davidrn
16-01-2012, 21:44
Once again this is quite an epistle. I did think of spliting it between two forums, one for the medal campaign and the other for the rest of his service but decided to follow my normal trend.
NETHERTON. Robert. Royal Marine
The China 1842 medal as Private R. M. HMS Cornwallis
Born:- Armington, near the town of Ivy Bridge, Devon, circa 1820. His Trade:- Labourer.
He was enlisted on 29th September 1840 at Ivy Bridge by Corporal Beer of the Exeter area Marine recruiting party.
He enlisted for the Bounty of three pounds and signed his Attestation papers with an X.
His parents were John and Mary who were agricultural labourers (farmers).
Attested:- At Stonehouse on 30th September 1840, At the given age of 20 years, Joining the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines 47th Company as a Private.
He appears to have remained in the 47th Company throughout his service.
On the 5th January 1847 he was convicted of larceny, a felony at the time, was tried at Exeter Assizes and served two weeks in Solitary Confinement in Exeter prison, being released on 22nd January. He did not get whipped, as did many of the other larceny prisoners, but he did forfeit his prior service in the R. M’s amounting to over seven years of service – a severe punishment with presumably a loss of pay.
He was discharged 20th July 1855 for “loss of teeth” (I assume that this implied that he was unable to eat his service rations?) and he died in the third quarter of 1859, so perhaps he had additional health problems aside from no teeth! Or was the loss of teeth was just a side symptom of a more serious health problem?
His total service was 14 years 9 months 29 days and it appears that he was awarded one good conduct badge in January 1853 which he lost in February 1854 but which was reinstated in June 1855.
His service was made up of:-
Ashore - 3 years 8 months 23 days
Afloat - 11 years 1 month 6 days
His service Afloat being
HMS Cornwallis (China) - 10th April 1841 to 22nd November 1844 – 3 years 7 months 12 days
HMS Queen (Channel Fleet) – 18th April 1846 to 12th October 1846 – 5 months 24 days
HMS Philomel (West coast of Africa) – 2nd April 1847 to 25th Sept. 1849 – 2 years 5 months 23 days
HMS Calliope (Australia) – 9th December 1850 to 16th June 1855 – 4 Years 6 months 7 days
HMS Cornwallis – 10th April 1841 to 22nd November 1844
10th April 1841 – Joined HMS Cornwallis, the 74 gun 3rd rate of 1813, wooden sailing vessel commanded by Captain Peter Richards, flagship of Rear-Admiral William Parker, East Indies (Cornwallis already prior service in China in March 1841)
April to June – Was spent fitting out the ship
7th April – Cornwallis was commissioned at Plymouth as flag ship of Rear-Admiral Sir W. Oarked as Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies
10th April – HMS Emerald left Portsmouth for Devonport with seamen gunners for the HMS Cornwallis
6th June – Robert Netherton is shown as being in the Royal Naval Hospital at East Stonehouse.
8th June – Towed out into Plymouth Sound by the steamers Avon and Carron. Men and stores continued to be brought to her.
3 July - Left Plymouth, for China.
9th to 12th July - Arrived at Madeira after a passage of only six days from the Lizard; she was to leave for India on the 12th.
4th to 12th September – Was spent at Simonstown, leaving on 11th for Madras
October – At Singapore
22nd December – Arrived at Hong Kong (Admiral Parker had already arrived in August and was using the Blenheim as his temporary flagship)
1842
February to August – Actively involved in the First China (Opium) War: Cornwallis landed parties of marines and seamen at Chapoo, Woosung and Chinkiang; bombarded Woosung
February – At Chusan (=Zhoushan)
March – At Ningo (=Ningbo)
15th March at Ningpo, an expeditionary force was landed to attack Yang's position on the heights of Segaon, behind Tsekee.
From Clowes (see page 297) and The London Gazette:
A second army, under General Yang, was known, however, to be at Tsekee, across the river; and, Sir William Parker, with several additional ships, and bluejackets and Marines, having arrived at Ningpo on March 14th, an expeditionary force was embarked on the following morning, and landed four miles from Yang's position on the heights of Segaon, behind Tsekee {on this occasion there were employed the Phlegethon, Modeste, Nemesis, Queen, Hyacinth, Columbine, Sesostris, and boats of Cornwallis and Blonde, with about 350 seamen and Marines in the landing-party. With the troops was a naval brigade under Captain Thomas Bourchier. Parker also was with Gough. After some stubborn fighting, a complete and, happily, a not very expensive victory was won, the Navy's casualties numbering only fifteen. Of the enemy, at least 450 fell. It was the most decided advantage which had as yet been gained by the British since the occupation of Chusan, where, by the way, a fresh attempt to burn the shipping by means of fire-rafts was defeated on April 14th by some of the boats of the Cornwallis, Nemesis, Jupiter, Hyacinth, Starling, Phlegethon, and Bentinck.
A Return of Killed and Wounded belonging to Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in Action with the Enemy on Shore, at Tze-Kee, on the 15th of March 1842 CORNWALLIS: Killed: 1 Serjeant Royal Marines.
Wounded: First Lieutenant George Elliot, R. M. slightly; First Lieutenant A. J. R Hambly, R. M, severely;
Mr. George H. Hodgson, Mate, slightly; Mr. Charles K. Jackson, Mate, slightly.
1 seaman dangerously, 6 privates, Royal Marines, severely.
May - Chapoo (= Zhapoo)
18 May 1842, capture of Chapoo. From Clowes (see page 297 - 298) and The London Gazette:
May 1842, capture of Chapoo.- Chapoo still had a tartar garrison, which occupied the N.W. corner of the city proper, and which, as will be seen, fully maintained its reputation for tenacity. The town was reconnoitered on the 17th; and on the 18th all the troops were landed, to the N.E. of Chapoo, in two columns, one, on the right, to pass around the rear of the enemy, who had taken up position on the cliffs to the N.E. of the town, the other, on the left, to flank the Chinese entrenchments. A third landing party, formed of seamen and Marines, was put ashore nearer the town, and nearly due east of it. The steamers in the anchorage co-operated by shelling the Chinese. The advance of the two British columns went on without serious opposition until it had cut off from the city about 350 Tartar troops who had held a position on the extreme right of the enemy’s line. These troops threw themselves into a josh house, and waited until both the British columns, and the naval brigade on the attacking left had unsuspectingly passed by them. They might have escaped, had they not been accidentally discovered by a small detached party under Hall of the Nemesis. The Tartars opened a spirited fire upon the few seamen and soldiers. It was pluckily returned until the arrival on the scene of a reinforcing company of the 18th Regiment; and then an assault was made. But the British were repelled by the defenders. Other reinforcements arrived, a field-piece was turned upon the building, and part of the wall was blown in by means of a 50lb charge of powder; yet the Tartars fought on with as much determination as ever, though a second breach was made, and their stronghold set on fire. When at length, after more than three hours’ desperate struggle, the place was carried, only sixty of the defenders remained alive, and of them many were wounded. The occupation of Chapoo itself was effected with but small difficulty.
A Return of Killed and Wounded belonging Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels, and those of the Indian Navy, in Action with the Enemy on Shore, at the Capture of Chapoo, on the I5th day of May 1842.
CORNWALLIS: Wounded, 1 private, royal marines, dangerously; 1 seaman, severely.
13 Jun 1842, anchored off Woosung. From Clowes (See p. 298-9)
13 Jun 1842, anchored off Woosung. Once the defences at the mouth of the river were sounded and buoyed the works on both sides of the river were bombarded (16th). Only the first discharge of the enemy’s guns, delivered as the ships were anchoring, produced much effect. A Marine officer, and two men in the Blonde were killed by it; and a leadsman in the Phlegethon lost both his legs, while several vessels were hulled. After two hours’ firing, towards the close of which the Chinese guns were nearly silent, detachments of seamen and Marines were landed, and all the works, except Powshan, were cleared and occupied ere any of the troops were disembarked. Powshan was soon afterwards evacuated; so that the whole of the success, such as it was, was won by the Navy alone. Few Chinese were killed; and the greater part of the 200 or 250 guns captured were unmounted and useless. The British loss was 3 killed and 20 wounded.
16 Jun - 29 Aug 1842, From Clowes (see page. 300) and The London Gazette.
16 Jun - 29 Aug 1842 - Expedition up the Yang-tse-Keang, to the end of hostilities and signing of the Treaty of Nanking. Return of hilled and wounded in the squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir WilliamParker, K.C.B. at the attack on the city of Chin-Keang-Foo, on the 2lst July, 1842.
July – Chinkeang (=Zhenjiang)
Shanghai was evacuated on June 23rd, and the troops and vessels fell back to Woosung. The expedition into the Yangtsekiang proper was then promptly organised. The European troops which took part in it were the 18th, 26th, 49th, 55th, and 98th Regiments, with some Royal Artillery and Engineers, the whole being under Sir Hugh Gough, Major-Generals Lord Saltoun, Schoedde, and Bartley, Colonel Montgomerie, R.A., and Captain Pears, R.E. Besides about forty transports, the following vessels of the Royal Navy and H.E.I. Co.'s marine participated :-
H.M.S. Cornwallis, Blonde, Calliope, North Star, Dido, Modeste, Endymion, Clio, Columbine, Algerine, Belleisle, Apollo, Sapphire, Jupiter, Rattlesnake, Plover, Starling, and Vixen, paddle.
H.E.I. Co.'s Sesostris, Auckland, Queen, Tenasserim, Nemesis, Phlegethon, Pluto, Proserpine, and Medusa - all paddle steamers.
Cornwallis losses - Brevet Major James Uniacke, R. M., killed; who died from the effects of the sun and fatigue; Lieutenant James Fitzjames, badly wounded; 1 seaman dangerously wounded; 1 private marine slightly wounded.
August and September – Based at Nanking (=Nanjing)
20th August – Chinese emissaries entertained onboard
29th August – Treaty of Nanking signed onboard
November – At Chusan
1843
January – At Hong Kong
February to March – At Amoy
April to September – Based at Hong Kong. Admiral Parker was invested with the insignia of the G.C.B on board the Cornwallis on May 18th.
(late) October – Left Hong Kong for Manila
November and December – Visited Manila
1844
11th to 21st January – At Singapore,
February - At Hong Kong, left on the 21st for Penang
February – Visited Penang
April – At Calcutta, on her return to England
4th to 20th May – Was spent at Madras
26th May to 10th July – Visited Trincomalee
31st August to 5th September – At the Cape of Good Hope
13th September – At St Helena
18th September – At Ascension
4th November – Arrived back at Plymouth
21st November – The ship paid off
Note:- I saw a side note in `The Cree Journals` relating to unpopular officers being assaulted by members of their crew after the ship being paid off. The note on page 121 goes on to say that the captain of Cornwallis underwent one of these when the ship returned to England in 1844. So after a long search I managed to find the following.
30th November 1844 – The Press reported “Disgraceful Outrage at Devonport” – “A very gross outrage has been committed on some naval officers of the Cornwallis, 72, Captain Peter Richards, C.B. at Devonport. They were set upon by a ruffian mob of prostitutes, seamen’s wives, men and boys, which had collected for the purpose, in a most furious manner and were very roughly handled. One Lieutenant was knocked down and one of his epaulettes was dragged off, another had his eyes blackened and one of the mates had a skirt of his coat torn away. Thousands of persons congregated and constables were obliged to be stationed at the hotel whither the officers had arrived, to protect then from the lawless degraded wretches.
It is alleged in palliation of this outrageous conduct that a great deal of flogging took place while the ship was in harbour and up to the day of paying off, the men were not allowed on shore and the tradesmen, bum-boaters and the bad women were refused admittance to the ship. It is asserted that this riot was got up in revenge for their not being allowed on board the ship.”
Awarded the China 1842 medal
China Medals 1842 awarded to HMS Cornwallis
Officers - 55 + 6 RM. Crew - 450. Royal Marines – 231 - Total - 742
Discharged Dead: Crew - 42. Royal Marines - 26 - Total – 68
Eligible Actions & Operations of the Cornwallis for the crew to qualify for the China Medal 1842
1) A/ 18/05/1842 - Joint operations in attacks upon fortified heights surrounding Chapoo, and subsequent capture of that city. Bombardment of seaward defences and capture of fourteen war junks.
B/ 16/06/1842 - Combined forces capture of Woosung and Paonshaw, guarding the entrance of extended water communication, on the river Yang-Tse-Keang, to Kanguan Province.
C/ 21/07/1842 - Attack on Chinese entrenched camp. The Storming and capture of City of Chin Keang Foo, at the entrance of South Grand Canal in the Yang-Tse-Keang.
2) The references to Clowes are taken from his “History of the Royal Navy – vol. 6”
HMS Queen – 18 April 1846 to 12 October 1846
18th April 1846 – Joined HMS Queen a 110 gun wooden sailing 1st rate of 1839 commanded by Captain Henry John Leeke, 1845-1846 experimental squadrons, then flagship of Sir John West, Devonport.
18th April Saturday – The Experimental Squadrons (Part of the Channel Fleet) line-of Battleships crews are to be made up to their full war complement by having an additional number of marines placed on board of each of them. One subaltern, one sergeant and 180 rank and file are to embark on board the Queen at Devonport next Saturday and one Sergeant and 89 rank and file are to embark on the Albion.
18th April Tuesday – The Queen was towed into Plymouth Sound by the steam-vessel Comet and the Confiance tug. 110 Royal Marines have been added to the Complement, which now stands at 870. Her duties as guard-ship are to be performed by HMS Caledonia, 120, Captain M. H. Dixon.
22nd April Saturday – Arrived at Spithead
23rd April – At Spithead joined the Experimental Squadron. HMS Queen is to carry the broad White pennant of Commodore Sir James John Gordon Bremer as second in command of the Experimental squadron
13th May – Sailed for sailing trials and exercises in company with the other ships of the squadron (Albion, St Vincent, Rodney, Superb, Trafalgar, Vanguard)
5th July Tuesday – The Channel Fleet Arrived at Cork.
5th to 19th June – Was spent at Cork
3rd to 29th July – Back again at Cork
28th July – A court martial on board HMS Queen, a Private in the Royal Marines who in a state of drunkenness struck his sergeant (Sergeant Connor) with his fists. The marine James Sayer aged 26, was also charged with an assault on Sergeant Smith and Corporal Webby, all three his senior officers and while in the execution of their duty.
The court heard that the prisoner had come on board in a disorderly manner, after parting with some necessaries on shore and Lieutenant Littlecrap ordered him to be put in irons. Sergeant Connor then requested him to go down quietly, on which Sayer turned round and struck him, Sergeant Connor then sent for the guard and Sayer was forced down into the fore cockpit, where he struck Sergeant Smith.
He was then thrown down to be ironed and was laid hold of by Corporal Webby, at which point he said that he would not be transported for nothing and turning round, he struck the Corporal. They all swore that the prisoner was not drunk at the time and that all the blows he gave were intentional.
The wretched man had nothing to offer in his defence but to say that he was sorry for what had happened and to throw himself on the mercy of the court.
The prisoner was found guilty of two of the three charges and that Private James Sayer be hanged from the neck from one of her Majesty’s vessels. The President (Admiral Pigott) advised the Prisoner “I am sorry indeed that I cannot offer you hope that the sentence of this court will not be carried out and I recommend you to prepare yourself to meet your doom”. He then dissolved the court.
The report concluded “The prisoner was then removed in custody of the Provost-Marshal. It is said that within a very short time the unfortunate prisoner has been twice whipped and has undergone all other modes of punishment known in the royal navy.”
The trial and verdict was widely reported throughout England and in answer to a question raised in Parliament, Admiral Dundas replied that the Admiralty would take the case into their merciful consideration. The case files were submitted to the law officers of the crown who thought the constitution of the court was illegal and rather than submit the prisoner to a new trial, directed that he be sent back to his company, in the hope that what he had undergone would have a salutary effect on his future conduct.
(Note – Looking at the N. A. The only James Sayer whose dates matched I could find was listed under ADM 157/36/382 – Served 1841 to 1849 when he was discharged as Branded. May his conduct not have been caused as the result of his treatment?)
29th July – The fleet left Cove Harbour for a two month cruise.
15th August – The fleet arrived at Lisbon
15th to 18th August – The squadron were at Lisbon
19th August to 17th September – The squadron continued with exercises and trials off coast of Portugal & Spain
15th September – Major Balchild RM, borne onboard the Queen died; buried ashore at Cadiz with full military honours, attended by officers of the fleet and a detachment of fifty marines
18th September – Queen was detached from the Squadron to return to England
5th October – arrived Plymouth from Cadiz with the St Vincent.
15th October – It was reported that “...the 222 supernumary Royal Marines who have been at sea in the St Vincent and Queen, have been discharged from their ships to their respective barracks – 111 of the former ship to Portsmouth, and the other detachment to the Plymouth division.”
HMS Philomel (8) – 2 April 1847 to 25 September 1849
2nd April 1847 Joined – HMS Philomel, an 8 gun wooden sailing brig of 1842 commanded by Commander William Cotterell Wood, for service on west coast of Africa. HMS Philomel had an extremely successful and financially rewarding anti-slavery commission.
NOTE:- When adding service details from newspapers I am using the dates that they record. Not all papers agree with each others reports, as the Prize dates will illustrate as will some of the spellings.
27th March – The Philomel is ordered to be commissioned by Commander William Cotterell Wood who commissioned the ship on April 1st and was said to be ready for sea on the 1st May.
April – Was spent at Plymouth, fitting and storing
2nd May – Sailed carrying dispatches for Lisbon from whence she will proceed to Sierra Leone to join the squadron on the West Coast of Africa.
From July - On station; she was initially based in the Northern Division of the African Squadron and cruised regularly along the coast from Cape Verde to the Bight of Benin
July – Ascension Island, then Kabenda
August – Based at Kabenda
28th August – The press reported no news from the Philomel for many weeks, it was feared that she was lost but then came the information from St. Nicholas and Portendic that not only was she still sound but she had been very fortunate, having taken a prize immediately on her arrival off the coast of Africa on the most remote part of which she was stationed.
11th October – Captured slave schooner Antrevida off the River Zeba
December – At Freetown
8th December – Sent in for Adjudication another prize, a Brazilian Schooner which was fitted for slave traffic. On the same day, her last prize the Antervida was condemned in court but the Spanish Authorities had entered a protest against the condemnation
1848
January – The ship was off Gallinas (Liberia)
14 January – Captured pirate felucca Judeo Errante (Wandering Jew): sighted off the Gallinas 13th January, chase was given in company with HMS Dart. The pursuit went on in light winds; both ships manned and launched boats to try and close but they could not do so before nightfall, but the ships and boats kept up the chase. The following morning the pair managed to close and at 10am when the wind dropped, another boat was manned and launched to join the others in the chase. After pulling for four hours the boats, led by the Philomel’s pinnace, were closing. The vessel then opened fire on the boats, firing roundshot and grapeshot, with the marines in the boats rapidly returning fire with muskets. The boats ran alongside and the men scrambled onboard where they faced a fierce hand to hand combat, several of the enemy crew jumping overboard before the vessel was captured. Reported that “...the pirate lost eight men killed; the crew consisted of 40 cut-throats”. Three of the boarders were killed
28th January – Sailed from Sierra Leone after having taken into the port a Spanish slave pirate, whom she had taken with the assistance of the boats of HMS Dart. The papers reported – “In this engagement the pirate lost eight men killed, her crew consisted of 40 cut-throats and the ship was armed with a long 18-pounder brass swivel gun, a terrific arm if well worked. All her crew were armed also but when the crews of Philomel and Dart boarded her, the cowardly villains retreated from the deck and rushed below, firing through the hatches at their captors on deck. Three of the Philomel’s crew were killed and several others wounded. The Boarding party was commanded by the first lieutenant of the Philomel Mr. Wharton.”
February – Off Cape Mount (Liberia)
March to June – at/cruising off Sierra Leone-Liberia
5th March – Yet another British Press report, headlined “Gallant Affair with a Pirate Slaver” – “The Philomel, Commander W. C. Wood and the Dart, 3, Lieutenant Commander E. A. Glynn, have had a smart affair with their boats, with a felucca Pirate under Spanish colours (it seems the felucca had beaten off the Darts boats a few days previous). The weather being calm the Philomel and the Dart sent their gigs, under the command of Lieutenant A. L. Wharton, to board the chase but on the boats nearing her, she fired on them and with such precision as to render the gig of the Philomel ‘hors de combat’ and the boats returned to their ships. The gig temporarily repaired and with the accession of the Philomel pinnace, again proceeded in chase of the pirate and soon succeeded in boarding her, though opposed by a fire from their gun and also from musketry (the boats are said to be riddled but fortunately only two or three of the men were hurt, one however has since died of his wounds).
After being boarded, the piratical crew ran below but continued to fire musketry up the hatches for some time afterwards. Several of the pirates were killed. She proved to be a Spanish piratical slaver, mounting one long eighteen-pounder (an English gun), with a crew of thirty-six men. It is reported to have been a desperate affair, and that it was most miraculous that the boats escaped with such a slight loss in killed and wounded. We hear that Lieutenants Glynn and Boughey shared in the conflict with the gallant Lieutenant Wharton.”
2nd May – Captured the slave schooner Aurora
July – moved to the Southern Division of the African Squadron, between the Bight of Benin and Benguela. This region had a bad reputation for sickness and fevers (probably malaria), hence the old sailors rhyme – “Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in”
27th July – At St. Paul’o de Loando
October to December – Was spent cruising between St Paul de Loando and Benguela (Angola)
1849
January to March – Still in the Bight of Benin
23rd January – Captured the slave brig Igual
2nd February – Captured the slave brig Andorinha
11th February – St Helena – The slaver Igual, a prize of the Philomel arrived at the Island with Mr Woolridge in command.
24th February 1849 – Came the announcement – “The Philomel – Messrs Stillwell have also given notice to Commander W. C. Wood and the officers and men of this sloop, now on the West coast of Africa, that an account of the moiety of proceeds and tonnage-bounties for the Spanish schooner Antrevida, seized on the 14th October 1847, was deposited in registry of the High Court of Admiralty on the 19th inst.”
The Gazette gives notice that the accounts are about to be exhibited in the registry of the Admiralty of the following prizes:-
The Tito (slaver), Captured by the SIREN on May 26th 1847
The Phedro (slaver), Captured by the BITTERN January 29th 1847
The Bra Sorte, captured by the ALERT November 15th 1845/6?
The Constante Amizade, captured by the RAPID January 22nd 1847
A brig (Name unknown) captured by the MARINER August 11th 1847
The Atrevida, captured by the PHILOMEL October 11th 1847
And on March 22nd – “The officers and men of the Philomel, Commander W.C. Wood, will be paid, on the 25th April next at No. 22, Arundel-street, Strand, their respective proportions of the moiety of proceeds and of tonnage-bounties for the Spanish schooner Abrevida, seized on 11th October 1847. In all cases the list will be re-called at the same place each Wednesday and Thursday for the three months following. (It then goes on to list the share amounts from 1st to 13th)
2nd March – The British press in what was described as an exciting 10 hour chase came news of the Philomel’s capture (110 miles South West of Ambriz on the West Coast of Africa), of a large schooner with 600 slaves on board which was said to be her third prize within 5 weeks and included the celebrated Igual, the fastest vessel on that part of the coast.
11th March – Captured slave schooner Astucio
March – Captured slave schooner Zenobia (reported in the press, not shown in the Gazette)
26th May – Commander Wood died ‘...of a fever’, (the British press say 4th June and 26th May, after a long illness from repeated attacks of fever and that the ship is the next due to return to England and is expected to leave the coast on 1st August) the ship then being off St P de Loando; the First Lieutenant took over command initially then Lieutenant John O. Johnson from the flagship succeeded to bring her home (This was not reported in the British press until August when they printed – “Came the sad news that Commander Wood had died from fever in June off Ambriz and had been succeeded in command by his first Lieutenant Willoughby J. Lake, The acting flag Lieutenant was later appointed to replace Commander Wood.”
3rd July – Captured slave brig Albertina
16th July – Sailed from Loando to return to England
1st August – Sailed from Ascension
9th August – Sailed from Sierra Leone
14th September – Arrived at Spithead and discharged several invalids brought back from West Africa
15th September – Left Portsmouth
16th September – Arrived back in Plymouth
25th September – The ship paid off
The London Gazette reports the following captures, with the latter are the amounts that a Private RM (8th Class would have received):
Spanish schooner Antrevida, seized on the 11th of October 1847 - £1-10-2
Wandering Jew, seized on the 1 4th of January 1848 - £1-12-1
Slave schooner Aurora, seized on the 2nd of May 1848 - £ 1-1-11½
Igual, seized 23rd of January 1849 - £7-2-8
Andorinha, seized 2nd of February 1849 - £13-17-10.
Albertina, seized on the 3rd of July 1849 - £16-15-10
Slave schooner Astucio, seized on the 11th of March 1849 - £20-12-11
Over sixty pounds of prize money for a Private RM was a tremendous amount of money!
HMS Calliope – 9 December 1850 to 16 June 1855
9th December 1850 – Joined HMS Calliope, A 28 gun wooden sailing 6th rate of 1837 commanded (from commissioning at Plymouth) by Captain Sir James Everard Home, Australia (senior officer); then from March 1854 commanded by Captain John Coghlan Fitzgerald, Australia.
3rd December – The Calliope was commissioned by Lieutenant Marcus F. Brownrigg the Flag-Lieut. To Sir William Hall Gage the Plymouth port Admiral for Captain Sir James Everard Home, the ship was to have a complement of 195 officers and men.
December to January 1851 – Remained at Plymouth, fitting for sea
1851
30th January – Was to have left for New Zealand via New South Wales but was unable to due to adverse winds. It was reported that that 5 deer (2 Bucks and 3 Does) had been captured at Mount Edgecombe and had been sent aboard the Calliope to be taken to New Zealand for breeding.
8th February – Came the report in the United Service Gazette that a serious accident occurred onboard at Devonport: - The Calliope was being taken out of harbour into the Sound, in charge of Mr. Mills, Assistant Master Attendant, and in tow of the Avon steam vessel. She was starting all well, when it appears that the capstan not being properly attended to, the ship gained way on the men working at it, and on their walking back to give each hawser an equal strain, the capstan "ran away," carrying everyone before it; and the bars not being secured by swifters or pins, they flew about in all directions, knocking down everyone near them. The captain, Sir Everard Home; one of the Assistant Surgeons, Mr Newland Nettleton; a quartermaster; Jenkins an AB; and Oxford a marine; and James Dominey, a seaman; were so seriously injured it was found necessary to send them to the Royal Naval Hospital, where they were placed under the skilful charge of Dr. Rae and other medical officers of that excellent establishment. The Captain received severe wounds in the head and leg, and is going on favourably, and will probably be removed to the Calliope on Monday. Mr Nettleton, Surgeon's Assistant, was a severe case, and amputation below the knee was performed in the afternoon. His present condition is favourable. Knowland, Quartermaster, received a fracture of the cranium, and was struck in the abdomen. He never spoke afterwards, and died on Thursday morning. Oxford the Marine, had a contused face, and is recovering. A/B Jenkins, had a contused leg, and James Dominey a contused thigh, and are doing well.
10th February – The ship was mustered and inspected by the port Admiral. It is also noted that the hospital patients from the Calliope are progressing favourable.
1st March – Captain Home returned to the ship and sailed for New Zealand the next day with HMS Fantome. It was reported that they were to call in at Rio en route. Captain Home also took with him all the men who had been injured in the late accident, with the exception of the assistant Surgeon who have lost a leg, two of the injured were still on crutches.
11th March – Arrived at Madeira, remaining until the 16th.
21st to 26th April – Was spent at Rio de Janeiro
16th May – Arrived in Simonstown from Rio, remaining until the 28th.
10th to 12th July – Was spent at Hobart
14th July – Sailing from Hobart for Sydney. In a storm on the way, the ship was struck by lightening but apart from a strong smell of burning, little damage was done. It was reported in the British Press under the heading “HER MAJESTY'S SHIP CALLIOPE.—PRESERVATION FROM LIGHTNING “
It was described as “...a blaze of light and then a most terrific explosion”; luckily the conductors mounted on the masts did their job and the bolt did no damage
20th July – Arrived at Sydney
20th July to 24th November – Remained Based at Sydney
12th November – Report of the death by drowning at Sydney Harbour of Francis Methuen Noel, who was serving as a Mate on HMS Calliope.
5th to 17th December – spent at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand
20th December to 7th January 1852 – Moved to Auckland
1852
A letter received in Sydney dated Auckland 8th January mentioned that Gold had been discovered on the Island of Waiheki and that the Calliope whit the Bramble as her tender, had proceeded there to collect specimens and information
8th to 13th January – Was spent visiting Waiheke
16th January – At Mongonui
20th to 27th January – Visited Wellington
28th and 29th January – Called in at Mana
30th January – At Kapiti
3rd February – Called in at Nelson
13th February – In Queen Charlotte Sound
27th February to 9th March – Visited Lyttleton after calling in on Port Cooper
12th March – Visited Akaroa
27th to 30th March – Spent at Port Ross, Auckland Island Group
17th April – Arrived at Hobart
11th May – Called at Launceston
13th May – Arrived at Melbourne
28th May to 21st July – Remained based at Sydney and undergoing a refit
27th to 29th July – Called at Norfolk Island
8th to 15th August – Visited Tonga
25th August to 2nd September – Called at Vava’u
5th to 10th September – Visited Apia, Samoa
17th to 23rd September – Spent at Fiji
30th September to November – Visited several small Islands (“Ambow” - ‘Savage island’ – Howes’ Island - Rotuma)
19th December to 15th March 1853 – Based back at Sydney
1853
26th March to 3rd April – Was spent at Melbourne
24th April to 7th May – In King Georges Sound (at that time Western Australia's only deep-water port) at Albany.
15th May – Arrived at Hobart
June – At Port Arthur and then Nelson
5th to 19th July – Spent at Wellington
28th July – Arrived back at Auckland
8th August – Arrived at Auckland 14th August – To leave Auckland and return to Sydney and from there to visit the Solomon Islands to try and ascertain the fate of Mr. Benjamin Boyd (The following is taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia “Boyd was a Scottish-born Australian pioneer and entrepreneur who after several failed ventures, sailed to California on 26 October 1849. At the gold-diggings he had no success, and in June 1851 he sailed in his Yacht the Wanderer for a voyage among the Pacific islands with the aim of establishing a Papuan Republic or Confederation”).
“On 15 October 1851, while at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, Boyd went ashore with one native to shoot game. Soon after being seen entering a small creek in his boat, two shots were heard 15 minutes apart, Boyd was never seen again. A party was landed and search was made for him, but no trace of him could be found except a belt which had belonged to him. It appears to be certain that he was killed soon after he landed.”)
August and September - Visited Coromandel and Kawau
29th October to 4th March 1854 – Based at Sydney
2nd November – Captain Home died “...of paralysis” at Sydney; Commander John Gennys took over temporary command
1854
21st January – The British press reported that- “On the authority of letters received from Australia that Captain Home (the senior officer on the station) was very ill. He had imprudently been on an excursion to some unhealthy islands, contrary to good advice.”
They also later reported that he had died on the 2nd November 1843 and then added the following after a few das had passed. “Captain Sir Everard Home, Bart. C.B. of the Calliope, 26, the senior naval officer on the Australian station, died on the 2nd November, as noticed briefly in our last. The Calliope had only returned a few days before from an eight months cruise, her Captain then suffering from the effects of paralysis, with which he was seized while the vessel was off the coast of New Zealand. The deceased officer was interred at the Camperdown Cemetery on the 4th, with the usual naval and military honours”. It continued “Commander John H. Gennys of the Fantome is to be Acting-Captain of the Calliope”
25th March – Came the news from the China Station that the Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies, Vice-Admiral the Hon. Fleetwood Pellew, had filled up the death-vacancy of Captain Sir Everard Home by the promotion of Commander Wainwright (the son of the late Admiral Sir Francis Collier, K.C.B.) of the flag-ship Winchester to be its flag captain. Captain Fitzgerald who was flag captain of the Winchester has been appointed to the command of the Calliope in Australia and to the command of the Australian Division of the East India Station.
6th to 14th March – Visited Port Stephens
20th March to 13th April – Based at Brisbane; Captain Fitzgerald arrived to assume command
16th to 20th April – Visited Port Curtis
10th May – Arrived at Sydney under the command of Captain Fitzgerald from Port Curtis and Howes Island (NSW), with his excellently the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy and suite. Based at Sydney (undertaking occasional short cruises undertaken in local area until her leaving to return to England in February 1855)
31st August – At Port Jackson (Australia)
22nd September – Back at Sydney
1855
27th February – Left Sydney to return to England.
30th March – Rounded Cape Horn
17th April – Arrived at Rio on her return to England, leaving Rio again on 19th.
8th June – Arrive back in Plymouth sound,.
12th June – The ship was paid off and her crew given six weeks leave.
The press summarised the return as –“The Calliope 36, Captain Fitzgerald, which arrived on Friday, left England on the 24th March 1851 and reached Sydney on 20th July. She then entered upon a service of civilization by visiting, with one or two exceptions, every port in the islands of New Zealand and after calling at Hobart Town, performed the next year a similar duty among the Fiji Isles, including the penal settlement of Norfolk Island and then returned to Sydney. Captain Sir Everard Home, who put her into commission and whose loss was felt by all hands, died November 3rd 1853, from a complaint which was increased by devotion to his profession.
While in Australia the Calliope lost several of her crew to desertion, who were replaced in the colony but from her detachment of marines commanded by Lieutenant Leslie, only one deserted. She left Melbourne on 27th February and was off Cape Horn on March 30th.
Lieutenant D’Arcy of the surveying vessel Herald, Captain Denham, on promotion and Mr Chevalier from Rio Janeiro she brought home as passengers. Her freight from Melbourne is 75,000 oz. of Gold. Her crew will be paid down and made available to the Sans Pariel and other ships”
Discharged on 20th July 1855 due to “loss of teeth” and he died in the third quarter of 1859
He seems to have briefly joined the RN after being discharged from the RM as:- Admiralty: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Coastguard a... ADM 29/55/544 Original page number: 544 James MOORE; Rating; Born: [Not Given]; Age on entry: 24; Dates served: 26th April 1854-23 February 1856; Date and Type of Application: Whitehall 11th July 1856 Robert NETHERTON; Rating; Born: [Not Given]; Age on entry: 35; Dates
Date: 1855 - 1856 Source: The Catalogue of The National Archives
A man of this name married a Mary Moss (born in Yealmpton Devon) in Qtr 2 1846 – This seems to fit with the three census' attached for her (1851 to 1871) showing her a widow back with her Father in 1861. She died in April 1879 in Plymton St Mary.
1851 Census – Mary living at 35, East Street, East Stonehouse as the married family head aged 36 with her son Alfred David Moss aged 5. (Sadly Alfred died in January 1852)
1861 Census – Mary living at Ham Barn, Weston Deverill, as a widowed House Keeper living with her father James Moss.
1871 Census – Mary living at 7, Weston Mill, Pennycross, Devon. Still with her father and brother Joseph as a Laundress
NETHERTON. Robert. Royal Marine
The China 1842 medal as Private R. M. HMS Cornwallis
Born:- Armington, near the town of Ivy Bridge, Devon, circa 1820. His Trade:- Labourer.
He was enlisted on 29th September 1840 at Ivy Bridge by Corporal Beer of the Exeter area Marine recruiting party.
He enlisted for the Bounty of three pounds and signed his Attestation papers with an X.
His parents were John and Mary who were agricultural labourers (farmers).
Attested:- At Stonehouse on 30th September 1840, At the given age of 20 years, Joining the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines 47th Company as a Private.
He appears to have remained in the 47th Company throughout his service.
On the 5th January 1847 he was convicted of larceny, a felony at the time, was tried at Exeter Assizes and served two weeks in Solitary Confinement in Exeter prison, being released on 22nd January. He did not get whipped, as did many of the other larceny prisoners, but he did forfeit his prior service in the R. M’s amounting to over seven years of service – a severe punishment with presumably a loss of pay.
He was discharged 20th July 1855 for “loss of teeth” (I assume that this implied that he was unable to eat his service rations?) and he died in the third quarter of 1859, so perhaps he had additional health problems aside from no teeth! Or was the loss of teeth was just a side symptom of a more serious health problem?
His total service was 14 years 9 months 29 days and it appears that he was awarded one good conduct badge in January 1853 which he lost in February 1854 but which was reinstated in June 1855.
His service was made up of:-
Ashore - 3 years 8 months 23 days
Afloat - 11 years 1 month 6 days
His service Afloat being
HMS Cornwallis (China) - 10th April 1841 to 22nd November 1844 – 3 years 7 months 12 days
HMS Queen (Channel Fleet) – 18th April 1846 to 12th October 1846 – 5 months 24 days
HMS Philomel (West coast of Africa) – 2nd April 1847 to 25th Sept. 1849 – 2 years 5 months 23 days
HMS Calliope (Australia) – 9th December 1850 to 16th June 1855 – 4 Years 6 months 7 days
HMS Cornwallis – 10th April 1841 to 22nd November 1844
10th April 1841 – Joined HMS Cornwallis, the 74 gun 3rd rate of 1813, wooden sailing vessel commanded by Captain Peter Richards, flagship of Rear-Admiral William Parker, East Indies (Cornwallis already prior service in China in March 1841)
April to June – Was spent fitting out the ship
7th April – Cornwallis was commissioned at Plymouth as flag ship of Rear-Admiral Sir W. Oarked as Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies
10th April – HMS Emerald left Portsmouth for Devonport with seamen gunners for the HMS Cornwallis
6th June – Robert Netherton is shown as being in the Royal Naval Hospital at East Stonehouse.
8th June – Towed out into Plymouth Sound by the steamers Avon and Carron. Men and stores continued to be brought to her.
3 July - Left Plymouth, for China.
9th to 12th July - Arrived at Madeira after a passage of only six days from the Lizard; she was to leave for India on the 12th.
4th to 12th September – Was spent at Simonstown, leaving on 11th for Madras
October – At Singapore
22nd December – Arrived at Hong Kong (Admiral Parker had already arrived in August and was using the Blenheim as his temporary flagship)
1842
February to August – Actively involved in the First China (Opium) War: Cornwallis landed parties of marines and seamen at Chapoo, Woosung and Chinkiang; bombarded Woosung
February – At Chusan (=Zhoushan)
March – At Ningo (=Ningbo)
15th March at Ningpo, an expeditionary force was landed to attack Yang's position on the heights of Segaon, behind Tsekee.
From Clowes (see page 297) and The London Gazette:
A second army, under General Yang, was known, however, to be at Tsekee, across the river; and, Sir William Parker, with several additional ships, and bluejackets and Marines, having arrived at Ningpo on March 14th, an expeditionary force was embarked on the following morning, and landed four miles from Yang's position on the heights of Segaon, behind Tsekee {on this occasion there were employed the Phlegethon, Modeste, Nemesis, Queen, Hyacinth, Columbine, Sesostris, and boats of Cornwallis and Blonde, with about 350 seamen and Marines in the landing-party. With the troops was a naval brigade under Captain Thomas Bourchier. Parker also was with Gough. After some stubborn fighting, a complete and, happily, a not very expensive victory was won, the Navy's casualties numbering only fifteen. Of the enemy, at least 450 fell. It was the most decided advantage which had as yet been gained by the British since the occupation of Chusan, where, by the way, a fresh attempt to burn the shipping by means of fire-rafts was defeated on April 14th by some of the boats of the Cornwallis, Nemesis, Jupiter, Hyacinth, Starling, Phlegethon, and Bentinck.
A Return of Killed and Wounded belonging to Her Majesty’s Ships and Vessels in Action with the Enemy on Shore, at Tze-Kee, on the 15th of March 1842 CORNWALLIS: Killed: 1 Serjeant Royal Marines.
Wounded: First Lieutenant George Elliot, R. M. slightly; First Lieutenant A. J. R Hambly, R. M, severely;
Mr. George H. Hodgson, Mate, slightly; Mr. Charles K. Jackson, Mate, slightly.
1 seaman dangerously, 6 privates, Royal Marines, severely.
May - Chapoo (= Zhapoo)
18 May 1842, capture of Chapoo. From Clowes (see page 297 - 298) and The London Gazette:
May 1842, capture of Chapoo.- Chapoo still had a tartar garrison, which occupied the N.W. corner of the city proper, and which, as will be seen, fully maintained its reputation for tenacity. The town was reconnoitered on the 17th; and on the 18th all the troops were landed, to the N.E. of Chapoo, in two columns, one, on the right, to pass around the rear of the enemy, who had taken up position on the cliffs to the N.E. of the town, the other, on the left, to flank the Chinese entrenchments. A third landing party, formed of seamen and Marines, was put ashore nearer the town, and nearly due east of it. The steamers in the anchorage co-operated by shelling the Chinese. The advance of the two British columns went on without serious opposition until it had cut off from the city about 350 Tartar troops who had held a position on the extreme right of the enemy’s line. These troops threw themselves into a josh house, and waited until both the British columns, and the naval brigade on the attacking left had unsuspectingly passed by them. They might have escaped, had they not been accidentally discovered by a small detached party under Hall of the Nemesis. The Tartars opened a spirited fire upon the few seamen and soldiers. It was pluckily returned until the arrival on the scene of a reinforcing company of the 18th Regiment; and then an assault was made. But the British were repelled by the defenders. Other reinforcements arrived, a field-piece was turned upon the building, and part of the wall was blown in by means of a 50lb charge of powder; yet the Tartars fought on with as much determination as ever, though a second breach was made, and their stronghold set on fire. When at length, after more than three hours’ desperate struggle, the place was carried, only sixty of the defenders remained alive, and of them many were wounded. The occupation of Chapoo itself was effected with but small difficulty.
A Return of Killed and Wounded belonging Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels, and those of the Indian Navy, in Action with the Enemy on Shore, at the Capture of Chapoo, on the I5th day of May 1842.
CORNWALLIS: Wounded, 1 private, royal marines, dangerously; 1 seaman, severely.
13 Jun 1842, anchored off Woosung. From Clowes (See p. 298-9)
13 Jun 1842, anchored off Woosung. Once the defences at the mouth of the river were sounded and buoyed the works on both sides of the river were bombarded (16th). Only the first discharge of the enemy’s guns, delivered as the ships were anchoring, produced much effect. A Marine officer, and two men in the Blonde were killed by it; and a leadsman in the Phlegethon lost both his legs, while several vessels were hulled. After two hours’ firing, towards the close of which the Chinese guns were nearly silent, detachments of seamen and Marines were landed, and all the works, except Powshan, were cleared and occupied ere any of the troops were disembarked. Powshan was soon afterwards evacuated; so that the whole of the success, such as it was, was won by the Navy alone. Few Chinese were killed; and the greater part of the 200 or 250 guns captured were unmounted and useless. The British loss was 3 killed and 20 wounded.
16 Jun - 29 Aug 1842, From Clowes (see page. 300) and The London Gazette.
16 Jun - 29 Aug 1842 - Expedition up the Yang-tse-Keang, to the end of hostilities and signing of the Treaty of Nanking. Return of hilled and wounded in the squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir WilliamParker, K.C.B. at the attack on the city of Chin-Keang-Foo, on the 2lst July, 1842.
July – Chinkeang (=Zhenjiang)
Shanghai was evacuated on June 23rd, and the troops and vessels fell back to Woosung. The expedition into the Yangtsekiang proper was then promptly organised. The European troops which took part in it were the 18th, 26th, 49th, 55th, and 98th Regiments, with some Royal Artillery and Engineers, the whole being under Sir Hugh Gough, Major-Generals Lord Saltoun, Schoedde, and Bartley, Colonel Montgomerie, R.A., and Captain Pears, R.E. Besides about forty transports, the following vessels of the Royal Navy and H.E.I. Co.'s marine participated :-
H.M.S. Cornwallis, Blonde, Calliope, North Star, Dido, Modeste, Endymion, Clio, Columbine, Algerine, Belleisle, Apollo, Sapphire, Jupiter, Rattlesnake, Plover, Starling, and Vixen, paddle.
H.E.I. Co.'s Sesostris, Auckland, Queen, Tenasserim, Nemesis, Phlegethon, Pluto, Proserpine, and Medusa - all paddle steamers.
Cornwallis losses - Brevet Major James Uniacke, R. M., killed; who died from the effects of the sun and fatigue; Lieutenant James Fitzjames, badly wounded; 1 seaman dangerously wounded; 1 private marine slightly wounded.
August and September – Based at Nanking (=Nanjing)
20th August – Chinese emissaries entertained onboard
29th August – Treaty of Nanking signed onboard
November – At Chusan
1843
January – At Hong Kong
February to March – At Amoy
April to September – Based at Hong Kong. Admiral Parker was invested with the insignia of the G.C.B on board the Cornwallis on May 18th.
(late) October – Left Hong Kong for Manila
November and December – Visited Manila
1844
11th to 21st January – At Singapore,
February - At Hong Kong, left on the 21st for Penang
February – Visited Penang
April – At Calcutta, on her return to England
4th to 20th May – Was spent at Madras
26th May to 10th July – Visited Trincomalee
31st August to 5th September – At the Cape of Good Hope
13th September – At St Helena
18th September – At Ascension
4th November – Arrived back at Plymouth
21st November – The ship paid off
Note:- I saw a side note in `The Cree Journals` relating to unpopular officers being assaulted by members of their crew after the ship being paid off. The note on page 121 goes on to say that the captain of Cornwallis underwent one of these when the ship returned to England in 1844. So after a long search I managed to find the following.
30th November 1844 – The Press reported “Disgraceful Outrage at Devonport” – “A very gross outrage has been committed on some naval officers of the Cornwallis, 72, Captain Peter Richards, C.B. at Devonport. They were set upon by a ruffian mob of prostitutes, seamen’s wives, men and boys, which had collected for the purpose, in a most furious manner and were very roughly handled. One Lieutenant was knocked down and one of his epaulettes was dragged off, another had his eyes blackened and one of the mates had a skirt of his coat torn away. Thousands of persons congregated and constables were obliged to be stationed at the hotel whither the officers had arrived, to protect then from the lawless degraded wretches.
It is alleged in palliation of this outrageous conduct that a great deal of flogging took place while the ship was in harbour and up to the day of paying off, the men were not allowed on shore and the tradesmen, bum-boaters and the bad women were refused admittance to the ship. It is asserted that this riot was got up in revenge for their not being allowed on board the ship.”
Awarded the China 1842 medal
China Medals 1842 awarded to HMS Cornwallis
Officers - 55 + 6 RM. Crew - 450. Royal Marines – 231 - Total - 742
Discharged Dead: Crew - 42. Royal Marines - 26 - Total – 68
Eligible Actions & Operations of the Cornwallis for the crew to qualify for the China Medal 1842
1) A/ 18/05/1842 - Joint operations in attacks upon fortified heights surrounding Chapoo, and subsequent capture of that city. Bombardment of seaward defences and capture of fourteen war junks.
B/ 16/06/1842 - Combined forces capture of Woosung and Paonshaw, guarding the entrance of extended water communication, on the river Yang-Tse-Keang, to Kanguan Province.
C/ 21/07/1842 - Attack on Chinese entrenched camp. The Storming and capture of City of Chin Keang Foo, at the entrance of South Grand Canal in the Yang-Tse-Keang.
2) The references to Clowes are taken from his “History of the Royal Navy – vol. 6”
HMS Queen – 18 April 1846 to 12 October 1846
18th April 1846 – Joined HMS Queen a 110 gun wooden sailing 1st rate of 1839 commanded by Captain Henry John Leeke, 1845-1846 experimental squadrons, then flagship of Sir John West, Devonport.
18th April Saturday – The Experimental Squadrons (Part of the Channel Fleet) line-of Battleships crews are to be made up to their full war complement by having an additional number of marines placed on board of each of them. One subaltern, one sergeant and 180 rank and file are to embark on board the Queen at Devonport next Saturday and one Sergeant and 89 rank and file are to embark on the Albion.
18th April Tuesday – The Queen was towed into Plymouth Sound by the steam-vessel Comet and the Confiance tug. 110 Royal Marines have been added to the Complement, which now stands at 870. Her duties as guard-ship are to be performed by HMS Caledonia, 120, Captain M. H. Dixon.
22nd April Saturday – Arrived at Spithead
23rd April – At Spithead joined the Experimental Squadron. HMS Queen is to carry the broad White pennant of Commodore Sir James John Gordon Bremer as second in command of the Experimental squadron
13th May – Sailed for sailing trials and exercises in company with the other ships of the squadron (Albion, St Vincent, Rodney, Superb, Trafalgar, Vanguard)
5th July Tuesday – The Channel Fleet Arrived at Cork.
5th to 19th June – Was spent at Cork
3rd to 29th July – Back again at Cork
28th July – A court martial on board HMS Queen, a Private in the Royal Marines who in a state of drunkenness struck his sergeant (Sergeant Connor) with his fists. The marine James Sayer aged 26, was also charged with an assault on Sergeant Smith and Corporal Webby, all three his senior officers and while in the execution of their duty.
The court heard that the prisoner had come on board in a disorderly manner, after parting with some necessaries on shore and Lieutenant Littlecrap ordered him to be put in irons. Sergeant Connor then requested him to go down quietly, on which Sayer turned round and struck him, Sergeant Connor then sent for the guard and Sayer was forced down into the fore cockpit, where he struck Sergeant Smith.
He was then thrown down to be ironed and was laid hold of by Corporal Webby, at which point he said that he would not be transported for nothing and turning round, he struck the Corporal. They all swore that the prisoner was not drunk at the time and that all the blows he gave were intentional.
The wretched man had nothing to offer in his defence but to say that he was sorry for what had happened and to throw himself on the mercy of the court.
The prisoner was found guilty of two of the three charges and that Private James Sayer be hanged from the neck from one of her Majesty’s vessels. The President (Admiral Pigott) advised the Prisoner “I am sorry indeed that I cannot offer you hope that the sentence of this court will not be carried out and I recommend you to prepare yourself to meet your doom”. He then dissolved the court.
The report concluded “The prisoner was then removed in custody of the Provost-Marshal. It is said that within a very short time the unfortunate prisoner has been twice whipped and has undergone all other modes of punishment known in the royal navy.”
The trial and verdict was widely reported throughout England and in answer to a question raised in Parliament, Admiral Dundas replied that the Admiralty would take the case into their merciful consideration. The case files were submitted to the law officers of the crown who thought the constitution of the court was illegal and rather than submit the prisoner to a new trial, directed that he be sent back to his company, in the hope that what he had undergone would have a salutary effect on his future conduct.
(Note – Looking at the N. A. The only James Sayer whose dates matched I could find was listed under ADM 157/36/382 – Served 1841 to 1849 when he was discharged as Branded. May his conduct not have been caused as the result of his treatment?)
29th July – The fleet left Cove Harbour for a two month cruise.
15th August – The fleet arrived at Lisbon
15th to 18th August – The squadron were at Lisbon
19th August to 17th September – The squadron continued with exercises and trials off coast of Portugal & Spain
15th September – Major Balchild RM, borne onboard the Queen died; buried ashore at Cadiz with full military honours, attended by officers of the fleet and a detachment of fifty marines
18th September – Queen was detached from the Squadron to return to England
5th October – arrived Plymouth from Cadiz with the St Vincent.
15th October – It was reported that “...the 222 supernumary Royal Marines who have been at sea in the St Vincent and Queen, have been discharged from their ships to their respective barracks – 111 of the former ship to Portsmouth, and the other detachment to the Plymouth division.”
HMS Philomel (8) – 2 April 1847 to 25 September 1849
2nd April 1847 Joined – HMS Philomel, an 8 gun wooden sailing brig of 1842 commanded by Commander William Cotterell Wood, for service on west coast of Africa. HMS Philomel had an extremely successful and financially rewarding anti-slavery commission.
NOTE:- When adding service details from newspapers I am using the dates that they record. Not all papers agree with each others reports, as the Prize dates will illustrate as will some of the spellings.
27th March – The Philomel is ordered to be commissioned by Commander William Cotterell Wood who commissioned the ship on April 1st and was said to be ready for sea on the 1st May.
April – Was spent at Plymouth, fitting and storing
2nd May – Sailed carrying dispatches for Lisbon from whence she will proceed to Sierra Leone to join the squadron on the West Coast of Africa.
From July - On station; she was initially based in the Northern Division of the African Squadron and cruised regularly along the coast from Cape Verde to the Bight of Benin
July – Ascension Island, then Kabenda
August – Based at Kabenda
28th August – The press reported no news from the Philomel for many weeks, it was feared that she was lost but then came the information from St. Nicholas and Portendic that not only was she still sound but she had been very fortunate, having taken a prize immediately on her arrival off the coast of Africa on the most remote part of which she was stationed.
11th October – Captured slave schooner Antrevida off the River Zeba
December – At Freetown
8th December – Sent in for Adjudication another prize, a Brazilian Schooner which was fitted for slave traffic. On the same day, her last prize the Antervida was condemned in court but the Spanish Authorities had entered a protest against the condemnation
1848
January – The ship was off Gallinas (Liberia)
14 January – Captured pirate felucca Judeo Errante (Wandering Jew): sighted off the Gallinas 13th January, chase was given in company with HMS Dart. The pursuit went on in light winds; both ships manned and launched boats to try and close but they could not do so before nightfall, but the ships and boats kept up the chase. The following morning the pair managed to close and at 10am when the wind dropped, another boat was manned and launched to join the others in the chase. After pulling for four hours the boats, led by the Philomel’s pinnace, were closing. The vessel then opened fire on the boats, firing roundshot and grapeshot, with the marines in the boats rapidly returning fire with muskets. The boats ran alongside and the men scrambled onboard where they faced a fierce hand to hand combat, several of the enemy crew jumping overboard before the vessel was captured. Reported that “...the pirate lost eight men killed; the crew consisted of 40 cut-throats”. Three of the boarders were killed
28th January – Sailed from Sierra Leone after having taken into the port a Spanish slave pirate, whom she had taken with the assistance of the boats of HMS Dart. The papers reported – “In this engagement the pirate lost eight men killed, her crew consisted of 40 cut-throats and the ship was armed with a long 18-pounder brass swivel gun, a terrific arm if well worked. All her crew were armed also but when the crews of Philomel and Dart boarded her, the cowardly villains retreated from the deck and rushed below, firing through the hatches at their captors on deck. Three of the Philomel’s crew were killed and several others wounded. The Boarding party was commanded by the first lieutenant of the Philomel Mr. Wharton.”
February – Off Cape Mount (Liberia)
March to June – at/cruising off Sierra Leone-Liberia
5th March – Yet another British Press report, headlined “Gallant Affair with a Pirate Slaver” – “The Philomel, Commander W. C. Wood and the Dart, 3, Lieutenant Commander E. A. Glynn, have had a smart affair with their boats, with a felucca Pirate under Spanish colours (it seems the felucca had beaten off the Darts boats a few days previous). The weather being calm the Philomel and the Dart sent their gigs, under the command of Lieutenant A. L. Wharton, to board the chase but on the boats nearing her, she fired on them and with such precision as to render the gig of the Philomel ‘hors de combat’ and the boats returned to their ships. The gig temporarily repaired and with the accession of the Philomel pinnace, again proceeded in chase of the pirate and soon succeeded in boarding her, though opposed by a fire from their gun and also from musketry (the boats are said to be riddled but fortunately only two or three of the men were hurt, one however has since died of his wounds).
After being boarded, the piratical crew ran below but continued to fire musketry up the hatches for some time afterwards. Several of the pirates were killed. She proved to be a Spanish piratical slaver, mounting one long eighteen-pounder (an English gun), with a crew of thirty-six men. It is reported to have been a desperate affair, and that it was most miraculous that the boats escaped with such a slight loss in killed and wounded. We hear that Lieutenants Glynn and Boughey shared in the conflict with the gallant Lieutenant Wharton.”
2nd May – Captured the slave schooner Aurora
July – moved to the Southern Division of the African Squadron, between the Bight of Benin and Benguela. This region had a bad reputation for sickness and fevers (probably malaria), hence the old sailors rhyme – “Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in”
27th July – At St. Paul’o de Loando
October to December – Was spent cruising between St Paul de Loando and Benguela (Angola)
1849
January to March – Still in the Bight of Benin
23rd January – Captured the slave brig Igual
2nd February – Captured the slave brig Andorinha
11th February – St Helena – The slaver Igual, a prize of the Philomel arrived at the Island with Mr Woolridge in command.
24th February 1849 – Came the announcement – “The Philomel – Messrs Stillwell have also given notice to Commander W. C. Wood and the officers and men of this sloop, now on the West coast of Africa, that an account of the moiety of proceeds and tonnage-bounties for the Spanish schooner Antrevida, seized on the 14th October 1847, was deposited in registry of the High Court of Admiralty on the 19th inst.”
The Gazette gives notice that the accounts are about to be exhibited in the registry of the Admiralty of the following prizes:-
The Tito (slaver), Captured by the SIREN on May 26th 1847
The Phedro (slaver), Captured by the BITTERN January 29th 1847
The Bra Sorte, captured by the ALERT November 15th 1845/6?
The Constante Amizade, captured by the RAPID January 22nd 1847
A brig (Name unknown) captured by the MARINER August 11th 1847
The Atrevida, captured by the PHILOMEL October 11th 1847
And on March 22nd – “The officers and men of the Philomel, Commander W.C. Wood, will be paid, on the 25th April next at No. 22, Arundel-street, Strand, their respective proportions of the moiety of proceeds and of tonnage-bounties for the Spanish schooner Abrevida, seized on 11th October 1847. In all cases the list will be re-called at the same place each Wednesday and Thursday for the three months following. (It then goes on to list the share amounts from 1st to 13th)
2nd March – The British press in what was described as an exciting 10 hour chase came news of the Philomel’s capture (110 miles South West of Ambriz on the West Coast of Africa), of a large schooner with 600 slaves on board which was said to be her third prize within 5 weeks and included the celebrated Igual, the fastest vessel on that part of the coast.
11th March – Captured slave schooner Astucio
March – Captured slave schooner Zenobia (reported in the press, not shown in the Gazette)
26th May – Commander Wood died ‘...of a fever’, (the British press say 4th June and 26th May, after a long illness from repeated attacks of fever and that the ship is the next due to return to England and is expected to leave the coast on 1st August) the ship then being off St P de Loando; the First Lieutenant took over command initially then Lieutenant John O. Johnson from the flagship succeeded to bring her home (This was not reported in the British press until August when they printed – “Came the sad news that Commander Wood had died from fever in June off Ambriz and had been succeeded in command by his first Lieutenant Willoughby J. Lake, The acting flag Lieutenant was later appointed to replace Commander Wood.”
3rd July – Captured slave brig Albertina
16th July – Sailed from Loando to return to England
1st August – Sailed from Ascension
9th August – Sailed from Sierra Leone
14th September – Arrived at Spithead and discharged several invalids brought back from West Africa
15th September – Left Portsmouth
16th September – Arrived back in Plymouth
25th September – The ship paid off
The London Gazette reports the following captures, with the latter are the amounts that a Private RM (8th Class would have received):
Spanish schooner Antrevida, seized on the 11th of October 1847 - £1-10-2
Wandering Jew, seized on the 1 4th of January 1848 - £1-12-1
Slave schooner Aurora, seized on the 2nd of May 1848 - £ 1-1-11½
Igual, seized 23rd of January 1849 - £7-2-8
Andorinha, seized 2nd of February 1849 - £13-17-10.
Albertina, seized on the 3rd of July 1849 - £16-15-10
Slave schooner Astucio, seized on the 11th of March 1849 - £20-12-11
Over sixty pounds of prize money for a Private RM was a tremendous amount of money!
HMS Calliope – 9 December 1850 to 16 June 1855
9th December 1850 – Joined HMS Calliope, A 28 gun wooden sailing 6th rate of 1837 commanded (from commissioning at Plymouth) by Captain Sir James Everard Home, Australia (senior officer); then from March 1854 commanded by Captain John Coghlan Fitzgerald, Australia.
3rd December – The Calliope was commissioned by Lieutenant Marcus F. Brownrigg the Flag-Lieut. To Sir William Hall Gage the Plymouth port Admiral for Captain Sir James Everard Home, the ship was to have a complement of 195 officers and men.
December to January 1851 – Remained at Plymouth, fitting for sea
1851
30th January – Was to have left for New Zealand via New South Wales but was unable to due to adverse winds. It was reported that that 5 deer (2 Bucks and 3 Does) had been captured at Mount Edgecombe and had been sent aboard the Calliope to be taken to New Zealand for breeding.
8th February – Came the report in the United Service Gazette that a serious accident occurred onboard at Devonport: - The Calliope was being taken out of harbour into the Sound, in charge of Mr. Mills, Assistant Master Attendant, and in tow of the Avon steam vessel. She was starting all well, when it appears that the capstan not being properly attended to, the ship gained way on the men working at it, and on their walking back to give each hawser an equal strain, the capstan "ran away," carrying everyone before it; and the bars not being secured by swifters or pins, they flew about in all directions, knocking down everyone near them. The captain, Sir Everard Home; one of the Assistant Surgeons, Mr Newland Nettleton; a quartermaster; Jenkins an AB; and Oxford a marine; and James Dominey, a seaman; were so seriously injured it was found necessary to send them to the Royal Naval Hospital, where they were placed under the skilful charge of Dr. Rae and other medical officers of that excellent establishment. The Captain received severe wounds in the head and leg, and is going on favourably, and will probably be removed to the Calliope on Monday. Mr Nettleton, Surgeon's Assistant, was a severe case, and amputation below the knee was performed in the afternoon. His present condition is favourable. Knowland, Quartermaster, received a fracture of the cranium, and was struck in the abdomen. He never spoke afterwards, and died on Thursday morning. Oxford the Marine, had a contused face, and is recovering. A/B Jenkins, had a contused leg, and James Dominey a contused thigh, and are doing well.
10th February – The ship was mustered and inspected by the port Admiral. It is also noted that the hospital patients from the Calliope are progressing favourable.
1st March – Captain Home returned to the ship and sailed for New Zealand the next day with HMS Fantome. It was reported that they were to call in at Rio en route. Captain Home also took with him all the men who had been injured in the late accident, with the exception of the assistant Surgeon who have lost a leg, two of the injured were still on crutches.
11th March – Arrived at Madeira, remaining until the 16th.
21st to 26th April – Was spent at Rio de Janeiro
16th May – Arrived in Simonstown from Rio, remaining until the 28th.
10th to 12th July – Was spent at Hobart
14th July – Sailing from Hobart for Sydney. In a storm on the way, the ship was struck by lightening but apart from a strong smell of burning, little damage was done. It was reported in the British Press under the heading “HER MAJESTY'S SHIP CALLIOPE.—PRESERVATION FROM LIGHTNING “
It was described as “...a blaze of light and then a most terrific explosion”; luckily the conductors mounted on the masts did their job and the bolt did no damage
20th July – Arrived at Sydney
20th July to 24th November – Remained Based at Sydney
12th November – Report of the death by drowning at Sydney Harbour of Francis Methuen Noel, who was serving as a Mate on HMS Calliope.
5th to 17th December – spent at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand
20th December to 7th January 1852 – Moved to Auckland
1852
A letter received in Sydney dated Auckland 8th January mentioned that Gold had been discovered on the Island of Waiheki and that the Calliope whit the Bramble as her tender, had proceeded there to collect specimens and information
8th to 13th January – Was spent visiting Waiheke
16th January – At Mongonui
20th to 27th January – Visited Wellington
28th and 29th January – Called in at Mana
30th January – At Kapiti
3rd February – Called in at Nelson
13th February – In Queen Charlotte Sound
27th February to 9th March – Visited Lyttleton after calling in on Port Cooper
12th March – Visited Akaroa
27th to 30th March – Spent at Port Ross, Auckland Island Group
17th April – Arrived at Hobart
11th May – Called at Launceston
13th May – Arrived at Melbourne
28th May to 21st July – Remained based at Sydney and undergoing a refit
27th to 29th July – Called at Norfolk Island
8th to 15th August – Visited Tonga
25th August to 2nd September – Called at Vava’u
5th to 10th September – Visited Apia, Samoa
17th to 23rd September – Spent at Fiji
30th September to November – Visited several small Islands (“Ambow” - ‘Savage island’ – Howes’ Island - Rotuma)
19th December to 15th March 1853 – Based back at Sydney
1853
26th March to 3rd April – Was spent at Melbourne
24th April to 7th May – In King Georges Sound (at that time Western Australia's only deep-water port) at Albany.
15th May – Arrived at Hobart
June – At Port Arthur and then Nelson
5th to 19th July – Spent at Wellington
28th July – Arrived back at Auckland
8th August – Arrived at Auckland 14th August – To leave Auckland and return to Sydney and from there to visit the Solomon Islands to try and ascertain the fate of Mr. Benjamin Boyd (The following is taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia “Boyd was a Scottish-born Australian pioneer and entrepreneur who after several failed ventures, sailed to California on 26 October 1849. At the gold-diggings he had no success, and in June 1851 he sailed in his Yacht the Wanderer for a voyage among the Pacific islands with the aim of establishing a Papuan Republic or Confederation”).
“On 15 October 1851, while at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, Boyd went ashore with one native to shoot game. Soon after being seen entering a small creek in his boat, two shots were heard 15 minutes apart, Boyd was never seen again. A party was landed and search was made for him, but no trace of him could be found except a belt which had belonged to him. It appears to be certain that he was killed soon after he landed.”)
August and September - Visited Coromandel and Kawau
29th October to 4th March 1854 – Based at Sydney
2nd November – Captain Home died “...of paralysis” at Sydney; Commander John Gennys took over temporary command
1854
21st January – The British press reported that- “On the authority of letters received from Australia that Captain Home (the senior officer on the station) was very ill. He had imprudently been on an excursion to some unhealthy islands, contrary to good advice.”
They also later reported that he had died on the 2nd November 1843 and then added the following after a few das had passed. “Captain Sir Everard Home, Bart. C.B. of the Calliope, 26, the senior naval officer on the Australian station, died on the 2nd November, as noticed briefly in our last. The Calliope had only returned a few days before from an eight months cruise, her Captain then suffering from the effects of paralysis, with which he was seized while the vessel was off the coast of New Zealand. The deceased officer was interred at the Camperdown Cemetery on the 4th, with the usual naval and military honours”. It continued “Commander John H. Gennys of the Fantome is to be Acting-Captain of the Calliope”
25th March – Came the news from the China Station that the Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies, Vice-Admiral the Hon. Fleetwood Pellew, had filled up the death-vacancy of Captain Sir Everard Home by the promotion of Commander Wainwright (the son of the late Admiral Sir Francis Collier, K.C.B.) of the flag-ship Winchester to be its flag captain. Captain Fitzgerald who was flag captain of the Winchester has been appointed to the command of the Calliope in Australia and to the command of the Australian Division of the East India Station.
6th to 14th March – Visited Port Stephens
20th March to 13th April – Based at Brisbane; Captain Fitzgerald arrived to assume command
16th to 20th April – Visited Port Curtis
10th May – Arrived at Sydney under the command of Captain Fitzgerald from Port Curtis and Howes Island (NSW), with his excellently the Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy and suite. Based at Sydney (undertaking occasional short cruises undertaken in local area until her leaving to return to England in February 1855)
31st August – At Port Jackson (Australia)
22nd September – Back at Sydney
1855
27th February – Left Sydney to return to England.
30th March – Rounded Cape Horn
17th April – Arrived at Rio on her return to England, leaving Rio again on 19th.
8th June – Arrive back in Plymouth sound,.
12th June – The ship was paid off and her crew given six weeks leave.
The press summarised the return as –“The Calliope 36, Captain Fitzgerald, which arrived on Friday, left England on the 24th March 1851 and reached Sydney on 20th July. She then entered upon a service of civilization by visiting, with one or two exceptions, every port in the islands of New Zealand and after calling at Hobart Town, performed the next year a similar duty among the Fiji Isles, including the penal settlement of Norfolk Island and then returned to Sydney. Captain Sir Everard Home, who put her into commission and whose loss was felt by all hands, died November 3rd 1853, from a complaint which was increased by devotion to his profession.
While in Australia the Calliope lost several of her crew to desertion, who were replaced in the colony but from her detachment of marines commanded by Lieutenant Leslie, only one deserted. She left Melbourne on 27th February and was off Cape Horn on March 30th.
Lieutenant D’Arcy of the surveying vessel Herald, Captain Denham, on promotion and Mr Chevalier from Rio Janeiro she brought home as passengers. Her freight from Melbourne is 75,000 oz. of Gold. Her crew will be paid down and made available to the Sans Pariel and other ships”
Discharged on 20th July 1855 due to “loss of teeth” and he died in the third quarter of 1859
He seems to have briefly joined the RN after being discharged from the RM as:- Admiralty: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Coastguard a... ADM 29/55/544 Original page number: 544 James MOORE; Rating; Born: [Not Given]; Age on entry: 24; Dates served: 26th April 1854-23 February 1856; Date and Type of Application: Whitehall 11th July 1856 Robert NETHERTON; Rating; Born: [Not Given]; Age on entry: 35; Dates
Date: 1855 - 1856 Source: The Catalogue of The National Archives
A man of this name married a Mary Moss (born in Yealmpton Devon) in Qtr 2 1846 – This seems to fit with the three census' attached for her (1851 to 1871) showing her a widow back with her Father in 1861. She died in April 1879 in Plymton St Mary.
1851 Census – Mary living at 35, East Street, East Stonehouse as the married family head aged 36 with her son Alfred David Moss aged 5. (Sadly Alfred died in January 1852)
1861 Census – Mary living at Ham Barn, Weston Deverill, as a widowed House Keeper living with her father James Moss.
1871 Census – Mary living at 7, Weston Mill, Pennycross, Devon. Still with her father and brother Joseph as a Laundress