“A Sailor’s Life for Me: Life in His Majesty’s British Royal Navy”
William Creighton, b. 1780 (1760 for Revolutionary War presentations) in Carrickfergus, Ireland. They call him “Billy the Bard” for his angelic voice, the only thing his poor mother ever gave him. His mother Colleen, a struggling serving maid to a fine family who made their home in the Irish countryside – as well as keeping house in Belfast – made a fatal error one night in the High Street of town which resulted in a cradle-rocking, and her being turned out of her master’s home. Taking up serving and washing with lesser families in the countryside thereafter, she knew she could not care for Billy, but still did not wish him to go away.
Nonetheless when he was just 12 years old, Billy took his father’s old sea jacket (a left-behind relic of his mother’s true love – and her shame – and the only thing his father ever gave him) and ran away to join the Marine Society in London. He had heard he could gain training there as a servant or sailor, and in this way he could join the Royal Navy and send money home to his dear ma. He served on HMS Dragon (third-rate of 74 guns, launched in 1760 – fortuitous!) for his Admiralty training; his skills with memorization, noting the movement of wind and tide, and feeling the roll, pitch, and yawl of the vessel under his feet and hands made him a valuable helmsman under any Quartermaster’s supervision. After a short time, he was transferred to HMS Hero, another 74-gun third rate ship-of-the-line (launched in 1759). Billy saw action at the Battle of Porto Praya, and his skill with a swift vessel was noted by the fleet commanders. From then, he was sent to smaller ships, meant for privateering, signal-calling, and other swift-moving occupations that ocean-going vessels might be required to perform.
After some years happily going wherever His Majesty’s need was greatest, Billy finds himself with an opportunity for a comfortable berth and a convivial occupation on HMS Acasta. He is happy to regale an audience with stories of life at sea, and when requested, will recount the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, near Charlestown, which resulted in a British defeat on June 28, 1776 – a great stain upon the honor of the fighting force that ruled the waves.