"John William Disney
Born 29th February - Died 23rd March 1813
    John William Disney was the second son of Thomas Disney of Rock Lodge, Co. Meath by his wife, Anne Purdon.  He was born and baptised in the parish of Glasnevin in Dublin and died at sea, as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, just after his 17th birthday.  In those days midshipmen could enter the Navy at a very young age, as described in a historical novel: 'the young mids mess in the gunroom under the Gunner.  He's a very good sort but I wish I were old enough to mess in the cockpit [mids and petty officers mess].  The Captain won't let us until we're 14.'
    The political situation at the time, just after Trafalgar and before Waterloo, was that Great Britain was at war with America between 1812 and 1814.  Napoleon was trying blockade Britain to which Britain had to retaliate.  So any ship on the high seas was liable to be seized by either France or Britain.  Relations with America naturally deteriorated over this interference with her trade until, in 1812, she declared war on Britain. 
    John's ship on his last voyage was H.M.S. La Hogue. She was of course under sail, and had been built, only two years before, at Deptford, with a length of 176 feet and a beam of 48 feet and a massive array of 74 guns ranging from 9 pounders to 32 pounders.  The guns were distinguished by the weight of the cannonballs which they fired.
    Now let us join John on this voyage across the Atlantic, as seen through the Ship's Log.  It is January 1813 and the ship is lying at Portsmouth.  On the 5th, she started to take on Stores which included:
Tobacco - 1225 pounds
Bread - 28,000 pounds in bags
Wine - 1386 Gallons
Rum - 1275 gallons
Lemon Juice - 3528 gallons
Butter - 3300 pounds
and the day before sailing, 13th January, 
Water - 222 tons
    At the same time, during this period, sailors were making new hammock cloths, crew were variously employed about the rigging, top gallant masts were fitted and, previously, the artificers had been careening the ship in order to repair the copper.
14th January. Set Sail from Spithead.
15th January. Squadron, H.M.S. Valiant and J.M.S. Prevoyant, in company.
16th January. Eddystone Lighthouse.
17th January. The Lizard. Lat.49.40. Long. 5.43.
    Some idea of the intricacies of sail can be judged from the fact that much of the log is taken up in recording all changes in the setting of the sails.
19th January. Fresh breezes and squally. Set the jib. 4th Dog Watch.
Squadron in company. 6.30. Out third reef of topsails. 
Set fore and main top gallant sails, main top staysail.
7.35.A stranger on the bow. 8th Dog Watch. Set top gallant stud sails. 8.10. Carried away main top gallant stud boom. 10.15. Out second reef of fore and mizzen topsails. Set staysails, top and top gallant stud sails and spanker.
    Many other events are, of course, entered in the Log:
24th January. Mustered ships company and read The Actions of War [more commonly called The Articles of War].
28th January. Calm and cloudy weather. Distance run 34 miles.
31st January. Strong gales, squally.  Distance run 206 miles.
2nd February. 8.10. Carried away starboard foretop studsail boom.
     9.30. Carried away the jib tacks. Down jib.
    11.00. Observed Valiant carry away her fore topmast and fire gun with blue light.
    11.30. Got new foretop studsail boom up.
    12.03. Lowered a boat to pick up a spar.
6th February. Waiting for Prevoyant to come up.
8th February. Punished Jas Barratt, 24 lashes for striking a sergeant, John McNabb, 24 for insolence, Thos Flyn, 24 for striking a man, Charles Clark, 24 for disobeying orders.
11th February. Sailmakers making windsails out of canvas drawn for making maindeck awning, the studsail lost overboard. Carpenters making studsail yards.  Armourer in the forge.
17th February. Lowered boat to try current. Found it set N. by W.
24th February. Arrived Bermuda, furled sails, moored ship.
The voyage of some 3000 miles had taken one day short of six weeks.
    After taking on fresh food and water at Bermuda, La Hogue set sail across the shipping lanes to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in company with three other ships.  An amusing entry in the Log during this stay read '8th March. Found missing Instructor Emmanuel, supposed to have lowered himself and swum ashore.' Two days out it was noted 'People employed washing their clothes' and four days out 'Main staysail split. Hauled down to repair.' The squadron then entered the shipping lanes.  On 17th March a strange Brig was sighted and Valiant gave chase.  The next day La Hogue hove to and sent a boat to board a schooner.  On 19th March they sighted Cape Sable Light, the southernmost tip of Nova Scotia at 9 miles to the Northwest and soon afterwards boarded the American Brig Silkworm bound from Lisbon to Boston.
    Our interest in this voyage comes to an abrupt halt with the entry in the Log for 23rd March, at the end of which is written this laconic sentence, '6 p.m. Departed this life Mr John Disney, midshipman.' No more and no less. The position would have been not many miles from 41.53.N. 74.19W.

References:
1.  Cary's Lists. Vol.4.p.133.S.O.G.
2.  Ship's Log. H.M.S. La Hogue.ADM 61/2527.PRO.Kew.
3.  Tangled Thread. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.
4.  Ships of the Royal Navy. Vol. 1.J.J.Colledge. 1969"