The life of a seaman in the period when Samuel was at sea was undeniably harsh, even for the petty officers. The book Sea Life in Nelson's Time by John Masefield, published by Conway, gives an descriptive insight into the conditions.

Each rank freely bullied all those below. Punishment was a regular affair and mostly comprised flogging, usually at the whim of an officer, and for whatever transgression was deemed to be an offence. Flogging with a cat-o'-nine-tails varied from a dozen lashes to three hundred, the latter sometimes being fatal.

The food was terrible. When a cruise started, the oldest provisions had to be used first, therefore nothing was ever at its prime. Besides this, the person responsible for the victuals invariably did a deal to his own benefit with the provision merchant and took sub standard goods. Beyond that, rations were usually reduced. The men would trade their portions amongst themselves and even hold back on some meals in order to enjoy a more substantial meal later.

Drink played an important part in the life of a sailor and each was apportioned a ration of a gallon of beer per day during the early part of a voyage or when that ran out either a pint of wine or half a pint of rum or brandy. When the beer and wine were finished the sailors were able to look forward to grog which comprised a mixture of rum with water, lemon juice and sugar and was issued in portions of one gill at lunch and another at dinner. It is strange that drink was so liberally allowed on board ship yet drunkenness was punished so severely.

Daily routine started at eight bells (4am) when the watch was called. The fires in the galley were lit, the carpenter and the Boatswain came on duty. By 5am work started in scrubbing the decks. and this along with tidying up the ship continued until 7am when the first lieutenant came up on deck to commence his days supervision. All hands were called at 7:30 then had their breakfast at 08:00. At six bells (11am), those who were to be punished were brought before the captain and flogged. Lunch was from 12:00 to 12:30 following which the alcohol was dispensed. At 1:30 duties varied between drill, tidying the ship. At 4 the boatswain piped supper which lasted half and included a serving of grog. .At 8 the first watch was called and all lights extinguished.

Bearing in mind the description above of life at sea, it is possible to understand that the seaman relished battle action as this afforded relief from the harshly imposed discipline. Each man on board had his position and duty to perform whilst in action and was well drilled in this. There were marines and officers posted at strategic positions around the ship with orders to shoot any man who derelicted in his duty. There was a range of shot fired from the cannon but the main cause of injury to the sailors was by wood splinters after the impact of shot.

Some of the wounds were terrible and the treatment equally severe. The Midshipman's mess was used to treat the wounded. Their tables would be put together and covered with a canvass sail to form an operating table. For those unfortunate enough to perish in the onslaught of battle, their corpses would often be thrown overboard without ceremony during the fighting.

Sundays afforded some relief to the crew as duties were light. They would preen themselves for divine service in the morning after which they had their lunch then were free for the rest of the day. They spent their time either sleeping, telling yarns, playing dice or cards (both forbidden) or reading for those who were able.

The sailors wore their hair either in ringlets or as a cue tied with a silk bow. Beards and moustaches were not worn Those with a cue would have it dressed by a mate sitting on an upturned bucket then do the same for the mate and this took about half an hour per person. It was a tradition that a sailor's cue was cut off when he died. This was true of Samuel and his cue, tied in a black velvet ribbon, remains in the possession of his descendants and is kept in Samuel's own sea chest.

When a ship came into port, it was beleaguered by peddlers and women. The peddlers offered gaudy trinkets at extortionate prices which seemed to tempt the most sailors. Others however spent their money on clothes and fresh food. The women would come on board and live there as long as the ship was in port.