Dutch Captain: Corstiaen Eldertszoon

Corstiaen Eldertszoon (or Elberszoon) served the Admiralty of Rotterdam. He commanded one of the 100 ships hired by the Admiralties in 1652. He ship, the Roskam, carried 26 guns and had a crew of 105 men. The Roskam was one of the 116ft x 27ft x 11ft ships built in 1639. He took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. While on the voyage, he took a smack carrying ashes for glass blowing. He apparently fought in the Battle of Dungeness. He was one of the captains that was to be sent to convoy ships to Nantes. He also fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, according to Dr. Ballhausen. He references Aitzema, Vol.III, page 833. My copy is hard to read, but I obviously need to take the time to study this page in the book. In early November 1653, the Roskam and three other ships came out of the Meuse to meet Witte de With and the merchant fleet he was escorting. They were eventually caught in the great storm, but apparently the Roskam survived. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.

2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.

3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript “Dutch Captains”, 2004.

4. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.

5. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.

6. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.

7. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.VI, 1930.