Abraham Greaves

Biographical synthesis
Abraham Greaves (alt. Graves, Mr Abraham Graves) (b. ca. 1614; d. ?). Shipwright.

Resident in 1658 in Limehouse in the parish of Stepney.

Evidence from High Court of Admiralty
Forty-four year old Abraham Greaves deposed on August 13th 1658 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on an allegation in teh case of "Bland Bathurst and Company against the Exeter Merchant and against Woodfin and company".

Abraham Graves stated that he knew the ship the Pilgrim (Master: James Watkins) and that in 1655he had had the ship in his dock in Limehouse. Graves installed a "new navell hoode" and did other repairs to her which she was in need of. At the time Graves noticed that her hoodings were "wrought an inch from the stemme on each side soe that the sea might have free passage in the rest". Graves went on to say that "hee heard some of the company of the Pilgrim say that shee had bin in that condition in the voyage from whence shee was lately returned, for that they could and did soe the sea come in at her hoodeings".

When the Pilgrim was brought into Abraham Graves' dock in May 1655 it was to be navel hooded, but not newly sheathed. However, "after search made by this deponent and his servants they in the new calkeing of her found her to nee much worme eaten and soe worme eaten that there was a necessitie of sheathing of her, which was accordingly done".

Graves then turned to the necessary reparis to the Pilgrim after the accident with the ship the Exeter Merchant coming foul of her. Graves minimised the damage to the Pilgrim in his testimony, saying that the damage was restricted to the Pilgrim breaking her bowspritt, costing perhaps £5. He was, however, testifying on the behalf of Thomas Woodfin, one of the parties to the dispute.