William Le Mesurier joined the Chatham from the Victory. He was listed as being 23 years old and coming from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He was the son of William Le Mesurier and Marguerite Naftel and had been baptised on 27 November 1767 at St. Pierre du Bois, Guernsey.

William Le Mesurier senior captained merchant ships that traded with North America. He was even arrested and had his ship confiscated in 1761 for illegal trading. It is probable that his son went to sea with him before starting with career with the Royal Navy in 1790. He then joined HMS Elephant under Captain Charles Thompson as an AB. He next served as a midshipman on the Victory under Captain John Knight. William Le Mesurier joined the Chatham on 06 March 1791 as master's mate. He became an AB on 31 March before resuming as master's mate. He spent the whole voyage on Chatham. Le Mesurier was an active participant in the small boat surveys and is mentioned several times in the journals. Lemesurier Points in Clarence Strait and on Kayak Island were named after him on the voyage. Lemesurier Island in Cross Sound was named after at a later date.

Le Mesurier still only had 5 years sevice so transferred to the Namur under Captain James Whitshed. He was promoted lieutenant on 16 November 1796 and joined the Fairy sloop in 1797 under Commander John (?) Baker. He transferred in 1798 to the Princess Royal under Captain Thomas Draper and later that year was third lieutenant on HMS Veteran under Captain James Mosse. Captain Archibald Collingwood Dickson assumed command in February 1799 and Le Mesurier was still on board at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. From July 1803 Le Mesurier was on the Conquest gunboat at Jersey until July 1804. He then saw service on the Triumph in 1810 under Captain Samuel Hood Linzee and the Princess, Commander William Simpson, acting as a guardship at Liverpool in 1814.

On 07 November 1802, Le Mesurier married Priscilla Seaman in Great Yarmouth. Priscilla had been born in Great Yarmouth in 1784. Le Mesurier wrote his will in 1812 and there is no mention of children. He became a retired commander on 26 November 1830 and died on 29 January 1833. His will was proven by Priscilla, his widow, on 27 June 1833 (PROB 11/1817).

Notes for the will.
Priscilla Le Mesurier
Naftel family

George Charles McKenzie was listed as being 16 years old and coming from Edinburgh when he joined the Discovery. He was born on 16 February 1776 and baptised on 28 February 1776 at North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of George and Mary (née Campbell) McKenzie.

McKenzie began his naval career aged 14 on HMS Crescent as captain's servant to Captain William Young. After seven months he transferred to the Bellona under Captain Francis Hartwell but only spent a week there before joining the Discovery on 20 December 1790 as a midshipman. He was an AB from 01 June 1791 to 01 February 1792 and then resumed as a midshipman. He spent the whole voyage on Discovery. He kept a journal (Adm 51/4534 pt. 5, Discovery, 26 Nov. 1791-11 Dec. 1792. Adm 51/4534 pt. 6, 12 Dec. 1792-25 Feb. 1794).

George Charles McKenzie still did not have sufficient service to become a lieutenant and joined HMS Sandwich under Captain James Mosse as a midshipman. He sat his lieutenant's examination in mid-1796 and was commissioned on 06 June 1796. He immediately joined the Termagent under Captain Henry Blackwood. In 1797 McKenzie followed Blackwood to the Brilliant and again to the Penelope in 1799.

McKenzie was made commander on 07 January 1802 and given charge of the Experiment, a troopship, which he took to the Mediterranean. He returned to Britain in November 1803. McKenzie was given command of the Wolf sloop in April 1805 and sailed her to the West Indies in the July. On 19 October 1805, the Wolf chased a Spanish privateer, La Precieusa, but the privateer was wrecked on rocks. On 02 January 1806, Wolf, was accompanying the Malabar, cruising off the south coast of Cuba, when two French schooners, the Régulateur and the Napoléon, were seen sailing into Azeraderos. The Wolf, carefully made its way through rocks into the harbour and anchored close to the two privateers, which were awaiting an attack. The Wolf attacked for over an hour and took possession after the schooners were abandoned.

The Wolf was still being commanded by McKenzie when it was wrecked on Inagua in the Bahamas on 05 September 1806. McKenzie was next in command of the 18 gun sloop Cruiser in 1808. On 11 June, in company with the Euryalus, under Captain George Dundas, they discovered several vessels at anchor in Nakskov harbour on Lolland Island at the entrance to the Baltic. A gun-boat was captured and several Danish vessels set alight. McKenzie was promoted to captain on 26 November 1808. From July 1810 McKenzie had command of HMS Undaunted which he took to Malta, returning in January 1811. He was in command of the Christian VII for a month in April 1811 before taking charge of HMS Impregnable in 1812. They operated in the North Sea and the English Channel. In November 1813, he went to Lisbon in command of the Creole. On 23 January 1814, the Creole and the Astrea, which had been cruising off North Africa, discovered two frigates and other vessels at anchor off Maio in the Cape Verde Islands. The frigates proved to be the French Etoile and Sultane and all four ships began an engagement. After several hours heavy fighting, the Creole, which had been on fire and had suffered considerable damage, withdrew from the action. McKenzie nursed the Creole into Porto Prayo on Sao Iago. The Astrea was in a similar condition and joined the Creole. The Sultane and the Etoile, were in no better state and unable to pursue the action. The two pairs of combatants had been equally matched and had fought to a draw. In 1815, McKenzie and the Creole were based at Sheerness.

George Charles McKenzie returned to live in Scotland and had lodgings in the Royal Circus, Edinburgh. However, McKenzie died on 22 January 1828, while staying with Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre at his home, Lennoxlove, near Haddington in East Lothian.

McKenzie made his will on the day he died. It makes no mention of a wife but refers to his "three natural children", George Ross McKenzie, Charles McKenzie and Georgina Hogarth(?) McKenzie, who shared his estate equally. In his will, McKenzie also left a gun to Lord Blantyre as mark of his friendship. His witnesses were younger brothers of Blantyre, the Honourables William and Charles Francis Stuart. McKenzie was buried nearby in Bolton churchyard; his grave records: "In memory of George Charles McKenzie, Captain in the Royal Navy, who died at Lennoxlove, 22 Jany 1828 aged 52 years." His will was proven on 23 October 1828 (PROB 11/1747).

Notes for the will. Lennoxlove was the home of Robert Walter Stuart, 11th Lord Blantyre. It is situated just outside Haddington, a few kilometres ESE of Edinburgh.
Lord Blantyre
William and Charles Francis Stuart were younger brothers of Lord Blantyre.

Thomas Manby was born in Hilgay, Norfolk on 01 January 1769. He was baptised on 02 January at Denver in Norfolk. His father, Matthew Pepper Manby had been a marine officer and a captain in the Welch fusiliers. Importantly, he had been aide-de-camp to George, Marquis of Townshend when the marquis was lord lieutenant of Ireland from 1767 to 1772. The Townshend home was Raynham Hall in Norfolk, only a few kilometres to the northeast of Hilgay. A friendship had developed between the families that proved very useful as Townshend helped Thomas Manby's career and Thomas repaid him by having features named after the marquis on the Northwest Coast of America.

Manby joined the Royal Navy in 1783 and went to sea on the Hyaena on the Irish station. In 1785, he went to the West Indies on the Cygnet before transferring to the Amphion and then the Illustrious. Manby was then selected for Vancouver's voyage to the Northeast Pacific. Thomas Manby joined the Discovery on 29 December 1790 as a master's mate until 01 June 1791. He was an A.B. from 01 June 1791 to 26 September 1792. Manby transferred to become master of the Chatham on 27 September. On 25 November 1794, Manby moved back to be 3rd lieutenant on the Discovery. He kept a log (Adm 53/403 ff 187 to 245. Discovery. 16 Dec. 1790 to 05 Jun.1792; ff 252 to 257. Discovery. 06 Jun. 1792 to 26 Sep. 1792; Adm 51/2251. Chatham. 27 Sep. 1792 to 08 Oct. 1794; Adm 53/403 ff 246 to 251. Chatham. 09 Oct. 1794 to 25 Nov. 1794; ff 257 to 300. Discovery. 02 Dec. 1794 to 02 Jul. 1795). His journal, which was written in the form of letters to John Lees in Ireland, is held at Yale University Library. Manby Point at Yakutat Bay was named after him.

After the Vancouver expedition, Manby, who had been acting lieutenant on the Discovery, was confirmed in that rank on 27 October 1795. He was posted to the Juste in 1796 and then, early in 1797, Manby was given command of the Charon having been promoted commander on 15 February 1797. An expedition to the Pacific was planned but did not eventuate. Instead the Charon transported troops, led convoys and cruised against privateers.

Manby was promoted captain on 22 January 1799 and, at the end of the year, was appointed to the Bourdelois, which was being refitted at Plymouth. A former French privateer, it had been captured in 1799. The Bourdelois was commissioned on 04 February 1800 by Captain Manby and sailed in a gale on 13 April for Cork. The weather off the south of Ireland was very bad and Bourdelois needed repairs, which necessitated a return to Plymouth. She came out of dock on 15 May and sailed on a cruise off the coasts of Spain and Portugal on 02 May. On 12 June, the Phoenix, a Danish schooner, was captured near Corunna.

Manby and the Bourdelois returned to Plymouth on 27 July. However, on 09 November, the ship was damaged in a gale in the Channel and had to go into Portsmouth harbour for more repairs. In early December 1801, the Bourdelais sailed from Portsmouth with a convoy to the West Indies but it was dispersed in a gale off Cape Finisterre, On 08 January 1801, off Palma, a strange sail was sighted to the south-east. Two boats were despatched under Lieutenant Robert Barrie (a colleague from the Vancover expedition) to investigate. After a 14 hour row Barrie recaptured the Adventure (a London vessel, recently taken by the Mouche, a French privateer). With knowledge gained, Manby searched for another vessel recently captured by the Mouche and retook the Aurora off Santa Cruz in Teneriffe.

In late January 1801, the Bourdelois was ordered to cruise off Barbados to provide protection for the scattered convoy and, on the 29th, Manby saw three enemy sail to windward, two brigs and a schooner. He shortened sail to allow them to come up and, at sunset, wore round to give them battle. One of the brigs was attacked while the others kept out of range. The Curieuse surrendered and first lieutenant Barrie took possession though it later sank. The other two French ships sailed away. Manby learned that the ships had been sent out from Cayenne by Victor Hugues 28 days before to intercept the outward bound West Indies fleet. The Bourdelais made for Carlisle Bay in Barbados, arriving on 01 February 1801.

During 1801 and early 1802, Manby was employed in cruising in the Bourdelais. When peace came he took over from Captain Dundas in the Juno and sailed it back to Britain, arriving on 08 July. In November 1802, Thomas Manby was given the appointment as captain of the Africaine by Earl St. Vincent. The ship was commissioned at Deptford and Manby was ordered to blockade two French frigates in Helvoetsluys. They remained on this service for two years until the frigates were dismantled. The Africaine joined other vessels watching the Dutch fleet in the Texel. During a gale off the Texel a piece of Africaine's rudder broke off and damaged the stern post causing a refit at Sheerness.

Manby then went back to the West Indies as the Africaine escorted a large convoy there on 19 June 1805, calling at Surinam, Demerara, and various islands. She arrived in Barbados with a crew of 340 men all in perfect health. Sir Alexander Cochrane ordered him to return to Britain with the homebound trade, taking as passengers invalids from the hospitals in Barbados. 48 hours after sailing, yellow fever broke out which killed one third of the crew in the six weeks it took her to reach Falmouth. The surgeon and the assistant surgeon died on the second day and Manby, himself, carried out their duties dispensing large doses of calomel on the advice of a doctor at St Kitts. Manby had an attack of the fever and it affected his subsequent health. After spending 40 days in quarantine off the Scilly Islands, the Africaine was put out of commission at Sheerness.

About the time of Manby's appointment to the Africaine, he was presented by Lady Townshend to the Princess of Wales, who was friendly towards him. It was suggested by some that the Princess had been too familiar with Manby and that Manby was even the father of one of her children! Manby swore an affidavit on 22 September 1806 that the rumours were 'a vile and wicked invention, wholly and absolutely false'.

In 1807, Manby sailed to Jersey in the Thalia (originally the Unicorn) to be in command of a small squadron. He captured a French privateer, the Requin, off Cherbourg on the morning of 29 October. The next year, 1808, Manby, in the Thalia and accompanied by the Medusa and Locust, was sent to the Davis Strait in a fruitless search for two French frigates supposed to be threatening the Greenland fishery. After 12 weeks of sailing in fog among icebergs, Manby found an anchorage on the coast of Labrador, which he named Port Manvers, before returning to Britain via Cadiz and Gibraltar.

Manby's health was no longer good and he gave up his command. He purchased an estate at Northwold in Norfolk, where he settled for the rest of his life. Thomas married Judith Hammond on 01 March 1810 at Northwold, Norfolk. Together, they had two daughters. One daughter was called Georgina Manvers Manby. Manby was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue in 1825 and of the white in 1830.

Manby wrote his will (see below) on 18 February 1833 when he was living at Somerford near Christchurch in Hampshire. The tone of the writing suggests he was very ill and had lost his sight. It may also be that he was living in Hampshire, estranged from his wife, though she is the principal beneficiary of the will. He died from an overdose of opium at the George Hotel, Southampton, on 13 June 1834 and, given the circumstances just mentioned, the action may have been suicide. The will was proven on 25 June 1834 11/1833).

Notes for the will. Somerford has now been consumed by Christchurch and is a suburb to the east of the town centre. It has been tranferred from Hampshire into Dorsetshire.
I do not know the name of the widowed daughter (dec. 2005).
The use of the name Manvers is intriguing. In 1808, Manby had named an inlet, Port Manvers, on the coast of Labrador. Charles Herbert Pierrepont succeeded as 2nd Earl Manvers in 1816. He was a captain in the Royal Navy at the same time as Manby so it is possible they became close friends.
Thomas Savery - a connection between Manby and Savery (albeit thirty years after Vancouver's voyage) may explain the name for an island in the Georgia Strait. Saverys (or Savarys) lived in Norfolk.
Stillwell had been a partner with the Sykes family of naval agents until they died off. John Sykes had been a companion of Manby on the Vancouver voyage.

Archibald Menzies was born at the House of Stix, near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on 15 March 1754, the second son of James and Ann Menzies. His father was gardener on the estate of Sir Robert Menzies of Menzies, the clan chief, who was keenly interested in new plants. Archibald and four brothers worked with their father at Castle Menzies as well as being educated at the parish school at Weem. His older brother, William, moved to Edinburgh to work in the botanical garden established by Professor John Hope in 1763 and Archibald followed him there.

Hope, then Professor of botany, encouraged Archibald to study at the University of Edinburgh, where between 1771 and 1780 he attended classes in medicine, surgery, chemistry, and botany. In 1778, Menzies toured the western Highlands to collect rare plants for two London physicians. After studying at Edinburgh, he became assistant to a surgeon in Caernarvon, Wales.

In 1782, Menzies entered the navy as assistant surgeon on board the Nonsuch, under Captain William Truscott, which took part in Rodney's victory over the Comte de Grasse on 12 April 1782 at the battle of the Saintes in the West Indies. The Nonesuch carried Hessian troops home from New York and Menzies was paid off in August 1783. In 1784, he was appointed surgeon's second mate on HMS Assistance, which was posted to the Halifax station. The Assistance was the flagship of Sir Charles Douglas and was commanded by Captain William Bentinck. Also on board was James Johnstone, who was ship's master, and he and Menzies began a long friendship. From Halifax, Menzies began a correspondence with Sir Joseph Banks and sent him seeds and specimens. Menzies and Johnstone were discharged at Chatham in August 1786.

Banks was most probably instrumental in securing Menzies the position of surgeon on board the Prince of Wales, under James Colnett, which undertook a fur-trading voyage to the Northwest Coast of America. Before the Prince of Wales voyage, which departed at the end of 1786, Banks allowed Menzies to use his library and herbarium where Menzies was able to examine specimens brought home by Cook's expedition to the Northwest Coast of America in 1778. During the Prince of Wales voyage, Menzies collected specimens from several locations, including Nootka Sound. When Colnett left the expedition at Macao, Menzies accompanied Johnstone, who assumed command and sailed the Prince of Wales back to Britain in 1789.

In 1790, Menzies was elected fellow of the Linnean Society, in whose Transactions for 1791 and 1798 he published accounts of his natural historical findings. Banks used his influence once more to obtain a berth for Menzies on Vancouver's expedition to survey the Northwest Coast of America. Vancouver and Banks had a disagreement and it is believed that Vancouver resented Banks' interference. As a result, Vancouver would not have Menzies as his surgeon. Instead, Menzies was allowed to sail on Discovery but only as a botanist and a supernumerary. His friend, James Johnstone, was on the companion vessel, the Chatham, as master. Alexander Cranston had sailed as the expedition's surgeon on the Discovery, but he proved unsuitable and was sent home. Vancouver asked Menzies to assume the role of surgeon and would later praise Menzies' performance in the preface to his account of the voyage. Only one man died from ill health on the expedition. However, relations between Menzies and Vancouver were strained in later parts of the voyage. When many specimens were lost during a rainstorm coming up the Atlantic, a quarrel led Vancouver to recommend a court-martial for Menzies, but Menzies later apologised and Vancouver withdrew his charges. Menzies had also refused to hand over his journals.

Menzies collected specimens throughout the voyage beginning in southwestern Australia and continuing in New Zealand, Hawai'i, the Northwest Coast of America and in Chile. He was the first person to describe most of these specimens. Many still reflect Menzies' involvement in that they carry his name in their botanical name. Among the great variety of plants brought home were Thuya plicata (Red Cedar), Cornus nuttalii (Pacific Dogwood), Araucaria auricana (Monkey Puzzle) and Arbutus menziesii (Pacific Madrone), as well as other natural history objects. He was the first to gather Sequoia sempervirens, the giant Redwood.

Menzies was very slow in writing an account of the voyage from his journal and describing his specimens. A short account of the voyage was carried in John Loudon's Magazine of Natural History. Copies of his journals are held at the British Library (Add MS 32641 Dec. 1790-16 Feb. 1794) and in the National Library of Australia (MS 155 21 Feb. 1794-18 Mar. 1795). Menzies Point in Burke Channel was named after him on the voyage. Menzies Bay and Mount Menzies on Vancouver Island were named later.

Menzies was made an honorary MD of Aberdeen University in 1799 and, in the same year, he returned to sea joining the Sans Pareil in the West Indies, under Captain Penrose. In 1802, asthma forced Menzies to resign from the navy and he moved to London. He lived in Chapel Place between Oxford Street and Cavendish Square, from where he ran a medical practice at his home. Archibald Menzies married Janet Brown, the sister of Adam Brown, who had sailed with him on the Chatham in 1802 but they had no children. He retired from his practice in 1826 and the Menzies moved to 2 Ladbroke Terrace, Notting Hill. Janet died first in 1836 and Archibald followed on 15 February 1842; both were buried at Kensal Green cemetery in north London. Menzies left a will, proven on 04 March 1842, FRC 11/1959. (see below).

Between 1783 and 1795, Menzies gathered at least 400 species new to science. However, his slowness or inability to write up his findings was frustrating. His small number of written publications has resulted in him never achieving the deserved universal acclaim his work warranted. He was also a skilled botanical artist and Hooker published several of his accurate and sensitive drawings of plants.

Menzies is commemorated in the names of several of the plants he collected, though some have subsequently been renamed. His portrait by Eden Upton Eddis hangs at Burlington House, London, in the rooms of the Linnean Society. A number of place names in present-day British Columbia, notably Menzies Bay and Mount Menzies, honour him. His private herbarium is in the Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh, and there are numerous specimens collected by him in the herbaria of the Natural History Museum in London and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled in 2004 at Castle Menzies in Scotland, close to two monkey puzzle trees, examples of probably the most-famous species that Menzies introduced to Britain.

Notes for the will.
Greenhall is a farm at Madderty, 10 kilometres east of Crieff, Perthshire.
Andrew Johnson was a nephew of Menzies' wife Janet.
Charles Mitchell was a witness of Adam Brown's will.

Zachary Mudge was listed as being born in Plymouth on 22 January 1770, one of 20 children of Dr John Mudge (though his lieutenant's certificate has him already over 22 in 1787 indicating a birth in 1765). Zachary was a son of Mudge's third wife, Elizabeth, née Garrett. An uncle was Thomas Mudge, the horologist while an older half-brother was William Mudge, who, as superintendant, developed the Ordnance Survey and was responsible for much of the early detailed mapping of Britain (Wordsworth wrote "Black Combe" about his work.).

Mudge joined the navy as a ten-year old in November 1780 on board the Foudroyant, under Captain John Jervis. He is said to have been present when the Foudroyant captured the Pégase in the Bay of Biscay on 21 April 1782. Mudge continued to serve on the Foudroyant but also served as midshipman on the Pégase. On 24 May 1789, he was promoted lieutenant. In December 1790, Mudge was appointed to the Discovery to sail on the projected voyage of exploration on the Northwest Coast of America.

Mudge kept a journal (Adm 51/4533 pt. 52, 04 Jan. 1791-01 Oct. 1792), which included two views. He then left the expedition on xxxxx to carry communications back to Britain from Vancouver on the state of negotiations with the Spanish. Cape Mudge, the southern point of Quadra Island, at the head of the Strait of Georgia was named after him.

In early 1795, Mudge returned to the Pacific on the Providence, with Commander William Robert Broughton.

On 24 November 1797, Mudge was promoted commander and, in November 1798, he was given his first command on the sloop Fly. In February 1799, the Fly captured the French privateer Gleneur off Portland after a long chase. Mudge and the Fly then moved to North American waters, based at Halifax, before returning to Portsmouth in May 1800. The Fly next cruised in the Channel and captured a French privateer cutter, the Trompeur.

On 15 November 1800, Mudge was promoted captain and, in April 1801, was appointed to the Constance, which sailed from Portsmouth and safely escorted a fleet of merchantmen from Falmouth to Lisbon and Oporto. In June 1801, the Constance captured the Spanish cutter Duides. In the July, 6 km off Cape Ortegal, the Constance captured several vessels including the privateer Cantara. On 04 September, the Constance returned to Portsmouth having sprung her main-mast, fore-mast and main-yard in a gale.

In September 1802, Mudge transferred to the frigate Blanche. The Blanche operated in the English Channel for most of 1803 before sailing to the West Indies where she took part in the blockade of San Domingo under Captain Loring. The Blanche was placed at the entrance of Manchineel Bay, near the Caracol Passage, the eastern entrance of the harbour of Cape Francoise on Hispaniola (Haiti). In less than a month her boats took and destroyed twenty-four small vessels. In February 1804, 800 marines and sailors landed on Curaçao, off the South Anerican mainland, and took possession of the island except for Fort Rebublicain. Since they had no artillery to reduce the fort, and it was impossible to take it by storm, the men were withdrawn and returned to Jamaica. The island was kept in a state of blockade by the Blanche and two Government schooners. During the following 18 months, Blanche took many other prizes including the Dutch schooner Nimrod. The French schooner privateer Hazard was captured on 05 April 1805 while the Spanish sloop Diligente and the French schooner Amitie were also taken.

Mudge's luck ran out on 19 July 1805 when the Blanche was some 150 miles north of Puerto Rico. It encountered a French squadron consisting of the frigate Topaze, two heavy corvettes, and a brig. Mudge prepared for action as escape was out of the question. After 45 minutes fierce fighting Blanche was a complete wreck, unable to answer her helm, with 8 men killed and 15 wounded, so Captain Mudge struck his colours to save further loss of life. A few hours later, after Mudge and the rest of the officers and crew had been taken off, the Blanche sank.

Captain Mudge had to face a court martial in Plymouth on 14 October 1805. While it had been questioned whether Mudge had done all he could to defend the ship, he was honourably acquitted of blame for the loss of his ship and even complimented on his able and gallant conduct. The Admiralty, on 18 November, appointed Mudge, his officers and part of his crew to the Phoenix. They operated for the next five years in the Bay of Biscay and on the coast of Portugal. Mudge's last active command was HMS Valiant, which he took via Cork to the West Indies in 1815.

Zachary Mudge married Jane Granger on 06 December 1802 at St. Martin in the Fields, London and, together, they had several children. He became rear-admiral on 22 July 1830, vice-admiral on 23 November 1841, and admiral on 15 September 1849. He died at his residence, Sydney, near Plympton Maurice in Devon, on 26 October 1852, and was buried at Newton Ferrers church. He left a will proven on 26 November 1852 (PROB 11/2162). A memorial window was placed in St Andrew's Church, Plymouth. Mudge's eldest son, Zachary, a barrister, corresponded with Charles Darwin on scientific matters.

Notes for the will.
The Reverend John Yonge (born 05 December 1788) was Mudge's nephew. Mudge had married Jane Granger, whose older sister, Ann, had married the Reverend James Yonge. The name appears written as Youge in the will. Puslinch is at Newton Ferrers in Devon where Mudge was buried.
Mudge's wife, Jane, had died in 1834.
The Jane Mudge refered to in the will married O'Hara Baynes on 23 February 1813 at St. Mary Magdalene, Woolwich. They had four daughters, two of whom were already dead in 1849.

Thomas New joined the Chatham in Kealakekua Bay, Hawai'i on 16 January 1794 as an A.B. He had arrived in Hawai'i on board the Daedalus, of which his father, Thomas New senior, was master. Thomas junior was listed as being 18 years old and from Ramsgate. He was probably one of four children of Thomas (baptised 08 April 1740 ) and Mary. The younger Thomas New was baptised on 27 April 1777 at St. Lawrence, Thanet in Kent. On 10 February 1794, he became a midshipman. He transferred to the Sphynx at Sao Salvador in Brazil on 09 August 1795.

In May 2005, I was offered the following letter by Maggie New, married to a descendant of Thomas New, and given permission to reproduce it here, for which many thanks. It was written in May 1794 by Thomas New senior from Sydney to his wife in London. I have reproduced it as I received it with original spelling, punctuation, etc.

John Nicholas was listed as being 19 years old and from London when he joined the Discovery. He was, however, born on 06 March 1771 and baptised on 02 April 1771 in Coleraine, Derry, Northern Ireland, the son of John and Elizabeth Nicholas.

Nicholas joined the Discovery on 20 December 1790 as a midshipman. He was an AB from 10 September 1792 until 07 October 1793. He then transferred to Chatham as a midshipman. After sailing with Vancouver, Nicholas needed to serve more time in order to qualify as a lieutenant and transferred to HMS Russell under Captain John Payne. He then passed his examination in 1796 and received his commission on 06 May 1796. Nicholas remained however on the Russell.

When Payne moved to HMS Impregnable in 1797, Nicholas accompanied him. He was promoted commander on 11 September 1797. Nicholas recommissioned HMS Ceres in July 1799 and remained with the ship until 1801 when he was promoted to captain on 14 February 1801. In September 1803 Nicholas recommissioned the Eurydice. He went to Quebec in May 1804 to escort a convoy back across the Atlantic.

Nicholas died in 1805 when in command of HMS Eurydice. In 1805, the Eurydice went into quarantine on returning from the Mediterranean so Nicholas may have died from a disease caught at that time. His name does not appear on the list of captains published later in 1805. Nicholas left a will, written 23 March 1804 in which he left everything to his sister, Mary Nicholas, of Chelsea. He would only have been 34 years of age and had presumably not married. The will was proven on 08 June 1805 (PROB 11/1427).

Notes for the will. His Majesty's Ship Eurydice

Henry Masterman Orchard was baptised on 13 August 1756 at Mylor, Cornwall, the son of Francis and Henrietta Orchard. Orchard joined the Discovery on 16 January 1791 as clerk and remained in that position until 01 December 1792. Orchard then became a midshipman until 01 December 1794. He then resumed as Clerk. He spent the whole voyage on Discovery. Orchard kept a log (Adm 55/31 Discovery, 01 Dec. 1792-30 Nov. 1794).

He may have had earlier astronomical training as he was regularly used to make observations. Port Orchard, off Puget Sound in Washington, was named after him.

Orchard died in 1825 after an illness that severely reduced his financial situation. He left a will. He is listed as being a purser in the Royal Navy and living at Stoke Damerel, outside Plymouth. The only family member mentioned in the will is a nephew, Francis Orchard (probably the son of Henry's brother, Francis, born 1753), living in Exeter. The executor of the will was George Pedlar, a commander in the navy. There will was proven on 16 March 1825 (PROB 11/1697).