Meet Mr. Brigstocke

Today begins a prolong'd weekly series wherein we introduce to you some of the REAL Acastas, the men who served aboard at some point between the period from her launch in 1797 to her final year in service to the Crown in 1815. Stop back every Monday to meet an all-new and REAL Acasta!


BRIGSTOCKE.

Acasta Midshipman under Captain Kerr, May 1811

Thomas Robert Brigstocke entered the Navy, 8 Oct. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Marlborough 74, Capt. Graham Moore, in which ship, after escorting the Royal family of Portugal to the Brazils, he attended, as Midshipman, the expedition to Flushing, and was employed, on the evacuation of Walcheren, in destroying the basin, arsenal, and seadefences. He removed, in May, 1811, to the Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr, employed in the Bay of Biscay, Channel, and off St. Helena; rejoined Capt. Moore in the Chatham 74, on the North Sea station, in June, 1812...

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.

The Damned Lice

By Ship's Carpenter Jas. Apple

I remember once the damned lice came inside our walls and spread from landsman to the lieutenant without discrimination. I myself having hair well past my rigging belt was thought by most, prime to git corrupted by this pestilence, but as it turned out my head and neck was as fallow as a coal hodd. 

I always kept my quew as best I might by keeping it brushed and platted. And we had a tar named Hobbs who had grew up around the docks and had worked on whalers, and who's hair was almost as long as mine, who had a fair amount of whale oil that he used on his head and said would he share with me if I would plat his hair while on blockade and of course did. 

One of the fellows as I recall was told that if he put creosote on his hair thinking it would keep the lice from nesting. And after his watch he slathered more than a bit on his hair and when he fell asleep he soon woke up and set to thrashing about and got all hung up in his hammuck, saying his head and neck was on fire. He ran all about bellow decks and found some leather fire buckets with sea water in them and poured that on his head and when that ran down his back, it scalded him like a hog and he set to screaming waking up most and we all had a good laugh at his expense.

I had fashioned a few pairs of pincers from some brass wire that I had and that helped with the bugs and eggs on some but ultimately many chose to shave the head for some relief and as a result the Doctor had many a Jack and Joe on the sick and injured list with sunburn and blisters.

And so is life at sea

Sailors Wanted

The ACASTA is looking for quality reenactors

to portray English sailors circa 1800-1812

Our organization seeks to educate via a series of first person activities designed to demonstrate the real lives of sailors as they go about their business etc. Landing Parties, Surveying Crews, Recruitment Drives, Press Gangs, Shore Leave... these are but a few of the activities that our crew will undertake whilst encamped at an event. 

Be sure to read the ABOUT US page

If these sound like a good fit for you, then you may have what it takes to be an Acasta! Email Albert Roberts today to find out more about joining the crew at:

Some Images of Acasta sailors at work (and play):

Want some cheater's hints at how to get in good with the officers? 

Here's what we're looking for in new members. Someone who is motivated to learn and share their knowledge, someone who knows about the position that they're portraying, someone who can act in the manner befitting the station that they portray. First-person and acting skills (no 'Monty Python' accents need apply). And don't forget to salute!

In addition here is the 'Visual Guide' for what we want our sailors to look like:

Midshipman Andrew Sims

SIMS.
Acasta Midshipman under Capt. Beaver, Oct. 1807? - Oct 1809

Andrew Sims entered the Navy, 20 Aug. 1806, as Midshipman, on board the Edgar 74, Capt. Geo. Jackson, bearing the flag of Lord Keith in the Downs; and, from the following Oct. until Oct. 1809, was employed in the Acasta 40, Capt. Philip Beaver, on the West India station ; where he assisted, in Feb. of the latter year, at the reduction of Martinique. After serving for eight months in the Channel in the Scipion 74, flag-ship of Hon. Robt. Stopford, he again, in June, 1810, joined Capt. Beaver on board the Nisus 38. In that frigate he co-operated in the reduction of the Isle of France and of Java. He continued in her under Capt. Chas. Marsh Schomberg until May, 1814; and, on 15 Feb. 1815, he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant. Since 31 March, 1828, he has been in charge of a station in the Coast Guard.

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.

What Shall We Have Today?

In the event you haven't noticed, we research and write a LOT, there's always something new to discover on the Acasta website. You can find specific content by following the labels at the bottoms of each day's posts, or by clicking on the links below. Let us know what your favorite stuff is:

200th - Posts with this label are posts that have to do with the 200th anniversary of some event that took place during the War of 1812. Either with the Acasta herself, or the war in general. Want to know what was happening on a particular date? Here you go.

Apple - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's carpenter Mr. Jas. Apple.

Baptiste - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Acasta Surgeon's Mate.

Book Review - These posts take a look at books written about Naval subjects of interest.

Capt Hurlbut -  Posts with this label are either written BY or about Captain Tom Hurlbut, friend to the Acasta.

Capture - Information regarding historical captures made by the Acasta during her service.

CFNA- Posts related to the organization known as Crown Forces North America (CFNA).

Event Invite - These posts are invitations to the general public to attend specific historic events. A great way to figure out where the Acasta crew will be during the year!

History - Posts involving the REAL history of HMS Acasta or her crew

HMS Bounty - Articles or images concerning this particular vessel.

HMS Victory - Articles or images concerning this particular vessel.

Hollybrass - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta crew member Samuel Hollybrass, a generally unpleasant sort of fellow.

Images - This label is given to any post that is picture heavy. Looking for lots of awesome War of 1812 or Royal Navy recreation pictures? Look no further! The Acasta has been gifted with some amazing photography over the years from a variety of sources.

In The News - Historical news articles that make mention of the Acasta or her crew.

Jane Austen Festival - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Jane Austen Festival that is held every July in Louisville, KY.

Letter Writing - Posts relating to writing letters that look to be from the period portrayed by HMS Acasta. Great help if you wish to participate in the Mail Packet project.

LIST - This label is given to the series of reenactor list, Ways to improve, the best and worst things about the hobby, stupid questions asked by the public and so forth.

Lt. Hamilton - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's First Lieutenant Jim Hamilton.

Master & Commander - Posts that have to do with the Aubrey-Maturin series of books by author Patrick O'Brian or the 2003 movie.

Mail Packet - This label will involve letters (real or digital) sent or received by Acasta crew. It also occasionally has to do with a call to readers for letters, a fun project for authors and historians alike!

Medical Journal - These posts have to do with entries in the Surgeon's log book. Some are transcriptions from log books of the period, some are fictional.

Miscellany - A grab bag of odds and ends posts that couldn't really be labeled anything else.

Mission 1 - All posts pertain to the Acasta's first play test of the "Spy Game", a first person activity played between teams at Mississinewa 1812.

Mission 2 - A writing exercise by members of the crew involving the 1813 chase of the US vessel, 'Young Teazer'

Mission 3 - These posts involve the Doctor's special assignment to take part in a mock Naval assault at Niagara on the Lake.

Mission 4 - The Acastas go ashore at the Fair at New Boston in an attempt to catch a spy, and the Doctor gets engaged!

Mission X - All posts related to the Doctor's covert mission to France.

Mississinewa 1812 - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Mississinewa 1812 event that is held every October in Marion, IN.

Music - Music or lyrics (or both) to old period songs.

New Boston - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Fair at New Boston event that is held every Labor Day Weekend near Springfield, Ohio.

Press Gang - Content and images from the Acasta's Press Ganging activities at events.

Real Crew - Posts with this label are either written by or about REAL historical members of the crew of the Acasta between 1797-1815.

Red Box - Content and images having to do with the "Red Box' game.

Signal Flags - These posts involve images and information having to do with this means of communication during the War of 1812. Sometimes they even involve fun messages to be decoded!

Tall Ship - Posts with this label contain information about or images of tall ships.

The Doctor - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's surgeon Albert Roberts

Toasts - information pertaining to the Daily Royal Naval Toasts given at dinner.

Vassermann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Surgeon's personal servant James Vassermann.

Video - Any post with a video or a link to a video in it can be found here.

Wedding - These image heavy posts are all about the Doctor's 1813 style wedding.

A Mini Book Review

Life of a Sailor

By Fredrick Chamier

A mini book review by Tony Gerard

What an excellent book this is! 

Chamier first went to sea as a midshipman in 1809 and eventually rises through the ranks to a command of his own. It seems he travels everywhere- The Mediterranean, Africa, North America in the War of 1812 and the West Indies. He gives a wonderful insight into the world of a junior officer in the Royal Navy. He records more than just maritime actions, such as his attendance at an Irish wake, the conditions of inns in Mexico and how to get by eating at a Turkish banquet. Best of all is his writing style. He relates his stories  with a  sense of humor and a humanity that is easy to relate to, even for those of us born in the 20th century. This is, hands down, my favorite period narrative!

At Philadelphia

Several Acastas teamed up with a group of 18th century sailors to participate in the recent Market Fair at Locust Grove in Louisville, Kentucky. The scenario was the British takeover of Philadelphia in 1777. The naval crew worked all Saturday to fabricate two 'chevaux de frise' barricades to place by the 'city entrance' so the British guards would have an easier time controling the foot traffic coming in to the fair. Guards were supoosed to check for passes issued to the visitors to the site.

The naval crew completed two of the barricades in a day with a meager crew of three and grossly inadequate 18th century tools.

Our commander in camp. 

Hollybrass posted as guard while the commander works.

Hollybrass and Mr. Wright working under the Carpenter's tent. 

Mr. Linden works with the draw knife for the first time. 

The naval crew poses with their handiwork.

The Cheveax de Frise completed!