William Dawson sailed in both Endeavour and Resolution.  He may have sailed with John Byron in Dolphin to the Pacific in 1764.  He joined Endeavour on 27 May, 1768, as an able seaman (AB).  After the voyage, Dawson joined Scorpion on 31 August, 1771, and then sailed on Cook’s Second Voyage, joining Resolution on 17 December, 1771, as Cook’s clerk.

John Elliott, who also sailed in Resolution, in his memoirs described Dawson as “Acting Purser, [a] steady clever man in his situation”.¹  According to the musters, Dawson was born in Deptford about 1749. 

Dawson was all set to sail on the third of Cook's Pacific voyages when he joined Resolution on 10 February, 1776, as an AB.  However, he was discharged on 17 April, 1776, to be purser in HMS Spy, a 14-gun sloop.  She had been launched earlier that month, and was being fitted at Deptford Dockyard.  She sailed for Newfoundland in July under Commander William Shackerly.  In October, Commander Thomas Frederick took charge, and the ship continued to operate in Newfoundland waters.

William Dawson, Purser of the Spy sloop, St. Johns.  The crew need slops and beds and there are insufficient remaining.  He received an order from Captain Frederick to purchase some, has drawn a bill, payable to Keith, merchant here, and has sent the proper vouchers.²

Dawson later served in Crescent, a sixth rate ship, and Phaeton, a fifth rate ship.  While serving in Expedition, another fifth rate ship, at Port Royal, Jamaica, he petitioned Joseph Banks on 2 July, 1788.³

I am to hope you'l be good enough to pardon my presumption in taking the liberty of addressing so great a Character indeed nothing would have induced me but the real want of a friend and my having had the honour of sailing with you Sir in the Endeavour; after which I went the second voyage with my late and most worthy friend Captain Cook who proved so much my friend (after serving him upwards of seven years) to obtain my being made a Purser and which office I have held (under a most unblemished character) near thirteen years but from the unfortunate circumstances of being shipwrecked in the one I was made into and taken by the French in the next ship (Crescent) I was appointed to, distressed me almost of every farthing had acquired during twenty six years servitude in the Navy. Indeed Sir I am almost ashamed to trouble you with this, but my health (from hard servitude) being so very much impair'd that it has induces me to take this so very great liberty (and which I hope you'l be good enough to pardon) of begging your kind interest to serve me in procuring me any small office that may happen to fall vacant and should I be so happy as to obtain this great request, I shall ever endeavour to merit so great and most assential favor

Banks’s response, and Dawson’s life after his time in these ships is unknown.  Genealogical information about Dawson is limited and uncertain—the perils of a first name such as William, and a fairly common surname such as Dawson.  There is a possible birth entry for our William Dawson on 26 March, 1749, at St Nicholas, Deptford (matching the muster entry), as son of William Dawson, a smith of French’s Fields.

The National Archives, Kew, holds a petition that might have been written by our William Dawson’s father, with a naval connection.⁴ 

Petition of William Dawson, locksmith at Deptford Yard.  He has served thirty years and requests an order for a servant as his late servant has been out of his apprenticeship for nine months.

A William Dawson was married to Elizabeth Beatrice Slons at St Nicholas, Deptford, on 25 February, 1779.  A witness to the marriage was George Slons, a company surveyor, living in Church Street, Deptford.

All of the above may or may not be some details for our Dawson and his family.  It would be greatly appreciated if anyone can confirm, deny or add to the information.

John Robson

References

1. Elliott, John.  Memoirs of the early life of John Elliott, of Elliott House, near Ripon, Yorkshire.  British Library.  Add. MS 42714. 
2. Letter from William Dawson to the Navy Board, dated 24 December, 1777.  Reference ADM 106/1238/469.  Held at The National Archives (TNA), Kew.
3. State Library of New South Wales.  Sir Joseph Banks Papers: Section 15, Series 76, Doc. 76.05.
4. Petition from William Dawson to the Navy Board, dated 14 June, 1768.  ADM 106/1164/47.  TNA. 

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 17, volume 49, number 1 (2026).