Cook's ships

1: Early days n the North Sea.

James Cook's involvement with ships began in Whitby when he joined John Walker's company. He began as a servant or apprentice, serving on colliers in the North Sea Coal Trade between the River Tyne and London. The apprenticeship lasted for three years after which Cook became a seaman. He was no longer bound to Walker and was able to sail on ships belonging to other owners. However, a close friendship had arisen between Cook and Walker and, except for short spells on other ships, Cook remained with Walker and his ships.

It is probable that Cook visited Norway and the Baltic Sea (even, perhaps, St. Petersburg in Russia) to obtain timber. He was also on board the Three Brothers when that ship was used to transport troops and horses back from the continent.Cook had been promoted to mate with high expectations of being offered his own command on one of Walker's ships when he resigned and joined the Royal Navy in 1755.

All the ships that Cook sailed on during this period were cats. Cats were small sturdy vessels capable of caarying large quantities of cargo (in most cases coal) and good in the shallow, coastal waters of the North Sea and the fickle weather conditions found there. They offered Cook a wonderful practical training to develop his seamanship and navigation skills.

The Government introduced a law requiring all ships to keep detailed muster rolls of their crews, which has enabled us to know most of the ships and passages that Cook sailed on. However, little is known of the specifications of those ships.

 

North and Baltic Sea ships on which James Cook served or sailed. Part 1.

Ship's Name Type Home port Owner Tonnage
Freelove Collier Whitby Walker 341
Three Brothers Collier / Transport Whitby Walker  
Mary Trader Whitby Wilkinson  
Hopewell   Stockton    
Three Brothers Collier Whitby Walker  
Friendship Collier Whitby Walker  

 

North and Baltic Sea ships on which James Cook served or sailed. Part 2.

Ship's Name Built where Built when Master Cook on board Cook's position
Freelove Yarmouth 1746 John Jefferson 1747-48 Apprentice
Three Brothers Whitby 1748 John Walker / John Jefferson 1748-49 Apprentice / Seaman
Mary     William Gaskin 1750 Seaman
Hopewell       1750 Seaman
Three Brothers Whitby 1748 Robert Watson 1751-52 Seaman
Friendship     RobertWatson / Richard Ellerton / John Swainston 1752-55 Seaman / Mate

2: The Royal Navy.

Royal Navy ships on which James Cook served or sailed. Part 1.

Ship's Name Type No. Guns Tonnage Dimensions Built where by whom when
Eagle 4th rate 58 1,124bm 44.8 x 12.8 Harwich Barnard 1745
Falmouth 4th rate 50 1,052bm 43.9 x 12.5 Woolwich Dockyard 1752
St. Albans 4th rate 60 1,191bm 45.7 x 13.1 Deptford West 1747
Solebay 6th rate 24 442bm 32.3 x 9.1 Plymouth Dockyard 1742
Pembroke 4th rate 60 1,247bm 47.5 x 12.8 Plymouth Dockyard 1757
Northumberland 3rd rate 70 1,414bm 48.8 x 13.7 Plymouth Dockyard 1750
Antelope 4th rate 54 853bm 40.8 x 11.6 Woolwich Dockyard 1741
Tweed 5th rate 32 661bm 39 x 10.4 Hull Blaydes 1759
Grenville Schooner 12 69bm 16.8 x 5.2 Massachusetts   1763
Lark 5th rate 32 646bm 38.7 x 10.4 Rotherhithe Bird 1762
Endeavour Bark 6 368bm 29.7 x 8.9 Whitby Fishburn 1764
Resolution Sloop 12 462bm 33.8 x 10.8 Whitby Fishburn 1770
Adventure Sloop 10 336bm 29.7 x 8.7 Whitby Fishburn 1770
Discovery Sloop   299bm 27.9 x 8.4 Whitby Langbourne 1774

Notes:

1. The dimensions are length by width in metres.
2. In tonnage, bm means builder's measurement.
3. Type - the rate was related to the number of guns carried. The lower the rate, the more guns.

Sources:

1. Lyon, David. The Navy sailing list: all the ships of the Royal Navy - built, purchased and captured - 1688-1860. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1993.
2. Colledge, J.J. Ships of the Royal Navy. Volume . London: Greenhill Books, 1987.

 

Royal Navy ships on which James Cook served or sailed. Part 2.

Ship's Name Previous Name(s) Notes Captain Cook on board when Cook's position
Eagle     Joseph Hamar / Hugh Palliser 1755-57 A.B. / Master's mate
Falmouth       1756 Passenger
St. Albans       1756 Passenger
Solebay     Robert Craig 1757 Master
Pembroke     John Simcoe / John Wheelock 1757-59 Master
Northumberland     William Adams / Nicholas Bateman 1759-62 Master
Antelope   rebuilt Thomas Graves 1763 Passenger
Tweed     Charles Douglas 1763 Surveyor
Grenville Sally purchased 1763 James Cook 1763-67 Captain
Lark     Thompson 1764 Passenger
Endeavour Earl of Pembroke purchased 1768 James Cook 1768-71 Captain
Resolution Marquis of Granby / Drake purchased 1771 James Cook 1772-75 Captain
Adventure Marquis of Rockingham / Raleigh purchased 1771 Tobias Furneaux    
Discovery Diligence purchased 1774 Charles Clerke    

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