Pieter Schellinger served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. At the beginning of the First Anglo-Dutch War, he commanded the Stad van Medemblick, one of the 36 cruisers funded in 1651. Initially, the Stad van Medemblick carried 26 guns and had a crew of 100 men, but later, she carried 30 guns and had a crew of 110 men. In July and August 1652, he was with Tromp's fleet on he voyage to the Shetlands. The Resolutions of the States General mentions Captain Schellinger as being at the Battle of the Kentish Knock. Dr. Ballhausen mentions him, as well, although that is not a reference that would ordinarily impress me. More likely, he was in the Baltic under the command of Augustijn Balck. Certainly, at the end of November 1652, he was one of 15 ships and their captains engaged in convoying in the winter season of long nights. As they set sail for the Baltic on October 29th, perhaps he could have been at the Kentish Knock and the voyage to the Baltic. He definitely fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, where his ship was captured by the English. We suspect that he was killed in the battle. Dr. Ballhausen lists him as being at the following battles and operations (new style dates):
- Battle of Dover on May 29th, 1652,
- Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July-August 1652,
- Battle of the Kentish Knock on October 8th, 1652,
- Battle of the Gabbard on June 12-13, 1652
Sources:
C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
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Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1925.
Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.
Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
