John Parson, Master's Mate

PARSON.
Acasta Master's Mate under Capt. Dunn, c. 1806, aged approx. 20 years.

John Parson died 29 Nov. 1847, at St. Helier's, Jersey, aged 62.

This officer entered the Navy, in the spring of 1800, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on hoard the Leviathan 74, Capt. Jas. Carpenter, bearing the flag in the West Indies of Sir John Thos. Duckworth; with whom he continued employed as Midshipman in the Hercule 74, until Feb. 1805. He was in consequence present in the latter ship at the unsuccessful attack upon Curaçao in 1804, and in various other operations. After sharing, we believe, as Master's Mate of the Acasta 40, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, in the battle fought off Cape St. Domingo, and serving for a short time as a Supernumerary on board the Dolphin, bearing the flag of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane, he was constituted, 6 May, 1806, Sub-Lieutenant of the Pert sloop, Capt. Jas. Pringle.

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. George Bell Lawrance

LAWRANCE.
Acasta Lieutenant under Capt. Dunn, 1805

George Bell Lawrance died 9 April, 1846.

This officer entered the Navy, 1 March, 1797, as Master's Mate, on board the El Corso 18, Capt. Bartholomew James, with whom he served, in the same vessel and the Canophs 80, on the Mediterranean and Lisbon stations, until Sept. 1799. During the next three years and a half he was employed off St. Helena and in the Downs and West Indies on board the Director 64, Capt. Wm. Bligh, and Leviathan 74, flag-ship of Sir John Thos. Duckworth. He then, in March, 1803, became Acting-Lieutenant of the Racoon 18, Capt. Austen Bissell, and while in that sloop, to which he was confirmed by commission dated 8 Sept. following, we find him in the course of the same year participating in a very warm action of 40 minutes, which terminated in the capture, in Leogane Koads, of the French corvette Le Lodi, of 10 guns and 61 men—contributing, also, to the destruction, off the island of Cuba, of the national brig La Mutine, of 18 guns—and further present, with distinction, in an action in which the Racoon, with only 42 men on board, most gallantly took, notwithstanding a long and desperate resistance on the part of the enemy, a French gun-brig, cutter, and schooner, carrying altogether between 300 and 400 men. I

n 1805, Lieut. Lawrance—who had for some time had command of the Gipsy schooner of 10 guns, and been also employed in the Echo sloop, Capt. Edmund Boger—successively joined the Acasta 40, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, Hercule 74, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres, and Theseus 74, Capt. Fras. Temple, all on the West India station; and he next, from 10 July 1806 until 15 July, 1808, served with the late Sir Sam. Hood on board the Centaur 74.

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.

Meet Midshipman John Race Godfrey

GODFREY.
Acasta Midshipman under Capt Kerr, c.1805-1815

John Race Godfrey, born 11 March, 1790, is son of the late John Godfrey, Esq., of Bath, by Sarah, daughter of the late Wm. Wigget, Esq., and sister of the late General Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, co. Norfolk.

This officer entered the Navy, 9 June, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Prince of Wales 98, bearing the flags in succession of Admirals Sir Robt. Calder, Sir Jas. Saumarez, Edw. Thombrough, and Lord Gambier ; while in which ship he took part, as Midshipman, in the action of 22 July, 1805, and served on shore throughout the operations connected with the attack on Copenhagen. After the latter event he served, until his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, 15 March, 1815, in the Sultan 74, Capt. Edw. Griffith, Lavinia 44, Capt. John Hancock, Thames 32, Capt. Hon. Granville Geo. Waldegrave, President 58, Capt. Sam. Warren, and Acasta 40, Capt. Alex. Robt. Kerr. During the four years of his continuance in the latter ship, Mr. Godfrey, who had previously visited the Mediterranean and Cape of Good Hope, assisted at the re-capture of the 20-gun ship Levant, and also at the taking of five privateers, carrying in the whole 61 guns and 439 men.

In 1820 he obtained an appointment in the Coast Guard; after 12 years' retention of which he was placed on half-pay. He has not since had any official occupation. Lieut. Godfrey married, 7 July, 1817, Augusta Maria, daughter of the late John Marsh, Esq., of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, by whom he has issue six children.

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.

John Fraser, Volunteer First Class

FRASER.
Acasta Volunteer First Class under Capt. Dunn, 11 Nov. 1805.

John Fraser entered the Navy, 11 Nov. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Acasta 40, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, with which officer he continued to serve, in the Royal George, flag-ship of Sir John Duckworth, San Josef 110, Hibernia 110, and Armide 33, until Aug. 1812. He took part, on board the Acasta, in the action off St. Domingo, 6 Feb. 1806 ; was in the Eoyal George at the passage of the Dardanells, in Feb. 1807; and, while attached to the San Josef, served with the flotilla in the expedition to the Walchercn in 1809, and co-operated in the defence of Cadiz, where, in April, 1810, he beheld the fall of Fort Matagorda.

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.

First Lieutenant Forbes

FORBES.
Acasta First Lieutenant, under Capt. Dunn, c.1806-07, aged 26 years.

John Forbes, born 15 March, 1780, at Aberdeen, is son of the late Geo. Forbes, Esq., a merchant of that city, by Jane, daughter of Lumsden, of Alford and Cromar, co. Aberdeen ; and brother of the late Capt. David Forbes, B. I. Co.'s Service, Governor of Ternate.

This officer entered the Navy, 6 Feb. 1794, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Minotauk 74, Capt. Thos. Louis, in which ship,, bearing successively the flags of Admirals Macbride, Waldegrave, Colpoys, and Lord Keith, he served the whole of his time, and was present at the reduction of Ste. Lucie in 1796, the battle of the Nile in 1798, and in divers operations on the coast of Italy, including the capture of Naples, Genoa, &c. Being confirmed to a Lieutenancy, 25 Dec. 1800, in the Florentine 36, Capt. John Broughton, he assisted at the landing of the troops in Egypt in 1801, and for that service was presented with the Turkish gold medal. From May, 1803, until March, 1806, Mr. Forbes continued to be employed with Captain, afterwards Rear-Admiral Louis, in the Conqueror 74, Leopard 50, and Canopus 80, the last two years as his Flag-Lieutenant ; during which period he commanded a squadron of boats in the celebrated Catamaran expedition against the Boulogne flotilla in 1804, was on hoard the Canopus in the action off St. Domingo 6 Feb. 1806, and came into collision with the batteries at Cadiz. After cruizing for a short period in the Channel, as First of the Acasta 40, Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, he removed, in that capacity, to the Royal George 100, bearing the flag of Sir John Thos. Duckworth, under whom he was wounded in the head and body at the passage of the Dardanelles in Feb. 1807.

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.

Captain Edward Fellowes

EDWARD FELLOWES, Esq.

This officer, a son of the late William Fellowes, of Ramsey Abbey, Esq., M. P. for the town of Andover, and brother of William Henry Fellowes, Esq. the present representative of the county of Huntingdon, was a Lieutenant in 1793, commanded the Albicore sloop in 1795, and obtained post rank in the Tourterelle, of 26 guns, Dec. 7, in the same year. He was present at the reduction of St. Lucia, by Sir Hugh C. Christian and Sir Ralph Abercromby; and soon after that event removed into the Alarm frigate. On the 23d Nov. 1796, he captured the Spanish corvette El Galgo, of 18 guns, off Grenada. This vessel had on board specie to the amount of 80,355 dollars.

In Feb. 1797, the Alarm formed part of the squadron under the orders of Rear-Admiral Harvey, at the conquest of Trinidad +; she was subsequently employed on the Jamaica station, where Captain Fellowes cruized with very great activity and considerable success, taking, among other prizes, a Spanish brig of war, pierced for 18 guns, with a cargo of sugar; and the Felice schooner, of 14 guns and 80 men.

Our officer's next appointment was to the Acasta, a frigate of the largest class, in which he captured the Spanish ship la Juno, of 8 guns, pierced for 16, laden with cocoa and indigo; an armed polacre, with a cargo of brandy, wine, and dry goods; a French schooner, laden with coffee; two French row-boats, schooner rigged; two Spanish doggers; a xebec, of 16 guns, with a cargo similar to that of the polacre, and a number of unarmed merchant vessels laden with coffee, sugar, plantains, fustick, corn, stock, &c.; and destroyed la Victoire French privateer, of 10 guns and 60 men, under the batteries of Aguader.

Captain Fellowes returned to England with the homeward bound trade under his protection, in Sept. 1801 ; and continued to command the Acasta until the following spring. In the summer of 1805 he was appointed to the Apollo, a new frigate; and in 1806, we find him employed under the orders of Sir W. Sidney Smith, in co-operation with the British army on the shores of Calabria. Major-General Stuart, in his official account of the battle of Maida, made the most grateful mention of Captain Fellowes's "solicitude for the success of the campaign; his promptitude in sending on shore supplies for the troops; his anxiety to assist the wounded; and the tenderness with which he treated them."

Our officer subsequently commanded the Conqueror, of 74 guns, on the Mediterranean station, from whence he returned to England in 1812; since which time his health has not allowed him to be in active service. He was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral, June 4, 1814. His lady is the eldest daughter of the late R. Benyon, Esq., M. P. for Peterborough.

Residence.—29, Gloucester Place, Portman Square, London.

From: "Royal Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers, Superannuated Rear-admirals, Retired-captains, Post-captains, and Commanders, Whose Names Appeared on the Admiralty List of Sea Officers at the Commencement of the Present Year, Or who Have Since Been Promoted; Illustrated by a Series of Historical and Explanatory Notes ... With Copious Addenda: Memoirs of all the flag-officers of His Majesty's fleet now living" 

by: John Marshall

Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1823

pg 703

Captain James Wood

Capt. of Acasta, April 1802 - February 1805

WOOD, James Athol (1756-1829), of Albany, Piccadilly, Mdx.

Constituency GATTON, Dates 1806 - 1807

Offices Held

Able seaman RN 1774, master’s mate 1776, acting lt. 1778, lt. 1778, cdr. 1795, capt. 1797, r.-dm. 1821.

Vendue master, Curaçao 1812-15.

Biography

Wood’s elder brothers Mark and George having entered the East India Company’s service, he began his career at sea in the East India merchant service (1772), but subsequently entered the navy and saw action in the American war, in which he was severely wounded. After the peace he was two years in France; then in the merchant navy, in the East Indian (1788-9) and West Indian spheres. He was at Barbados in 1794 when Adm. Jervis appointed him to the Boyne, to convey French prisoners from Martinique. On putting in at St. Malo he was arrested and imprisoned in Paris by order of the committee of public safety, 1 June 1794, remaining there until April 1795, when he was released and exerted himself on behalf of other English prisoners.

J. T. Duckworth

He next saw active service in the West Indies and after his part in the capture of Trinidad was posted captain (1797). He survived shipwreck off Madagascar (1798) and after returning to England was appointed to escort a convoy to the West Indies in the Acasta, November 1804. On arrival at Port Royal, February 1805, Sir John Thomas Duckworth*, the recalled commander-in-chief of the Jamaica station, commandeered his vessel, appointing his own captain, and, according to Wood, who was obliged to return as a passenger, loaded a cargo of merchandise, contrary to the 18th article of war, 22 Geo. II c. 33. Wood applied for a court martial against Duckworth, but it decided in the latter’s favour and his brother Mark’s attempt to have the minutes of the court martial laid before Parliament was ‘loudly negatived’, 7 June 1805. Wood’s memorial to the Admiralty board at least inspired a regulation aimed to prevent any repetition of Duckworth’s behaviour and he was found another ship.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986

From the History of Parliament website: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org