Revised Jun 6 2021
About the latter End of March 1790 two Months subsequent to the Death of a beloved & most lamented Husband Mrs. Heywood received Information by report only of the Mutiny which took place on board the Bounty Armed Ship Commanded by Capt. Wm. Bligh in the South Sea. In that ship Mrs. Heywood had a son who when he left his Home (in August 1787 then but 15 years old to pursue this distant Voyage) was deservedly admired & beloved by all who knew him & to his own Family was almost an Object of Adoration for the amiable qualities he possessed. In a state of Mind little short of Distraction on hearing this fatal Intelligence (which was at the same Time aggravated by every Circumstance of Guilt that Calumny or Malice could invent with respect to this unfortunate youth who was said to be ringleader, & to have gone armed into the Captains Cabin) Mrs. Heywood wrote a Letter to Capt. Bligh dictated by a Mother's Tenderness & strongly expressive of the Misery she must feel on such an Occasion. The following Letters among many others which have been lost or mislaid by different Accidents were written on the subject.