My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was
The third of five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College
In Cambridge at fourteen years old, where I resided three
Years, and applied myself close to my studies; but the charge
Of maintaining me, although I had a very scanty allowance,
Being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice
To Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London,
With whom I continued four years. My father now and then
Sending me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning
Navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, useful
To those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would
Be, some time or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr.
Bates, I went down to my father: where, by the assistance of
Him and my uncle John, and some other relations, I got forty
Pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds a year to maintain
Me at Leyden: there I studied physic two years and seven
Months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages.
Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended
By my good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow,
Captain Abraham Pannel, commander; with whom I
Continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two
Into the Levant, and some other parts. When I came back I
Resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, my master,
Encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several
Patients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and
Being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary
Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in
Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred pounds
For a portion.
But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and
I having few friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience
Would not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of
Too many among my
brethren. Having therefore consulted
With my wife, and some of my acquaintance, I determined
To go again to sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships,
And made several voyages, for six years, to the East and
West Indies, by which I got some addition to my fortune. My
Hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient
And modern, being always provided with a good number of
Books; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners
And dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language;
Wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my
Memory.
The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I
Grew weary of the sea, and intended to stay at home with
My wife and family. I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter
Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to get business
Among the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After
Three years expectation that things would mend, I accepted
An advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard,
Master of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the
South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our
Voyage was at first very prosperous.
It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the
Reader with the particulars of our adventures in those seas;
Let it suffice to inform him, that in our passage from thence
To the East Indies, we were driven by a violent storm to the
North-west of Van Diemen’s Land. By an observation, we
Found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes
South. Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labour
And ill food; the rest were in a very weak condition. On the
5th of November, which was the beginning of summer in
Those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen spied
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