James Roberts' journal
Sixteen-year-old James Roberts was a servant to Sir Joseph Banks on the Endeavour voyage. He later lived in Banks' house in Soho Square and died in 1826 aged 74.
His journal includes a list of the officers and ship's company on board Endeavour. The list shows the name and 'quality' (rank or occupation) of each person, with remarks on promotions, dates of death, etc., to August 1771. Roberts recorded weather observations, position of the ship and events on board. A comparison of this log with others in the Public Record Office, London, appears to show that Roberts took much of the information recorded in his own journal from an anonymous log before 10 June 1768, and thereafter from the account of master's mate Richard Pickersgill.
This pageturner requires a web browser with the Flash plugin and JavaScript enabled.
Get the latest Flash player
Transcript
p. 1 / 12
Journal of His Majesty’s Bark
Endeavour
Round the World
Lieut. James Cook Commander
27th May 1768
p. 2 / 12
A list of the Officers and company on board his Majesty’s Bark Endeavour 27th May 1768
No. – Name – Quality – Remarks &c &c
1 – James Cook – 1th . Lieut… Comdr. -
2 - Zachr. Hicks – 2. Lieut. –
3 - John Gore – 3. Lieut. –
4 - Robt. Mollinex – Master – Died of Penguin Isld 14th Apl. 1771
5.- Willm. Monkhouse – Surgeon – Dead at Batavia 11 Nov. 1770
6 - Charles Clarke - Mast. Mate – Made Master
7 - Richd. Petersgill - Mast. Mate
8. – Elexr. Weir - Mast. Mate – Drowned at Madeara 16 Apl. 1768
9. - Pak. Saunders – Midshipman – Run’d at Batavia Jan.y 1770
10 –Jonathn. Monkhouse – Midshipman - Dead at Sea 6 Feb.y 1770
11. John Bewtie –Midshipman – Dead at Sea - 4th Feb.y. 1770
12. –Jams. M. Gray - Midshipman
13 – Francis Wilkinson - Midshipman
14 – Willm.Pery – Surgons Mate – Made Surgion
15 – Rich. Orten – Capt. Clark –
16 – Jn. Guthre – Boatswain – Dead at Sea 4th Feby. 1771
17 - Jn. Satterly – Carpenter – Dead at Sea 12th Feby. 1771
18 - Stepn. Forwood – Gunner –
19 - Jams. Gray –Q. Master –
20 - Thos. Jones - Q.Master
21 - Allixr. Simpson – Q. Masters Mate – Dead at Sea 21st Feby. 1771
22 - Thos. Hardman – Bos. Mate –
23 - Jn. Readan – Yeom. Sheets – Died drunk in the South Seas 28 August 1769
24 - Timy. Readon – Bos. Yeoman – Dead at Batavia 18 of Decr. 1770
25 - Benjn. Jorden – Carpenters Mate – Dead at Sea 31st Jany. 1771
26 - George Nowell – Crew – Made Carpr.
27 - Francs. Haits – Do. Yoeman – Dead at Sea 29 Jany. 1771
28 - Jams. Moodey – Do.Yeoman – Dead at Sea 31st Jan.y 1771
29 - Richd. Hughes - Do.
30 - Isaac Johnson – Cooper
31 - Jn. Goodjohn – Do. Mate
32 - Willm. Dawson - Do. Steward
33 - Robt. Stainsby – Cap.t Steward
34 - Jn. Woodworth – Lieut. Steward – Dead at Batavia 24th Dec.r 1770
35 - Willm. Howson – 1st Lieut. Steward – Dead. at Coopr. Isl.d 30 Nov.1770
36 - Willm. Harvey – 2d Lieut. Steward –
37 - Nathl. Mory – 3 Lieut. Steward –
p. 3 / 12
A List of Officers and Company On Board his Majesty’s bark Endeavour 27 May 1768.
No - Names - Quality – Remarks &c&c
38 – Isaac Manby – Mast. Servt. – Made midshipman
39 – Nichs. Young – Surgion Servt.
40 - Tho. Jordan – B. Servt.
41 - Danl.Roberts – Guns. Servt. – Dead 2 Feby 1771 at Sea
42 - Edwd. Tyrrell – Carpr. Servt.
43 - Jos. Child – Capts. Cook – Made Ships Cook
44 - John Thompson – Ships Cook – Dead at Sea
45 - Tho. Knight – Servt. Cook
46 - Tho. Mathews – Cooks Boy
47 - Willm. Collet – Barber
48 - Archb. Wolf – Taylor – Dead at Sea 30 Jan.y 1771
49 - Saml. Eavens – Coxn. – Made Boatswain
50 - Robt. Taylor – Armorer
51 - Jms. Ravenhill – Sail Maker – Dead at Sea 27 Jany.1771
52 - Henry Jaffs – Butcher - Dead at Sea 26 Feby. 1771
53 - Forby Sutherland – Putterer – Dead at Sea 26 Feby. 1771
54 - Rich. Hutching– seaman – Boatswains mate
55 - Mathw. Cox – seaman
56 - Jams. Nicholson – seaman – Dead at Sea 30 Jan. 1771
57 - Isaac Parker – seaman – Boatswains mate
58 - Saml. Jones – seaman
59 - Isaac Smith – seaman – made midshipman
60 - Peter Flowers – seaman - Drowned at Rio de Janarie October 2nd 1768
61 - John Ramsey – seaman
62 - Rich Littelboy – seaman
63 - Mich.l Littelboy – seaman
64 – Anty.Ponto – seaman
65 – Jcho Dozey – seaman - Dead 2 April 1771
66 - Jas. Tunley– seaman
67 - Will. Peckover – seaman
68
69 – Henry Stephens – seaman
70 - Robt. Henderson - seaman
71 - Charles Williams – seaman
72 - John Thurman – seaman – Dead at Sea 2 Feb.y 1771
73 - [indecipherable] Parana– seaman– Dead. at Sea 26th Feby. 1771
p. 4 / 12
A List of the Officers and Company Onboard his Majesty’s Bark Endeavour 27th May 1768
No – Names – Quality – Remarks &c&c
74 - Jas. Joyce – seaman
75 - Richd. Thomas - seaman - Died the 17 March 1771
76 - Tho. Goldsmith - -
77 - John Lowrain - - Died 5 August 1771
78 - Peter Morgan - - Died 27 Feby. 1771
79 - Alxr. Lindsay - - Died 13 Feby. 1771, Flux
80 - John Marre -
81 - Iain Baptiso -
82. - Bolton Willm. – - dischd. at Batavia
83 - Ins. Smith -
84 - Petr. Nicholas -
85 - Chass. Frick -
86 - Charles Stabbom -
87 - Peter Cooper -
88 - Jackabew Vangint -
89 - Willm. Burn -
90 - Ioan Armstrade -
91 - Anty. Vansake -
92 - Saml. Smith -
93 - Ian Campbell -
94 - Charles Draval -
95 - Tho. Roberts -
96 - Looran Andris -
97 - Canate Allison -
98 - Jurkle Hanson -
Detachment of Marines Embarked at Plimth. as part of the Complement 16th August 1768
Current No. – [indecipherable] - Names – Quality - Remarks &c&c
1 - 40th - John Edgcombe – Serjt.
2 - 9 - John Truslove – Corpl. - Dead at Sea 23 Jany. Fever
3 - 30 – Tho. Rossiter – Drumr.
5 - 15 – Henry Paul – Privt.
4 - 3 - William Judge – Privt.
8 - 48 - Danl. Peaston – Privt. - Dead at Sea 15th Feby 1771 Fluz
6 - 42 - Willm. Wiltshire – Privt.
10 –66 - Clement Webb – Privt.
9 - 52 - William Greenslade - Jumped overboard and drowned himself 26 March 1769 in the south seas
12 - 56 - Saml. Gibson - Privt.
11 - 64 - Tho. Dunster - Privt. - Dead 25 Jany. 1771 Fever and flux
13 - 30 - Nighl. Brewer - Privt. - Discharged 25 Augt. at Plim. for being trubled with fits
7 - 30 - John Bowles – Privt. - Embar’ked 29 Augt. at Plim in room of Brewer
p. 5 / 12
Gentlemen and Servants Supernumeraries
Names – Quality – Remarks &c&c
Joseph Banks – Esqr.
Danl. Solander – Docktor
Charles Green - Astror. – Dead at Sea 28th Jany. 1771 Fever and flux
Armon [indecipherable] – Mr. Banks writer – Dead at Sea 23 Jany. 1771 Fever
Alixr. Busham – Draughtsman – Died at King Georges Island in Fits
Sidney Parkinson – Draughtsman - Died at Sea 26 Feby. 1771 Fever and Ague
Peter Briscoe – Footman
James Roberts - Footman
George Beuyree - Footman Black - Perished in the mountains of snow at
Terra del Fuego being detained with their
masters by the Severity of the Weather
all Night.
Tho. Richman - Footman Black - as above
Jno. Nicholls – Mr. Greens man - Dead at Coopers Isl. 4th December 1770 Fever Saunders – Mr. Banks Servt. – A Malay from Batavia
Tobia and Fiato – Inhabitants of King Georges Isl. – Dead at Coopers Isl. Tobia 9th Fiato 7th Decr. 1770 -
p. 6 / 12
Remarks Etc.
April 1770
Tuesday 11- Little winds Inclinable to Calms
Lattite. In 39- - 17 S. Longe. 201- - Wt.
Wednesday 12 – Calm Clear pleasant Wr. with smooth water
Thursday 13 – Little winds and Do. Wr. Vartin. 12- - 30 E Lat. Obs. 39° 23 S.
Friday 14 – Do. Wr. with Calms and Light airs Varite. 11- - 45 E. Condem’d the spirit sail T: sail and a ships tent to repair the sails
Saturday 15 – Moderate Breezes and fair weather saw some flying fish Lattite. Obs. 39° - 30 So. had some observations Giving the Longe. 207- -35 West of Greenwich
Sunday 16 – Fresh Breezes and Cloudy Wr. in the Night Lightening to ye Northwd. Sounded every 2 hours no ground 130 fathoms Lattite. Obs. 39 °- - 45 South
Monday 17 – Fresh Gales and Cloudy Squally Wr. with thunder Lightening and rain PM Closs reef’d the T. sails and made sail out Reefs a great west swell
Lattite. 39 - - 36 S. Longe. 200 - - 00 West
Tuesday 18 - Strong Gales and Do. Wr. PM handed the main and Closs ref’d the fore top sails got down top G: yards a SSW swell in the Night carried away the strap of the main top mast stay sail stay [indecipherable] it & saw a [indecipherable] pintado Birds and albotrosses at noon set the top sails
Wednesday 19 – Do. Wr. a Number of Purpusses about the ship at sunsett handed down the T: sails am sett them again saw land making high bearing from SW to NE to W distne. 7 or 8 Leagues out all reefs and made sail standing in for the land sounding 80 fathm. Varite. 8 - -7 East Closs to the shore bore away to the Northw. Making all sail along shore Bent the Best main sail at noon the Extreams of the Land in sight NWBW to EBN Lattite. Obs. 37° - -50 So. Long. West of London 210—00 the coast makes a moderate height very woody and in sandy beaches
Thursday 20 – Fresh Gales and Squally with rain saw several water spoutes at 6 abreast of a small Isld. Sounded 56 fm. off shore 5 or 6 miles lay too all night at 5 made sail along shore it tending NNE and make nearly
p. 7 / 12
Remarks &c. on the Coast of New Holland
Thursday 20 – nearly Streights am Saw high Land Call’d the Drumadery, from its resemblance of that animal Back Bearing NNW at noon Lattite. Obs 36° - -51 S
Friday 21 – Moderate and Pleasant Wr. Saw a smoke ashore Variation 10 – 30 Et. Running down a long shore making very high and seeming very firtile and rich being cloath’d with very high trees which had a pleasant appearance at Noon the Extreams from N to S 20 W Distce. Of shore 4 or 5 Leagues saw a remarkable peak’d hill with a tuft of Tall Trees on the top resembling the top of a pigion house from whence it was called Pigion House hill soundings from 60 to 70 Fm. Sandy Ground. Lattite. Obs. 35 °- - 52 S
Saturday 22 – Moderate and Pleasant weather saw a smoke ashore PM turning of shore 2 Leagues pass’d two small ???? the shore making a Bluff and little sandy Bays very woody sounded 30 fathm. Lay too all Night Saw a fire on shore in the Morning stood on for the Shore and found we had drove to the southward against the wind am passed a ledge of Breakers lying NE of a low Island within them is a bay form’d by the Island but as it had no good appearance the Capt. Thought it not good for his purpose to stop here as we stood along shore we saw 4 or 5 of the Indians sitting near a fire the appear’d to be quite Naked and very black which was all we could disern of them at Noon the Drumadary S 20 W Pigion House hill N 46 Wt. 2 ½ Leagues of shore Lattite. Obs. 35° – 27 So.
Sunday 23 – Little winds and fair pleasnt. Wr. Turning to windw. of Pigion House hill 6 Leagues off shore
Lattite. Obs. 35° – 10 So.
Monday 24 – Do. Wr. Inclinable to Calms pidgeon house Hill S B 2 W
Lattite Obs. 35° – 10 South
Tuesday 25 – Moderate Breezes & Clear PM Varite. 9 –15 E lay too all Night am made sail run along shore at 10 pass’d of Low Islands which had the appearance
Of being very Pleasant pass’d by a great quantity of spawn Lattite. Obs. 34 – 22 S the land from N 8 E to S 17 W of shore 4 or 5 Leagues
p. 8 / 12
Remarks &c. on the Coast of New Holland
April 1770
Wednesday 26 – Little winds and Calms PM Varite. 8—48 Et. At noon the Land from S 28 W to N b W and tends NNE of shore 6 Leagues Lattite. Obsd. 34 –10 S
Thursday 27 – Moderate and pleasant Wr. Turning to windw. of some Low Land which had the appearance of a harbour am upon standing in shore found had lost ground Considerably stood in for a low Island where there seemed a place likely to Land Depth of water from 61 to 32 fathom at noon of shore 4 or 5 miles saw several smokes Lattite. Obsd. 34 – 22 S
Friday 28 – Moderate Breezes and pleast. Weather at 2 being within 2 miles of the shore [indecipherable] and hoist’d out the yaul the Captn. and Mr. Banks &c. went towards the shore as we stood in had regular soundings from 14 to 9 fathm. Sandy of and on shore under an Easie sail the Bay is Covered well to the Southw. By a low point of red Earth which looked like [indecipherable] and runs a great way into the at 5 the boats returned having been Close to the shore but could not land for the surff they saw several people who came Down to the beach but soon afterwards retiring to the woods and saw them no more the shore appearing very Pleasant with tall trees having no under wood and some fine plains in the Woods they saw some Cabbage trees a hutt and 2 small Cannews ill made at 6 hoist’d in the Boats and made sail out to sea in the Night saw several fires along shore at 6 am saw a fine Bay Near the place where we was before haul’d up for it and made all sail at 9 abreast of the Mouth of the bay Distce. 2 miles sent the master in the pinnace to sound at Noon working to windw. into the bay Depth of water 29 fathom of the point q1 ½ Mile
Saturday 29 - Little winds and fair at ½ past one came too in 6 ½ fathm.sandy Ground hoist’d out the Long boat the Captn. Went on shore in the pinnace to where we had seen some Indians and hutts two of which appeared on landing armed with targettes and lances but upon
p. 9 / 12
Remarks &c. at New Holland
2 or 3 muskitts fired and one of them being wounded with small shott they ran away into the woods the Captn. Mr. Banks Dr. Solander &c. with their servants and the detachment of Marines landed and search their huts where the saw 2 or 3 children & some lances the Last of which the Brought on board after finding a watering am the Captn. &c went away in the pinnace sent a party on shore to water and cut wood under the Command of the 2 Lieut. Moor’d with the stream anchor to the NE and ½ a cable on the Best Bower to the Wt. The one point of Bay Bearing E the other SE ½ E of shore ¾ of a mile
Sunday 30 – Little winds and pleasant Wr. Employ’d as before & on board in the Hold Armorers at the forg sailmakers on the sails &c. PM serv’d 3 pounds fresh fish pr. man caught in the seine
May 1770
Monday 1 – Employ’d wooding and watering a party fishing with the seine but with little success at 6 PM departed this life Furbe Sutherland seaman of a comsumtion which he had been troubled with ever since we left Streights of St. Marie
Tuesday 2 – First part fresh Gales and pleasant wr. The middle heavy rain Thunder and Lightening the latter Moderate and fair am scrubbed and clean’d Ships Bottom wooders and waterers on shore as usual
Wednesday 3 -Moderate and fine Wr. Wooders and waterers on shore Compleated our water to 87 tuns am the Captn. Mr. Banks &c. Went into the Country some distance to look for the Indians but returned without success am Loos’d sails to dry wooders on shore as usual
Thursday 4 - Fine pleasant weather Employ’d wooding and Cleaning Ship The Captain &c. went up the Harbour the 2 Lieut and some of the petty Officers went to strike sting rays of Which they got sufficient to serve all hands Low water at ½ past11 oclock PM
Friday 5 – Light Breezes and pleasant Wr. Employ’d wooding and watering and striking fish sting rays of which caught 300 lbs one weighing 236 pounds
p. 10 / 12
Remarks &c. in Stingray Bay new Holland
Serv’d 5 pound pr. Man and stopt the sea provision Varitn. Pr. Azmt. 6-42 E Stingray Bay Lies in Lattitude 34 °- - 6 So. And Long west of London 207 - - 43 it is formed by 2 low points between which there is a pasags of 1 mile with 12 fathom water on the East side lies a little Island and of the So. Ent of it a shore where the sea sometimes breaks after you are in the bay it spreads and turns to the Westwd for about 6 or 7 miles and then ends in 2 large Lagoons of the So. Shore lies large flats with only 6 or 7 feet Water on them is a Great Quantity of stingourers, the Bay is very Shoal But there is a Channel which lies open to the Entrance with 5 or 6 fathm. Water after you are 2 miles within it shoals to 3 fathm. The Bay is about 4 miles Broad and has a regular tide, the Country is very rich and fertile and has a fine appearance full of large trees which yield a gum like Dragon Blood this we found in great Quantity stiking to the here is another wood which has a grain like Oak and would be very Durable for Building the leaves are like a pine Leaf the soil is sand mist with Black Earth but is very shallow upon digging we found we found Vast Quantities of Oyster Shills which seemed to have been underground a great while We also found a tree which a red bery about the size of a Cherey but the grew only in one place. The inhabitants are so very shy that we had no kind of Connection with them the used to come down Every Evening armd with Lances and wooden swords th apare a very thin people and have their faces and breasts painted white the Surgion was a walking one day had a lance thrown at him out of a tree but which miss’d him the man ran off this was all we saw of them Except.when the was a fishing in
p. 11 / 12
Remarks &c. in Stingray bay New Holland
their Cannews which holds one man each they being made of Bark and paddled with 2 small pieces of wood the use their lances in striking fish on the flatts of their houses are several pieces of Bark sett up one against the another and open at Each End and are the worst I ever saw the people wair nothing to cover themselves but go quite Naked Men and Women &c.in short the Most Wretched sett of People I ever beheld or heard of
Saturday 6 - Little winds and fine pleasant weather PM Cleard Ship for sea the Yaul returned from fishing with 2 skeets which weighd 600 lb servd it to the ships company in stead of salt provisions it was very strong and made a great many of the Company sick which Eate of it at 5 hove up the Best Bower and hove ahead on the steam at 7 hoistd in ye Boats Weighd and Made Sail out of the bay at noon the NE Extreams N b E of shore 3 leagues
Latite. Obs.33°- - 47
Sunday 7 – Little winds and pleasant Wr. PM Varitn. 7 – 56 Et. Sailing along shore passed by several little Bays the land tending NNE at Noon the Nearest Land N b E 2 or 3 Leagues of shore
Lattite. Obs. 33 - - 17 South
Monday 8 – Little winds and Clear Varitn. 8 - - 00 E PM Lost the deep sea Lead and Line turning to windw. at noon the Extreams of the Land a S 27 W to N 10 E distance 5 or 6 Miles Lattite. Obsd.. 33 °- - 24 S
Tuesday 9 – Moderate Breezes and fair weather working to windward Carpnt. repairing the long boat sailmakers repairing the sails at Noon the Extes. Of the Land from NWBN to SW ½ W 5 Leagues
Lattite. Obs. 33° - - 37 So.
Wednesday 10 – Moderate and Cloudy am saw Land tending NNE making like Islands made all sail along shore saw more smouk at noon the Extreams of the land a 32 E to SWBS
Lattitude Observed 32° - -51 So.
p. 12 / 12
Remarks &c. on the coast of New Holland
May 1770
Tuesday 11 - Fresh Breezes and pleasnt. Wr. Running along shore at 2PM passed by several small Islands and a fine harbour Which lies around a bluff point and within the Islands this harbour seemed very Commodious and the Country around it very rich and firtile as we sailed along shore we saw many smooks and Inhabitants Varite. 8 – 45 E in the night stood only Moon light under an Easie sail and at noon the Extreams of the Land from N to S 15 W a small Island N 4 E Distance 3 or 4 Lgs.
Lattitude Obsd. 32° - - 2 S
Wednesday 12 – Little winds and fair wr. Standing along shore as Usual am Opened a cask of Beef and pork Being bad the Ships Company was ordered to full allowance Whilst it Lashed at Noon the Extreams of the Land N 20 W to SWBS here the land tends North Lattite. Obsd. 31° - - 18 So. Saw three hills call’d 3 Brothers
Thursday 13 - First part Do. Wr. The Latter fresh Breezes with thunder and Lightening and rain PM turning to windw. am Varitn. 9 - -26 E stood along shore and made all sail at Noon the Extreams of the Land from S 24 W to N 22 ½ W a bluff head S 26 W 3 Leagues Latite. Obs. 30° - - 43 S
Sunday 14 – Moderate Breezes and pleasant PM serv’d slops Vatritn 8 - -13 E Thunder and Lightening to the Eastward in the Night at 9 am made all sail and stood along shore to the Northw. Saw several smooks Lattitude Observed 30°- -22 S
The Extreams then Bearing a S33W to NBW of shore 4 Leagues