Dutch Captain: Gerrit Schuyt

Gerrit Schuyt served the Amsterdam Directors. His ship, the Roseboom, was probably hired sometime in March 1652. The Roseboom was a modest sized-ship with dimensions of 118ft x 27ft x 12.5ft. She had a crew that varied between 98 and 105 men. Her armament was 28 guns, consisting of 12-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 6-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. Dr. Ballhausen says that Gerrit Schuyt fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. He was operating with the fleet in June and took part in the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. We also know that in December 1652, he was with a small squadron in the Baltic operating against what the Dutch were calling smugglers. Perhaps, they were ships trying to take Baltic goods to England. He was superceded in command by Bartholomeus Rietbeeck, who had been a lieutenant on the Valck, Cornelis Janszoon Brouwer's ship. We know that Gerrit Schuyt attended a council of war with Witte de With on 17 April 1653, on board the jacht Luipaard. We also know that Bartholomeus Rietbeeck was in command during the Battle of the Gabbard, when the Roseboom was captured by the English. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Directors Ship Information", 2003.
4. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
5. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.