Edward Lawrance was the commander of the Anna Teresa packet which left Falmouth for the Caribbean on 9 June 1776. He kept a journal which was addressed to his wife and contains details of the various islands he visited. Sadly, he never returned for he died of an unknown cause on 10 August.
His journal survived in the family and has been transcribed here. It is the earliest full first-hand account we have of a packet journey and bears comparison with James Williamson’s accounts of 50 years later which are included here as the Packet Surgeon’s journals.