Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

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jon_ystrad
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Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by jon_ystrad »

Hi

I am trying to find out background information on this individual
https://threedecks.org/index.php?displa ... man&id=356

The closest thing I have found is what looks a weird family tree on Ancestry with no certain provenance, that ties him into the Douglas of Friarshaw family, but then gives his father the name Hew Alexander which looks completely wrong.

Best Regards
Jon
Navclio
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by Navclio »

Captain Douglas's brief entry by William Charnock, Biographia Navalis (6 vols.: London: R. Faulder, 1796), vol. IV, p. 207, doesn't add anything to the site bio except that he was in the West Indies when he died, "one of those unfortunate commanders who fell a victim to the insalubrity of that destructive climate" in May 1741. This was after failure of the amphibious attack on Cartagena de Indias, New Grenada (now Cartagena, Colombia). Captain Douglas and Falmouth might have been back at Port Royal, Jamaica by then, or have been proceeding.

If it is important to know the detailes of Falmouth's participation in the operation, Captain Douglas's journal might be in The National Archives in Kew in the ADM 51 series; the navigational log kept by the master would be in the ADM 52 series. If neither record was submitted because of the captain's death, one of the lieutenants' journals might be available at TNA or at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

You can find out about Falmouth in the "Ships" section here.
Cy
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by Cy »

For reference

Captain's log ADM 51/4187 covers the period of Douglas' command
Master's log ADM 52/851 does the same, but only until March 1741

Both in the national archives in Kew
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jon_ystrad
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by jon_ystrad »

If I were to go to Kew and ask for these things, what exactly would I ask for?

I had not really considered the reality of going, but I suppose I could do a couple of nights nearby

It would probably be the one and only time
Cy
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by Cy »

You can't just turn up at Kew, you need to apply for a readers ticket, they are free though. and you pre book the items you are interested in on line.

Readers tickets here https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/abo ... rs-ticket/

Ordering Document info is here https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/abo ... documents/
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jon_ystrad
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by jon_ystrad »

Navclio mentions captain's journals and lieutenant's journals, which intrigue me on general principles!

These are in addition to the muster rolls and ships logs?

How common were they being kept, and was this in a sort of private capacity?

If I am looking for example for 1751 for another ship, can I potentially find a 2nd lieutenant's journal somewhere?

Thanks and best regards
Jon
Cy
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by Cy »

The ADM 51 'Journals' mentioned by Navclio are the official captain's logs which all ship commanders had to complete, they are held by the National Archives in Kew. Search here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov. ... ced-search with the shpis name and "ADM 51" as the reference will find all available, BTW "ADM 52" is the reference for master's logs.

Lieutenant's journals, or logs, are in the ADM/L series and held at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. A search here https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects#!asearch for 'Lieutenant's logs' plus a ship name will list those held, usually with dates, but much less commonly the lieutenant's name or position.

Almost none of this information is digitised though.
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jon_ystrad
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Re: Captain William Douglas, of the Falmouth, died 1741

Post by jon_ystrad »

Thank you very much.

I've been slowly working through the ships William Gough was on, and noting references for the musters and logs.

I've also found some potentially useful looking lieutenants logs at Greenwich and could in theory visit there too, since I am staying at Kew several nights so could spend one day going across London, as long as I know what I am doing

Best Regards
Jon
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