudy.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Fresh gales and clear.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (2) Tacked and stood in shore.
(3) Tacked and stood off.
(4) Cape l'arjent N by W½W. Head of the Cataline Harbour W by N.
(6) North head of ditto Harbour W by N, distance 2 leagues. (12) Island Bocaleau S by E½E, distance about 3 leagues.

(4) Ditto Island N by W, distance 4 or 5 miles. Cape St. Francis SSW½W, distance 4 leagues.
(8) Cape St. Francis NW by N, distance 2 leagues.
(12) Sugar Loaf NW. Cape Spear SSW.

 Catalina.

Cape St. Francis,/b>.

Sugar Loaf.

Cape Spear.
Sunday 14th W by N
NE
NE 		The first and later parts moderate breezes and fair weahter. Middle, fresh gales with very hard squalls. At 8 PM anchored in St. John's Harbour with the best bower in 7 fathoms water. And moored with the small anchor and hawser.  
Monday 15th NW
W by N 		The first part moderate and fair weather. Later strong gales and clear. AM Employed clearing the hold.  
Tuesday 16th W by N
W by S 		The first part strong gales and clear. Later fair weather. Employed clearing the hold and putting things in order. Returned to the Guernsey eight empty bread puncheons and one beef ditto. A puncheon was a large cask able to hold up to 120 gallons of liquid.
Wednesday 17th W by S
SW by W 		Fresh gales and clear weather. AM Employed overhauling the rigging.

Punished James McHensey and Christopher Heavon with a dozen lashes each for mutiny and taking the boat in shore without leave. And John Young punished in like manner for theft.

 James McKenzie
Thursday 18th E
ENE 		The first part fresh gales and cloudy. The later little wind. PM Sent the boat for a turn of water.

AM The carpenters from the Guernsey employed on board. Employed our people overhauling the blocks and rigging.

 A turn was a measure of quantity (see OED definition 37b for the word turn).
Friday 19th W The first part fresh breezes and fair weather. Later little wind. The carpenters employed on board and the people as before. &NBSP;
Saturday 20th ditto The first little wind and the later fresh breezes. Employed about the rigging.  
Sunday 21st ditto
W 		The first part fresh breezes. The later strong gales and squally with rain. Fitted a preventer main stay. Received a turn of water on board. A preventer is an extra rope added for additional security. 
Monday 22nd W The first part strong gales and squally with rain. The later fair weather. Employed brewing.  
Tuesday 23rd ditto
The major part fair weather. Employed as before and fixing preventor clews. A clew is the after lower corner of a sail.
Wednesday 24th variable
The first part moderate and fair weather. The later fresh breezes. Received a turn of water on board.  
Thursday 25th ditto
Little wind and foggy. Fixed a preventer fore stay.  
Friday 26th ditto Ditto weather.    
Saturday 27th ditto Little wind and rain. PM Heeled and scrubbed. Received on board part of our beer and water.  
Sunday 28th WSW Ditto weather with much rain. Completed our beer and water.  
Monday 29th ditto Ditto weather. Got the flying jib boom in and a smaller out.  
Tuesday 30th W The first part variable with much rain. The later fair weather. PM Fixed a bob stay.

AM Scraped and payed the foremast. Carpenters employed on board. Employed getting ready for sea.

  
Wednesday 31st Oct. ditto Fresh gales and clear weather. Employed putting the rigging in order. Carpenters employed on board.

AM Stowed and lashed the small boat and small bower anchor. Received a turn of water on board.

  

 

November 1764.

Cook left St. John's, Newfoundland on 01 November. The remainder of the month was spent crossing the Atlantic..

 

Week
Days		 Month
Day		 Winds Weather Remarks Notes
Thursday 1st Nov. W
WNW		 (1) Moderate breezes with some rain.
(6) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Fresh breezes and cloudy.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Fresh breezes and clear.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (3) Began to unmoor.
(6) The entrance of St. John's Harbour NW by W about 3 miles. Cape Spear SW½W.

(8) Saw the land bearing west.

  

  Friday 02 November to Sunday 02 December the Grenville on the open sea crossing the Atlantic out of sight of land. The log records weather details and sailing operations. On Monday 3 December England came into sight.

 

Day Date Course Distance Latitude Longitude
made		 Bearings and Distance
at noon
Thursday 1st S86ºE 80 miles 47º 31' N 1º 58' St. John's N86ºW 27 leagues
Friday 2nd S80ºE 86 miles 47º 16' N 4º 03' St. John's N83ºW 55 leagues
Saturday 3rd S84ºE 63 miles 47º 09' N 5º 36' St. John's N83ºW 76 leagues
Sunday 4th N84ºE 25 miles 47º 11' N 6º 11' St. John's N84ºW 84 leagues
Monday 5th N48ºE 61 miles 47º 52' N 7º 20' St. John's S27ºW 100 leagues
Tuesday 6th N70ºE 93 miles 48º 24' N 9º 30' St. John's S83ºW 128 leagues
Wednesday 7th E½N 123 miles 48º 36' N 12º 35' St. John's S83ºW 169 leagues
Thursday 8th S87ºE 103 miles 48º 30' N 15º 10' St. John's S85ºW 202 leagues
Friday 9th S44ºE 30 miles 48º 08' N 15º 41' St. John's S87ºW 211 leagues
Saturday 10th N70ºE 39 miles 48º 22' N 16º 35' St. John's S85ºW 221 leagues
Sunday 11th N87ºE 122 miles 48º 27' N 19º 39' St. John's S86ºW 263 leagues
Monday 12th N52ºE 49 miles 48º 37' N 20º 37' St. John's S84ºW 276 leagues
Tuesday 13th N62ºE 18 miles 49º 31' N 24º 09'*** St. John's S82ºW 281 leagues
Wednesday 14th N24ºE 46 miles 50º 13' N 22º 38' St. John's S80ºW 303 leagues
Thursday 15th N13ºE 2 miles 50º 15' N 22º 39' Lizard S88ºE 291 leagues
Friday 16th N41ºE 55 miles 50º 56' N 20º 35'*** Lizard S86ºE 275 leagues
Saturday 17th N43ºE 28 miles 51º 17' N 24º 05' Lizard N86ºE 270 leagues
Sunday 18th fold 33 miles 50º 49' N 24º 32' Lizard S86ºE 263 leagues
Monday 19th N72ºE 65 miles 51º 10' N 26º 10' Lizard S84ºE 242 leagues
Tuesday 20th N67ºE 46 miles 51º 23' N 27º 16' Lizard S84ºE 239 leagues
Wednesday 21st N20ºE 30 miles 51º 56' N 27º 32' Lizard S80ºE 235 leagues
Thursday 22nd S43ºW 45 miles 51º 23' N 26º 42' Cape Clear E 157 leagues
Friday 23rd S29ºW 39 miles 50º 44' N 26º 42' Lizard S86ºE 237 leagues
Saturday 24th S42ºE 71 miles 49º 51' N 27º 58' Lizard S89ºE 222 leagues
Sunday 25th S11ºE 37 miles 49º 14' N 28º 09' Lizard N88ºE 219 leagues
Monday 26th N82ºE 75 miles 49º 25' N 30º 03' Lizard N87ºE 195 leagues
Tuesday 27th N74ºE 85 miles 49º 50' N 32º 13' Lizard N89ºE 102** leagues
Wednesday 28th S77ºE 43 miles 49º 40' N 33º 15' Lizard N88ºE 153 leagues
Thursday 29th N86ºE 65 miles 49º 44' N 34º 55' Lizard N88ºE 132 leagues
Friday 30th Nov. S71ºE 25 miles 47º 19' N 36º 58' Lizard N83ºE 106 leagues
Saturday 1st Dec. S83ºE 110 miles 49º 31' N 39º 58' Lizard N32ºE 68 leagues
Sunday 2nd S86ºE 114 miles 49º 24' N 42º 51' Lizard N69ºE 31 leagues

December 1764.

At the beginning of the month, Cook and the Grenville were approaching the English coast. They proceeded uo the English Channel to reach The Downs by the 10th. Continuing on Cook took the Grenville round into the Thames and reached Deptford, its winter quarters, on the 20th.

 

Week
Days		 Month
Day		 Winds Weather Remarks Notes
Monday 3rd Dec. ENE
E by N
ENE
SE		 (1) Fresh breezes and cloudy weather.
(4) Ditto weather.

(1) Moderate and clear weather.
(8) Ditto weather.

 (4) Sounded 41 fathoms. Recovered stones as big as beans with broken shells and hake's teeth.
(10) Sounded 41 fathoms. Coarse grey sand and stones as big as beans with broken shells.

(1) Tacked near the land and sounded 28 fathoms.
(6) Tacked.
(8) The Ramhead ESE upwards of 5 leagues. The Dodman W½N.
(12) Tacked. Sounded 38 fathoms. The Dodman bore NE by N. Ramhead NE by E.

Rame Head (Ramhead) (50° 19'N, 04° 13'W) is the headland on the south coast of Cornwall, 6.5 km southwest of Plymouth.

Dodman Point (the Dodman) is a headland (50° 13'N, 04° 48'W) on the south coast of Cornwall, 12 km south of St. Austell.
Tuesday 4th SE by E (1) Moderate breezes and hazy weather with some rain.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Ditto weather.

(7) Fresh gales and squally with rain.

 (3) half past. Tacked. Sounded 31 fathoms. Ouzy ground.
(4) half past. The Eddystone Lighthouse SE by E 3 or 4 miles.
(12) Tacked. Bault Head SE about 1 league.

(4) Tacked. Eddystone Light S by E half a mile.
(8) Bore away.
(11) Anchored in Catwater with the best bower in 2¾ fathoms water and moored with the small anchor. Two Customhouse Officers and an Exciseman came on board.

Eddystone Rock (50° 28'N, 04° 58'W) is situated 12 km south of Rame Head. The fifth lighthouse on the rock had opened in 1759.

Bolt (Bault) Head (50° 12'N, 03° 47'W) is on the south coast of Devon, southeast of Plymouth.

Cattewater (50° 21'N, 04° 07'W) is the mouth of the River Plym, to the east of the Hoe.

Customhouse Officers and Excisemen would come on board to check for smuggling, which was prevalent in the eighteenth century.
Wednesday 5th SSW
NW		 The final part fresh gales with much rain. Later fair weather. AM Returned the broken small bower anchor and received another.  
Thursday 6th WNW
SW		 The final part fair weather. The later excessive hard gales and squally with rain. AM Perceived ourselves drive. Let go the other anchor.  
Friday 7th W by N
W
SW		 The first part excessive hard gales and squally. The middle and later much more moderate. At 7 PM received on board one bag of bread and 30 pieces of pork. At 9 weighed one of the best bower anchors. At 7 began to unmoor. At 10 came to sail. At noon made sail to the eastward, after lying by to stow the bread and anchors.  
Saturday 8th NW by W

WNW

 (1) Strong gales and very hard squalls.
(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Ditto weather.
(12) Strong gales and clear weather.

(4) Ditto weather.
(8) Moderate and cloudy weather.
(12) Ditto weather.

 (1) Lowered the foresail and set the square sail.
(4) The Start Point N by E 3 miles.
(12) Set the close reefed mainsail.

(5) Saw the land.
(8) Dunnose N 3 miles.
(12) Dunnose WNW distance 5 or 6 leagues.

 Start Point (50° 13'N, 03° 38'W) is the southern point of the county of Devon.

Dunnose Point (50° 36'N, 01° 10'W) is situated on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight. Some of Cook's sightings of it seem improbable and he was probably sighting St. Catherine's Point, the southern point of the island.
Sunday 9th W by N
SW by W
W
NNW
N by W<		 (1) Moderate breezes and fair weather.
(4) Ditto weather and hazy with rain.
(6) Ditto weather.
(8) Moderate breezes and cloudy weather.
(12) Ditto and hazy.

(7) Fresh gales and hazy.

 (6) Took second reef in the mainsail.

(2) Sounded 20 fathoms.
(3) Lowered down the foresail and reefed it. And brought to with her head to the northward. And sounded 10 fathoms.
(9) A boat came from Dover with a pilot. Made more sail.
(12) Fresh gales and hazy with much rain. (12) Deal town W by N 5 miles.

 Dover (51° 07'N, 01° 18'E) is a port in Kent opposite Calais in France, separated from it by the Straits of Dover, the northeastern extension of the English Channel.

Deal (51° 13'N, 01° 23'E) is a town on the Kent coast in southeast England. The Downs lie just offshore from the town.
Monday 10th N by W
WSW

S by W
SE

 (1) Fresh gales with hard rain.
(2) Little wind.

(4) Ditto weather.
(12) Ditto weather.

(4) Anchored with the small bower anchor in 9 fathoms water. The North Foreland lighthouse S by W distance about 1½ miles.
(7) half past weighed and came to sail.
(11) Anchored with the small bower in 6 fathoms water in Westgate Bay and veered to x of a cable.

(8) Light airs and close weather.
(8) Weighed and came to sail.
(12) The bouy of the Spaniard SW ½ mile.

North Foreland (51° 22'N, 01° 25'E) is the headland in the northeast corner of Kent in southeast England.

Westgate (51° 22'N, 01° 20'E) is located to the north coast of Kent.

The Spaniard (51° 26'N, 00° 59'E) is a sandbank at the mouth of the River Thames, just to the northeast of the Isle of Sheppey.
Tuesday 11th W by S
W by N		 Moderate breezes and fair weather. At 3 PM anchored in 12 fathoms water with the small bower about 1½ miles below the Nore. At 9 weighed and came to sail.

At 3 AM anchored with the small bower at 7 fathoms water. At half past 9 weighed and came to sail. At noon turning up the river.

 The Nore (51° 29'N, 00° 45'E) is a sandbank at the mouth of the River Thames, just to the north of the Isle of Grain. A light has marked its location since 1731.
Wednesday 12th WSW

SW

 Fresh gales and hazy with rain. At 4 PM anchored with the small bower in the lower part of Longreach. At 10 weighed and came to sail.

At 1 anchored off Woolwich Yard. AM made fast to one of the moorings.

Long Reach (51° 27'N, 00° 15'E) is a stretch of the River Thames between Erith and Greenhithe.

Woolwich (51° 30'N, 00° 04'E) was the site of one of the Royal Dockyards and the Arsenal. It is located 5 km to the east and down river from Greenwich.
Thursday 13th ditto Ditto weather. Mustered by the Clerk of the Cheque. The Clerk of the cheque was an officer in royal dockyards who went on board to muster the ship's company, thereby to check false musters and records.
Friday 14th W The first part hazy with rain. The later fair weather.    
Saturday 15th SW The major part hazy with rain.    
Sunday 16th NW
N		 The first part fresh gales with rain. The later fair weather. Dried sails.  
Monday 17th NE
ENE		 Fresh breezes and fair weather. Mustered by the Clerk of the Cheque.  
Tuesday 18th E Ditto weather with frost.    
Wednesday 19th ditto Ditto weather. Got out the ordnance stores.  
Thursday 20th E Ditto weather. At 7 AM let go on the buoy and came to sail. At half past 8 made fast to a tier of ships off Deptford yard. Deptford Dockyard.
Friday 21st NE Ditto weather. At 5PM took up the Catherine's yacht moorings. Katherine's yacht moorings.
Saturday 22nd NW Moderate breezes with rain. The Customhouse Officers were taken off.

AM Came up the Seahorse ship of war.

HMS Seahorse was a 6th rate of 24 guns built in Harwich in 1748.
Sunday 23rd E Ditto weather.    
Monday 24th ditto Strong gales and clear weather.    
Tuesday 25th ditto Ditto weather.    
Wednesday 26th ditto Ditto weather with hard frost.    
Thursday 27th ditto Hard gales and clear weather.    
Friday 28th E Fresh gales and close weather. Sometimes hazy.    
Saturday 29th ditto Major part fair weather. Dried sails.  
Sunday 30th variable Little wind inclinable to calm. PM Sent all the sails on shore.  
Monday 31st Dec.   Little wind with rain. Employed unreeving the running rigging.  

 

January 1765.

At the beginning of the month, the Grenville was berthed at Deptford Dockyard on the River Thames.

 

Week
Days		 Month
Day		 Winds Weather Remarks Notes
Tuesday 1st Jan. variable Fresh gales, the major part rain. Unreeved all the running rigging.  
Wednesday 2nd SW Fresh gales with rain.    
Thursday 3rd NW Ditto weather.    
Friday 4th ditto Little wind and cloudy weather.    
Saturday 5th WNW Ditto weather.    
Sunday 6th W Ditto weather.    
Monday 7th NW Fresh gales.    
Tuesday 8th N Ditto with frost.    
Wednesday 9th NE Fresh gales with hard frost and snow.    
Thursday 10th ENE Ditto weather.    
Friday 11th SE Ditto with rain.    
Saturday 12th S Strong gales with rain. At 1 PM slipped the moorings and hauled into the Dock.

Employed getting the provisions, etc on board the Shear hulk.

 A sheer or shear hulk was the body of an old disused ship fitted with shears, etc., for hoisting purposes at dockyards.
Sunday 13th SW Ditto weather. AM Employed clearing the vessel.  
Monday 14th SW Fresh gales with some rain. Employed clearing the vessel. Had a survey on the rigging and other cordage. Cordage is the collective term for all the ropes and lines forming the rigging of a ship.
Tuesday 15th Jan. ditto Ditto weather. Employed returning the rigging and stores into store.

AM Completed and sent the people on board the shear hulk.

  

  The log finishes on Tuesday 15 January 1765 and resumes again on Wednesday 1 April 1765, prior to the Grenville sailing back to Newfoundland for a new season of surveying.