‘A masterful achievement’
In a masterful achievement of interpretation of old historic documentation and an extensive period of research, Simon Francis Brown has produced a wonderful book in which I have spent many hours totally immersed.
Lancashire Family History & Heraldry Society journal (August 2023)
‘An emotional tale’
An emotional tale of family life from an abundant collection of personal documents, a diary of a stormy voyage to Italy in 1824, and survival of the dreadful bloodshed and loss of life on HMS Impregnable during the bombardment of Algiers in 1816.
It is also a tale of British society and of the country’s seafarers who navigated a path through it, centred around Liverpool, Chester and the Wirral, with ties to Cumberland as the master of two Cumbrian-built brigs: the William Black of Workington and the Monk of Maryport.
Cumbria Family History Society journal (September 2023)
‘An excellent account’
An excellent account of the life of John Monk (1791-1880), a native of Parkgate on the Wirral. The final years of his life (he died aged 84 in Neston) are described with obvious affection and sensitivity and, for me, that section forms an excellent conclusion to the account of Monk’s life and I won’t spoil it for you.
Cheshire History (Vol. 64, Cheshire Local History Association)
‘Engaging’
An engaging look at what life was like in the Royal Navy and on merchant ships in the 19th century.
Author Simon Francis Brown has used a variety of source material to build up a picture of John Monk’s maritime adventures, including letters, employment records, commendations from various sea captains and personal notes from the aristocracy of the day. The snippets of the mariner’s personal and family life are fascinating. The author has helpfully included information about how and where he was able to track down archive material about John Monk’s service at sea – something which could prove very helpful for anyone researching seafaring ancestors.
Family Tree magazine (November 2023)
‘Well written’
Well written, with good but simple and commendable maps. This is not the story of a large and well-known family, but of a lone character, one John Monk, facing the struggles and sometimes disappointments of a naval career, as implied by the sub-title. In common with the majority of junior officers, Monk had no sponsors who could influence his advancement in the Royal Navy and joined the ranks of those we would never hear of without the efforts of their descendants.
The Kedge Anchor (Autumn 2023)
