Reginald Fawcett - Samuel's Grandfather
Reginald Fawcett, Samuel's grandfather, was a man with a commanding presence, though his age and the scars from his time in the British Royal Navy had softened his once-authoritative figure. He wasn't particularly tall, but his stiff posture and stern expression gave him an aura of authority that earned instant respect. His hair, once as black as coal, was now completely gray, and a thick, well-kept beard completed his serious look.
Reginald's face showed the marks of years spent in battles and at sea, with deep wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, signs he'd earned from both the harshness of the ocean and the horrors of the battles he fought in. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see everything with a calculated distance. That gaze could intimidate even the bravest, but it also showed a sharp intelligence and the kind of experience that only decades of life could bring.
Reginald Fawcett – Before Lowestoft
Reginald Fawcett, Samuel's grandfather, joined the British Royal Navy when he was just 15, around 1746. His time in the navy saw him assigned to various ships, gradually climbing up the military ranks. Over the years, Reginald showed a lot of courage and tactical skill, earning respect from both his superiors and fellow crew members.
In 1755, after several years of service, Reginald was assigned to one of the most important warships of the time: the HMS Glory, a ship in the Channel Fleet tasked with patrolling the waters around the UK and its colonies. On the HMS Glory, Reginald became a Quarterdeck Officer, a mid-level position that put him in charge of several crews responsible for maintaining the ship and carrying out the captain's orders. His role focused on overseeing operations on the deck and managing maneuvers during battles. It was a position that required not just naval skill but also solid leadership and discipline, traits Reginald had in abundance.
It was during this time that he met Margarette. She lived in Liverpool, where the British navy had a major base, and their paths crossed while Reginald was on shore leave. Liverpool was one of the busiest ports in Britain and a key commercial and maritime hub, providing essential resources for the navy. Margarette was the daughter of a merchant who supplied materials to the navy, and her family had a respected position in the local community.
In 1755, Margarette was only 20, and after a period of courting, the two got married. The wedding was simple but full of promises of love and companionship, with the expectation that Reginald would return often from his naval missions to be with her. However, the reality of life as a sailor's wife was tough and uncertain. Reginald left Liverpool for his missions, and Margarette had to manage life in the city and deal with the challenges of being married to a sailor.
After their wedding, Reginald went back to the HMS Glory, where he took part in several key battles against the French during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). His role as a Quarterdeck Officer put him in dangerous situations, where he had to show both bravery and leadership in naval operations.
The Return to Lowestoft and Life After Service
In 1765, after nearly 20 years of continuous service, Reginald was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury he got during a fight at sea. The injury wasn't bad enough to make him completely disabled, but his recovery wasn't fast enough to keep him in active service. After a medical assessment, the British Royal Navy decided he wasn't fit for the physical demands of the job anymore, even though he had reached the rank of Ship Lieutenant, the second-highest rank on board, just below Captain.
Instead of heading straight back to Liverpool, Reginald chose to settle in Lowestoft, where his family had lived for generations. The port town and its fishing families pulled him in, along with the nostalgia for his childhood. It was here that he decided to start a new life for himself and Margarette. In 1765, with his savings from his time in the navy and a small pension, Reginald bought a fishing boat in Liverpool, naming it Neptune's Gift in honor of the Roman god of the sea. It was with this boat that he began this new chapter in his life, now focused on the fishing trade.
As a child, William grew up with the strict discipline of a military father, but he was also surrounded by the love and wisdom of Margarette, who took care of the home while Reginald was often away on trips or working with the fishing boat.