Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940
Death of Molineux
Death of Molineux.
There is little more we know of the sailing master of the “Endeavour.” But in the list of the “Crew of Lieutenant Cook's Ship ‘Endeavour,”’ as preserved by the Admiralty, is the entry “Rob't Molineux, Master, D.D., 15th April, 1771.” (The letters D.D. stand for “discharged” and “died.”) The “Endeavour” returned to England on “July 12th, 1771, from Otamete.”
To complete this section, it is regrettably necessary to reprint an extract from Cook's Journal:-
“On the 25th (April, 1771), at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we weighed (from Mauritius) with a light breeze at S.E. and put to sea. About an hour afterwards we lost our master, Mr. Robert Mollineux, a young man of good parts, but unhappily given up to intemperance, which brought on disorders which put an end to his life.”