Mutiny on the Bounty Brenda Staines This is a direct family connection which I only discovered when researching my father. During World War 2, a Bradford girl from Thornton went to work in the Land Army. Following the war, she met a farmer’s son from Giggleswick, after he had been demobbed. They married and in 1948 moved back to Bradford – my parents. These are details of a direct family connection which I only discovered when researching my father’s line. My paternal grandmother’s family came down the Lune Valley from Kirkby Stephen in Westmorland to farm in Arkholme near Kirby Lonsdale. My great grandmother married into a local farming family and they farmed at Lawkland near Settle. Going back to 1760s - my 6 x paternal great grandfather John Lamb was a farmer and butcher with land around Kirkby Stephen and Penrith. He had nine children and his seventh child was Edward Lamb. This is Edward’s life and information. His sister was my 5 x great grandmother. Edward Lamb, son of John Lamb and Ann Harker, born 1761 at Smardale Hall, Kirkby Stephen. A letter from one of his brothers reported that he “went into the navy”. Edward was mentioned in shipping logs in the 1870s. His first wife Elizabeth connected him to the Buchanan family; merchants and sailors from Penrith, who sailed to the West Indies and were married into the family of Duncan Campbell. Campbell was a merchant with ships on the ‘Jamaica’ run, and also sent convict transportation to Australia. Campbell’s niece was married to Captain William Bligh, and the Bounty was one of his ships. Details of his voyages undertaken for Duncan Campbell were reported in Lloyds Shipping Register and in the press. 1784 – 1787 Chief Mate on the Merchant Vessel Britannia with Captain William Bligh. The following letter was sent in support of Captain Bligh and was published in the national press. Taken from Minutes William Bligh’s Answers to certain Assertions contained in the Appendix to a Pamphlet, entitled Minutes of the Proceedings on the Court Martial held at Portsmouth Aug12th, 1792 on Ten Persons charged with Mutiny on Board His Majesty’s Ship the Bounty 1789-1790 Captain of the Britannia in the Jamaica trade 1791-1794 Captain of the Duchess of Portland in the Jamaica trade 1794-1797 Captain of the Adventure in the Jamaica trade 1799-1812 Captain of the Bellona From 1800 Edward was under the authority of the Hon East India Company Service and lost his arm in an engagement with the French privateer Clarisse. There is an account of the engagement in G.K. Laughton’s ‘Studies in Naval History’. Edward was presented with a service of silver plate by the ‘merchants of London’ as he did not lose any of the cargo of the Bellona during the engagement. In recognition of Edward’s achievement his five sons were granted commissions in the Royal Navy. These sons captained ships transporting convicts to Australia, and took land grants in Australia. One son John Lamb became a successful merchant between Australia and UK after retirement from the Royal Navy and became influential in Australian politics in the era. 1812 -1819 Retirement back to Askrigg where he was buried in 1819. Letter from Mr Edward Lamb, Commander of The Adventure, in the Jamaica Trade to Captain William Bligh St George’s Place, St George’s in the East, Oct. 28, 1794 Dear Sir, Upon my arrival from Jamaica, I saw a pamphlet, published by Mr Edward Christian, who, in order to lessen the guilt of his brother, Mr Fletcher Christian, wishes to make the public believe that the Mutiny on board His Majesty’s ship the Bounty, proceeded from his treatment of his brother, and the other mutineers. I was much surprised at what Mr Edward Christian has introduced in page 78 in the Appendix, as he insinuated that your bad behaviour to Mr Fletcher Christian commenced during his last voyage with you to Jamaica, in the ship Britannia, when I was chief mate, and eye witness to every thing that passed. Mr Edward Christian must have been misinformed, and known very little either of his brother’s situation, abilities or the manner in which he conducted himself during that voyage, he mentions his being second mate with you, when, in fact, he was no officer. I recollect your putting him upon the articles as gunner, telling me, at the same time, you wished him to be thought an officer, and desired I would endeavour to make the people look upon him as such. When we got to sea and I saw your partiality for the young man, I gave him every advice and information in my power, though he went about every point of duty with a degree of indifference that to me was truly unpleasant, but you were blind to his faults, and had him to dine and sup every day in the cabin, and treated him like a brother, giving him every information. In the Appendix it is said that Mr Fletcher Christian had no attachment to the women at Otaheite; if that was the case, he must have been much altered since he was with you in the Britannia; he was then one of the most foolish young men I ever knew in regard to the sex. You will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you on so unpleasant a subject; but I could not pass over so many assertions in the Appendix, without feeling for a man, whose kind and uniform behaviour to me, through the whole voyage to Jamaica, was such as to lay me under an everlasting obligation; and I shall still think myself fortunate in having engaged with such an attentive officer, and able navigator as yourself. I have no pique at Mr Fletcher Christian; but finding Captain Bligh’s character suffering in the opinion of the public, I think it my duty to offer my services in the vindication of it, so far as comes within my knowledge; therefore can I render him any service, he may command me. I remain, Sir, Your most obliged and humble servant .