DISTINGUISHED NANTUCKETERS. 131 



Lieut. Pinkham was, at the time of his death, first 

 lieutenant of the " Constitution" ( u Old Ironsides "). 

 To T. W. Calder, Esq. , son-in-law of the late Lieut. 

 Pinkham, the compiler is indebted for the above facts. 



William Botch. 



William Rotch, an enterprising and successful mer- 

 chant of Nantucket and New Bedford, was born at 

 Nantucket, Oct. 4 O. S. (15 N. S.), 1734, and died at 

 New Bedford, May 16, 1828 (Historical and Genealogi- 

 cal Register, July, 1877). 



Mr. Rotch is deserving of more than a passing notice, 

 but space only can be given for a few of the most im- 

 portant events of his life. Born in the first half of the 

 eighteenth century, he was a man of mature years 

 when those two great struggles, the American and 

 French Revolutions, shook the world, each in its 

 turn. Being a Priend, he of course took no part in 

 the American Revolution as an active participant; but 

 like his illustrious contemporary, Franklin, he served 

 his native town in other ways. During the year 1779, 

 numerous depredations having been committed upon 

 our commerce by the British, Mr. Rotch and two 

 others were appointed messengers to proceed to New- 

 port and lay the matter before the commanders of the 

 British army and navy. Their mission was success- 

 ful, Sir Henry Clinton and Sir George Collier guaran- 

 teeing that the depredations should be stopped. 



In 1785, Mr. Rotch, with his son Benjamin, went to 

 England, had an interview with the younger Pitt, and 

 laid before him the distressing condition in which the 

 war had left Nantucket. Being unable to obtain any 



