On April 28, 1789, during the return voyage to England, Peckover had been on watch duty from midnight to 4:00 am and was still asleep when Fletcher Christian seized control of the ship. Peckover was confined to his cabin during the mutiny, and not allowed up on deck until Bligh and his loyalists were being cast off the ship into the 23-foot launch. Peckover was able to smuggle off The Bounty a pocket watch and with this Bligh was able to navigate until 2nd June 1788, when Bligh's log records ""The Gunner when he left the ship brought his watch with him and had regulated our time untill today when unfortunately I found it stopt".:" to Coupang; the watch became corroded by the sea water and in appreciation Bligh gave Peckover a replacement. and had it inscribed " "Wm Peckover H.M.S. Bounty 1788 Cap. Bligh""