For the benefit of his wife he wrote an account of some of the most exciting adventures and experiences which he had met with during his sea life.
Those episodes in a life of adventure are told in a fresh, simple, and lively style, and abound in hair-breadth escapes and romantic incidents.
After his retirement from active service Elsdale lived quietly on an estate at Surfleet which had been in his family for many generations.
Elsdale married on 31 March 1779 Miss Ann Gibbons, a lady of great beauty and intelligence, by whom he had two sons, Samuel and Robinson.
1809, took holy orders and a fellowship, and became the master of Moulton Grammar School, Lincolnshire, was a frequent contributor to magazines, and the author of a volume of sacred poetry entitled Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell; a Poem, with Hymns and other Poems, 1812, 8vo; 3rd ed.