Dutch Captain: Cornelis Beeckman

Cornelis Beeckman served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was born in the province of Gelderlandon 17 April 1662. He died on 21 December 1716. He was promoted to extra-ordinary captain in 1692. In 1696, he was promoted to kapitein-ter-zee. In 1716, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. He fought in the Battle of Vigo Bay, where he commanded the Katwijk (72 guns). He commanded the Aemilia (66 guns) in the capture of Gibraltar in 1704. In 1705, he took part in the capture of Barcelona. In 1707, he commanded a squadron in the Mediterranean Sea. Sources:

1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
2. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De Vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992.
3. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
4. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1861.

Dutch Captain: Philip van der Gijssen

Philip van der Gijssen served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1688, he commanded the Noord-Holland (46 guns) in the fleet that carried Willem III to England. In June 1689, he commanded the frigate Damiaten (36 guns) and operated under the command of Gerard Callenburgh in the Channel. Curiously, while De Jonge lists him with the fleet in 1688, Philip van der Gijssen is absent from the index. In 1696, he commanded the Amsterdam (64 guns) in the fleet commanded by Philips van Almonde. Sources:

1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Damiaten", 2005.

Dutch Naval Officer: Jacob Teengs

Jacob Teengs served the Admirlaty of Amsterdam. In 1691, Jacob Teengs commanded the frigate Groenwijf (36 guns). On 23 May 1703, Commandeur Jacob Teengs, in the ship Schermer (44 guns) fought in a sea battle in the Bay of Biscay. The French, under the command of Rene Duguay-Trouin, captured his ship and took him prisoner. He was exchanged in about 6 months. In 1732, he was on an Amsterdam Admiralty expedition against the Moroccans. There was also Jacob Teengs de Jonge, who commanded the small frigate Kroonvogel (16 guns) on convoy service in the North Sea in 1696. In 1697, he went to the Bay of Biscaye and was taken by Duguay-Trouin and taken into Nantes. In 1708, he was forced to go into an English port due to storm damage. Sources:

1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
2. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1861.
3. Konincklijke Marine, "Zeegevecht in de Golf van Biskaje, 22 mei 1703", undated.
4. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Groenwijf fregat 1667", 2005.
5. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Kroonvogel frigate 1666", 2005.

Marinus Juynbol and the ship Schiedam

The Admiralty of the Maze dismissed Marinus Juynbol from command on 20 February 1652. His brother, lieutenant Dirck Juynbol, was appointed in his place as captain of the ship Schiedam. From the "Admiralty of Rotterdam" list from 26 February 1652, we know that the Schiedam was one of the ships built to the same charter as the Gorcum and other ships. The dimensions in Maas feet of 12 inches was given as 106ft x 25ft x 10ft. From Dr. Weber, we know that dimensions in Amsterdam feet of the Gorcum, and persumably the other ships, were 116ft x 27ft x 11ft. The list gives the armament of the Schiedam as 26 guns. Sources:

1. Admiralty of Rotterdam, List of ships from 26 February 1652.
2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.VI, 1930.
3. H.A. van Foreest and R.E.J. Weber, De Vierdaagse Zeeslag 11-14 Juni 1666, 1984.

On 20 July 1652

Witte de With wrote that on 20 July 1652, he had in company with him 36 ships. This was from midday to 5pm. Hendrik Ernestus de Bertrij wrote in his journal that there were only 10 ships in company with De With, and that the reast must have included Schout-bij-Nacht Pieter Florissen's squadron of 26 ships. Combined together, this must have been the total of 36 ships that were mentioned. We believe that the following constituted De With's squadron:

M   Prinses Louise   36 guns   Vice-Admiral Witte de With
M   Gulden Beer      26 guns   Jan de Haes
M   Hollandia        26 guns   Hendrik Ernestus de Bertrij
A   Vrijheid         46 guns   Augustijn Balck
A   Prins Willem     28 guns   Jan Janszoon Boermans
A   Hollandia        32 guns   Albert de Graeff
A   Gouden Leeuw     24 guns   Gillis Thyssen Campen
A   Edam             28 guns   Barent Cramer
Z   Dordrecht*       17 guns*  Pieter Gorcum
N   ?                24 guns*  Teunis Vechterszoon

Estimates: * Unknown: ? Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.
3. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Dutch Captain: Rudolf Swaan

Rudolf Swaan (or Rudolph Swaen) served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He fought in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690, where he commanded the ship Noord Holland (44 guns). He was assigned to Cornelis Evertsen de Jongste's division. On 16 January 1697, he was one of five ships with Vice-Admiral Callenburgh, under the command of King Willem III, the winterfleet set sail from Portsmouth, England, headed for Biscaye to meet a merchant fleet. In a storm on 4 February, the ships belonging to captains van Wassenaer Starreburgh, Cornelis Jongknecht, and Jacob Teengs were damaged and in danger, while the ships of Rudolf Swaan and Jan Erasmus dragged their anchers and were lost, with 400 men. Sources:

1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst slag bij Bevesier 10 juli 1690", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Cornelis van der Zaan

Cornelis van der Zaan served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He is somewhat confusing, as there are various sources that give his dates differently. Is he the officer who was born about 1640 and lived until the 1690's? Prof. Bruijn seems to indicate that as does Mollema. I have a post about him that omits mention of his service in the War of the English Succession. In 1688, he commanded the Harderwijk (46 guns) in the fleet that took Willem III to England. He fought in the Battle of La Hougue on 2 June 1692, where he commanded the Amsterdam (64 guns). He was assigned to Philips van Almonde's division. Sources:

1. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
2. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
3. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.
4. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Familie van der Zaan", 2005.
5. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst La Hogue 2 juni 1692", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Jan Willem van Rechteren, Heer van Verborch

Jan Willem van Rechteren, Heer van Verborch, served the Admiralty of the Maze. On 2 June 1692, he fought in the Battle of La Hougue, where he commanded the Gelderland (64 guns). He was assigned to Karel van der Putten's division. In 1696, he was with Philips van Almonde's fleet, where he commanded the Zeeland (64 guns). In 1704, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Velez Malaga. Sources:

1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
2. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Algemeen Zaakregister, 1862.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst La Hogue 2 juni 1692", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Anthonij Pieterson

Anthonij Pieteron was born in The Hague on 13 January 1658. He died at Monster on 13 June 1722. In 1680, he was appointed as an extraordinary captain. In 1681, he was promoted to Kapitein-ter-Zee. He commanded in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690. He commanded the Maagd van Dordrecht (68 guns). He was assigned to Cornelis Evertsen's division. In 1696, he was in Geleijn Evertsen's squadron off of Cadiz, where he commanded the ship Hollandia (72 guns). On 20 November 1697, he was promoted to Schout-bij-Nacht. On 5 February 1700, the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier appointed him as a Vice-Admiral. He took part in the attack on Vigo Bay in 1702. On 15 March 1709, the Admiralty of the Maze appointed him as a Vice-Admiral. From 1711 to 1712, he commanded the squadron in the Mediterranean Sea. At various times, he served the Admiralties of the Maze and the Noorderkwartier. Sources:

1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
2. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De Vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992.
3. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
4. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Algemeen Zaakregister, 1862.
5. A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938.

Dutch Captain: Juriaan van der Poel

Juriaan van der Poel served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He fought in the Battle of Beachy Head, where he was assigned to Cornelis Evertsen de Jongste's division. He commanded the Maagd van Enkhuizen (72 guns). In June 1693, he fought in the defense of the Smyrna fleet. He commanded the Wapen van Medemblik (64 guns). His ship was taken, along with that of Captain Schrijver. Sources:

1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
2. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.

Dutch Captain: Herman Lijnslager

Herman Lijnslager served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He took part in an operation off Cadiz in 1696, under the command of Geleijn Evertsen, where he commanded the Banier (64 guns). The ships in Geleijn Evertsen's squadron were:

Z Walcheren    72 guns  Vice-Admiral Geleijn Evertsen
A Hollandia    72 guns  Anthonij Pieterson
A Gouda        72 guns  Anthonij Manart
Z Eerste Edele 72 guns  Cornelis Mosselman
N Enkhuizen    72 guns  Jan de Jongh
M Veluwe       66 guns  Johan van Convent
A Banier       64 guns  Herman Lijnslager
F Prins Friso  64 guns  Joseph Willem van Ghent
A Muiderberg   50 guns  Paulus van der Perre
fireship                Commandeur Desherbiers (French)
fireship                ?

He fought in the Battle of Vigo Bay on 22 October 1702, where he commanded the Reigersbergen (74 guns). There is a painting of the battle, which gives a sense of the confined space. On 23 August 1704, he fought in the Battle of Velez Malaga, where he commanded the Nijmegen (74 guns). He was killed in the battle. Sources:

1. William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898.
2. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1869.
3. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Algemeen Zaakregister, 1862.
4. A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938.

Dutch Captain: Gerrit Polanen

Gerrit Polanen served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1665, he commanded the yacht Brak (18 guns and a crew of 75 men) and fought in the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was assigned to Lt-Admiral van Wassenaer's squadron. The Brak was presumably the three-masted yacht built in 1649, with dimensions of 115ft x 23ft x 10.5ft. There is no further mention of him in the published sources available to me. Sources:

1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

Dutch Captain: Willem Hendrickszoon van der Veere

Willem Hendrickszoon van der Veere served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He fought in the Battle of Lowestoft on 13 June 1665 (new style), where he commanded the hoeker Zouteland (4 guns and a crew of 18 men). He was assigned to Cornelis Evertsen de Oude's squadron. On 4-5 August 1666, he fought in the St. James's Day Battle, where he commanded the three-masted yacht Prins te Paard (14 guns and a crew of 75 men). Sources:

1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.

Dutch Captain: Andries Sijbrantszoon

Andries Sijbrantszoon served the Amsterdam Directors. He commanded the ship Purmerlant. He had been part of Evert Anthonissen's small unit that was involved with convoying and local defense off Vlieland in late May 1653. They were redeployed to the Texel roads, and took part in the Battle of Scheveningen, where Evert Anthonissen's ship was lost. Andries Sijbrantszoon was with Witte de With's fleet that sailed to Norway and back and got caught in the storm in early November 1653, off the Texel. The Purmerlant survived the storm and on 12 November was lying on the southeast side of the Texel island. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.

Perhaps the Koninklijke Bibliotheek has Hendrick Ernst de Bertry's journal

I realized that the Koninklijke Bibliotheek has a list of pamphlets that Dr. Elias calls "Pamflet Knuttel". Apparently, that is the publication by KNUTTEL, W.P.C., Catalogus van de Pamfletten-Verzameling berustende in de Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Utrecht,1978. This is the reprint of the 1890-1920 edition. "Met handgeschreven verbeteringen, aanvullingen en varianten.Inleidend essay en handleiding voor de gebruiker door H. van der Hoeven". With a summary in English. 9 parts in 10 vols. Ocl,4763p. - 'Description of ca. 35.000 pamphlets. Standard-work'. The cost from one bookseller is 972 euros. One item that I am particularly interested in is "Journael of Dag-Register, Gehouden op het Schip Hollandia. Daer Capiteyn op is Jonkheer Hendrik Ernst de Bertry" (which Dr. Elias says is Pamflet Knuttel no.7178). The journal dates from 1652. The Hollandia was a ship hired by the Admiralty of Rotterdam.

Dutch Captain: Gerrit Klaeszoon Posthoorn

At the beginning of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, Gerrit Klaeszoon Posthoorn served the Middelburg Chamber of the VOC. He commanded the VOC warship Agatha (32 guns and a crew of 105 men) and fought in the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was assigned to Volckert Schramm's Seventh Squadron. He still commanded the Agatha with De Ruyter's fleet in August 1665. Volckert Schramm's squadron was composed mostly of ships belonging to the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. After 1665, the VOC ships were removed from the fleet. Gerrit Klaeszoon Posthoorn fought in the St. James's Day Battle, where he commanded a Noorderkwartier frigate, the Wapen van Hoorn (30 guns and a crew of 150 men) in Cornelis Tromp's squadron. By 1670, he was back in the VOC service, this time for the Hoorn Chamber of the VOC. He made a voyage to the East Indies in 1670 on the ship Gekroonde Vrede". Sources:

1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
2. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
3. Carl Stapel, personal communication about ship names and VOC ships, 2005.

It looks like I will not be able to get two journals

Dr. Elias mentioned the journals of Hendrick Ernestus de Bertrij and Symon Veghterszoon, but without more information, Rick van Velden will not try to look for them at the Nationaal Archief. I can understand that the primary issue is "where would I look?".

The Hollandsche Tuin, built in 1598 for Amsterdam

There is a painting of the Hollandsche Tuin (or Hollandsche Tuyn) by Hendrick Vroom at the Rijksmuseum at Amsterdam. The ship was four-masted and had high-sides, as had contemporary English ships. We seem to not have the dimensions for the Hollandsche Tuin, but it turns out that Ab Hoving, in his book about Nicolaes Witsen, has dimensions for very old Dutch ships:

Year  Name              Length  Beam     Hold       Lasts          Factor for lasts

1590  Vergulde Leeuw     90ft   23/24ft  10ft         75 lasts     276/288
1592  Tonijn             94ft   26ft     13ft        100/120 lasts 264/318
1592  Dolphijn          100ft   26.5ft   13.5/11.5ft 100/140 lasts 218/256/305/358
1593  Neptunus          102ft   33ft     13.5ft      250 lasts     181
1593  Valk               90ft   29ft     12ft         80 lasts     350
1598  Tijger             90ft   25ft     12ft         80 lasts     338
1601  Zilver Ster       104ft   25ft     10ft        130 lasts     200

Where I see factors that are too large, I suspect that the lasts are wrong. Factors such as 200 or 218 are reasonable. 338, 350, or 358 are not. If I were calculating, based on dimensions, I would say that the last factors should be as follows:

1590  Vergulde Leeuw     90ft   23/24ft  10ft        95/100 lasts    
1592  Tonijn             94ft   26ft     13ft        150 lasts
1592  Dolphijn          100ft   26.5ft   13.5/11.5ft 160/140 lasts
1593  Neptunus          102ft   33ft     13.5ft      200 lasts    
1593  Valk               90ft   29ft     12ft        140 lasts    
1598  Tijger             90ft   25ft     12ft        120 lasts    
1601  Zilver Ster       104ft   25ft     10ft        120 lasts    

Where I see great deviations, I suspect that either there is at least one bad dimension, or that the last figure is faulty. The factor can fluctuate between 200 and 240, but outside that range either says that one of the factors that I mention is at work, or else the ship's form is very extreme. Lasts are a measure of volume, and the factor is trying to describe the form versus the box made by the length x beam x depth in hold. Sources:

1. Johan E. Elias, De Vlootbouw in Nederland 1596-1655, 1933.
2. A. J. Hoving, Nicolaes Witsens Scheeps-Bouw-Konst Open Gestelt, 1994.

Dutch Fireship Commandeur: Willem Meerman

Willem Meerman served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He commanded the fireship Hoop (6 guns and a crew of 13 men) at the Four Days' Battle in June 1666. Cornelis Evertsen de Oude had been trying to capture John Harman's ship, the Henry. He had finally sent in two fireships, but they were beaten off and the fires had been extinguished thanks to John Harman not panicking. When Evertsen sent in Willem Meerman's fireship, the Hoop, John Harman had fired with the four culverins in the stern, using chain shot. The Hoop's main yard was hit and fell, causing the attack to cease. At the St. James's Day Battle in August 1666, he commanded the fireship Eendracht (2 guns and a crew of in Jan Evertsen's squadron. In June 1667, he commanded the fireship Hoop with the fleet. On 7 June 1672, he fought in the Battle of Solebay, where he commanded the fireship Middelburg. On 23 June, he was with the fleet while it was lying off Walcheren. Sources:

1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Willem Meerman", 2005.

Action on 27 July 1659 (old style?)

In an arrangement that seems contrary to the supposed Dutch-English cooperation to end the war between Denmark and Sweden, the English had sent Sir George Ayscue, Major Owen Cox, twelve other captains, 14 lieutenants, and about 300 sailors. On 6 July 1659, Owen Cox commanded a squadron that sailed from Landskrona, headed for the Little Belt. The Swedish Admiral Wrangel sent him to Ebeltoft, "on the Jylland coast". He was to attack a Danish-Dutch squadron that was going to attempt another attack on Fyen (Funen). The Danes and Dutch were greatly out-matched. These were the fleets:

Sweden: Mars (44 guns), Apollo (46 guns), Vestervik (44 guns), Fides (36 guns), Nordstjerna (40 guns), Fortuna (30 guns), Engel (24 guns), one fireship, and one bojort. The last three named ships were hired merchantmen.

Denmark: Graa Ulv (36 guns) and Johannes (20 guns).

Netherlands: Wapen van Enkhuizen (27 guns), Prins Willem (28 guns), and Monnikendam (32 guns).

A battle ensued that resulted in the Wapen van Enkhuizen exploding and the other four Danish and Dutch ships surrendering. All the transports were burnt and 1000 troops were captured. At Aarhus, Owen Cox took and burnt another 30 transports. The day after his return to the Sound ib 29 July, he "was promoted to Vice-Admiral".

Sources:

1. Ailes, Mary Elizabeth, "Ships, Sailors, and Mediators: England's Naval Aid to Sweden 1658–1659", The Historian 67 (2), pages 275-298, 2005.
2. R. C. Anderson, Naval Wars in the Baltic, 1910.

Dutch Captain: Jan Rootjes (or Rootiers)

Vreugdenhil says that the Koning Radbout (or Radboud) was an Amsterdam Directors' ship. That seems to be based on Thurloe's list from 22 June 1653 that has many errors in assignments to Directors and Admiralties. Our best information indicates that Jan Rootjes (or Rootiers) served the Medemblik Directors, based on a definite statement by Dr. Elias. He probably fought in the Battle of Scheveningen. According to the list of ships at Vlissingen in July 1653, there were no Medemblik Directors' ships present at the Gabbard, although the list in Thurloe would suggest otherwise. Dr. Ballhausen calls him Captain Rootjes, and says that his ship was named Raadhuis van Medemblik. He definitely was with Witte de With's fleet on the voyage to Norway to convoy merchant ships home. He seems to have been definitely lost with his ship in the storm, along with his entire crew ("mice and men").

1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
3. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.VI, 1930.
5. A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938.

Blake's capture of a French squadron near Calais

Cromwell had been coveting the port of Dunkirk and hoped to take it from the French. In France, Prince Conde had "revived the Fronde". Prince Conde had asked for help from both Spain and England. Cromwell was reluctant to get involved. Cromwell's emissary, Fitzjames, proposed to the governor of Dunkirk, Estrades, that Dunkirk be "ceded to England". Estrades had communicated with his government, which gave their consent to Estrades to continue negotiations, hoping that Dunkirk might receive an English garrison. Cardinal Mazarin was now back in charge in France, and he took steps to supply Dunkirk, which was beseiged by Spain. The French garrison had munitied, however, as they had not received their pay. In March, when Estrades was ready to bring in the English, they balked. Cardinal Mazarin had also reservations that caused him to be opposed to the plan. They had suppressed the mutiny, and a relief expedition with supplies was being prepared.

The squadron consisted of 8 ships and 6 fireships:

Triton         31 guns   flagship  Captain Du Menillet  captured
"Shepherd"     29 guns             Captain Boismorand   csptured
"Gift of God"  30 guns             Captain La Carte     captured
"Duchess"      22 guns             Captain La Roche     captured
"Crescent"     26 guns             Captain Villedot     captured
"Hunter"       28 guns             Captain Verdille
St. Louis      28 guns             Captain De Gorris    captured
Le Fort                            Captain Verger

6 fireships

The "Caesar", "Virgin", and "Anna", along with fireships, stayed at Dieppe.

There is less information about the English fleet, but we know that they had the Sovereign (86 guns) and Resolution (68 guns), Blake's flagship. The Sovereign led the attack, which took 14 ships, including the 6 fireships and an 8-gun Calais frigate. The supply ships for Dunkirk were dispersed. Another report included the "Hunter" in the list of ships captured. A French report says that only the "Shepherd" escaped to Le Havre.

The list prepared by Pierre Le Conte includes mention of ships taken by the English in 1652. This list omits the article (l', le, la). The ship list includes the following:

Fort        26 guns     Built in Holland in 1646               400-500 tons
Triton      26-30 guns  Built in Holland in 1638 and purchased 400-500 tons
Duchesse    16 guns     Built at Brest in 1644                 200 tons
Don de Dieu 26 guns     hired in 1652                          480 tons
Neptune    
Saint-Louis
Croissant
Chasseur de Saint Malo

This list may include a ship or two taken at some other time.

Sources:

1. Pierre Le Conte, Lists of Men of War, Part II: French Ships, 1648-1700, 1935.
2. J. R. Powell, "Blake's Capture of the French Fleet before Calais, 4 September 1652", Mariner's Mirror 48 (1962), pp.192-201.

Dutch Captain: Daniel Corneliszoon Brackman

Daniel Corneliszoon Brackman served the Admiralty of Zeeland in 1652. He commanded one of the 100 ships hired under the Extraordinary Equipage of 1652. Hendrick de Raedt's pamphlet calls his last name Barckman, but we see from handwritten documents that Brackman seems to be correct. We know nothing else about his ship than the funding. There is very little information in the published literature. He served with the fleet in June to August 1652. From July to August, he was on the voyage to the Shetlands and survived the storm to take part in Tromp's council of war on 6 August. There is no more information in published sources. We have to look in documents from the archives to see that he is absent from the fleet in late September. Sources:

1. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
2. Nationaal Archief, Staten Generaal, Inventory Nr. 12580.10.1-11.
3. Nationaal Archief, Staten Generaal, Inventory Nr. 5550, dated 23 September 1652.
4. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Ships lost in the storm during 7, 8, and 9 November 1653 off the Texel (CORRECTED)

Witte de With's returning fleet from Norway was caught in a storm off the Texel during 7th, 8th, and finally the destructive 9th of November 1653. This is based on the list in Dr. Elias's book. There were many conflicting reports that are confusing. Many ships were damaged and dismasted, but this is the list of those lost:

Officer:                        Admiralty:           Ship:              Guns: Crew:
Adriaan Nicolaesz. Kempen       Zeeland              Amsterdam             30 120
Ariaan Heeres Cleyntien         Harlingen Directors  Sint Vincent          28?100
Markus Hartman                  Zeeland Directors    Gekroonde Liefde      36 145
Jan Egbertszoon Ooms            Amsterdam            Gouda                 28 100
Evert Pieterszoon Swart         VOC-Amsterdam        Gerechtigheid          ?   ?
Jan Janszoon Boermans   Noorderkwartier(ex-Amst'dam) Prins Willem          28 100
Jan Reynderszoon Wagenaar       Friesland            Prins Hendrick        30   ?
Dirck Hendrickszoon Vogelsang   Amsterdam Directors  Koning David          28   ?
Cornelis Tiebij                 Zeeland Directors    Luipaard               ?   ?
Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol       Amsterdam Directors  Moorin                28   ?
Jan Rootiers                    Medemblik Directors  Koning Radbout         ?   ?
Jacob Adriaansz. Penssen        Middelburg Directors Gouden Leeuw          30 110

Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.VI, 1930.

Dutch Captain: Jacob Schellinger

Jacob Schellinger served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. From later in 1652 until 1653, he commanded the hired ship Venetia (28 guns and a crew of 100 men). He was absent from the Battle of Livorno on 14 March 1653. He may have been with the squadron of 8 ships off of Messina. Andrew believes that Jacob Schellinger most likely served under Venice from 1649 until 1651. A number of the hired ships that served under Dutch command in 1652 and 1653 served under Venetian command during that period, including the Madonna della Vigna, which was the only Dutch ship lost at Livorno (see the Battle of Focchies). The index for The First Dutch War is abysmal, and confuses Pieter Schellinger with Jacob Schellinger. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "The First Dutch War in the Mediterranean," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.49, No.4, November 1963.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.

Dutch Captain: Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker

Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker served the Hoorn Directors. He commanded a ship, whose name we have not been able to find, that carried 28 guns and had a crew of 105 men. He served with the fleet in June 1652 and was on the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. There is a handwritten document dated 24 July 1652 that lists him with Tromp's fleet. On 18 October, his ship was one of those which joined the fleet commanded by Witte de With, following the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He also took part in the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December 1652. There is mention of him by Lt.-Admiral Tromp in late January 1653 saying that Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker's ship was one of those mssing after a storm. The other ships survived the storm, so we would have expected that his would have, as well, but there is no further mention of him in the published literature available to me.

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
4. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.

Dutch Captain: Sijmon van der Aeck

Sijmon van der commanded the hired ship Amsterdam (30 guns) in 1652. On 5 August, his was one of six ships lying in the Texel roads. He was assigned to De Ruyter's fleet in early August. He had fought in the Battle of Plymouth on 26 August 1652. He was still with De Ruyter when they joined Witte de With's fleet. On 2 October, his ship was sent in for repairs along with other ships from De Ruyter's fleet that received considerable damage in the previous battle. In early March of 1653, apparently shortly after the Battle of Portland, his ship was said to be still off Amsterdam being repaired. We hear nothing more of Sijmon van der Aeck after this. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Dutch Captain Matthijs Corneliszoon

Matthijs Corneliszoon served the Amsterdam Directors. He commanded the Sint Salvador, hired by the Directors in early 1652. His lieutenant was Jan Janszoon Lons. The Sint Salvador was a sizable ship, having dimensions of 130ft x 30ft x 13-1/2ft with a height between decks of 6-1/2ft. Dr. Ballhausen says that he fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. Matthijs Corneliszoon participated in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. On 8 November 1652, the Sint Salvador had a crew of 125 men and carried 34 guns, consisting of 4-brass 18pdr of the State, 14-12pdr, 10-8pdr, 4-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. His name could have been spelled sometimes as Matheeus or Mathijs, as well. I also suspect that he had a last name following Corneliszoon that does not show in the sources available to us. In any case, he is not mentioned in our sources after the 8 November 1652 date. Sources:

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

Dutch Naval Officer: Henricus Rosaeus (or Roseus)

Henricus Rosaeus (or Roseus) served the Admiralty of Amsterdam as a fireship commander. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle in 1666, where he commanded the fireship Brak (4 guns) in Cornelis Tromp's squadron. During the attack on Chatham in June 1667, he commanded the fireship Wapen van London. Because of his lack of initiative, he was removed from his fireship, put on board the Gelderland, and given a chance to show improvement. In 1671 and 1672, he commanded the fireship Beemster. He fought in the Battle of Solebay. He commanded the fireship Velsen in the first Schooneveld Battle on 7 June 1673. On 18 March 1677, he was present at the burial of Michiel De Ruyter. Sources:

1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
2. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Henricus Rosaeus", 2005.

Dr. Ballhausen had reference for Witte de With using the Jonas as his flagship in December 1652

Dr. Ballhausen, on page 395 of his book, says that in late 1652, Witte de With flew his flag on the Jonas, the Rotterdam Directors' ship that was commanded by Jan de Liefde (36 guns and a crew of 125 men). Dr. Ballhausen says that he source is the Rotterdamsche Historiebladen, published in Rotterdam in 1880. Sources:

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

Dutch Captain: Harmen Walman

Harmen Walman served the Amsterdam Directors. In June 1653, he commanded the ship Hollandsche Tuin (32 guns), a fluit. Apparently, the day after the Battle of Scheveningen ended, his ship was towed mastless to the Texel. In September, he was cleared by a courtmartial of misconduct during the battle (one of six so cleared). His ship was one those mentioned by Witte de With on 11 August 1653 as having run from the battle. There is some confusion, as another letter mentions Joris Block as the captain of the Hollandsche Tuin on 12 August. Dr. Elias is the one who says it was Harmen Walman. We believe that we know the specifications of the Hollandsche Tuin:

Hollandsche Tuin
Amsterdam Directors

Hired circa 28 January 1653

Dimensions: 130ft x 29ft x 13-1/2ft
Height between decks: 6-3/4ft

32 guns:  4-18pdr, 10-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 8-6pdr, and 2-3pdr

Sources:

1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Directors' Ship Information 1652-1653", 2004.
4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.

Google Book Search

The Google Book Search is starting to have materials relating to 16th and 17th Century naval history. For example, do a search for Hendrick de Raedt and it will take you to a page in Vol.I of The First Dutch War, a book that I frequently reference.

Dutch Captain: Philips Joosten

Philips Joosten served the Admiralty of Zeeland. During the summer and fall of 1652, he commanded the hired ship Hollandia, which was eventually paid off. He took part in voyage to the Shetlands, as he attended a council of war on 5 July, and then the council of war on the Brederode on 6 August, following the storm. Hendrik de Raedt's pamphlet omits him, as it does others. On 17 September, he was with Witte de With's fleet, prior to the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He probably fought in the battle. Later in October, the crews of some ships refused to serve in ships that they felt were unseaworthy. The Hollandia was one of those ships, as was the Sint Jeronimus. Philips Joosten wrote a letter to the Admiralty of Zeeland, dated 5 November 1652, which explained the situation. The crew explained that the admiralty had promised that they would only have to go to sea for one voyage. "After all, this is a free country". Apparently, Captain Banckert was effected, as well. Sources:

1. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
4. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Dutch Captain: Leendert den Haen

We cannot be sure, but Leendert den Haen probably served one of Directors from Zeeland, rather than the Admiralty of Zeeland. He was with De Ruyter's fleet in the summer of 1652 and fought in the Battle of Plymouth on 26 August 1652. He commanded the ship Haes in 't Veld, a ship carrying 30 guns and a crew of 108 men. On 12 August, De Ruyter ordered Captains Bouckhorst, de Haen, and Jan van Nes de Jonge Boer, commanding Aert Janszoon van Nes's ship, the Gelderland, to convoy a merchant ship to the Somme and then to return "as quickly as possible". There was a collision and Leendert de Haen's ship was lying in the Somme with the Gelderland, despite Leendert den Haen's ship not having suffered any damage. He was with De Ruyter's fleet when they joined Witte de With's fleet on 2 October. He likely fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock. We also know that in 1654, he commanded the small frigate Harder (20 guns), a vessel 100ft long. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
2. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Old Dutch ships

Thanks to Carl Stapel's research, we know dimensions for some pretty old Dutch warships. For the ship that have both lasts and dimensions, I calculated the factor. The formula for calculating lasts is as follows:

Lasts = length x beam x hold / K

This is the list:

Adm Ship      Captain                Built Size     K     Length Beam     Hold
A   Dolfijn   Marten Zegersz.        1593  125lasts 243.8 100ft  26-1/2ft 11-1/2ft
A   Kraan     Cornelis van Grieken                         90ft  25ft     12ft
A   Neptunus  unknown                1593  250lasts 183.5 102ft  33ft     13-1/2ft
A   Utrecht   unknown         listed 1607                  90ft  27-1/4ft 11ft
Z   Neptunus  unknown                1596* 200lasts        62ft? 27ft     

Sources:

1. Carl Stapel, personal communication "a ship from 1593", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Neptunus", 2005.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Gibraltar 25 april 1607", 2006.