Jun 17, 1793 Home Providence Log Jun 19, 1793
Revised Aug 27 2021
1 pm: Moderate and Cloudy Weather. Hove too and got on Board a Mr. Boden who knew the Anchoring ground off the West end. Bore away.
3 pm: At 3 hour..45′ I Anchored off George Town with the Small Bower in 8 fathoms. The rest of the Ships did the same, & the Rochampton in perfect safety. South point of the Road S9W 1¼ Mile, the North point North 1 Mile & a Sandy ay near the middle of the Town E½S ¼ Mile: the West part of the Island bore NWbN 5 or 6 Miles.
6 pm: At 6 Weighed as did the other Ships, and at 7 George Town bore EbN distant
2 or 3 Miles
During my stay I supplied the Rochampton with spare Masts, Yards, Blocks Cordage & every
thing I could spare. The principal People came off & promised they would do every thing in
their power to supply them with what else they wanted.
12 mid: Fresh Breezes and Cloudy
4 am: Out all Reefs and made all Sail
8 am: Cloudy. Served Hot Breakfast of Portable Soup Gruel as usual.
9 am: Cleaned and Washed below. Exercised Great Guns and Small Arms. Carpenters employed repairing the large Cutter.
12 noon: Very Cloudy Weather but got a tolerable Observation. A Ship &
a Brig in Company who joined us last Night.
Assistant &c as before.
I Anchored off the West end of the Grand Caymanes in fathoms and without difficulty or trouble, the Rochampton by that means came to an Anchor in perfect safety. The Assistant, Packet and other Ships did the same.
Having sent for Captain Aitkin and got informed of the state of his Ship, I supplied him with a rough Spar to make jury Main Mast, and others for Yards and Top Masts. Also some Blocks and Rope, and every thing I could spare. Some of the Principal People came on board from whom I understood, that altho they had not many articles necessary for the Ship, yet upon the whole it appeared she might in a short time be got ready to proceed home. I did all I could to insure it, and Sailed after an Anchorage of two hours and a quarter, with the Ships in Company as before.
This Road lies on the West side of the Island opposite a small Village which they now call George Town (formerly the Hogsties) its latitude 19°..20′N and tho' its longitude may not be what the Time Keepers give it to a few Miles, yet its situation with respect to the West End of Jamaica is certainly 2°..56′W. The bottom appeared in some parts Rocky from discoloured Water but from aloft the clear ground is very conspicuous and the place to Anchor is abreast of the Town. It is a pleasant Road and I am told Watering is convenient. Turtling is the principal employment of the Inhavbitants, besides which, Shipping in some seasons are plentifully supplied with Yams and Plantains. The Island would no doubt produce any thing grown within the Tropics. I was sollicited most earnestly by a Mr. Boden for a Breadfruit Plant, and the probability of doing a good Act, and giving a lasting advantage to futurity, sensible that the situation would answer, I consented and with the Breadfruit Plant, I gave him an Ayyah and a Nanka, as beautifull Plants as ever were seen. I gave him every necessary direction about them and I trust they will Succeed.
There are about 10 Schooners belonging to the Island built to 9 feet draught of Water, that they may benefit from a fine Harbour on the North side of the Island.
It is extraordinary that in such Maps as Mr. Gauls produced to the Public the Latitude of the SW point of Caymanes is 19°..11′ North. I can only account for this by his not publishing the Maps himself.
[Below are two small notes tucked into this page of the logbook:]
Mr. Knight G[?] Marlboro S[?] Stores lent by Providence & Assistance to the Rochampton June 1793 [?] Situation of the ships at that time Lat Lons: & distance from the
Jun 17, 1793 Home Providence Log Jun 19, 1793