Hello Celia, The first mention appearing in London newspapers of Captain Willie commanding the Hope is for 1845, when he arrived at Calcutta from Penang on November 18th.  The report of his final voyage, dated from Calcutta 7 November 1848, said:  "The Hope, Willie, from Calcutta for Penang, went down with all hands (except five Lascars saved by the Framjee Cowasjee) 14th ult. in lat. 17 N. long. 86 E."   Similarly, his connection with the Kitty is reported from January 1842 (under East India Shipping) until July 1845 when "The Kitty, Willie, for Penang" appears among a list of casualties in a storm.  Hortensia was commanded by a Captain Reed during 1838, but from September 1838 is under a Captain "Willey", out from Singapore, and this might have been his first command if he is the same man. Hereafter the spellings are various - Welley, Willy - but she appears under a Captain Storey by 1841.  Finally, Lloyd's Register for 1839/40 shows Hortensia with no less than four captains' names entered - J. Read, W. Whale, J. Will... (?), and W. Storey, but the printing is superimposed and indistinct.  The fact that none of these references seem to overlap chronologically suggest that he might be one and the same man.   I'm sorry if this does not make matters much clearer. Regards, Peter Klein    ________________________________ From: Celia Summers <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, 28 July 2013, 18:27 Subject: [MAR] Captain John Willie Please, I am interested in John Willie, Master Mariner of Calcutta, India, who died on the barque "Hope" in the Bay of Bengal, 14 Oct 1848, in a storm.  Using Google I found several "Captain J. Willie" mentioned and wonder if they are this John Willie or another Captain? "Marquis Camden" - year 1828 - 4th officer John Willie (if him would have been 21 years) - East-India Company's ship barque "Virginie" - 1835, 1836, 1837 - John White, John Wittie, & J. Wellie (listed in 1835), John Willie teak ship "Lord Auckland" - 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839 - John Willie - ship owner Boustead, Schwabe & Co. (I see the "Lord Auckland" on Lloyd's register, in 1840, owner Brown, master McDonld, but don't see on the register in the years looking for) brig "Kitty" - 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845 - John Willie barque "Hope" - 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848 - John Willie, John Wyllie (Brig Hortensia - Singapore 11 Sep 1838 - Captain Willie - Syme & Co. - from London to Godowns) 1839-Lloyd's Register of British & Foreign Shipping: 516, Hortensia Sw, Captain J. Read, 254, Nwcstl, 1827, Smith & C, London, Lon. inserted underneath looks like two lines. Not sure what goes to what, but there is a W. Whale & J. Will__. 1840--Lloyd's: 572, Hortensia Sw YM.39, W. Whale, 245, Ncstle, 1827, Smith & C., London, Nwc W Inds. Thank you. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message