Eastwood's 1773 polar explorer - Mr. Benjamin Drawwater, Royal Navy surgeon and Captain Cook's life-saving medic
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| January 1773 - The first ships ever into Antarctica. Capt. Cook's HMS Resolution and sister ship HMS Adventure during Cook's second expedition of 1772-75. Painting - "Down among the Ice Islands" by R Brooks |
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| January 1773 - "Ice islands" in Antarctica - crew of HMS Resolution collecting chunks of icebergs for freshwater. By William Hodges, the ship's official artist |
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The Life of Mr. Benjamin Drawwater of Eastwood (1747-1815)
When Drawwater died in 1815, this obituary neatly summed up his life adventuring naval career. It appeared in the "Military Register" on Wednesday 14 June 1815
LIES INTERRED THE MORTAL REMAINS OF
BENJ. DRAWWATER. GENTLEMAN OF
MANSFIELD. LATE OF EASTWOOD
WHO SUDDENLY DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON
THE 2ND OF JUNE 1815 IN THE
68TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
IN HIS PROFESSIONAL DUTY HE HAD
ACCOMPANIED THE GREAT CIRCUMNAVIGATOR
COOK IN THE YEARS 1772-1775.
HIS VIRTUES WERE COMMENDABLE
AND EXEMPLARY AND WERE HIGHLY
ESTEEMED BY FRIENDS AND RELATIONS
AND HIS SURVIVING FAMILY.
HE WAS A PIOUS AND GOOD CHRISTIAN.
HE LIVED RESPECTED AND DIED
LAMENTED
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| Capt. Cook's Second Expedition - June 1772 to July 1775 Benjamin Drawwater completed the entire voyage |
Capt. Cook was extremely keen on good hygiene to combat scurvy and other diseases that plagued ships of the time. Resolution's record was incredibly good just one man lost to scurvy on the whole expedition. A diet of sauerkraut and brewed malt wort beer with lemon juice was advocated but it was the hygiene regime, scrubbing decks, washing clothes almost daily and regular bathing that really made a difference. Sister ship Adventure was less strict and many men died as a result.
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| HMS Resolution's Aug 1772 Muster List shows 23-year-old Benjamin Drawwater born Lynn in Norfolk as Surgeon's 2nd Mate with 2 months advanced pay of £4-17s-0p (about twice as much as an average sailor). William Anderson, the Surgeon's 1st Mate was paid £5-1-7 |
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| Dodging "ice islands" - HMS Resolution and sister ship Adventure by William Hodges, ship's official artist |
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| These paintings are all by William Hodges, who travelled as official ship's artist on Cook's second voyage from 1772 to 1775 |
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| January 1773 - The ship's log states "This forenoon the rigging was more encumbered with ice, if possible, than yesterday" |
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| Polar conditions were brutal. Cook's crew went to the edge of Antarctica, further south than anyone in history. |
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| The engraving of Resolution and sister ship Adventure in Antarctica was drawn by William Hodges, the crew's official artist. |
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| "Fetched Capt. Furneaux for Breakfast 54°, 55' South. 14th December 1772" by Robin Brooks |
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| Collecting fresh water - HMS Resolution in the Antarctic drawn by crew member and ship's artist William Hodges |
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| Resolution moored alongside the shore in Pickersgill Harbour, Dusky Bay, New Zealand, where Cook’s two ships arrived on 11 April 1773. William Wales's astronomy tent can be seen pitched behind the washing line ashore! |
Feb 1774 - Saving Capt. Cook's life
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| Botanist Georg Forster (right) wrote about Capt. Cook's illness. His father Johann (left) was also aboard as the main botanist. |
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| Aug 1773 - Tahiti war canoes painted by William Hodges. It was a shortly after visiting the island that Cook fell seriously ill. A luckless Tahitian dog was cooked to make a broth to nourish the Captain. |
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| 1774 - A View of the Monuments of Easter Island [Rap anui], William Hodges |
Cook also reported many statues were toppled and the stone platforms, called ahu, which the statues stood on were apparently used for burials, skeletal material being seen scattered about on moai sites...
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| HMS Resolution's commemorative medal. Drawwater is known to have been awarded a medal for his time serving onboard. This is most likely the one. |
In the next few months HMS Winchelsea captured many American "prizes". It would have been a bonanza for the crew and particularly Drawwater. As Surgeon he was entitled to almost as big a cut of the booty as the captain...
"In December 1776, under command of N. Bateman, she captured the brig Fraiture. Between late December 1776 and early March 1777 she captured the schooners Sally and St. Ann. On 14 May 1777 she captured the brigantine Anne. On 19 May she captured the sloop Lamulant. On 18 August 1777 she captured the polacra La Providance. She captured the sloops Esprence and Elizabeth, the brig L'Creetia, probably between 12 September and 18 October 1777. She captured the sloop Lidia in early November 1777. She captured the schooner Dorothy on 18 November 1777. She captured St. Joseph between 18 November and 7 December 1777. She captured the sloop Betsy between 7–9 December 1777. She captured the sloops Revenge, Catherine, and the schooner Oxford probably between 5–12 January 1778. She captured the schooner Betsy and sloop Victory probably in late January 1778. On 31 May 1778 she captured an unknown sloop, and possibly privateer Rose, 27 leagues (130 km) south of Cape Hatteras"
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| HMS Winchelsea's sister ship in the Niger class of frigates HMS Alarm taking on some Americans. |
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| The Rattlesnake flag "Don't tread on me" An American privateer attacks a British ship |
Naval battle surgery was basic and brutal, designed for getting the job done quickly, the surgeon's toolkit resembling that of a carpenter... "A good navy surgeon could have a man's leg off in under a minute. Scalpel to cut the flesh, bone saw to cut it off, cauterise to seal it up."
1776: British Conquest (Revolutionary War). Drawwater was serving here too.
The Invasion: The British targeted New York City due to its strategic location and made it their main base during the American Revolutionary War.
Key Battles: General George Washington suffered significant defeats, including the Battle of Long Island, leading to the city's capture.
Occupation: The British occupied New York City from 1776 until their final evacuation in 1783, using it as their headquarters for the war effort.
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| HMS Venus is positioned far right in the battle plan. |
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| Drawwater's ship HMS Venus on the left fighting the French. The British won but with 230 killed and wounded surgeon Drawwater would have been kept busy. |
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| - Scene from the cockpit where the surgeon helped by his mates carried out his work - Surgeons and their mates worked below decks in gruesome conditions - A good surgeon could have a man's leg off in under a minute. - Scalpel to cut the flesh, bone saw to cut it off, cauterise to seal it up. "COCKPIT" - In the old sailing navies the space near the after hatchway and below the lower gundeck allotted originally to the senior midshipmen of the ship and later to the surgeon and his mates for their messes. In action it became the operating theatre to which men who had been wounded were carried for the treatment of their wounds. During the battle of Trafalgar in 1805 it was to the cockpit of H.M.S.Victory that Lord Nelson was carried after he had been wounded on deck and where he died. |
Drawwater left the navy aged 36 in 1783 and went to live in Eastwood in Nottinghamshire to practice medicine. Drawwaters do not appear to have been associated with the area previously.
On 05 October 1785, Drawwater married Dorothy Toplis (born 1757, the daughter of Robert and Mary Toplis) at nearby Greasley and the couple lived in Eastwood, where they had a son, Augustus Charles in 1786, and a daughter, Mary in 1789.
In 1791 he advertises for "WANTED IMMEDIATELY; AN APPRENTICED a SURGEON, in full Practice A handsome Premium will be expected. Enquire of Mr B. DRAWWATER, Surgeon, Eastwood. June 6th?, 1791." Published: Thursday 16 June 1791 Newspaper: Derby Mercury
In 1801, they moved to Mansfield and an advert in a local paper records the move:
| 1801 Mar 7: Sale of household effects at Eastwood, property of Mr Drawater, surgeon, who is moving to M. |
Another advert, from 1810, indicates the Drawwaters owning land in Derbyshire:
| 1810 Jan 27: For sale: timber at Kilburn, Derbs. Enquiries: Mr Drawwater, M. |
While a third advert from 1813, when he was about 65, shows Drawwater ready to sell his medical practice and perhaps retire:
| 1812 May 23 (dated May 19): For sale or To let: substantial well-built stone Sheppard house in West Gate "the most airy and healthy part of M", "allowed by all to be one of the best built and most substantial in M" *4 rooms per floor, with chambers & attics, new-erected pantry & Brhouse, pump of excellent water near kitchen, commodious backyard, stable for 3 horses with hay loft over, extensive walled garden "lined with choice young Fruit Trees" adjoining backyard*, also a large pew in the Parish Church; "all in complete Repair". Has been "in the Possession of a Surgeon 11 Years, and is worthy the attention of an active Medical Man". In possession of/Enquiries: Mr Drawwater. |
Drawwater died two years later in 1815 and his wife, Dorothy, died in 1818. They are buried in Greasley St. Mary churchyard, Nottinghamshire. Plaques read:
| Underneath lies interred the mortal remains of Benj. Drawwater, gentleman of Mansfield, late of Eastwood, who suddenly departed this life on the 2nd of June 1815 in the 68th year of his age. In his professional duty he had accompanied the great circumnavigator Cook in the years 1772 - 1775. His virtues were commendable and exemplary and were highly esteemed by friends and relations and his surviving family. He was a pious and good Christian. He lived respected and died lamented. Underneath lies interred the remains of Dorothy Drawwater, relict of the late Benj. Drawater, who departed this life at Nottingham on the 20th of May, 1818, aged 61 years. |
Both their children were mentioned in Drawwater's will written in 1804 but which was proven on 01 June 1816 without any amendments or codicils (PROB 11/1581). Augustus Charles Drawwater married a Catherine Anne (born in Windsor about 1791). He joined the army and was a paymaster with the 4th Dragoon Guards when he retired in April 1847. He died in Bath in September 1857. His wife died at Brighton in March 1878. Mary Drawwater married Peter Wright on 13 December 1821 at St. Mary's, Nottingham. The Wrights may have lived at Eyam in Derbyshire.
- Newspaper archive website has adverts for :
"DR. DRAWWATER'S GOLDEN NERVE POWDERS, A NEVER-FAILING REMEDY FOR TOOTHACHE and TIC DOLOREUX, PREPARED by the Proprietor, and sold by Barrow Evans, Chemist, Derby; C. PLuMBE, Sutton; Porrs, Chemist, Mansfield; and may be had of all Medicine Vendors"
Published: Saturday 27 February 1869
Newspaper: Midland Gazette and Mansfield Times
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| 1987 - Rattlesnake on the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan |
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| High jinks aboard the Rattlesnake |
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| Us in our Salvation Army charity shop clobber. Kiwi, Capt Dave, Debs, Chris, Brian, James. |
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| Capt Dave, Harv with captain's son and ship's carpenter Steve (with tea cozy) |
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| James at sea |
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| Aug 1872 - Rattlesnake's plans made after being captured by the Royal Navy |
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| The Rattlesnake flag "Don't tread on me" An American privateer attacks a British ship |
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| Rattlesnake under sail on the Atlantic |
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| Norm and Capt Dave |
We said farewell to Rattlesnake and her small, close-knit crew in Delaware Bay after hatching plans to run south for the Mexico border. Our visas were close to expiry and we didn't need the Feds on our tails for tax evasion and immigration offences too.
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| Brian and Tiddles (AKA Gonad), the ship's cat |
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| Sleeping arrangements were authentically basic! Top - Harv, Chris Middle - Pat, Chris, James Bottom - Harv, James, Pat, Jake |
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| Filming an advert for Eastern Airlines on a Munity on the Bounty theme! They trained us in "movie" sword fighting. The film crew's bottomless grub truck was brilliant too! |
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| Anne the ship's cook |
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| First Mate Kiwi working in Toronto harbour before our intended departure for the Caribbean. Much work was done to make the new ship officially sea-worthy including 2 lifeboats, radar reflectors and sealing of hatches. |
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| Rattlesnake was dwarfed by the CN Tower |
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| James busy making wooden block tackle and belaying pins |
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| A traditional wooden block tackle pulley |
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| Rattlesnake's history reveals a possible link to Captain Cook |
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| Model of the Rattlesnake based on drawings and pictures from the replica ship I sailed on. |
The replica Rattlesnake under construction in Jackson's Point, Lake Simcoe, Canada...
The Jackson's Point Pirate
From Michael Smith's Archives:
The Rattlesnake was constructed in Jackson’s Point Harbour Park under a cooperative agreement with the Town, in particular the Economic Division of the Development Services Department.
The builder, David May, enjoyed free rent of the park as I recall and likely other financial assistance in exchange for offering lake tours. The day of the launch it was covered by the CBC and about 2,000 persons attended. Later that summer, on the July long weekend, I believe, while Georgina was celebrating its change in municipal status from Township to Town in the Sutton Arena auditorium, the Rattlesnake was seen sailing down the Trent Canal with Toronto Harbour as its destination. The headline in the Advocate that week was “Georgina becomes Town loses Ship”.
The Town was successful in getting a temporary injunction freezing the ship in the canal. However, it was subsequently overturned if I recall and it carried on its way to Toronto Harbour. From there it made its way to Florida, where rumour has it David lost it in back-mooring fees.
Notes and Sources
On 16 November, First Lieutenant Shank in Adventure wrote to Cook “As my Ill state of health will not admit of my proceeding on our intended Voyage to the South Seas, must beg your Leave to quit, so as to be Enabled to Return home”. Cook wrote to “the Surgeons of His Majestys Sloops Resolution & Adventure”, who were James Patten and Thomas Andrews, respectively. “You are hereby Required and Directed to examine into the Nature of his Complaint, and Report to me your opinion thereon and how far you think his Request is reasonable”. The surgeons replied, “he has for Several Months past been off sick with a Slow Nervous Fever of Violent Rheumatic pains, which has greatly reduced and emaciated him; we are therefore of Opinion that his Request to quit is not only reasonable but absolutely Necessary for the establishment of his Health”.
Health onboard and Saving Captain Cook's life
It muſt be allowed, at the ſame time, that, as far as human art, and a humane beneſicent diſpoſition will go, our worthy ſurgeon, Mr. Patton, took the beſt precautions poſlible to preſerve the healths of all on board, by ſuggeſting the proper methods to captain Cook, and by watching over us with unremitted aſſiduity. I wilt venture to affirm, that it is to him alone, under Providence, that many of us are indebted for our lives ; and that his country owes him the preſervation of thoſe valuable and uſeful members of the commonwealth, who were ſent out on this dangerous expedition.
The ships left Plymouth in July 1772 and sailed towards the Antarctic Circle, crossing it for the first time in January 1773. Antarctic fog and sea-ice separated the two ships in February and both sailed to a rendezvous in New Zealand that had been charted by Cook three years previously.
On the way to New Zealand, the Adventure, commanded by Tobias Furneaux, surveyed the southern coast of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) before reaching the rendezvous in mid-March 1773. Cook arrived with the Resolution in May 1773. From June, both ships sailed across the South Pacific, making stops at Tahiti, Ra'iatea and Tonga before returning to New Zealand where the Adventure made for home. At Ra'iatea, the expedition picked up a young Polynesian man named Mai (or Omai) who travelled with the Adventure to London, arriving in November 1774. Mai spent two years in London where he was much admired and was introduced to many influential figures of the age, including George III. Cook returned him to Ra'iatea in 1777
Benjamin Drawwater - Born 1747 to 1815 aged 68. Buried Greasley churchyard
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| Cook charted and discovered new island's in the South Atlantic including South Georgia. |
https://sgmuseum.gs/chapter/cook-chapter-1/
"Dr Benjamin Drawwater was surgeon’s mate to the Surgeon James Patten on Captain Cook’s second voyage on the ship Resolution. Born in 1748[?], he died 2nd June 1815.
The Erewash Countryside Volunteers who funded the plaque near the tomb, were established in 1986, and work on conservation of the Erewash and Leen valley areas."
Inscription:
The tomb inscription:
LIES INTERRED THE MORTAL REMAINS OF
BENJ. DRAWWATER. GENTLEMAN OF
MANSFIELD. LATE OF EASTWOOD
WHO SUDDENLY DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON
THE 2ND OF JUNE 1815 IN THE
68TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
IN HIS PROFESSIONAL DUTY HE HAD
ACCOMPANIED THE GREAT CIRCUMNAVIGATOR
COOK IN THE YEARS 1772-1775.
HIS VIRTUES WERE COMMENDABLE
AND EXEMPLARY AND WERE HIGHLY
ESTEEMED BY FRIENDS AND RELATIONS
AND HIS SURVIVING FAMILY.
HE WAS A PIOUS AND GOOD CHRISTIAN.
HE LIVED RESPECTED AND DIED
LAMENTED”
A plaque in front of the tomb repeats the above, and added below is:
THE EREWASH COUNTRYSIDE VOLUNTEERS
-------------------------------
"It was great to see such a good turnout today for Reverend David Speed’s presentation about Benjamin Drawwater. He had done a significant amount of research and it was fascinating to learn about the details of Benjamin’s life, and also about Captain Cook’s voyage. His gravestone is in Greasley graveyard, alongside that of his in-laws, the Toplises. We learned about how ships employed first and second mates to surgeons, who then could become qualified as surgeons in their own right.
The voyage lasted three years, but with very little loss of life, undoubtedly due to the strict hygiene and dietary rules introduced by Captain Cook. It was a great honour to be included in the journey of the already famous Captain Cook and clearly stood Benjamin Drawwater in good stead in his subsequent career. After further serving as surgeon in a variety of ships, mainly in the American War of Independence, he was able to retire from the navy and set up a practice in Eastwood. Unfortunately, we do not know which building that was in."
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Marriages
Marriage Place Holy Trinity,Gosport,Hampshire,England
Spouse Mary Reed mother
On 5 October, 1785, Benjamin DRAWWATER married Dorothy TOPLIS in this parish. Benjamin had been one of the Surgeon's mates on Captain COOK's voyages of the 1770s. Benjamin died and was buried in Greasley churchyard in June, 1815.
Their first child, Augustus Benjamin Charles DRAWWATER was baptized on 07 Aug 1786 in the chapel at Eastwood, Notts.
Their daughter Mary DRAWWATER was baptized on 1 April 1789 in Greasley.
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Characters
Surgeon’s 2nd mate Benjamin Drawwater (aged 25) 1747-1815
James Patten, surgeon, "not only a skillful Physician but a tender Nurse and I should ill deserve the care he bestowed on me if I did not make publick acknowledgement"48, and, "this together with the great skill care and attention of Mr Patten the Surgeon, has not a little contributed to that uninterrupted good state of health we have all enjoyed."
His father Johann (aged 43) 22 October 1729 – 9 December 1798
Johann Reinhold Forster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Reinhold_Forster
Benjamin Drawwater
Benjamin Drawwater (1748-1816).Benjamin Drawwater was taken on as Surgeon's Second Mate on the Resolution during Captain Cook's second voyage, was born about 1748 and lived the later part of his life as a doctor in Nottinghamshire. However, his exact origins remain unclear (April 2007). He may have been born in Nottinghamshire but another Benjamin Drawater (only one w) married a Mary Reed at Holy Trinity, Gosport on 16 March 1745 and, together, the Drawaters had a daughter, Mary Alice, baptised at Stoke Damerel on 18 March 1751. Cook's Drawwater may have been their son and given that bothe the locations have strong naval connections, it provides an explanation why the young Drawwater went to sea.
Drawwater joined the Resolution on 07 January 1772 as surgeon Patten's second mate. He was described by John Elliott, a midshipman on the ship, as being "a steady clever man".
After the voyage, he was promoted to navy surgeon and his name appeared on the Surgeon's list on 20 March 1776. He then saw service during the American War of Independence on the naval frigates HMS Shark, HMS Winchelsea and on HMS Venus during the Battle of St. Lucia on 15 December 1778.
Lots of references to Venus and other ships in the pages of Naval Documents of the American Revolution.
... , in the Isle of Man, Mary, the wife of Peter Wright, Esq. only daughter of Benjamin Drawwater, late of Mansfield, Esquire, deceased, and sister of Captain Drawwater, Paymaster of his Majesty’s regiment of Dragoon Guards. On Sunday se’nnight, of a pulmonary ...
Published: Friday 28 November 1834
Newspaper: Nottingham Review
Death of his only daughter. His military son
Published: Wednesday 26 November 1834
Newspaper: Derby Mercury
https://www.coffeeordie.com/article/navy-privateers-american-revolution
Privateers - The Rattlesnake flag - “Rrrrr. Don’t tread on me “ 🇺🇸🏴☠️
Privateers were privately owned armed merchant ships that were authorized by the Continental Congress with a “letter of marque” to attack enemy British and Tory (Loyalist) ships.
Almost 1,700 Letters of Marque, issued on a per-voyage basis, were granted during the American Revolution. Nearly 800 vessels of all shapes and sizes were commissioned as privateers, with around 55,000 American and international sailors seeing service during the Revolution.
Some of their stories are legendary and have filled books, but are often over shadowed by the legacy of John Paul Jones, along with the actions of the 13 Frigates of the Continental Navy.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/437067973791773/posts/1597058067792752/
| The will of Benjamin Drawwater proven on 01 June 1816 (PROB 11/1581). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the Name of God Amen - This is the last Will and Testament of me Benjamin Drawwater of Mansfield in the County of Nottingham, Surgeon, made the twenty eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four, as follows - I give and devise all and every my Messuages, Cottages, Closes, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments with their Appurtenances situate and being at Mansfield aforesaid, and at Kilbourn in the County of Derby, and at Sherbrook in the said County of Derby, or elsewhere, unto my beloved Wife Dorothy Drawwater and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life if she so long continues my Widow and unmarried, Also I give and bequeath unto my said beloved Wife Dorothy Drawwater the use of all my money in the Funds and of all other my monies out at Interest, and the use of all my Household Goods and personal Estate whatsoever for and during the term to her natural life is she so long remains unmarried, subject to the payment of all my just Debts and Funeral Expences, But in case my said Wife shall marry again then I revoke all and every the said devises and bequests so by me made to her, and from her marrying again I give and devise unto my said Wife and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life One Annuity or clear yearly Rent charge of (space) pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, free from all deductions whatsoever, whether Parliamentary or otherwise, to be yearly and every year issuing and payable to her out of all and every my Real Estates situate at Mansfield, Kilbourn and Sherbrook aforesaid, at two equal half yearly payments in each year upon the twenty fourth day of June and the twenty fifth day of December, the first of such payments to begin and be made upon such of those days as shall first happen after the marrying again of my said Wife, and my Will is that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Wife and her Assigns from time to time in case of non-payment of the said Annuity or any part thereof, to raise the same by distress and Sale upon all or any part of the said premises charged therewith, together with the costs and charges of such distress and Sale, distresses and Sales, and I hereby declare that the said Annuity so made to my said Wife is in full Bar and satisfaction of and for all Solar (?) or thirds at common Law or other customary shares whatever which she, my said Wife, might otherwise have or claim or be entitled to of or in all and every or any of my said Real Estates before mentioned, and I also declare that the Receipt of my said Wife alone and under her hand shall from time to time be a good discharge to the person or persons paying the said Annuity for so much thereof for which such Receipts shall be given, Also, from and after the decease or marrying again of my said Wife which shall first happen, I give and devise unto my Son Augustus Benjamin Charles Toplis Harrogate (sic) all that my Messuage, dwelling house or Tenement wherein I now dwell, with the Outbuildings, Yard, Garden and Appurtenances thereto belonging, and also all that Seat or Pew in the Parish Church of Mansfield aforesaid now occupied with the said messuage and also all that close or parcel of Inclosed (?) Land situate in Lady Brook Lane in Mansfield aforesaid, now in my own possession, with all the rights, members and Appurtenances to the same belonging, to hold the same Messuage, Close, Hereditament and premises last mentioned unto my said Son, his Heirs and Assigns for ever, charged with the payment of a proportionate part of the said Annuity to my said Wife in case of her marrying again as aforesaid, Also, from and after the decease or marrying again of my said Wife I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Drawwater all my money in the Funds and also all my other money which shall be out at Interest at the time of my death to and for her own use and benefit. Also from and after the decease or marrying again of my said Wife I give and devise unto my Son Augustus Benjamin Charles Toplis Drawwater all and every my Messuages, Cottages, Closes, Lands, Testaments and Hereditaments with their Appurtenances situate and being at Sherbrook in the County of Derby, to hold to him my said Son and his Assigns for and during the term of his natural life. And from and after his decease I give and devise the said last mentioned Hereditaments and premises with their Appurtenances unto all and every the Child and Children of my said Son, as well Daughters as Sons, and to their several and respective Heirs and Assigns for ever to take as Tenant in common if more than one, and if but one Child then to the use and behoof of such only Child, his or her Heirs and Assigns for ever. But if my said Son shall die without leaving any lawfully begotten issue of his Body, or there being such if all of them shall happen to die under the age of twenty one years without leaving any issue of his, her, or their Body or Bodies lawfully begotten, then I give and devise the said last mentioned Hereditaments and premises with their Appurtenances situate in Sherbrook in the County of Derby aforesaid unto my daughter Mary Drawwater her heirs and Assigns for ever. And from and after the decease or marrying again of my said Wife, I give and devise unto my said daughter Mary Drawwater and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life all and every my Messuages, Closes, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments with their Appurtenances situate and being at Kilbourn in the County of Derby, and from and after her demise I give and bequeath the said last mentioned Hereditaments and Premises with their Appurtenances unto all and every the Child and Children of my said Daughter, as well Daughters as Sons and to their several and respective Heirs and Assigns for ever to take as Tenants in Common if more than one, and if out (only?) one Child then to the use and behoof of such only Child his or her Heirs and Assigns for ever But if my said Daughter shall die without leaving any lawful issue of her body, or their being such if all of them shall happen to die under the age of twenty one years without leaving any issue of his her or their body or bodies lawfully begotten, Also from and after the decease or marrying again of my said Wife I give and bequeath all the Residue and remainder of my money and Securities for money, personal Estate and Effects whatever not before disposed of, unto my said Son and Daughter to be equally divided between them share and share alike And I do give and bequeath the sum of twenty guineas to be placed out in such good and secure Interest as my Executrix and Executor hereinafter mentioned shall think fit, the Interest of which said bequest I do direct shall be laid on Christmas Day annually six penny white loaves of Bread and one loaf of the value of six pence to be given to every poor family in the Parish of Eastwood in the County of Nottingham for ever, And lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my said Wife Dorothy Drawwater and Charles Toplis of Heanor in the County of Derby, Gentleman, joint Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In Witness whereof, I the said Benjamon Drawwater the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and Seal this twenty eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four. B. Drawwater. Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the said Benjamin Drawwater the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have signed our names as Witnesses hereto - John Savage, Wm. Taylor, Thos. Lancashire , Witnesses to the above Will. This Copy agrees with the original Will of the said Benjamin Drawwater deceased proved in the Prerogative Court of York having been duly compared & examined therewith by me, Fredrk. Wm. Storry Noty. Publick 13 March 1816. Proved at London 1 June 1816 before the Judge by the oaths of Dorothy Drawwater Ww. the Relict & Charles Toplis the Exors. to whom Admon. was granted havg. been first sworn by Comon. Duly to Admin. -------------------- JOURNAL OF H.M.S. APOLLO, CAPTAIN PHILEMON POWNOLL January 1778. Ditto [So. part of Saint Georges Bank] SW % So. 13 Lg" Tuesday 27 at [a AM had 18 fath: made Sail, Venus SbW. at 9 had 24 fath: at 11 saw a Sail in the NW. wore Ship and made Sail as did the Venus-another Vessel in Sight to the SE. out lL & 2d. reef of Topsails. at Noon Venus in Company. Ditto [So. part of Saint Georges Bank] WSW. 20 Lgs. First and Latter parts Fresh gales and Cloudy, middle Light Airs. PM in Chace [ofl a Schooner, at 1 the Venus fired 2 Shot & brought her too, she proved the True Blue' Privateer of 10 Guns & 45 men from Casco Bay, bound on a Cruize, had been out 1 day & taken nothing. rec'd 21 Prisoners from her, close reef the Topsails, at 4 made Sail, sounded 23 fath: at midnight had 24 fath: D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/52, part 2, fol. 4. 1. Schooner True Blue (Privr.), Lawrence Furlong, master, from Boston, on a cruise, fitted for war, taken on 27 Jan. near St. Georges Bank, sent into Newport. Howe's Prize List, 30 Oct. 1778, UkLPR, Adm. 1/488, fol. 486. Massachusetts privateer schooner True Blue, Laurence Furlong, commander, was commissioned on 16 Dec. 1777, mounted 10 carriage guns, had a crew of 65 seamen and was owned by John Cushing and Samuel White of Boston. M-Ar, Revolutionary Rolls Collection, vol. 7, 228, vol. 8, p. 1. HMS Shark more info https://grokipedia.com/page/hms_shark_1776 excellent privateer tale here Muster list Resoution 1772 Resolution muster on Cook's Second VoyageThe following is a list of the men whose names were entered on the muster roll of HMS Resolution on its 1772 voyage to the Pacific. Not all of the men actually sailed on the ship with some running and others being discharged before its departure from Plymouth. A. Seamen (1) James Cook. Joined on 30 November 1771 as Commander. B. Marines. (M1) John Edgcumbe. Joined on May 1772 as Marine Second Lieutenant. 59 Company, Portsmouth Division. Sailed on the first voyage on Endeavour as Marine Sergeant. C. Supernumeraries. (S11) William Wales. Joined on 29 May 1772 as Astronomer. Born in Wakefield in 1735.
The following men ran before the Resolution sailed from Plymouth:
The following men were discharged before the Resolution sailed from Plymouth:
The Following men were discharged to the supplementary list and did not sail with the Resolution.
The Following men were discharged to the supplementary list but were later re-entered onto the muster roll and sailed on the Resolution, except for Davis, who later ran.
The following man died before the voyage:
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The Rattlesnake
That time the Pirate Ship came to Jackson’s Point
By Paul Brady
February 22, 1984 was an exciting day for our little town. The pirate ship “Rattlesnake” was being loaded on a flatbed trailer to begin its three hour trip from Rama to Jackson’s Point. The boat was the creation of artist and wood carver David May. At eighty two feet long and weighing in at thirty tons, it was an incredible example of what a person can accomplish. It was a two/thirds scale model of a 1780’s pirate ship that had plundered the Atlantic.
Mr. May had been looking for a place to complete his project and the Town of Georgina was looking for something to energize the lagging tourist trade in Jackson’s Point. A Tourist Industry Consultant from Orillia had been working with the May’s and she thought of the Town of Georgina. She put the two parties together and a deal was done. Everyone was excited by the prospect of this magnificent creation being completed on Bonnie Park. A site was prepared about a hundred metres back from the beach, right next to the fence on the southern edge of the park.
It was the perfect place as the “Rattlesnake” was also the home of the May family. This location gave the May’s access to the washroom in the park, and allowed them to use the building as the workshop.
Over the next year and a half the May’s worked away. The deal was working out for both parties. The boat was coming together nicely with the owners greeting all visitors with warmth and respect. Grants were flowing in to hire people to help with the build, corporate sponsors such as Minwax were contributing goods, Toronto media were doing interviews from and about the “Rattlesnake”, and the forgotten skill of planking a hull was an unexpected topic of conversation.
It was a pretty exciting period, with carloads of curious tourists on the weekends and local sidewalk inspectors doing a daily drive-by inspection. My wife Kim and I weren’t living at the Point at that time, but we made a special trip up to see the boat. Mr. May was charming and showed us around, taking time away from his work to be very accommodating. He had almost taken on a pirate’s aura, with his full beard and bold demeanor. Even the most ardent of critics were having trouble finding something to complain about.
February 20, 1985 was an exciting day. The 3, 34 foot long, 600 pound masts were ready to be “stepped”. A local sign company arrived with their crane and the masts were set upright and slipped into place. We suddenly had a real pirate ship! Four months later, June 26, 1985, was the big day. It was a perfect early summer day, clear blue skies, warm, and the lake was calm and clear.
The crowds were huge, reported to be from 500 (low) to as many as 2,000 (probably more accurate). The shore and docks were lined with people, Bonnie Park was crowded, and several boats bobbed out in the harbour. The Town had excavated a section of the beach and had set up a temporary marine railway. Podiums were erected, a folk group entertained and it was the most excitement Bonnie Park had seen in decades. Mr. May’s lifetime dream was ready for her debut, and with a sounding of “All Clear!!” she slipped easily into the water and bobbed gently in the calm water, her water line perfectly level and several inches out of the water. Perfect.
Over the next couple of months the “Rattlesnake” was moored to the town dock and her shakedown runs were all trouble free, more or less. She moored up along the Jackson’s Point dock, still creating interest and traffic.
As the July 1, 1986 celebrations approached things were readied for cruises of the Lake. “Rattlesnake” played a big part of the celebrations. All went well, the ship performed well and impressed all who saw her, or were lucky enough to get a ride.
And then she was gone. That night the rigging was dismantled, the masts were taken down and she was halfway down the Trent before Georgina officials were made aware of her departure. With a contract in hand that had been signed in the spring guaranteeing three years of service to the Town, they had the flight stopped by court injunction in the Trent system. This was relinquished shortly thereafter as the boat was impeding traffic in the canal, and she was allowed to carry on to the Toronto Harbour.
The Town was understandably outraged, demanding that the boat return and fulfill its obligations. A $20,000 loan from the Jackson’s Point B.I.A. was repaid but other than that no other resolution was reached, as far as I know. The ownership of the “Rattlesnake” had changed to a numbered company and the boat, reportedly valued at $1,700,000 in 1986 dollars, fell off my radar. It was rumoured to be seen in Florida or along the shore of Lake Ontario, but its final fate is unknown to me.
This story was compiled with the aid of the Keswick library and their wonderful collection of Georgina Advocate back issues, and my own recollections. I had a tour of the boat early on and was present at the launch, but that was the extent of my involvement. If you have anything to add to this story, I would love to hear from you. – Paul Brady, March 24, 2019. Originally published in the Georgina Post in April, 2019.
Editor’s note: –
The Rattlesnake in now in Jacksonville Florida at The Maritime Heritage Foundation, the sponsor of a Sea Explorer Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America aboard the replica vessel. The Foundation is currently planning expansion of its existing programs to include a sailing school, navigation, oceanography, and marine science programs while emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship in a maritime environment. The Rattlesnake is currently moored in the St. Johns River of Jacksonville, which provides an on sight location to enhance its programs.
The Revolutionary War privateer RATTLESNAKE was designed in 1779-80 by John Peck, a Boston naval architect. The original RATTLESNAKE was originally built in Plymouth Massachusetts, and in style resembled a miniature frigate, which had a separate quarter deck and forecastle. She was very lightly built and was reputedly very fast. These features are rather unusual for a privateer. She carried up to 20 guns, (Probably six and nine pounders) and had a usual complement of 85 men. Launched in 1780 at Plymouth, Massachusetts, she was commissioned on 12 June 1781 under Commander Mark Clark (or Clarke) as the Massachusetts privateer Rattlesnake.
Little is known of her career except that it was brief. Shortly after her commissioning, she was captured by the British frigate ASSURANCE (44 guns, Captain James Cumming) on the 17th of June. She was sent into New York, arriving on the 8th of July and was purchased into the Royal Navy on the 28th. On November 30, 1781 she was re-registered CORMORANT (the Royal Navy already had a RATTLESNAKE) and sailed under Captain John Melcombe’s command carrying to England the first news of General Cornwallis’s defeat at Yorktown in the American Revolution. She went on to serve in the Royal Navy as the CORMORANT until re-commissioned as the CORMORANT RATTLESNAKE in 1783. She subsequently served in the waters off Britain, Western Europe, and in the Mediterranean. In July 1786 she was deemed surplus to navy requirements, and was paid off, then sold on October 10th of that year. The vessel was considered unusually fast, and her hull lines were recorded by the British Admiralty after capture and have come down to us today.
Editor’s sources for the above: https://www.streport.com/files/rsnake1.htm; Wikipedia; images from Google
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