Revised Jun 5 2021

The Witnesses were then ordered to attend their Examinations separately which they did as follows.

George Simpson a Seaman belonging to the Bounty called in and sworn.

The Court asked.

Q. Did you ever hear the Prisoner insolent or impertinent to Lieutenant Bligh in any Manner whatsoever?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you remember in what Way he was disrespectfull to him?

A. By not doing his duty. He refused to cut some Wood up into the small Billets on shore at Adventure Bay in New Holland, then again on board the Ship, at the same Place he refused to hoist at the Tackle fall, upon being ordered to do so by Lieutenant Bligh, or else he was to have no Provisions. The next time at Otaheite in cutting a Grind Stone he refused to lend me a Chisel as I offered to do it having been two Years at that Business. I do not recollect any thing else but at New Holland the Captain and he had a few Words about catching some Shell fish we had them in a Bag and five of us were going to share them and the Captain would not allow it he ordered us to hand it aft in the Boat and let it be served out as usual every one to have Share and Share alike. The Captain and Mr Purcell had a few Words but I cannot tell what they were no further than Mr Purcell told the Captain that he was as good a Man as he was in his own Branch of Business, and the Captain immediately took up a Cutlass and challenged him ashore as we were laying alongside a Rock, the Carpenter would not take up the Cutlass. When at the Island of Timor he denied some Chalk to the Captain, and said that it was his own. The Captain ordered him to be sent on board a Dutch Guardship, and I never had much Conversation with him afterwards.

Q. Did you hear Lieutenant Bligh in Adventure Bay order the Carpenter to cut the Billets smaller?

A. Yes I did.

Q. Did you yourself hear Lieutenant Bligh order the Carpenter to lend you a Chisel to cut the Grindstone asunder?

A. No, I did not, I asked him for it.

Q. Did you say to the Carpenter that you had received Orders from the Captain to ask for it?

A. No I did not, it was from my own Head.

Q. Did you yourself hear Lieutenant Bligh order the Carpenter to deliver up the Chalk?

A. Yes.

Q. Who gave the Carpenter orders to hoist the Water out of the Hold?

A. The Captain and Master both and I heard them.

Q. Were the Boatswain and Gunner also ordered to hoist the Water out of the Hold on that day?

A. I did not hear them.

Q. Did they do so to your Knowledge at any time?

A. Yes they did.

Q. Have you seen them do it?

A. Yes.

The Prisoner asked

Q. On what Day was it that you say I refused to split the Wood in Adventure Bay?

A. I cannot recollect the Day or the Month.

Q. Was it the first or second after we were ashore?

A. I cannot recollect it was higher up than the Watering Place.

Q. Do you recollect that at Sunday Island after the Words as you say happened between us that the Captain asked my Pardon and said he was sorry that he had abused me?

A. I did not hear him beg his Pardon but I heard him say that he was sorry that any thing should have happened between them in the Boat.

Q. Do you recollect whether the Stone you call a Grindstone was a Rock or a Grindstone?

A. It was not a proper Stone to make a Grindstone of for the Carpenter had been working at it two Days before, but could not cut it.

The Court asked

Q. Was the Carpenter more employed in working at the Tackle and other laborious Work the Time of his Duty within the Ship than the Boatswain and Gunner during the Voyage?

A. Not that I recollect.

The Prosecutor asked

Q. As you asked for Tools from the Carpenter to make this Grindstone did you not think you was capable to make it into a Grindstone?

A. Yes to make it smaller, to take it down.

Q. On my saying that I was sorry that any thing should happen in the Boat did you think I was making an Apology to the Carpenter or that I was really sorry as the Commander of you all that we should have any Disturbance at all?

A. I believe it was to us all.

The Court asked

Q. Was it addressed to the Carpenter in particular?

A. I really cannot tell I believe it was to us all.

Q. You have said that the Carpenter had been two Days at Work upon the Grindstone but could do nothing with it what reason had you to think that you should be able to make a Grindstone of it more than the Carpenter?

A. I could have made it if I had had the Tools proper for it.

Q. Did you mean to use proper Tools?

A. The Carpenter had no proper Tools for it.

Q. Are you a stonemason?

A. I served two Years apprenticeship to it.

The Witness withdrew