Archive for ‘Royal Navy’

For the Press Gang, All’s Fair in Love and War, 1755

“LONDON. Thursday Night [March 6, 1755] a Press-Gang [of the Royal Navy] went through the Alleys near Moorfields, and having Musick with them, drew out a great Number of People from the Houses, by which Means they picked up ...

More »

Admiral Cotes and British Naval Operations in the Caribbean, 1757

LONDON. “Extracts of two Letters from Vice-Admiral [Thomas] Cotes, Commander in Chief of his Majesty’s Ships at Jamaica, to Mr. [John] Cleveland, dated the 5th and 31st of December, 1757. ‘The 20th of November his majesty’s ship Assistance chaced a ...

More »

Sailors of the Royal Navy Freed from Slavery, 1760

“Ireland. Galway, June 12 [1760]. Monday last arrived in this harbour, the Europe of Guernsey, James Stearn, Master, from London, with Porter, Sugars, Iron and Junk, to Mr. Pierce Joyce of this town. On Friday last, said ...

More »

Officers and Men of HMS Greenwich at Cape François (1757)

[caption id="attachment_821" align="alignnone" width="520" caption="Cape Francois, 1759"][/caption] “Kingston [Jamaica], June 4.  Tuesday Evening arrived at Port-Royal, Mr. Perin Trott, late Surgeon’s Mate of the Greenwich, from Cape-Francois.  He escaped by breaking the Goal there, on the 18 ult. in Company with ...

More »

Wreck of HMS Mermaid (1759)

“The following is an account of the misfortune that befell his Majesty’s ship Mermaid on the 5th [December 1759], and of her situation, on the 10th, as given by Captain Hackman himself.  ‘His Majesty’s ship Mermaid, under my command, sailed ...

More »