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!

Acasta in the News

Excerpt from 'The Sussex Weekly Advertiser; Or, Lewes and  Brighthelmston Journal' 30/11/1812
Printer / Publisher:  William and Arthur Lee   Volume Number: LXIV    Issue Number: 3449 

Naval Medals

Admiralty Office, 25th January, 1849.

The Naval Medals prepared according to Her Majesty's gracious commands being now ready for distribution, Claimants, whether Officers or Seamen, and Marines, and Soldiers serving as Marines, and others, who served in any of the Ships hereafter named, and in the Actions specified, may give their names to the Staff Officers of Pensioners in the different Districts of the United Kingdom in which they reside, who will forward to the Admiralty lists of such Applicants on the 1st and 15th of every month (Sundays excepted), when their respective Medals will be remitted to the Staff Ofiicers for distribution. Officers may apply at the Admiralty, Whitehall, for their Medals, either personally, or by any known Navy Agent, or Banker, on and after the 15th February, between the hours of 12 and 3 o'clock.

It will be required of all applicants to make it clear to the Issuing Officer that they do not personate deceased Seamen, Marines, &c.

N.B.—The Medals awarded under the Gazette Notice of 1st June, 1847, and for which the claims were preferred in the same year, will be first issued.

By Command of their Lordships,
W. A. B. HAMILTON.

We deliver the following Lists specifying the Ships and the Battles for which, according to Her Majesty's gracious commands, and in compliance with the instructions of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Medals have been awarded to the sui-viving Officers, Seameni, and Marines (and Soldiers who served as Marines) who were present in any successful action which at tlie time received the marked approbation of the Admiralty, as shown by the official records of the promotion granted ia compliment to each occasion.

(Signed)
T. BYAM MARTIN, Admiral
T. BLADEN CAPEL, Admiral.
JAMES A. GORDON, Rear-Admiral.

Our Material Culture

We have created a good deal of items beyond just the clothing we wear for the Acasta in order to create the illusion of the early 19th Century and educate the public. Contained herein are images of some of the extra bits and bobs we have created to go along with our naval impressions.

Click any image to enlarge it.

The Bill of Fare, period repro newspapers and the signage to go along with our tented tavern, 'Lord Nelson's Arms'. Although we frequently joke that perhaps the name should have been 'Lord Nelson's ARM'.

We have created a veritable period post office populated with custom made, reproduction postage stamps!

Hand sewn canvas with custom designed and hand painted graphics for our recruitment banner!

A sailor's toolbox with his name hand painted on the side filled with custom items.

Hand painted hat ribbons bearing the ship's name for the sailors.

Letters and documents to fill pockets and laptop desks!

The dreaded Blue Pill! We roll our own and the sailors and public can even ingest them. Spoiler Alert: they're just colored dough allowed to harden.

Letters from home and from the Admiralty written by each Acasta member,

and sometimes even by YOU the reader! 

The Mail Packet itself, hand painted on canvas to look stained and aged with wear and use. 

Broadsides of all sorts based on the bills of the period. 

Custom designed and hand painted graphics for the Bosun's hat based

on graphics and designs of the era.

Tons of beautiful rope and knotwork!