Discipline
Discipline
Editorial history
29/11/12: CSG, created page
Purpose of page
The MarineLives project is seeking to link and enhance HCA 13/71, not just to transcribe it.
Disciplinary lapses are the subject of a number of HCA 13/71 cases and depositions. Thes elapses include alleged mutiny, desertion of mariners from ships at ports, and XXXX
All associates, facilitators, advisors and PhD Forum members are encouraged to contribute to this page from their knowledge of the material, and from their broader knowledge and interest in the topic.
- What examples of disciplinary lapses are raised in the High Court of Admiralty?
- How was discipline enforced on and off ship, and by whom?
Contents
Suggested links
Mutinous behaviour
The George Bonadventure experienced an unusual "mutiny" early in its voyage from Gravesend to Zant, with a cargo of wheat.
The purser of the ship, Robert Thompson, testified to the "mutinous" behaviour of the foremast men, the boatswaine and a number of other members of the crew. According to Thompson these men refused to man handle the ship's sails without an increase in their allowance of butter. A proximate cause behind which lay greater problems? Insufficient detail is provided in the case to judge.
- "31. Robert Thompson of the parish of Saint
32. Martin in the Vintrey London Cittizen and
33. Merchantaylor of London late Purser of the shipp
34. the George Bonadventure of London aged forty
35. sixe yeares or thereabouts a wittnes sworne
36. and examined saith and deposeth as followeth)
37. To the first article of the sayd allegation hee saith that hee
38. goeing Purser of the arlate Shipp the George Bonadventure
39. the voyage in question which began in the moneth of
40. ffebruary 1654 well knoweth that presently after the sayd
41. shipp sett sayle from Gravesend and before shee arrived
42. in the downes outwards bound the ˹fore mastmen of the˺ Company of the sayd shipp
43. and the boatswaine and some others (whereof the sayd arlate
44. Neck Gooden dandy and Brooke were part) did in a mutinous
45. manner"
- "1. rise against the Master of the sayd shipp and refuse to doe
2. their dutye therein and to hand the sayles unlesse they might
3. have two pounds of butter a weeke allowed to them to a messe GUTTER
4. which ˹was˺ halfe a pound of butter to a messe extraordinary, (the
5. actuall allowance being but a pound and a halfe of butter to a messe
6. and one Abraham Carr in the behalfe of him selfe and the reste
7. of the sayd mutineers told the sayd Master in expresse termes
8. in presence of this deponent and the rest of the sayd shipps Company
9. that they would not handle a sayle unlesse they might bee allowed
10. two pounds of butter a weeke to a messe, and reviled this deponent
11. ˹and called him Rogue and other opprobious termes˺ because hee haveing the ordering of the sayd allowance committed
12. to him told them that they knew well that the ordinary allowance
13. was but a pound and a halfe to a messe of butter to a messe and that
14. hee this deponent could ˹not˺ answere it to his principalls Mr the arlate
15. Mr ffarrington who victualled and manned the sayd shipp if hee did
16. allowe them any more, but they still persisting wilfully in their demands GUTTER
17. of 2li to a messe and refusing to handle the sayles unlesse they might
18. have such allowance, the Master was thereby forced to allowe them
19. two pounds of butter a weeke to a messe and did allowe them soe for
20. all the tyme of the outward bound voyage and soe longe and untill
21. XX about the latter end of May 1655, by which meanes the
22. arlate Mr ffarington was damnified in expence of butter
23. more than ordinary to the value of ˹thirty or˺ forty shillings sterling or
24. thereabouts And further to this article hee cannot depose/"
- HCA 13/71 f.266v Case: Beniamin dimmock John Godden Christopher Knecke Richard Brooke and henry denbe against George ffarington; Deposition: 1. Robert Thompson the parish of Saint Martin in the Vintrey London Cittizen and Merchantaylor of London late Purser of the shipp the George Bonadventure of London aged forty sixe yeares; Date: 02/07/1656. Transcribed by XXXX[1]
Desertion
Punishment
Non payment of wages
