A few crew members from the Wager had yet to tell their stories. One was midshipman Isaac Morris, whom Bulkeley had left on the shore with several other men. Morris arrived back in England about three months after the court-martial. He labeled Bulkeley's decision as “the greatest act of cruelty.” The four men in Morris' party who survived were found by natives and cared for until the Spanish took them prisoner.

On the way home on one of Pizarro's warships, Morris and his companions witnessed the uprising of some native slaves led by Orellana. These men captured the ship before the Spanish put down their rebellion.

Back in England, Morris contributed his account of the Wager. However, another member of Morris' party never had the chance to speak. Free Black sailor John Duck was sold into slavery and never did return home. Centurion chaplain Richard Walter published an account of Anson's voyage, as did schoolmaster Pascoe Thomas. Walter's book was ghostwritten by Benjamin Robins and directly supported by Anson himself. Anson's voice and viewpoint dominated this bestseller, and eventually this version of the expedition “won” the day, for it told the story the British Empire was most pleased to present to the world.