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The Buonaventa seems a likely candidate as the relevant muster book does show JM as "lent  prize" or "chequed lent prize" on 1 February 1799.... an  entry  showing him as "Masters Mate" "to 1 Jun 99 then AB" may also tie in with him being possibly captured in June 1799 (released as an exchange in August 1799). I need to double check the date of the muster book entry which shows "Chequed without leave  26 July" ...this may or may not tie in with his time as POW. According to the POW records he was not in fact imprisoned in Saumur as suggested - the batch of exchanged men listed immediately above his exchange record were at Saumur but JM and six others were bracketed with a different location reference which I am unable to decipher (copy attached) I haven't pursued the captain's letters to the Admiralty in any detail, although the naval gazette (I think) isn't specific on crewing arrangements for the prize/captured vessel. The family letter extract does contain other details which enlighten and partially confirm other family facts  and "legends" related to the Morlands at this time, so I have a degree of trust in the basic naval references at least. JM is definitely unrelated to the Sheerness family - but his own father was a cabinet maker of some repute which may explain the "carpenter" references on some records post his naval service, although he only recorded himself as "sailor" or "mariner" on his daughters' marriage records in the 1840s.... his widow was described in late life as "mariner's widow" rather than her known occupation of dressmaker and he was keen in another published handbill in 1828 (supporting his candidacy for the post of Beadle in the parish of Fulham) to state his "many years in the arduous and honourable service of his king and country at sea"........

Thanks again for the additional document references and for your interest in this particular piece of research. I have looked at the muster/pay books and logs you mentioned in your previous post but so far I haven't been able to trace the particular "prize" vessel to which John Morland was assigned. From  the original logs you pointed me to I couldn't find any obvious record of John Morland by name. He does, however, appear in the muster/pay records. From those I deduce that he may have served on Hms Osprey prior to being mustered on HMS Fairy and may have subsequently transferred from Fairy to HMS Trusty. He was certainly "lent" to a prize vessel (and was listed as "Maitre de Prise" in the prisoner exchange records). The attached image shows this - I can now decipher the word "Checked or "Chequed" thanks to ShaunJ - perhaps it is also possible to decipher the word bewteen "Chequed" and "prize" which may give another clue. I also believe he returned to Fairy (possibly after prisoner exchange) via or from HMS Royal William, which at the time was a receiving ship or guard ship. I am aware that a receiving ship was normally used to accommodate pressed men before they were assigned to a ship of war, but I think it is possible it may have also accommodated returning prisoners ? Certainly the muster book states clearly "Lent Prize 1 Feb 99, Ret 18 August (corrected to 22 Aug from Royal William). The prisoner exchange record is specific - the date of exchange was 6 August 1799. I am slightly perplexed by the record of "Checked without leave"...I also see a case where his "rank" of "Master's Mate" was changed after a specific date  to "AB", which is also perplexing.

I will need to make more visits to Kew, now that I have seen  original documents I have a better idea what information they offer, and in what format, so I will be better prepared to compile a chronology with details of service prior to and post HMS Fairy. I cannot find any record of Fairy being part of the Nile Fleet....so far. Certainly John Morland left the Navy no later than 1815, when he was married and settled in Fulham, London, (he died there in 1845) Ultimately I may be trying to piece together a 25 year Naval career.

All help, suggestions, tips and encouragement welcome.

Thanks again

Thankyou very much. This may tie in with the man in question being placed as a prize master on a captured vessel and/or his subsequent imprisonment by the French. The pieces are slowly fitting together.

Croz

I wonder if anyone can decipher, or hazard a guess at what the following means - extracted from a muster and pay book...held in National Archives....apologies if I have failed to acknowledge any copyright - the photo was taken by me on a reading room visit.