HMS Boyne Leaves Boston 5th December 1775

On 5 December 1775 HMS Boyne left Boston for England, taking home General Johnny Burgoyne. Burgoyne would return to North America in May 1777 eventually to end his military career in ignominy. Evan Nepean, a clerk to the Boyne's Captain Evan Hartwell, remained in Boston. It is possible between then and January 1776 when he became secretary to Vice-Admiral Molyneus Shuldham , who replaced the cantankerous Graves, he first made the acquaintance of Captain Robert Ross.. As Under secretary to the Home Department from 1783 Nepean would remember him and play a major part in 1786, in securing his appointment in New South Wales. Vice-Admiral Samurl Graves commanded 'our Invalids, together with a Number of American Seamen, whom ave ordered to be borne on a supernumary list for Wages and Victuals' to board the Boyne. Hartwell was instructed, once back in England, to distribute them throughout the Royal Navy, 'so they may not serve in any Numbers together in America.'¹ Among them was probably young James Proctor, of whom we know no more until he joins the Sirius bound for Botany Bay in 1786.

1Roberson, His Diaries and Sketches in America, p. 90; Narrative of Admiral Samuel Graves, Boston, 25 November, 1775 in Clark (ed.) NDAR, Vol. 2, p. 1129; Richard J. Hargrove, Jr., General John Burgoyne, East Brunswick, 1983, p. 113; Vice-Admral Samuel Graves to Philip Stevens, 30 November, 1775, in Clark, (ed.) NDAR, Vol. 2, p. 1203; Washington was told by an informant at Chelsea, within the American lines, who did not have full knowledge of the situation that 30 Masters of Vessels Pasheners on board.' -cf. [Enclosure] Captain Richard Dodge to George Washington [Chelsea] Dec the 16^th, 1775 in Clark (ed.) NDAR, Vol. 2, p. 122] but this contradicts Vice-Admiral Graves's advice to London, and I have accepted the latter.