Master's Mate on board the Bounty.
A loyalist.
William Elphinstone (also Elphinston) as 36 years old when he joined the Bounty. He joined the Bounty on 29 Aug 1787, the same day as his crewmate, Peter Linklater. The two men appear to have been friendly, and likely had served together before, perhaps on their last ship.
Most authors who have written about the Bounty story have claimed that John Fryer, the sailing master on the Bounty, must have been hurt or offended when Fletcher Christian, a master's mate, was promoted to acting lieutenant by Captain Bligh. Someone who did have cause to feel slighted was Elphinstone who was also a master's mate but thirteen years older than Christian and even three years older than Bligh. However, the likelihood is that he had no aspirations to become a lieutenant.
Elphinstone was asleep when the mutiny began and was put under guard, so he did not have much first-hand knowledge about what went on.
He seems to have been a supporter of Bligh at least until the open-boat voyage; there are indications that he started rebelling against Bligh's martinet style of authority by the time the loyalists reached Surabaya.
Elphinstone died in Batavia – probably of malaria – only a week after Bligh's departure.
In Batavia Elphinstone died – probably of malaria – only a week after Bligh's departure.
(added by bluegums)
Master's Mate on board the Bounty.
A loyalist.
William Elphinstone (also Elphinston) as 36 years old when he joined the Bounty. He joined the Bounty on 29 Aug 1787, the same day as his crewmate, Peter Linklater. The two men appear to have been friendly, and likely had served together before, perhaps on their last ship.
Most authors who have written about the Bounty story have claimed that John Fryer, the sailing master on the Bounty, must have been hurt or offended when Fletcher Christian, a master's mate, was promoted to acting lieutenant by Captain Bligh. Someone who did have cause to feel slighted was Elphinstone who was also a master's mate but thirteen years older than Christian and even three years older than Bligh. However, the likelihood is that he had no aspirations to become a lieutenant.
Elphinstone was asleep when the mutiny began and was put under guard, so he did not have much first-hand knowledge about what went on.
He seems to have been a supporter of Bligh at least until the open-boat voyage; there are indications that he started rebelling against Bligh's martinet style of authority by the time the loyalists reached Surabaya.
Elphinstone died in Batavia – probably of malaria – only a week after Bligh's departure.
In Batavia Elphinstone died – probably of malaria – only a week after Bligh's departure.
(added by bluegums)
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
