This list, culled from a variety of records, probably uncovered only a fraction of Rountree mariners, owing to the scarcity of records of the 17th and 18th centuries.
26 May 1668. Protection against impressment… To the Welcome, Robert Rowntree, master, 60 tons, with 6 men bound for Virginia. [Virginia Colonial Records Project, Survey Report 7457, Orders and Instructions, Commissioners of the Admiralty.]
Assuming that the ship arrived, he might have been the first Rountree to visit America.
9 May 1676. Port Books, London: James of York, Gabriel Roundtree, master; for Hull. 2. Wm Lloyd ind. 14 hogsheads 1,650 pounds Virginian tobacco. [Virginia Colonial Records Project, Survey Report 3971, Port Books, Port of London, Coastal Trade.]. In the same record book, Gabriel “Rountree” and the James left London on the way to Hull with tobacco on 2 October 1676 and again on 10 February 1676/7.
13 October 1722 Newcastle arrivals: …Speedwell, (Master) John Rowntree, from Amsterdam. [Newcastle Weekly Courant, issue of 13 October 1722, p12.]. Repeated again in the 22 November 1722 issue, so the Newcastle-Amsterdam round trip was apparently about five weeks.
ca January 1736. On Friday last a six-oared boat belonging to his Majesty’s Ship the Blandford, Capt. Burrish, at Spithead, endeavouring to get on board their Ship, was overet and every Person in her perished, vizt: Mr. Roundtreetheir Lieutenant, a Midshipman, the Cockswain, and six Men that rowed her. The Lieutenant was a Gentleman that bore an Excellent Character, and is exceedingly lamented by all that had the Pleasure of his Acquaintance. [Report from London, in the New England Weekly Journal, issue of 20 April 1736.]
18 September 1741. Port News, ships passing Cowes .. the Three Friends, (Captain) Roundtree from St. Kitt’s for London… [London Daily Post, issues of both 11 and 19 September 1741, p1.]
2 February 1741/2 Yesterday came advice that Trevor, Capt. Roundtree, from St. Kitt’s, was arrived safely at Swansey… bound for London and put in by distress of weather. [London Daily Advertiser, issue of 3 February 1741/2, p1.]. Possibly the same person as below.
September 1742 & May 1743. A captain named Roundtree (no ship identified) was reported as “entered in” to the port of Boston from St. Kitts in September 1742 and a few weeks later as “outward bound” for St. Kitts. This was reported again in May and June 1743 [Boston Evening Post, Boston Post-Boy, Boston Weekly, various issues.]
8 August 1743. Ships passed by Gravesend… the William and Mary, Rountree, from Narva. [London Daily Post, issue of 11 August 1743, p1.]
15 December 1746 Departed Charlestown (SC) … schooner Nassau, (Captain) George Roundtree, to St. Kitts. [The South Carolina Gazette, issue of 15 December 1746, p2.]
18 December 1747. A List of Ships, Vessels, Etc. drove ashore at Basaterre and Sandy Point… the ——-, (Captain) Roundtree…all Sloops… [The Derby Mercury, issue of 18 December 1747, p3.]
26 December 1748. Reported ships taken by privateers being held in Puerto Rico by the Governor, awaiting instructions from Spain.. the schooner —- (blank, but maybe Nassau?), George Roundtree, from Tortola to St. Kitts… All the captains were stript of their cloaths and instruments by the privateers officers and men. [The Pennsylvania Gazette, issue of 7 February 1749, p2. New York Gazette issue of 30 January 1749, p3. Several other papers as well.]
11 December 1757 Coasters sailed (from Hull): … Mary, (Captain James Rowntree… for Newcastle. [The Leeds Intelligencer and Yorkshire general Advertiser, issue of 13 December 1757, p3.]
6 September 1769. On Thursday the 7th inst. The Snow Fortune, Capt. Rowntree, arrived in the bay, from London, for Maryland, with 57 indent4ed tradesmen on board. She had 14 weeks passage and had they not fortunately met with two Spanish men of war and a Jamaica man, at different times, who supplied them with some provisions, they must have starved, being 70 souls in number. The vessel rode out the late severe storm that began that night, but afterwards ran ashore and was bilged. [Virginia Gazette (Rind edition) issue of 21 September 1769, p2.]
21 September 1769 The Snow Fortune, Rowentree, from London, bound for Maryland, in going up the bay in the late hurricane, was obliged to cut away her masts and come to anchor, one of which she lost and last Tuesday, in weighing, the windlass broke, which made it necessary to cut the cable, and she drove ashore to the northward of New Point Comfort in Gloucester County, and is entirely lost. There were 59 passengers on board, many of them tradesmen, labourers, etc. who propose following their several occupations in this colony, unless compelled to go to Maryland to be there sold to pay for their passages. [Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon edition) issue of 21 September 1769, p2. Also reported 3-4 weeks later in several New York, Boston and Philadelphia newspapers.]. The news that the ship was lost was not reported in London newspapers until 27 November 1767, a mark of the time it took for information to cross the ocean.
21 September 1769. Notice: To be sold at Public Auction, for the benefit of the insurers, at Mr. Henry Knight’s in Kingston parish, Gloucester County, the Hull of the Snow Fortune, Capt. William Rowntree, now ashore near Gwynne’s Island in Chesapeake Bay, together with what materials are left. [Virginia Gazette (Rind edition) issue of 21 September 1769, p3.]. An unfortunate voyage all around, according to the above three articles. Then it gets worse…
23 September 1769. Notice: Whereas the under-mentioned indented servants ran away from the Snow Fortune, Capt. William Rowntree, lately wrecked in Chesapeake Bay and have dispersed themselves in various parts of country, whoever apprehends and brings them to Mr. Mitchell’s at the sign of the Swan in York or to Mr. George Brown in Kingston parish, shall receive a reward of twenty shillings for each, and reasonable expense. Their names are as follows… [Virginia Gazette (Rind edition) issue of 5 October 1769, p3. Same notice appears in the Purdie & Dixon edition of 28 September.]
10 February 1771. Coasters sailed (from Hull): …Endeavour, (Captain) T. Rountree… for London. [Leicester and Nottingham Journal, issue of 23 February 1771, p3 and also reported in The Leeds Intelligencer and Yorkshire general Advertiser, issue of 12 February 1771, p3.]. The ship was reported arrived in London on March 20. Probably a different voyage. The Captain was reported as Thomas Rountree.
14 October 1772 Notice: Imported in the Brigantine Mary, Captain Rowntree, from London, about forty tradesmen, indented for four years such as blacksmiths, carpenters, tailors, weavers, coopers, etc. They will be sold at Richmond. on Tuesday the 27 inst. William & John Brown. [Virginia Gazette issue of 15 October 1772, p2.]
14 October 1772 Ship Arrivals: Mary, (Captain) Rowntree, from London are arrived in James River. [Also in Virginia Gazette issue of 15 October 1772, p2]
12 November 1772. Notice: Richmond – Two bales of damaged osnabrugs imported from London in the Mary, Captain Rowntree, will be sold at this place on Monday the 7th of December… [Virginia Gazette issue of 12 November 1772, p2.]
25 November 1772 Notice: Norfolk, November 25, 1772: Sundry packages of Goods imported in the Mary, Captain Rowntree, having lost their marks and numbers by the sea damage, whoever have goods undelivered are desired to apply to me. William & John Brown. [Virginia Gazette issue of 26 November 1772, p2.]
18 September 1773. The Mary, Roundtree, from Jamaica to London, is put into Guernsey in a shattered condition. The mate was washed overboard. [London General Evening Post, issue of 18 September 1773, p3.]
28 June 1774. Incarcerated debtors… Prisoners in the King’s Bench Prison in the County of Surry: …William Rowntree late of Maryland, Master and Mariner… [London Gazette, issue of 28 June 1774, p14.]. Late of Maryland?
7 March 1777. Port of London arrivals: …from Hull, Friendship, (Captain) Thomas Rountree… [The (London) Public Advertiser, issue of 8 March 1777, p4.]
8 January 1778 The following American vessels have been lately taken and carried into Antigua… the brig Peg and Katy, (Captain) Roundtree, from Baltimore to Martinico… [The South Carolina and American-General Gazette, issue of 8 January 1778, p2.]
1 July 1778 Printed Register issued at Norfolk, Elizabeth River, by George Kelly D.N.O. with a declaration by John H. Norton that the Lady Washington, of which William Rowntree is master, is of 120 tons burden and was built at Norfolk in 1777, and that Norton & Beal, Robert Morris and William Neal are the sole owners. [Virginia Colonial Records Project, Survey Report 5963, High Court of Admiralty Prize Papers.].
16 January 1779 Driven ashore… at Gorton the Amity, of and for Hull, Thomas Roundtree, master, from London, with grocery. [The Newcastle Chronicle, issue of 16 January 1779, p2 and The Newcastle Weekly Courant, issue of 16 January 1779, p4.]
10 February 1779 The Lady Washington, 120 tons, Capt. William Roundtree, was captured in the Chesapeake near Cape Henry by a British warship accompanied by several privateer ships. The Lady Washington, with a cargo of dry goods and salt, was taken to New York. In the files are many papers, including:
Deposition of William Rowntree, age 43 and a resident of Cecil County, Maryland, and master of the Lady Washington at the time of her capture, and a British subject… was appointed master by Messrs Norton and Beal who, together with one Neale of N. Carolina, were owners of the ship… Norton & Beal were residents of Virginia… The Lady Washington was of 150 tons burden and had a crew of 22, shipped in France, except for 2 who were shipped in Virginia. The vessel ws built at Portsmouth, Virginia and her last voyage began at Broadway with a cargo of tobacco for port L’Orient. It was on the return voyage to Virginia when was captured, and her cargo consisted of tea, salt and dry goods.
Bill of lading for goods shipped at L’Orient and bound for Williamsburg, Virginia… [Virginia Colonial Records Project, Survey Report 5963, pp2-4.]
19 February 1779 The brig Lady Washington, Capt. Roundtree, from Bourdeaux, was taken near the coast last week by some of the enemy’s cruisers, who put the Captain and crew on shore at the capes. [Virginia Gazette issue of 19 February 1779, p3.]
20 April 1779 Coasters Sailed (from Hull) … Amity, Rowntree… for London… [The Leeds Intelligencer and Yorkshire general Advertiser, issue of 20 April 1779, p3.]. This is evidently Thomas Rountree who commanded he Amity three months earlier, whose name is spelled “Roundtree” and “Rowntree” a few months apart. Before the Revolution the spelling of surnames was quite flexible – it was common for people to spell their own name differently from day to day. Apparently, that practice was still a normal thing in England. The Amity, Thomas Rowntree, was reported at London on several occasions in early and mid 1780 by the London Gazette.
17 June 1780. Advertisement: Just imported per the Snow Hope, Thomas Melling, master, and the sloop Biddy, William Rowntree, master, from Liverpool (a long list of groceries and dry goods) for sale at George Grundy & Co., in New York City. [The Royal Gazette, issue of 17 June 1780, p4.]. This was repeated in every week’s edition for the next three months.
12 October 1780. Among the ships reported to have “safe arrived at Charlestown” (SC): the Biddy, Rountree… [London Morning Post, issue of 12 October 1780, p2.]. So it seems the Biddy sailed from Liverpool (perhaps a second stop) to New York and eventually to Charlestown before returning to England.
2 November 1780. Ships at the port of London: … John and Mary, Thomas Rowntree [London Gazette, issue of 3 November 1780, p4.]
7 May 1781 The John and Mary, Roundtree, from Hull, is lost near Lubeck, the crew saved. [London Daily Advertiser, issue of 9 May 1781, p3.] A false report? Or did he transfer the name to a different ship?
14 August 1781 Arrived at Hull: John and Mary, Rowntree, from Koningsburgh… [London Public Advertiser, issue of 14 August 1781, p2.]
26 January 1782 Arrived at Shields… Polly, (Captain) Rowentree, with goods. [The Newcastle Chronicle issue of 26 January 1782, p2.] The ship had sailed from Portsmouth according to the London General Advertiser.
21 February 1782 From Portsmouth: This day sailed… Polly, Roundtree…for Newcastle. [London General Advertiser, issue of 23 February 1782, p4.].
3 July 1782 Passed by Gravesend… the Trowbridge, Roundtree… [London Public Advertiser, issue of 5 July 1782, p4.]
19 September 1782 Advice was received yesterday from Plymouth, of the Trowbridge, Capt. Roundtree, for Jamaica, being arrived at that port in distress. She sailed from Portsmouth in company with Lord Howe, and parted from him on Sunday morning last, having received much damage in a violent gale of wind the preceding evening… [The Derby Mercury, issue of 19 September 1782, p2. Also reported in a few American newspapers.]. Reported by other papers as well. One report a few days later called the ship “a store ship for Jamaica”.
12 April 1783 Port of London, cleared outbound: to Whitby, Prior, William Rowntree… [London Public Advertiser, issue of 14 April 1783, p5.] William Rowntree and the ship Prior were in and out of the port of London later in 1783 and in 1784 as well.
15 August 1783 Ships passed by Gravesend (on the way up the Thames to London): .. the Industry, Rountree, from Jamaica… [London Public Advertiser, issue of 18 August 1783, p4.]
17-18 November 1783. Port of London, cleared inbound: …from Newcastle, Northumberland, John Rowntree… [London Public Advertiser, issue of 20 November 1783, p4.] Thomas Rowntree and the ship Northumberland were in and out of the port of London in 1784 and 1785 as well.
6 April 1785 Whitby, April 6: Sailed… the Marlborough, (Captain) Roundtree… for Greenland. [The (London) Times, issue of 12 April 1785, p3.]
8 September 1800 Arrived: Hazard, (Captain) Roundtree… from London [Hampshire Telegraph and Naval Chronicle, issue of 8 September 1800, p3.]