Volunteer crew
Volunteers onboard HMS Pandora 1790-91
Sources: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO) ADM 36/11085; ADM 36/11092; ADM 36/10776; ADM 35/1360.
Name (age |
Recruited by |
From |
|---|---|---|
† George Eglington (22) |
HMS David** (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
Hugh Houston |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Scottish waters (Leith or Peterhead?) |
James Murray |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Scottish waters (Leith or Peterhead?) |
† William Cray (26) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
† Robert Fea (21) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
† Richard Mackie (24) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
William Steward (Stuard) (18) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
† James Miller (21) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
† James Scott (19) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
James Cummins (19) |
HMS David (4 Aug '90) |
Orkney |
Jonathan Patterson |
HMS Richard |
King's Lynn |
† William Pilch |
HMS Richard |
King's Lynn |
† Samuel Hammond |
HMS Richard |
Off Shields |
William Kemp |
HMS Champion |
King's Lynn |
James Atkins |
HMS Richard |
Off Shields |
† William Thompson |
? |
- |
† Thomas Carroll |
? |
- |
James Laysell |
? |
Feversham (Kent) |
† Martin Maysoner |
? |
Feversham (Kent) |
James Curshod |
? |
Newcastle |
** HMS David (tender) Commanded by a Lt John Yetts. Operating for the "impress service" in Scottish waters between 1 July and 31 Aug 1790 (weekly musters taken while the vessel was at Leith Roads, at sea, Peterhead and Kirkwall Roads) and between 1 Sept and 31 Oct 1790 (weekly musters taken at Peterhead, Sheerness, at sea, Leith Roads). Recruits were taken to HMS Sandwich at Sheerness, many subsequently "discharged" (transferred) on 7 Sep 1790 from HMS Sandwich to the Pandora (TNA: PRO ADM 36/11085).
*** HMS Richard (tender) Commanded by Lt Robert Corner. This vessel was under Corner's command between 12 July and 30 Sept 1790. Corner joined at North Shields on 12 July. He took the weekly musters of the crew and his press gang at Scarborough, Shields, Sheerness, Yarmouth and Filey Bay (TNA: PRO ADM 36/11092).
The decision to appoint Lt Corner to the Richard was made by the Admiralty on 22 June 1790; as was the decision to appoint a Lt Fleming in his place (on 21 Aug 1790), i.e. after the Admiralty had decided that Lt Corner should be appointed as the Pandora's second lieutenant (TNA: PRO ADM 3/107). By this date the Admiralty had already resolved that the Pandora's sole mission would be a policeman's: the vessel ordered into the South Pacific in pursuit of the Bounty mutineers.
It is likely that the Admiralty was keen to appoint a seasoned officer with experience in, if not motivating and inspiring men under his command, then at least effectively dealing with unwilling seamen. It appears that Corner possessed these leadership qualities. George Hamilton mentions that Corner had been in the "land service".
Corner was therefore apparently exactly the sort of seasoned officer the Admiralty was looking for to assist Captain Edwards to successfully carry out the Pandora's mission. It is interesting to note that in the short time of his command of the Richard, Lt Corner appears to have demonstrated these qualities; for he had evidently gained the respect of the Richard's crew as well as the men in his press gang; five of whom actually volunteered to join the Pandora on 30 August 1790.
In this regard, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that their motivation was to follow Corner into the South Pacific to embark on very similar tasks as they were already engaged upon as members of the Richard's crew or Corner's press gang. Although the same did not apply as far as William Fox, Corner's servant in the Richard, was concerned. Fox obviously was not so eager to embark on a South Pacific adventure with Corner, in pursuit of wayward seamen-witness the fact that he "ran" (deserted) on 29 October 1790 (See Run volunteers).