, 1893-03-11
A LEAF FROM A FAMILY
RECORD.
Dswsvors ArgOsy, 'lth FEB.

One by enc the inks With the last century
are being severed, and the death OF Mary
Ca npball Dadson (nothsr of our esteemed
fellow colonist, Captain Portlock- Dadson) on
the 18th January, in her 95th year. IN the
full possession OF all her faculties. and gifted
with q wonderful memory, has removed
another eye witness to the stirring events
that occurred during her early years.
Born on The 4th Of November. 1893. she WAS
the Younger daughter OF Captain Nathaniel
Portlook, r. N, en- officer who did honour to
the Service. which he entered unwillingly.
Belonging to g family settled in Virginia, he
came 40 a lad to England on a ship owned by
his brother. and was taken by = press.gAng
at Liverpool for service in the Kings Navy.
On making his position known to the com.
mandiug officer Of the Man.of- war, he Nas at
once rated as a M~idshipman, and in that rink
was with Captain Cook when Cook was killed
by the natives at Owyhse. While @ lieu
tenant, he took the first cargo of bre d-fruit
from tho South Sea Islands 10 Jamaica, re-
oeiving the thanks 0f that Government and a
present Of $500; he also served undor
Captain Bligh. afterwards 80 we'll known in
connection with the nutlny Of thess'B )un'y."
He was employed Ola several voyages OF dis
oovsry An,l was wounded by the arrows OF The
natives in New Guinea, while the old maps
recorded his explorations in North America
by 'PovtlOok Sound" which was namet
after him. During the peace, he comm sndsd
a ship ia the China trade. On the severance
of the tie between the Grown and the Amsri-
oau colonies. he elected to remain ia the
Royal Navy, thereby FORGETTING all claim to
his inheritance, and he was the only native
born American in the Navy during the sub.
ssquent wars. At the mutiny Of the Fleet nc
Spith.ad, he never left the ship he commanded,
although the crews of tho other ships thrsa-
tened to fire on his, il he was not sent on shore
like the other captains.
In command Of two small vessels, he entered
the river Texel, and without Waiting for the
arrival Of his ~consort, ran his ship between
two Dutch Men-of-war, the "Draak' ana
"Gier," capturing them both the publication
Of the Dispatches in the g sests obtained MS
promotion to the rank of Clptsin, and just 81
years afterwards the war medal witli clasp
waS awarded to oil the survivors OF this
gallant action. in which he sustained a severe
injury by slipping in the blood on the deck.
lie afterwards Commanded several divisions
Of ths Sea Fsnoioles. and received q Sword
of Honour and . Silver Vase for saving an
Inliaman in diatrsss OF Saloom,s in Devon.
shire; his men hesitating. he. led the way
into the boat, and they at onos followed him.
he published . volume describing his voy-
ages. md was appointed ass Captain of the
Royal Hospital at Greenwich, where he died,
+. Sept. II, 1877. BY his mothers second mT.
riags he vas hslf brother TO- Commodo'e
Stephen Scott, Of the Russian Navy, aud relatss
cd to General Scott. OF the yUlitsd States
Navy, who figures on the twenty four cent
stamp Of 1870. His elder son, Henry Pow
ney ,Portlook. was drowned from 81. VI. 3
PANE" on the banks Of Newfoundland
when serving n . mate in the Royal Navy.
in which he had seen much service. heing ri
the capture Of tho Spanish gileon.r Oh C'p'
St. Mary. when the prizes were taken iast
Plymouth with gold can llsstieks eta the
IN st-hsads. and the. lowest shA5s Of prize
money Vas about E489. His yeppeer son
Msior-G.psrel, J9ssph Elisoal PostloeE: Q
shs Royal Enginaesss xss Atthssisgs OK ser