Everything about Nicholas Woodcock totally explained
Nicholas Woodcock was an early 17th century English mariner who served aboard ships sailing north to
Spitsbergen.
A man of the same name was sent on an expedition to the
River Ob by the
Muscovy Company in 1568. Seeing as how this name isn't common, it's possible that Woodcock may have been a grandson of this namesake.
In 1610, he served as mate aboard the Muscovy Company ship
Amity (60 tons) on a sealing and exploratory voyage to Spitsbergen.
In 1611, Purchas (1625) states that it was he who suggested to the
Muscovy Company that six
Basque whalers from the town of
St Jean de Luz, who had experience in the Terranova whale fishery, should be shipped the following season. Using his advice, the Company sent these six whalers, as well as the
Mary Margaret (150 tons), Stephen Bennet, master, and the
Elizabeth (60 tons),
Jonas Poole, master, to Spitsbergen in 1611- the first voyage made to the island to hunt what was called the
Greenland Right Whale (Balaena mysticetus). Angry over the fact he wasn't chosen to go on this expedition, he shipped aboard an interloping vessel from
Hull, the
Hopewell,
Thomas Marmaduke, master.
In 1612, Woodcock piloted the first whaleship from
San Sebastian to Spitsbergen. Although he was sent to the gatehouse and tower for sixteen months for leading the
Spanish ship thither, it was the success of this voyage that induced a fleet of ships to sail from the Basque country, northern France, and
Holland the following season (1613).
In 1614 Woodcock returned to whaling. He was forced to serve under the Muscovy Company, which had been given a monopoly on the trade the previous year. He sailed as master of the
Prosperous, which resorted to Sir Thomas Smith Bay (Forlandsundet) and Cross Road (Ebeltofthamna). In the latter area he established a temporary whaling station. In 1617 Woodcock is mentioned by the Danish as being a master of an English ship in Green Harbor (Grønfjorden). He is last mentioned in 1618, when he was master of the interloper
Sea Horse.
Woodcock is possibly one of the most important figures in the history of
whaling, as he wasn't only the one to suggest shipping Basques for the first whaling voyage to Spitsbergen in 1611, but he led the first Basque vessel to Spitsbergen the following year. His suggestion led to the Basques being recruited not only by the
English in later years, but by the
Dutch, northern French, and
Danish, all who relied on Basque experts in the opening years of the Spitsbergen fishery.
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