Back in October 28, 1834, 'The Providence Journal' (Rhode Island) printed an article entitled 'Cook's Endeavour - Interesting Relic' where it was claimed that "... her ultimate destiny was to deposit her bones in the waters of Newport Harbour, where they still lie ... opposite to, and not very remote from the wharf of Mr. Charles Thurston ... The subject is deserving the attention of our Historical Society".

This claim was hotly disputed the next day by another article in 'The Evening Transcript' (Boston) which reads: "... Some of our nautical friends, who are familiar with the navigation of the Thames, say that the remains of the Endeavour cannot be in Newport Harbour, as she is not yet destroyed, but lies at anchor in the River Thames, between Greenwich and Woolwich, where she is used as a receiving ship for female convicts."

Other papers helped fan the fires of controversy. The 'Newport Mercury', November 1, 1834 reads: "... In the year 1793 a French vessel called the Liberty put into Newport in consequence of the war between England and France. The ship was said to have been the old ship Endeavour in which the celebrated Captain James Cook had circumnavigated the globe, and no doubts appear to have been entertained at the time of the fact, as the name was found stamped on several parts of the ship. After lying at Steven's wharf for one or two years she was removed to the lower part of the town, and in going into the dock was run on a sunken rock and bilged. After remaining in that situation for several years she was condemned as unseaworthy and sold at auction. She was purchased by Captain John Cahoone, now of the Revenue Cutter, and broke up at Clark's Wharf and used as firewood. Several of her timbers were preserved by Captain Cahoone until within two or three years since - it having become an object of great curiosity - the whole has been taken away in small pieces as relics by visitors from every part of the States.

The 'Evening Transcript' (Boston), December 4, 1834, observed that "... The intelligent reader will note that the ship Endeavour which entered Newport as the French ship La Liberte', is assumed to be the same ship that was once commanded by the great navigator, but the fact is not proved. Endeavour is a very common name for a ship.

In the year 1825 ... I procured a passage to England in one of the Government brigs of Great Britain ... While on board that vessel, on her passage to England, Captain Jones informed me that among the numerous curiosities in and about London, I should probably see the hull of Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour, which sailed round the world, and which was moored in the river Thames ... After arriving at Plymouth, Mr. Fox, the American Agent there (a Quaker gentleman) procured me a passage to London in one of the trading brigs commanded by a Captain Fawckner. We arrived in the river Thames in the beginning of August, 1825, and in going up the river we came to an anchor off Greenwich. I then accompanied the Captain on shore, together with an elderly gentleman (a fellow passenger) in order to go into the Observatory at Greenwich, but in going to that Establishment, Captain Fawckner fell in company with an old acquaintance a "Greenwich pensioner", a worthy looking old weather beaten tar, who ... introduced us to many of his old sailor companions in and about the 'British Sailors Palace'. Among other subjects, I recollect hearing one old sailor say that he and about six others were all that now remained of the crew of the Endeavour, and that the greatest pleasure he now enjoyed was in his frequent visits to the "old hulk", as she now lies moored a short distance from Greenwich. Accordingly, after leaving this interesting spot, we proceeded up the river, but soon had to lie by on account of wind and tide not being favourable. Captain Fawckner told the passengers that he would gratify us by hauling alongside the Endeavour and making fast to her until the return of the tide. He therefore warped the brig up, and made fast to the identical hull of the ship Endeavour, which conveyed Captain Cook on a voyage round the world. Here we lay, several hours, alongside the "Pride of the Thames" and although a clump, heavy-timbered, black looking wooden floating castle, with a high quarter deck and top-gallant forecastle, but without masts: yet every part of her was kept in the neatest order by the family residing on board, consisting of an old pensioner, his children and grandchildren, who all obtained a genteel livelihood by showing the different parts of the vessel to visitors from all parts of the world. The ship lay moored on the river Thames within sight of the city of London as well as Greenwich, and within sound of the clock of St. Pauls Cathedral - for it was on board the Endeavour that I first heard the clock of St. Pauls strike three on the afternoon of my arrival in London, Thursday, August 4th, 1825: and I shall never forget the impression it made upon my mind at the time.

I have no further interest in the ship Endeavour: Yet, I believe that the Americans would as soon sell "Old Ironsides" for a mud scow as the Government of Great Britain peddle their Endeavour for a French Whaler".

Robert McNab, ex. Minister of Justice & Marine, N.Z. (in his book "Murihiku") summed up the position as follows: "On the Thames in 1825 was a vessel represented to be Cook's Endeavour, in charge of a pensioner and shown to thousands of sight seers as such. In 1835 a similar vessel was used for female convicts. At Newport was a vessel called the Liberty, stated in 1824 to be Cook's Endeavour, and to have been sold in 1790 to France and sent in 1793 to Newport, U.S.A. The two rival contentions cannot be compared. The Thames view could not have lived for a day, if a fraud; while even in America every statement of the Newport version had its accuracy challenged. The Thames contention must prevail".

Interestingly, one of the oldest Endeavour logs in the Record Office, London, shows that a Sloop of War called the Endeavour was sold out of the Service in 1783. The vessel which became The Liberty may therefore have been this (or another) ex-British vessel called the Endeavour, falsely represented to the purchaser, or erroneously supposed by him, to be Cook's.

For further information: The Hartford Courant has several News articles on Cook's Ships. Use their Search Utility with relevant keywords (eg. "Captain Cook" or "Endeavour").

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