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This inventory of Richard Mitchell, Mariner, of Bristol in February 1748 gives the money due to him for service on board the Dofianne, Dosianne. The second letter o is clear and there is definitely ianne at the end. I can find nothing about such a ship. I wondered if it could be the Defiance spelled  wrongly. Either he died aboard or the ship was wrecked in 1747-8. Somebody on Ancestry says he died in Indonesia but has no evidence, he copied it from somebody else's tree!
I would be really grateful if anyone  knows about Bristol ships  in the mid=18th century or where to find such information.

Thank you very much for the reference.  It may well be worth a visit to Kew. I thought there must be information somewhere but didn't know where to look. My ancestor lived in Bristol when not at sea.  Would not vessels enter large ports such as Bristol en route?
medhist

I have an ancester, described as a mariner.  In his will dated 1742 he states he is a mariner on the HMS Grafton out of Bristol. The will was proved in 1748 but I cannot find a burial and believe he may have died at sea or overseas.  Is there any way of finding out anything about the HMS Grafton in the early-mid 18th century? I have been told it was a Royal Navy vessel if it has HMS before the ship's name.  I'd like to find out what  voyages it  made and/or engagements it may have been involved in. Also what his life would have been like. Most of the Naval records seem to be 19th and 20th centuries. Can anyone suggest where I could find out more please?  Any info would be gratefully received.
Medhist

Thank you so much for all this info JJ.  I had found a few bits of it online but this will help me make more sense of it .