A Letter from Trafalgar

The following is a letter written by Robert Hope, a sailmaker aboard HMS Temeraire during the Trafalgar action in 1805.

H M Ship Temeraire
Portsmouth Nov. 4th 1805

Dear Brother,
This is with my love to you hopeing
It will find you in good health As I bless god
I am at present, what do you of us lads
Of the Sea now, I think they won’t send their fleets
Out again in a hurry, I suppose you know more
About the Action than I can tell you, the first
Ship that we Engaged was the Santa Trinidada
The Spanish four Decker. We engage her three
Quarters of an hour when the Victory fell [erased]
Along Side of him we dropd a Stern when five
More of the Enemy’s Ships came upon us and
Engage us on every Quarter, for one hour and
Sixteen minutes, when one Struck but being so
Closely Engaged that we could not take posession
Of her at that time, two more Seemed to be quite
Satisfied [wh] with what they had post so Sheer’d
Us, so with that Intent, one Dropt on our Starboard
Side, Called the La Fue, and other dropt on our
Larboard Side Called Le Doubtable, they Kept
A Very hot fire for some time But we Soon
Cooled them for In the height of the smoke
Our, men from the upper decks Boarded them
Both at the same time, And Soon Carried the
Day, at this time, at this time I Counted when
Smoke cleared away Seventeen Prizes and one
All on fire, But we have ^only got four Into
Giberalter, for a Gale of wind Came on the day
Following that we was Obliged to Scuttle them
for they was so very leaky, Taken & Destroyed
Is Twenty five, we had forty three killed
And Eighty five wounded, and twenty Seven
Drowned In the Prizes, I sent a letter to my
Father from the Rock, So when you receive
This please to let him know that I am arrived
In England, for I long very much to hear
from him. And Give my love to my Sister
And your answer upon the receipt of this will

Oblige your Loveing Brother
Robt. Hope

References

Greenwich, Royal Museums. 2010. Royal Museums Greenwich Museum Blog: Robert Hope's Trafalgar Letter. October 20.

Hope, Robert. 1805. Royal Museums Greenwich: Letter written by Robert Hope, HMS Temeraire, to his brother John Hope. November 4. 

Kennedy, Maev. 2010. "Trafalgar account is rare voice from below decks." The Guardian. October 19. 

A Happy Christmas for the Acasta

'Acasta and the Herald 1812', click on image to visit the original painting

It was to be a Happy Christmas indeed when, near this day (in 1812), the Acasta in the company of HMS Poictiers overtook and captured the American Privateer Herald as she and her prizes were bound for Baltimore. She had two other vessels with her, the Friendship and the Little Catharine.

The Herald, being a ship of only 10 guns and barely 50 men, was no match for the combined might of the Poictiers and the Acasta. According to the reports I've heard from the Acastas that have been aboard the Friendship, she has a fortune in cargo aboard her, a fine Christmas present for every man in the crew (in terms of prize money that is). 

U.S. Privateer- Herald 
Class- Brig.
Guns-10
Men-50
Commanded by- .............
Out of- New York
Enemy's
Ships- 1
Brigs- 1
Schrs- 1
Sloops &c.- 0
Cargo, and estimated value- =$400,000

During the War with Great Britain, from 1812 to 1815.

The Cargo of the ship Friendship alone was estimated as per table; the brig was the packet Little Catharine of 6 guns. This cruiser was subsequently captured by the Acasta and Poictiers at sea, December 25, 1812.

Source:

George Foster Emmons, The navy of the United States, from the commencement, 1775 to 1853; with a brief history of each vessel’s service and fate ... Comp. by Lieut. George F. Emmons ... under the authority of the Navy Dept. To which is added a list of private armed vessels, fitted out under the American flag ... also a list of the revenue and coast survey vessels, and principal ocean steamers, belonging to citizens of the United States in 1850. ( Washington: Gideon & Co., 1853.) page 180, 181

June 1799 Captures

The London Gazette 

Publication date: 8 October 1799 

Issue:15192

Page:1030

Acasta and the Valiant

17 June 1813,

Valiant was in company with Acasta when they came upon Wasp in pursuit of an American brig off Cape Sable. The three British ships continued the chase for another 100 miles before they finally were able to capture the brig. She was the letter of marque Porcupine, of more than 300 tons, and was carrying a valuable cargo of brandy and silks from Bayonne to Boston. In his letter to the Admiralty of 7 September, a copy of which was printed in the London Gazette, Captain Robert Dudley Oliver of Valiant described Porcupine as being only eight months old and an uncommonly fast sailer. After the capture, Wasp, which had recaptured a prize that the privateer Young Teazer had taken, sailed in search of the privateer. 

HMS Valiant was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 24 January 1807 at Blackwall Yard.

From the London Gazette.

What a Bosun Wears

'Sailors Carousing' 1802 by Julius Caesar Ibbetson (1759–1817)

Bo'sun?

And the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do hereby further give Notice, that the Uniform directed, in pursuance of His Majesty's Order on the 17th November 1787, to be worn by the Warrant Officers of His Majesty's Fleet, viz. Blue Cloth Coat, with Blue Lappels and round Cuffs, fall down Collar, Three Buttons to the Pocket and Cuff, white lining, but not edged with white; Button with an Anchor, same as the Captain's former one; white Cloth Waistcoat and Breeches. Shall be worn only by Gunners, Boatswains and Carpenters; and the subordinate classes of Warrant Officers shall not be allowed to wear Lappels.

From the Admiralty Rules, 1807

It it generally believed that the seated fellow  visible at the left through the doorway/window in the Ibbetson painting above, is a Bo'sun given his mode of dress and the chain about his neck. See enlargement detail.

 

Above Left: Bo'sun, HMS Venerable, 1799. Above Right: Bo'sun's Mate, HMS Gloucester, 1812

PAY DAY!

The Wages of other Officers, and of Seamen, with the Number of Officers allowed to a ship of each Rate, are as follows: 

(HMS Acasta was a 5th Rate, highlighted in blue)

From
Regulations and Instructions 
relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea. 
Established by His Majesty in Council.
1790s Edition, pgs 146-149

From
Regulations and Instructions 
relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea. 
Established by His Majesty in Council.
1808 Edition, pgs 142-147

The Battle of The Glorious First of June 1794

Peter Henwood, Purser

Just when we thought we couldn't possibly find any more REAL CREW that served aboard the Acasta, the internet proved us wrong.

Acasta Purser Henwood's actual medal

Lot 331
Date of Auction: 19th - 21st June 2013
Sold for £4,000
Estimate: £3,000 - £3,500

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Camperdown, St. Domingo (Peter Henwood, Purser) small edge bruise, otherwise good very fine £3000-3500

Footnote
Peter Henwood is confirmed on the rolls as a Clerk aboard H.M.S. Veteran at Camperdown, and as Purser aboard H.M.S. Acasta at St Domingo.

Peter Henwood was born in 1769 and joined the Navy as a Clerk in 1797 aboard H.M.S. Veteran, in which ship he was present at the battle of Camperdown. For his part in the battle Henwood was promoted to Purser in January 1798, having served as Clerk for only seven months, and in this capacity joined H.M.S. Tisiphone. He joined H.M.S. Acasta as Purser in July 1802 and was still serving in this ship at the battle of St Domingo in February 1806. He was paid off from Acasta in September 1806 and served subsequently aboard the Achille, L’Alexandre, and Spencer, in which last ship he served from August 1807 until April 1815, when he was paid off and shortly afterwards placed on half-pay. He had been on active service for nearly 18 years and was then aged 46.

Peter Henwood died in 1851.

Sold with some research and copies of relevant entries in the Admiralty rolls.

From: Dix Noonan Webb auction catalogue June 2013
and: Naval General Service Medal Roll 1793-1840 by Kenneth Douglas Morris

 from: THE NEW NAVY LIST CHARLES HAULTAIN, K.H. 1844 page 105

A listing of the ships and men at the Battle of Camperdown, from: The United Service Magazine, Part 1 H. Colburn, 1844 page 86

The Men at St Domingo

The following is a list of Acastas who served and received the Naval General Service Medal for the Battle of Santo Domingo on 6 February 1806. Capture of three and destruction of two French sail of the line.

Purser Peter Henwood's actual medal

ALEXANDER, John  Midshipman

ALLEN, Peter  A.B.

BAILEY, Walter  L.M.

BARRY, John  A.B.

BOON, John  A.B.

CAMPBELL, James  Lieut. R.M.

COLTMAN, James  Ord 

COTESWORTH, Charles  Volunteer

CREYKE, Richard  Midshipman

CUPPAGE, Adam  Volunteer 1st Cl.

DALRYMPLE, Thomas  A.B.

FOOTMAN, John  Ord

FRASER, John  Volunteer 1st Cl.

FURNEAUX, John  Volunteer 1st Cl.

GOFF, Richard   A.B.

HAINES, Thomas  Gunner

HARGREAVES, John  Ord

HARRIS, William  Boy

HENWOOD, Peter  Purser

ISLES, Samuel  Supn (Unrated)

JEFFERY, Samuel  A.B.

McLEAN, Alexander  Pte. R.M.

NAYLOR, Edward  1st LT. R.M.

SANG, Andrew  Ord

SARE, Matthew  A.B.

THOMSON, Thomas  A.B.

WATERS, John  Ord

From: Naval General Service Medal Roll 1793-1840 by Kenneth Douglas Morris

From the Naval Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Captain Oliver, of His Majesty's Ship Valiant, addressed to Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, and transmitted by the Admiral to John Wihon Crokcr, Esq. 

H.M.S. Ship Valiant, off New London, September 12, 1813:

        I beg leave to acquaint you, that I detached the Acasta and Atalante up Long Island Sound on the evening of the 6th, to endeavour to annoy the enemy ; they returned yesterday, after having taken and destroyed fifteen sail of small vessels : the greater part of them being without cargoes, were burnt.

From: Page 444 of The Naval Chronicle, for 1813; VOL. XXX. (From July to December.)

Acasta Marriages

94 ALLEGATIONS FOR MARRIAGE LICENCES IN HAMPSHIRE,

… Pabnall, Thomas, of H.M.S. Acasta, gunner, 21, b., & Ann Monk, of Portsmouth, a minor, with c of her m., Jane Monk, at Portsea, 8 Oct., 1801.

IN THE REGISTRY OF THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. 269

… Tayloe, William, of H.M.S. Acasta, w., & Jane White, of Pitsligo, Scotland, 21, sp., at Portsea, 26 Dec, 1801.

From: Hampshire allegations for marriage licences granted by the Bishop of Winchester, 1689 to 1837

EXTRACTED AND EDITED BY WILLIAM J. C. MOENS, F.S.A. LONDON 1893. 

Poor, Unfortunate Darby

Screen shot taken from: The Royal Naval and Military Calendar:

And National Record for 1821. By George Mackenzie

Meet Francis Decimus Hastings

HASTINGS.
Acasta Midshipman under Capt. Kerr, c.1811.

Francis Decimus Hastings entered the Navy, 19 Aug. 1807, as Third-cl. Vol., on board the Temeraire 98, Capts. Sir Chas. Hamilton and Edw. Sneyd Clay, successively stationed in the Channel and Baltic. In June, 1809, having attained the rating of Midshipman a few months previously, he removed to the Amethyst 36, Capt. Jacob Walton, with whom he appears to have been employed on Home service until wrecked in Plymouth Sound 16 Feb. 1811. He then joined, for a short period, the Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr ; after which we find him, until Aug. 1815, employed, on the Spanish, North American, Jamaica, and Home stations, latterly as Master's Mate, in the Iris 38, Capt. Hood Hanway Christian, St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren, Emulous brig, Capt. Wm. M'Kenzie Godfrey, and Argo 44, and Ville de Paris 110, bearing the flags of Rear-Admiral Wm. Brown and Lord Keith.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

Above image is a cropped version of "Portrait of Augustus Leopold Kuper as a midshipman, in the year he entered the Royal Navy at the age of fourteen."
by FISCHER, T. Paul. London: June, 1823.

George Francis Seymour, Volunteer First Class

A portrait miniature of a young boy, thought to be
Sir George Francis Seymour (1787-1870), leaning on
an anchor, a ship in the distance by Richard Cosway,
Watercolour on ivory, 18th Century, Oval, 89mm (3 ½ in.) high

SEYMOUR, Kt., C.B., G.C.H.
Acasta Volunteer First Class under Capt. Fellowes, c.1802, aged approx 15.

Sir George Francis Seymour, born in Sept. 1787, is eldest son of the late Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour (fifth son of Francis, first Marquess of Hertford, K.G.) by Anne Horatia, third daughter of James, second Earl of Waldegrave...

This officer entered the Navy, 10 Oct. 1797, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Princess Augusta yacht, Capt. Edw. Riou, lying in the river Thames; and from March, 1798, until May, 1802, was employed on the Channel and West India stations, the last two years and four months in the capacity of Midshipman, in the Sanspareil 80, Prince of Wales 98, and Sanspareil again, all flag-ships of his father, and Acasta 40, Capt. Edw. Fellowes. In the Prince of Wales he witnessed the surrender of Surinam in Aug. 1799 ; and in the Acasta he assisted in making a variety of prizes. He was subsequently, in the course of 1802-3, employed on the Home, Newfoundland, and Mediterranean stations, in the Endymion 40, Capt. John Larmour, Isis 50, hearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Jas. Gamhier, Endymion a second time, Capt. Hon. Chas. Paget, and Victory 100, bearing the flag of Lord Nelson...

...In 1818 Sir G. F. Seymour was appointed by his uncle, the Marquess of Hertford, then Lord Chamberlain, Serjeant-at-Arms to the House of Lords. From 4 Aug. 1830 until he resigned, 11 Nov. following, he was a Naval Aide-de-Camp to William IV.; under whom he filled the office of Master of the Robes from 13 Sept. 1830 until the period of his death.

Mezzotint of Admiral,
Sir George Francis Seymour
(1787-1870), Admiral of the Fleet.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

Lt. John Shepherd

SHEPHERD.
Acasta Lieutenant under Capt. Kerr, 10 July 1813 - July 1815.

John Shepherd (b) entered the Navy, 20 Aug. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Addacious 74, Capt. John Lawford, with whom he continued employed in the Channel in the Impetdeux 74 until Oct. 1806. Between Feb. 1807 and Sept. 1811 he served off Eochefort and on the coast of Ireland, as Midshipman and Master's Mate, in the Eurydice, Druid, and Endimion frigates, all commanded by Capt. Sir Wm. Bolton. He then joined the Recruit sloop, Capt. Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, and Africa 64, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Herbert Sawyer, both on the Halifax station; where he was made Lieutenant, 2 Feb. 1813, into the Spartan 38, Capt. Edw. Pelham Brenton, and transferred, 10 July following, to the Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr. He left that ship in July, 1815 ; was next, in April, 1823, and Aug. 1825, appointed to the Rifleman 18, Capt. Jas. Montagu, and Druid 46, Capt. Sam. Chambers, on the North American and Jamaica stations ; attained the rank of Commander 28 Aug. 1828 ; was nominated, 30 March, 1829, and (after eight months of half-pay) 7 April, 1831, Second-Captain of the Bauham 50, bearing the flag of Hon. Chas. Elphinstone Fleeming in the West Indies, and Donegal 78, Capts. John Dick and Arthur Fanshawe, on the Mediterranean and Lisbon stations, where he served until Aug. 1833; and from 4 April, 1837, until posted, 26 Oct. 1840, commanded the Sparrowhawk 16,'on the coast of North America and at the Cape of Good Hope. From 14 May until 7 Oct. 1846 he ofiiciated as Captain, pro tern,, of the St. Vincent 120, bearing the broad pendant of Sir Fras. Aug. Collier in the Channel ; and since 4 Dec. 1847 he has been in command of the Inconstant 36, on the south-east coast of America.

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

Midshipman William Bowles

BOWLES, C.B., M.P.
Acasta Midshipman under Capts. Fellowes & Wood.

William Bowles, born in 1780, is eldest son of Wm. Bowles, Esq., of Heale House, co. Wilts, by Dinah, daughter of the late Sir Thos. Frankland, R.N., Admiral of the White ; nephew of the late Wm. Frankland, Esq., M.P., a Lord of the Admiralty, and of the late Sir Boyle Roche, Bart. ; and first cousin of the present Capts. Edw. Augustus and Chas. Colville Frankland, and Henry Gosset, R.N.

This officer entered the Navy, 9 Sept. 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Theseus 74, Capts. Augustus Montgomery and John Aylmer, employed in the Channel and off Cadiz ; removed with the latter officer, as Midshipman, in June, 1797, to the Captain 74 ; served, from May, 1798, to Nov. 1800, in the Daphne 20, Capts. Sir Chas. Lindsay and Rich. Matson, on the North Sea and West India stations ; then returned home in the Hydra frigate, Capt. Sir Fras. Laforey ; and after a consecutive attachment to the Royal William, Capt. Fras. Pickmore, lying at Spithead, Acasta frigate, Capts. Edw. Fellowes and Jas. Athol Wood, in the Mediterranean, and Driver sloop, Capt. Fras. Wm. Fane, was appointed, 22 July, 1803, Acting-Lieutenant of the Cambrian 40, Capts. Barclay and John Poo Beresford, on the Halifax station, where he was confirmed by commission dated on 30 of the following Aug. Mr. Bowles, whom we next find serving in the Leander 50, flag-ship of Sir Andrew Mitchell, and Milan 38, Capt. Sir Robt. Laurie, both on the coast of North America, was promoted to the rank of Commander 22 Jan. 1806...

Source: A NAVAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY: COMPRISING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF EVERY LIVING OFFICER IN HER MAJESTY'S NAVY, FROM THE RANK OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET TO THAT OF LIEUTENANT, INCLUSIVE. Compiled from Authentic and Family Documents. BY WILLIAM E. O'BYRNE, ESQ.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, PUBLISHER TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1849.

Prickly Heat and how to Cure it

     ...It consists of small red spots, somewhat resembling fleabites, and chiefly spread over those parts of the body which are covered with clothes, particularly the inside of the arms, thighs, breast, and forehead. This eruption is attended with a very troublesome itching, which is increased by warm liquids, or warm clothing. The spots are also rendered more numerous by the same means. This affection, though inconvenient, is considered as a mark of high health; and, in consequence of this idea, many persons suffer great anxiety, either on its disappearance, or because they have not so extensive an eruption of it as others. Hence an improper mode of treatment is often adopted by the patients themselves, who indulge in warm diluent liquors, which increase the eruption, and render the itching still more uncomfortable. The duration of this eruption, when left to itself, is very uncertain; at times it disappears entirely in a few minutes, and re-appears almost immediately after. The disease gradually ceases in proportion as the person becomes accustomed to the climate. With respect; to the treatment, all the precaution that is necessary is to keep moderately cool, to avoid drinking warm liquors when the itching is severe, and to take occasionally a gentle dose of salts.

Taken from: The Naval Surgeon Comprising the Entire Duties of Professional Men at Sea
By William Turnbull
1806

Page 236-237

What Does the Surgeon Do?

From: Regulations and Instructions relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea.

Established by His Majesty in Council. 1790 Edition.