Page:Life, strange voyages, and uncommon adventures of Ambrose Gwinett.pdf/2



Was born of reputable parents in the city of Canterbury, where my father, living at the sign of the blue anchor, dealt in slops. He had but two children, a daughter and myself, and having given me a good school education, at the age of sixteen, he bound me apprentice to Mr. George Roberts, an attorney in our town, with whom I staid four years and three quarters, to his great content, and my own satisfaction.

My sister being come to a woman’s estate, had now been married something more than a twelve-month to one Sawyer, a sea-faring man, who having got considerable prizes, my father also giving him 200l. with my sister, quitted his profession, and set up a public house, within three miles of the place of his nativity, which was Deal, in the county of Kent.

I had frequent invitations to pass a short time with them; and in the autumn of the year 1709, having obtained my master’s consent for that purpose, I left the city of Canterbury on foot on Wednesday morning, being the 17th day of September; but, through some unavoidable delays on the road, the evening was considerably advanced before I reached Deal; and so tired was I, being unused to that way of travelling that, had my life depended