Dutch Captain: Jan Janszoon Boermans

Jan Janszoon Boermans served the Admiralty of Amsterdam during the First Anglo-Dutch War. at the beginning of the war, he was assigned to Witte de With's squadron. He commanded the Prins Willem (28 guns and a crew of 100 men) until her loss in late 1653. He took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July-August 1652 and survived the storm. He seems to have missed the battles in 1652, but seems to have fought in the Battle of Portland. We believe that he fought in the battles of the Gabbard and Scheveningen. That assessment is based on a notation on the list of ships lying at Vlissingen (and at the Texel and Goeree) in July 1653. The Prins Willem was one of the few ships actually named, although as the "Oude Prins". In October 1653, Jan Janszoon Boermans was with Witte de With and Michiel De Ruyter on the convoying mission from Norway to home waters. The Prins Willem was one of the ships lost in the storm. Witte de With had warned the authorities that the risk was great, but he was ordered to conduct the mission despite his warning. The storm caused as many losses a losing a battle to the English. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript “Dutch Captains”, 2005.
4. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.