Adm Ship Captain Guns Crew Size N Vliegende Texel Jan Maertsz Aecker ? ? ? lasts R Vliegende Arent Pieter Jansz Aersgat 120 lasts R a jacht Aert Aertsz ? ? 20 lasts A Sphera Mundi Evert Anthonisz ? ? 100 lasts R a jacht Jan Gijsbertsz Arckel ? ? ? lasts R Leeuwinne Cornelis de Bagijn ? 90 180 lasts A Meermin Claes Gerritsz Bardenwijl ? ? 100 lasts N Waterhond,jacht Dirck Barentsz ? 55 40 lasts R a ship Captain Beaumont ? ? ? lasts R Jonas Martin Crijne Beermans ? ? 90 lasts Z? Zeeuwsche Leeuw Joosten Berck ? 85* 160 lasts A Orangieboom Dirck Jansz Bijnacht ? ? 120 lasts N Dido, jacht Harman Block 10 59 48 lasts Z Arent Jacob Danielsz Blockmaecker 70 ? lasts A Gouden Leeuw Jan Bocnan 32 85 ? lasts A Gulde Raven Cornelis Jacobsz Boes ? ? 100 lasts N Roode Leeuw Herman Bondervijnon ? 85 130 lasts R Abrahams Offerande Claes Jorisz Bontenburch ? 85 180 lasts A Sint Clara Cornelis Jacobsz Bors 20 80 100 lasts A Goude Leeuw Hans Bournon 24 85 150 lasts 4/1628 A Roode Leeuw Hans Bournon ? 100 150 lasts later in 1628 Z Sonne (Zon) Pieter Jansz Bovne ? 40 ? lasts A Arnhem Abraham Pietersz van Brakel ? 30 ? lasts A Duijff Pieter Aertsz van Brakel ? 42 ? lasts A Witte Leeuw Willem van Brederode ? ? 90 lasts Z Hoop Cornelis Legiersz Broeder ? 30 ? lasts R Mars Jan Matthijsz Brouwer 6 30 36 lasts R Abraham Jan Bruijnsertsz ? ? 150 lasts R Donnoseiheijt Pieter Loijsz Bul ? ? 40 lasts N Mars Willem Codde van den Burch ? 100 160 lasts Z Zeepaert Jacob Cornelisz Calis ? 70 80 lasts A Windhond, jacht Tijs Hermansz van Campen ? ? 40 lasts A Meerminne Floris Jansz Cats 16 70 100 lasts A Zeeland Joris van Cats 30 95 200 lasts A Goude Leeuw Tijmen Claesz 12 60 80 lasts 3/1628 A Macreel, jacht Tijmen Claesz ? ? 60 lasts later in 1628 A Swarte Beer Willem Jansz Clas 18 75 120 lasts R Neptunis, boat Daniel Climmer ? ? 40 lasts Z Eenhoorn Jan de Cock ? 30 ? lasts N Eendracht Willem Jansz Codde 36 100 300 lasts 5/1628 N Mars Willem Jansz Codde ? 90 160 lasts 1628 R a jacht of war Jan Marinusz Coelantrouwer ? ? 20 lasts R Hollandsche Tuin Pieter Marinusz Coelantrouwer 4* 30 40 lasts R Witte Fortuijn Joris Alexander de Coninck 8 26 30 lasts N Valck Volckert Coninck ? 75 150 lasts R Swarte Leeuw Frans Jacobsz Coniv 16 80 130 lasts A Wapen van Edam Hendrick Hendricksz Cop ? 100 150 lasts Z a ship Daniel Cornelisz ? 20 ? R Drie Coningen Pieter Cornelisz ? ? 80 lasts Z Aeolus Adriaan Sanders van Cruiningen? ? 170 lasts N Griffoen Cornelis Cuijter ? 75 100 lasts A Heij Wolfert van Deijman 18 60 60 lasts A Leiden Hendrick Cornelisz Denijs ? ? 110 lasts A Gelderland Hendrick Cornelisz Denijs 26 120 200 lasts R a new galley Jan van Dieman ? ? ? lasts R Duijvel Joris Dirck ? ? 40 lasts N Medemblick Jan Dircksz ? 75 150 lasts N Gouden Leeuw Jacob Sijmonsz Dolphijn ? 75 180 lasts A Huis van Nassau Barent Pietersz Dorrevelt 22 80 130 lasts R Sonne (Zon) Dirck Willemsz Duijmass 6 40 30 lasts Z Neptunis Pieter Cornelisz Duivichrijck ? 30 ? lasts N Hollandsche Tuin Jan Eliasz 28 85 200 lasts Z Zeeridder Jan Evertsen ? ? 180 lasts Z Zeeridder Jan Ewoutsz ? 90 180 lasts R a frigate Adriaan Claesz Fib ? ? ? lasts A Overijssel Anthonis Florisz 24 85 150 lasts N Swarte Beer Jacob Fransz 20 75 160 lasts N Hoop Gerrit Claesz Fuijter 22 75 150 lasts Z Dolphijn Nicolaes Jansz Gauw ? 35 60 lasts R Engel Jacob Fransz de Geris 4 30 30 lasts N Neptunis Jan Gijlsz ? 85 240 lasts A Tonijn Dirck Jansz Goethaes 18 85 140 lasts R Salm Lucas Jaspersz van Goutvelt 6 30 28 lasts R Braessen Jan Coenens Gruijs ? ? ? lasts Z Liefde Adriaan Marinusz Hackelaer 35* 40 lasts A Thetis Anthonis van der Haept 36 100 250 lasts N Groene Draeck Jan Ysbrantsz Halfhoorn 30 85 150 lasts N Groene Draech Claes Jansz Ham 30 85 150 lasts 5/1628 N Makreel Claes Jansz Ham ? 75 120 lasts R Bonte Kraan Gerrit Claesz Ham 6 30 28 lasts A Jaeger Cornelis Gerritsz Hasevelt 10 50 60 lasts R Neptunis Joris Gijsbert van Heert ? ? 30 lasts A Witte Beer Chijs Hermantsz 22 70 100 lasts A Vliegende Hert Jacob Hermantsz 20 100 110 lasts A Brack Harman Mourisz Hobbe 6 ? ? lasts N Zeehaan Albert Cornelisz 't Jonge Hoen ? 75 130 lasts N Neptunis Govert Albertsz 't Hoen 28 85 240 lasts Z Witte Leeuw Geleijn Pietersz Holck ? 70 80 lasts Z Postpaert Jan Hollaer ? 85 140 lasts Z Sampson Vice-Admiral Marinus Hollaer ? 50 ? lasts R Steur Pieter Willemsz de Jaeger ? ? 16 lasts A Witte Beer Pieter Jansz ? ? 100 lasts A Haringen Ewout Jeronsz ? ? ? lasts R Neptunis Claes Marinusz Juynbol 26 85 170 lasts Z Sint Joris Adriaan Kempen ? 90 180 lasts R Halve Maen Jan Jansz van den Kerckhoff ? 90 180 lasts N Orange Storck,boat Maerten Sijbrantsz Krook ? 55 50 lasts N Vliegende Draeck Cornelis Kuijt 24 85 180 lasts Z Vos Cornelis Jansz Lantschot ? 36 ? lasts A Goude Leeuw Jan Jansz de Lapper ? ? 50 lasts A Gecroonde Leeuw Jan Jansz de Lapper ? 75 110 lasts 2/1628 R Dolphijn Willeboort Leendertsz 27 85 170 lasts R a ship Cornelis van Leeuw 16 50 36 lasts A Groene Draeck Frans Lemmen ? ? 100 lasts A Swarte Stekende Leeuwinne Anthonis van Lieterkecke ? ? 50 lasts R Groene Vligende Draeck Jasper Liefhebber ? 95 220 lasts R a ship Aert Lieffkint 8 50 40 lasts R Roode Leeuw Pieter Dircksz Liesskint ? ? 40 lasts R Delft, galley Vigoreus van der Linden 3 30 36 lasts Z Hond Cornelis Loncke ? 80 150 lasts A Macreel Pieter Luijtsz ? ? ? lasts R Sint Jan, boat Cornelis Maes ? ? 40 lasts N Meibeeck* Commandeur Melcknap ? 31 ? lasts N a ship Jan Melcknap ? 100 ? lasts A Hollandia Cornelis Moons ? ? 100 lasts A Brack Herman Mourisz ? ? 40 lasts A a ship Pieter van Murop ? ? ? lasts R a ship Jan van Nes ? ? ? lasts A a ship Willem Adriaansz van Nesselmonde ? ? ? lasts A Zwoll Thomas Pietersz Nolleman 24 80 100 lasts R Sint Anthonis,boat Adriaan Ongensen 18 ? 65 lasts R Dijntvogel Cornelis Teunisz Onteboter ? ? 26 lasts A a ship Jan Pellicoorms ? ? ? lasts Z Zeelandschen Post Jan Philipsz ? 20 ? lasts A Zeehaan, frigate Rombout Philipsz ? ? ? lasts Z a ship Marinus Pietersz ? 30 ? lasts A Meerman Pieter Pietersz 22 70 100 lasts A Swol (Zwoll) Thomas Pietersz 24? 80? 100 lasts A a ship Sijmon Poort ? 30 ? lasts N Hollandsche Tuin Hillebrant Gerbrandsz Quast ? 85 180 lasts Z Goude Leeuw Cornelis van Regermorter ? 40 ? lasts A Dolphijn, jacht Engbert Rijkerken 14 50 60 lasts R Griffoen Pieter van Rijsbergen 18 40 40 lasts R Zeeridder Cornelis Jansz Brouwer ? ? 150 lasts A Tonijn Carsten Pietersz Rosengaert ? 100 140 lasts N Hoop Gerrit Ruyter ? 75 150 lasts N Neptunis Meeus Sandersz 24 85 180/200 lasts A Vriesland Pieter Jansz Santvoort 28 80 140 lasts A a ship Barent Hendricksz Schaeff ? ? ? lasts Z Hasewind Adriaan Pietersz Scheijteruijt ? 50 70 lasts N Swarte Beer Cornelis Schellinghout ? 75 150 lasts N Eenhoorn Cornelis Jans Schellinghout 30 85 200 lasts 5/1628 Z a ship Frans Jacobsz Schortant ? 30 ? lasts A Zeehaan, frigate Hendrick Schevels 6 50 50 lasts R Dolphijn, frigate Anthonis van Schuijlenborgh 13 30 28 lasts R Neptunis Sebastiaan de Munnick ? ? 28 lasts A the great fluit Franscois Semms 16 80 150 lasts R Bruijnvisch Claes Sijmonsz Sierves ? 70 90 lasts R Zeekalf Cornelis Engelen Silvergieter 23 85 170 lasts N Swarte Raaf Dirck Slop* ? 30 ? lasts A Haarlem Hendrick Dircksz Sluiter ? ? 225 lasts R Sint Joris Adriaan Cornelisz Smoor 12 24 28 lasts R Orangieboom Andries van Soetendael 22 90 180 lasts A Meerman Bartholomeus de Sterche ? ? 100 lasts A Edam Bartholomeus de Sterche 30 115 150 lasts R Brasser Jan Hendricksz Storm 8 24 24 lasts N Sampson Arent Thomasz ? 85 240 lasts A Amsterdam Ellert Thomasz 26 100 180 lasts A Bruijnvisch Michiel Thomasz ? ? 70 lasts N Sampson Jan Tijssen 26 85 220 lasts N Kat, jacht Tijmen Tijssen 8 50 40 lasts R Gelderland Maarten Harpertsz Tromp 24 80 160 lasts A Campen Dionys Tronquoij 24 80 140 lasts R Zeeridder Cornelis Leendertsz Valck 29 75 120 lasts R Maan Albert van Velsen ? ? 30 lasts R Swarten Leeuw Jan Jorisz Verdonck ? ? 80 lasts R Papegeij Anthoni Verhaer ? ? 26 lasts A Gecroonde Leeuw Pieter Pietersz Vianen ? ? 130 lasts A Gouda Cornelis van Vijch 31 95 170 lasts A a ship Sijbert Vijch ? 30 ? lasts A Utrecht Jacob Volckertsz Vinck 30 80 150 lasts Z Meerminne Jan Jacobsz Vlieger 24 90 200 lasts A Leiden Pieter Meeusz Vloo 20 100 110 lasts 3/1628 A Campen Pieter Meeusz Vloo ? ? 140 lasts R a jacht of war Jacob Stevensz van der Vlies 10 17 ? lasts A Haring, frigate Otto Vollenhoven 12 50 50 lasts A Witte Leeuw Elias Vonck 22 70 100 lasts A Gulden Windhond Jan Voseijenn 12 ? ? lasts N Medemblick Pieter de Vries 24 85 180 lasts Z Luipaard Adriaan de Wale ? 75 100 lasts Z Orangieboom Adriaan Mateijsz Waarewijck ? 30 ? lasts A a ship Jan Wiggertsz ? ? ? lasts N Vliegende Draeck Jacob Willemsz ? 90 120 lasts A Steur ? 30 ? lasts R Salm Sijbert Wor ? ? 40 lasts A Friesland Jan Ysbrantsz 28 80 150 lasts A Groene Draeck Veijmar Zalingen 20 70 100 lasts R Sint Andries Adriaan Zockingen ? ? 140 lasts
Saturday, June 03, 2006
The list of ships for 1628
De Jonge has a list of ships for 1628, with numbers, guns, and ranges of lasts for all five admiralties. While I have a Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1628, this list appears to be more complete, although it lacks ship names, as is usual for De Jonge. This list contains multiple entries for ship, and multiple entries for captain, as in some cases, multiple captains commanded the same ship in the year and a captain may have commanded multiple ships in that same year. There also may be cases where there are variations of a captain's name that have so far gone unrecognized in my list. This is a starting point for analysis, at least.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Thoughts about some Dutch ships
Almost certainly the ship Huis van Nassau was one of the 128ft, 250 last ships built by the Admiralty of Amsterdam. The Maan, built in 1643, had dimensions of 128ft x 31.5ft x 12ft. Another ship from which we might be able to extrapolate is the Noorderkwartier ship Eenhoorn (or Witte Eenhoorn) built in 1625. She survived the First Anglo-Dutch War from 1652 to 1654, so she was very long-lived. She had dimensions of 125ft x 29ft x 12ft (the hold is an estimate). She was of 200 lasts. So we might ask if there were other ships built by the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier in the mid to late 1620's and of 200 lasts. There was at least one: the Hollandsche Tuin, commanded by Jan Eliaszoon in 1628. She carried 28 guns and had a crew of 85 men. Another possibility is the Neptunis (24 guns and a crew of 85 men). She also was listed as being of 200 lasts. It is difficult to assess how useful it is to know the Eenhoorn's armament, as what we know dates from 1654: 7-12pdr, 13-10pdr, 4-8pdr, 2-6pdr, 2-4pdr, and 2-3pdr. It seems that she had an armament composed of guns that happened to be available, as it is quite an odd collection.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Amsterdam ships from the July 1653 list
Let us try again to give a list of ships of the Admiralty of Amsterdam for the 25 ships listed in the July 1653 list of ships at Vlissingen (and the Texel and Goeree). I can't match ships against numbers, but I will give a list as best we can:
Vrijheid 46 guns Abraham van der Hulst Vrede 44 guns Gideon de Wildt Groningen 42 guns Gillis Tijsen Campen Campen 40 guns Willem van der Zaan Graaf Willem 40 guns Jan Gideonsz Verburgh Leeuwarden 36 guns Witte de With, flag captain Govert Reael Zeelandia 36 guns Nicholas Marrevelt Drie Coningen 36 guns Lucas Albertssen?8 Dolphijn 32 guns Gerbrand Schatter Fazant 32 guns Jan Jansz de Lapper Star 30 guns Jacob Paulusz Cort Jonas 30 guns Joris Caulerij (Colerij) Omlandia 30 guns Jacob Troncquoij Bommel 30 guns Pieter van Brakel Gelderland 28 guns Cornelis van Velsen-ship blown up Leiden 28 guns Hendrik Kroeger Overijssel 28 guns Jan van Campen Gouda 28 guns Jan Egbertsz Ooms Prins Willem 28 guns Jan Jansz Boermans Prinses Aemilia 28 guns Jan ter Stegen-lost Goude Reael 28 guns Adriaan van Loenen Hoop ? Boetius Schaeff Zutphen 26 guns Hillebrand Jeroszoon de Moy? Windhond 18 guns Jan Admirael Brak 18 guns Pieter van Zalingen or Foppe BinckesI had not thought that I could complete the list, but I believe that this very close to being correct, if not so, as is.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
More about the Prinses Roijael Maria from Carl Stapel
Carl Stapel passed on the following additional information about the Prinses Roijael Maria (which I have slightly edited):
The ship [Prinses Roijael Maria] was taken in June 1652 in an English harbor. Its captain was Joost van Colster son of captain Willem Joosten van Colster. Joost van Colster commanded the Gelderland in the relief squadron to Brazil with Witte de With.
According to the notaries, Joost van Colster left the navy in July 1652 and became a merchant...!
The Prinses Roijael Maria
By the early 1640's, the Aemilia was out of service, due in part to hard service in battle in 1639 and damage from a storm while carrying Queen Henrietta Marie from England to the Netherlands in February 1643. Many people wanted to repair the Aemilia, due in part to her significant role in greatly damaging the Spanish Armada of 1639. Jan Salomonszoon, the shipbuilder, preferred to build a new ship in her place. This eventually resulted in the construction of the Brederode, which in May 1645 became Witte de With's flagship. In the Aemilia's place, Tromp moved his flag to the new, but much smaller ship, the Prinses Roijael Maria. Her dimensions, in Amsterdam feet were 124ft x 29.5ft x 13ft. Dr. Elias says that she carried 32 guns in 1643. She carried 34 guns, in 1652, prior to her capture in port, by the English. Her lower tier were mainly 12pdr, while the Aemilia carried 36pdr, 24pdr, and 18pdr on the lower tier (4-36pdr, 11-24pr,12-18pdr, 21-12pdr, and 9-6pdr, altogether). The Prinses Roijael Maria was taken by the English at the outbreak of the First Anglo-Dutch War, which caught some Dutch warships in English ports, where they were seized. The Prinses Roijael Maria eventually served as the Princess Maria in the English service.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
By 1664, Amsterdam had discarded their aversion to large ships
By the time that the new construction program, prior to the Second Anglo-Dutch War, had commenced in 1664, Amsterdam had accepted that larger ships were necessary to be able to effectively fight the English. Their ships were often still armed with a mixed armament on the lower deck, due to their not having solved their gun supply problem. Frank Fox says that by the time of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch had acquired sufficient guns to be able to more heavily arm their ships. I do not have much information about this issue, but I do know that Michiel De Ruyter's flagship, the Zeven Provinciën, carried a complete lower tier of 36pdrs in the Third War.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Many of the ships in Witte de With's squadron that went to Brazil were gone before 1652
Witte de With's squadron that went to Brazil in late 1647 and early 1648 were gone before 1652:
Adm Ship Name Guns Initial Commander Fate
M Brederode 49 Witte Cornelisz de With Sunk in 1658 at Battle of the Sound
M Gelderland 40 Joost van Coulster Not mentioned after 1659
M Dolphijn 32 Job Forant Last mentioned in 1657
A Huis van Nassau 40 Govert Forens Damaged on 28 Sept 1648
captured by Portuguese
A Haarlem 36 Matthijs Gillissen Last mentioned in 1666
A Utrecht 32 Jacob Paulusz Cort Exploded on 28 Sept 1648
A (Groot)Zutphen 30 Cornelis Toelast Last mentioned in 1665
A Overijssel 28 Dirck Crijnen Verveen Sold upon return
N Eendracht 41 Paulus Coolen Burnt in action in 1676
N Wapen van Nassau 38 Lieven de Zeeuw Gone before 1652
N Witte Eenhoorn 30 Jan Gijzen Last mentioned in 1655
N Koning David 34* Willem Claesz Ham Gone before 1652
A Gewapende Ruyter 36 Boetius Schaeff In June 1652, captured by English
Of 13 ships, including the Portuguese prize, 5 were lost or gone before 1652. Several had long service, such as the Noorderkwartier ship Eendracht.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Ships needing repairs after the Battle of Portland in 1653
I have a number of documents dating from March 1653, following the Battle of Portland (or the Three Days' Battle, as the Dutch call it) that list ships that had been at the battle, had survived in the Dutch service, and now needed repairs. These are the ships mentioned:
Gidion Elias Burgh Sint Maria LamThe ships named are all Directors' ships. They seem to have been ships hired by different Directors. The Lam reference could be one of two ships. One hired by the Middelburg Directors or one hired by the Amsterdam Directors. The Burgh is probably the Rotterdam Directors' ship. The three pages date from 11 March, 14 March, and 22 March 1653, and are from the Nationaal Archief. Rick van Velden found them for me in September 2003.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
English Captain: John Blythe
John Blythe served in the Commonwealth navy. in 1654, he commanded the 5th Rate Recovery. In 1655, he commanded the prize Hound (36 guns). In 1656, he commanded the 6th Rate Martin (12 guns). From 1656 until 1657, he commanded the 4th Rate Dover (40 guns). Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
- William Laird Clowes, The Royal Navy: A History from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol.II, 1898
Friday, May 26, 2006
The list of ships at Vlissingen in July 1653: the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier
According to the list of ships at Vlissingen in July 1653, there were 10 ships in the service of the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier at the Battle of the Gabbard. Number 65 was apparently Pieter Florissen's flagship, the Monnikendam (36 guns). Number 72 was captured by the English. This must be the Stad van Medemblick (26 guns, or perhaps 30 guns by 1653) commanded by Pieter Schellinger. This ship was one of the 36 cruisers funded in 1651 by the Staten Generaal.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
East India Company ships from the Amsterdam Chamber in July 1653
The July 1653 list of ships includes three ships from the Amsterdam Chamber of the VOC. One of them is listed as being unready. I believe that these are the ships in question:
Ship Commander Guns Crew Length Beam Hold Gerechtigheid Evert Pietersz Swart Mercurius Pieter de Bitter 40 200 123ft 30ft 12ft Huis van Nassau Jan Pietersz van Strijp Another candidate is the Vrede (although she may have been purchased) Vrede Pieter Salomonszoon 40 200 131.5ft 32.5ftI am not absolutely sure about the Huis van Nassau, so as usual, there is a great deal of uncertainty.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The Dolphijn in 1629 and in 1633
I have previously written about the Rotterdam ship Dolphijn in the year 1629. Four years later, she was still commanded by Willeboort Leendertszoon. In 1629, she carried the following guns:
2-brass half-cartouwen 24pdr
2-brass chambered 24pdr
2-brass 12pdr ("veltstucken")
8-iron 8pdr
4-iron 6pdr
2-iron 5pdr
2-iron 4pdr
5-steenstukken with 10 chambers
In 1633, she was armed with the following guns:
2-brass half-cartouwen 24pdr 2-brass chambered 24pdr 2-brass 12pdr 8-iron 8pdr 4-iron 6pdr 4-iron 5pdr 2-iorn 4pdr 5-steenstukken with 5 chambersAs you can see, the armament changed very little from 1629 to 1633. I had expected that there would be no change, but that is not the case. The 1633 information is from the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1633, while the 1629 information is from the Staet for 1629.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The mystery remains as to why Vreugdenhil missed so many ships from 1652 to 1653
I had only known that there were a large number of ships not mentioned in Vreugdenhil, from 1652 to 1653, from seeing the list translated and republished in The First Dutch War, Vol.I (from the Hollandsche Mercurius for 1652). From the published sources, there many ships for which I could not apply names. Only after Jan Glete sent me a copy of his notes and then Rick van Velden, at the Nationaal Archief found documents for me, was I able to give names to most of the ships in that list (from about June 1652). It is harder to understand, as Dr. Johan E. Elias, in Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen mentioned by name, and sometimes included the captain's name, for some of the ships in the service of the Amsterdam Directors. This was quite a bit before Vreugdenhil compiled his list. Dr. Ballhausen made no attempt, apparently, to use anything but published sources, so his book is even less useful, in that respect. Of course, Dr. Ballhausen did use some very obscure published sources, and he did supply names of ships and information not published elsewhere, except for the original source. Apparently, Vreugdenhil used Dr. Ballhausen's book for part of his list, although Vreugdenhil seems to have been savvier than Dr. Ballhausen.
Monday, May 22, 2006
More Directors' ships
This is somewhat redundant, but I have firmed up in my mind those who employed the ship Kameel, commanded by Joost Bulter. I will also list the Harlingen (Friesland) Directors' ships. One was apparently retired after the Battle of the Gabbard, and captains were changed.
Adm Ship Name Guns Crew Commander Gro-Dir Kameel 42 Joost Bulter Ha-Dir Vergulde Pelicaen 28 100 Adriaan Heeres Cleyntien Ha-Dir Sint Vincent 28 105 Andries Douweszoon PascaertAfter the Battle of the Gabbard, Andries Douwesz Pascaert was dismissed from the service. Adriaan Heeres Cleyntien commanded the Sint Vincent until her loss in the storm in early November 1653. Joost Bulter's ship, of course, was sunk at the Battle of the Gabbard, by gunfire. Joost Bulter was killed in the battle. The July 1653 list of ships at Vlissingen (and Goeree and the Texel) indicates that the Kameel was a ship in the service of the Admiralty of Friesland, but that seems to be not the case. Also note that most sources don't list the guns or armament of the Sint Vincent. The Vergulde Pelicaen is not mentioned by name in any published source. A handwritten list from September 1652 supplies the names and captains of both Harlingen Directors' ships. Hendrick de Raedt's pamphlet supplies the guns and crew information. We were able to confirm Dr. Ballhausen's giving 42 guns as the Kameel's armament, as I have Richard Badiley's biography, where that information is listed.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
New construction in Zeeland between 1653 and July 1654
As part of the new construction program initiated during the First Anglo-Dutch War, seven new ships had come into service with the Admiralty of Zeeland between 1653 and July 1654. I have based this list upon the appendix in Vol.I of J. C. De Jonge's book, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen. This is the list, with ship names applied, based on the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654:
Ship name Guns Crew Length Beam Hold Commander Zeelandia 50 95 136 34 13.75 Cornelis Evertsen de Jonge Utrecht 40 95 134 33 13.5 Vlissingen 40 95 130 34 13.5 Frans Mangelaer Middelburg 40 90 130 34 13.5 Cornelis Evertsen de Oude Kampveere 40 90 130 34 13.5 Pieter Gorcum Dordrecht 40 90 130 34 13.5Sources:
- H.A. van Foreest and R.E.J. Weber, De Vierdaagse Zeeslag 11-14 Juni 1666, 1984
- J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, 1858
- Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654, 1654
- A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938
Saturday, May 20, 2006
English Captain: Daniel Baker
Daniel Baker served in the Commonwealth navy. In 1656, he commanded the Hopewell pink (20 guns). From 1656 until 1657, he commanded the Lizard (20 guns), a Royalist prize. Sadly, neither the ships nor Daniel Baker are otherwise mentioned in sources available to me. Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
Friday, May 19, 2006
I appears that I have solved the cross browser issues in this blog
I have been particularly unhappy with how this blog appeared in Internet Explorer. Even in Firefox, there were "issues". I seem to have solved them. The only question is how the blog would appear on a lower resolution display. I was forced to do some "absolute positioning" with CSS to get an acceptable appearance.
The Noorderkwartier ships from the July 1654 list
De Jonge has a list in an appendix to Vol.I of his six volume work that lists Dutch ships in service in 1654. This list seems closely aligned with the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654, dated in July 1654. There is some additional information in De Jonge's list, as he supplies lengths for some Zeeland ships beyond what I found in my copies of the Staet. I thought it must be useful to try and fill in parts of the list with actual names (De Jonge omitted ship names). Here is my attempt for the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier:
Jozua 50 95 136 34 14 Gelderland 50 95 136 34 14 Drie Helden Davids 46 90 130 34 13.5 Caleb 46 90 130 32.5 12.5 Jupiter 46 90 130 32 12 Eendracht 41 90 130 32 12 Monnikendam 38 80 120 28.5 11 Alckmaer 32 90 130 32 12 Reynst Cornelisz Sevenhuysen Wapen van Enkhuijsen 34 80 Eenhoorn 30 80 125 29 Jan Jansz Heck Enkhuijsen 30 80 116 26.5 10 Claes Backer Casteel van Medemblick 28 80 120 27 11 Adriaan Houttuijn Enkhuijsen 28 80 116 26.5 10 Dirck Gerritsz Pomp Jonge Prins 28 80 120 28 11.5 Cornelis Barendsz Slordt Wapen van Monnikendam 28 75 116 26.5 10 Arent Dirckszoon Prinses Roijael 26 75 125 30 11.5 Captain (Willem?) Ham Hoorn 26 75 116 26.5 10Sources:
- James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005
- J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, 1858
- Staet van Oorlogh te Water for the year 1654, 1654
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Cafe Press has the canvas bags in stock
I have been waiting for this: Cafe Press has the canvas bags in stock. My wife likes the Brederode "photo", in particular:
The nine Zeeland Directors' ships
Zeeland as allocated nine ships from the 50 Directors' ships funded in 1652. Again, we have a list of nine ships from the Hollandsche Mercurius list, reprinted in The First Dutch War, Vol.I and also from Hendrick de Raedt's pamphlet. This is the list:
kapitein Jan le Sage Mi-Dir Vergulde Haan 30 105 kapitein Jacob Adriaansz Penssen Mi-Dir Gouden Leeuw 30 110 kapitein Johannes van Regermorter Mi-Dir ? 30 105 kapitein Bastiaan Tuynemans Mi-Dir Sint Laurens 30 105* kapitein Jan Thyssen Vl-Dir Witte Lam 32 110 kapitein Cornelis Evertsen de Jonge Vl-Dir Vlissingen 26 110 kapitein Allert Janszoon Vl-Dir Dubbele Arend 28 110 kapitein Cornelis Rocusensz Fincen Zi-Dir Liefde 34 110 kapitein Jan Olivierszoon Ve-Dir Wapen ter Veere 38 125The Sint Laurens was captured by the English on 29 May 1652, in the opening battle of the war, near Dover and the Downs. The issues again revolve around the existence of at least one other ship that was known to be Zeeland Directors' ships. By July 1652, Leendert den Haen commanded the Haes in 't Veld (30 guns and a crew of 108 ships). This ship seems to have been the one later commanded by Bastiaan Centsen. The exact timing is unclear, but by the Battle of Dungeness, Bastiaan Centsen was captain of the Haes in 't Veld. He took the English ship Hercules after the battle.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Carl Stapel has a really good list of Dutch ships in service before the start of the First Anglo-Dutch War
Carl Stapel shared with me his list of Dutch ships in service before the start of the First Anglo-Dutch War. Right now, the list primarily covers Directors' ships. His list for the Rotterdam or Maze Directors is quite good:
Adm Ship name Guns Crew Commander M-Dir Burcht 28 105 Adriaen de Zeeuw M-Dir Jonas 36 125 Johan de Lieffde M-Dir Meerman 30 120 Jacob Cleijdijck M-Dir Prins Symon Cornelisz van der Meer M-Dir Prins te Paard 38 110 Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon M-Dir Sint Andries 26 105 Ruth Jacobsz Buys M-Dir Sint Pieter 29 110 Isaac de JonghI thought that his information for Adriaen de Zeeuw makes a good deal of sense. I suspect that his name for Ruth Jacobsz Buys' ship is derived from me, and that I had just made an estimate, so I would like to find more information to have more confidence in the name of his ship. In any case, I am going forward with the information from Carl's list as my "current working assumption".
Known war losses from the first 24 Amsterdam Directors' ships
Of the first 24 ships hired by the Amsterdam Directors in early March 1652, none were lost during 1652, except for the Prins Maurits. That changed in 1653. These are the ships that were lost and their fate. I have only listed the original captain:
Captain Ship Guns Fate Abraham van Kampen Arke Troijnane 28 Sunk at the Battle of Portland Cornelis Jansz Poort Kroon Imperiael 34 Sunk at the Battle of Portland Nicolaes de With Prins Maurits 34 Wrecked in November 1652 Bartholmeus Rietbeeck Rooseboom 28 Captured at the Battle of the Gabbard Stoffel Juriaenszoon Sint Francisco 28 Captured at the Battle of Portland Jacob Syverstz Spanheym Elias 34 Captured at the Battle of the Gabbard Bruyn van Seelst Groote Liefde 38 Captured at the Battle of PortlandSeveral of the captured ships saw long service in the English navy, such as the Groote Liefde, which was recaptured by the Dutch at the Battle of Lowestoft, in June 1665.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Amsterdam hired ships in March 1653
From my list of ships in service with the Dutch fleet in March 1653, there are the Amsterdam hired ships:
Hired ships Rank Name Adm/Dir guns Sailors Soldiers Ship kapitein Willem van Nieuhoff A 40 130 20 Aertsengel Michiel kapitein Lucas Albertssen? A 36 130 20 Drie Coningen kapitein Adriaan van den Bosch A 36 130 20 Engel Gabriel kapitein Evert Anthonissen A 32 130 20 Hollandia kapitein Albert Claesz de Graeff A 32 100 20 Hollandia kapitein Jacob Troncquois A 30 100 20 Omlandia kapitein Sijmon van der Aeck? A 30 100 20 Amsterdam kapitein Jacob Schellinger A 28 100 20 Venetia kapitein Jacob Janssen Roocher A 28 100 20 Julius Caesar kapitein Cornelis Janszoon A 28 100 20 Jupiter kapitein Hendrick Govertszoon A 28 100 20 Star kapitein Pieter Tuenisz Bontebotter A 28 100 20 Zwarten Arend kapitein Pieter van Breen A 28 100 20 Sint Pieter kapitein Sijbrant Jansz Mol A 28 100 20 Witte Olifant kapitein Meijndert Theunisz OosterwoutA 28 100 20 Salomons Ordeel kapitein Adriaan Rodenhaes A 28 100 20 Rodenhaes kapitein Pieter Jansz de Vries A 28 100 20 Suzanna kapitein Harman Sonne A 28 100 20 Madonna della Vigna kapitein Jan Boermans A 28 100 20 Prins Willem kapitein Cornelis van Velsen A 28 100 20 Gelderland kapitein Adriaan van Loenen A 28 100 20 Goude Reael kapitein Jan ter Stegen A 28 100 20 Prinses Aemilia ? ? A 28 100 20 Hoop ? ? A 28 100 20 Engel kapitein Hendrik Adriaanszoon A 26 90 20 Sampson ? ? A 24 80 20 Goude Leeuw ? ? A 24 80 20 Patientia ? ? A 24 80 20 Keyser ? ? A 24 80 20 Hoop kapitein Hillebrant Jeroenszoon A 24 80 20 Hollandsche Tuin kapitein Dirk Pietersz Heertjens A 18 70 15 WindhondThe ships with unknown captains were paid off sometime before this, or around this time and their captains were reassigned to replace captains who were dismissed from the service. A feature of this list is that there seems to be no room for a mystery ship, such as that commanded by Abraham van der Hulst in 1652 (a ship of 26 guns). That was why it seemed that he might have commanded the Sampson (26 guns), later commanded by Hendrick Adriaanszoon. Another question is if the Hoop (28 guns) listed here was the ship commanded by Boëtius Schaeff at the Battle of the Gabbard, when he was killed.
Monday, May 15, 2006
The 36 Cruisers funded in 1651
The first really substantial preparation for the coming war by the Dutch was the funding of 36 cruisers to add to the 40 ships funded after the Peace of Münster in 1648. We know the identity of the 7 Noorderkwartier ships, thanks to the document included in Vol.IV of The First Dutch War:
Prinses Roijael, 34 guns Captain Albert Corneliszoon 't Hoen crew 140 Jonge Prins, 28 guns Captain Cornelis Barentszoon Slordt crew 115 Eendracht, 40 guns Captain Jacob de Boer crew 140 Alckmaar, 28 guns Captain Jan Warnaertszoon Capelman crew 95 Monnikendam, 36 guns Captain Pieter Florissen crew 138 Wapen van Enkhuizen, 34 guns Captain Gerrit Femssen crew 110 Stad van Medemblick, 30 guns Captain Pieter Schellinger crew 110As for the others, we suspect that ships that were completed from about 1650 until 1652 fall into that bucket:
Admiralty of Amsterdam Vrede, 44 guns Commandeur Gideon de Wildt (1650) Vrijheid, 44 guns Commandeur Augustijn Balck (1651) Overijssel, 28 guns Captain Jan van Campen (1650) Campen, 38 guns Joris van der Zaan (1652) Jaarsveld, 44 guns Joris van Cats (1651) Maagd van Enkhuizen, 34 guns Cornelis Tromp (purchased in 1651) Admiralty of Zeeland Amsterdam (1651) Ter Goes (1652) Zeeridder (1652)The rest must have been commissioning of existing ships, like the Noorderkwartier ships. At this point, unless we can find more information, we cannot do any better than guess.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
The planned Dutch ships for the First Anglo-Dutch War
I have only been able to find the allotments of Dutch ships for the First Anglo-Dutch War from H. T. Colenbrander's book of documents from foreign archives:
Forty ships of 1648 Rotterdam 8 ships Amsterdam 16 ships Zeeland 8 ships Noorderkwartier 8 ships Total 40 ships Thirty-Six ships of 1651 Rotterdam 7 ships Amsterdam 14 ships Zeeland 7 ships Noorderkwartier 7 ships Friesland 1 ship Total 36 ships One Hundred Ships of 1652 Rotterdam 16-1/2 ships Amsterdam 33 ships Zeeland 16-1/2 ships Noorderkwartier 16-1/2 ships Friesland 16-1/2 ships Total 100 ships Fifty Directors’ ships of 1652 Rotterdam 7 ships Amsterdam 24 ships Zeeland 9 ships Cities of the Noorderkwartier 7 ships Friesland 2 ships Groningen 1 ship Total 50 ships The first thirty ship building program Rotterdam 5 ships Amsterdam 10 ships Zeeland 5 ships Noorderkwartier 5 ships Friesland 5 ships Total 30 shipsThe fractional ship numbers just make the list less useful. Sources:
- H. T. Colenbrander, Bescheiden uit vreemde archieven omtrent de groote Nederlandsche zeeoorlogen 1652-1676, 1919
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Directors' ships from later in 1653
Dr. Elias, in volumes V and VI of Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen identifies some Directors' ships that were in service later in 1653 (some of them were lost in the storm in early November 1653):
- Burgh, Hendrick Andriaenszoon Glas, Rotterdam Directors (13 August 1653)
- Catarina (28 guns), Jacob Janszoon Coppe, Amsterdam Directors (30 January 1653)
- Halve Maen (30 guns), Hendrik Pieterszoon, Edam Directors (June 1653)
- Hollandsche Tuin (32 guns), Joris Janszoon Block, Amsterdam Directors (28 January 1653)
- Keurvorst van Keulen (34 guns), Amsterdam Directors (4 April 1653)
- Koning David (28 guns), Captain Vogelsang, Amsterdam Directors (4 April 1653)
- Koning Radboud, Jan Rootiers, Medemblick Directors (9 November 1653)
- Leeuwin, Claes Janszoon, Middelburg Directors (21 May 1653)
- Luipaard, Cornelis Tiebij, some Zeeland Directors (9 November 1653)
- Moor, 34 guns and a crew of 108 men, Adriaen Cornelisz van Ackersloot, Amsterdam Directors (28 January 1653)
- Moorin (28 guns), Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol, Amsterdam Directors (28 January 1653)
- Pelikaan (or Gulden Pelikaan) (28 guns), Barend Tijmenszoon Soudaen, Amsterdam Directors (18 March 1653)
- Purmerland, Andries Sijbrantszoon, Amsterdam Directors (19 July 1653)
- Samson (28 guns) (27 January 1653)
- Schacht den Harculus, 28 guns, Amsterdam Directors (4 April 1653)
- Sint Johannes (28 guns), assumed to be an Amsterdam Directors' ship (8 February 1653)
- Sint Matheeus, Cornelis Laurenszoon, Amsterdam Directors (June 1653)
- Sint Pieter (28 guns) (10 January 1653)
- Sint Pieter, Simon Corneliszoon, Rotterdam Directors (13 August 1653)
- Vergulde Zon (28 guns and a crew of 108 men), Jacob Claeszoon Duijm, Enkhuizen Directors (not the Monnikendam Directors, apparently) (1652 and 1653)
- Walvisch, 30 guns and a crew of 110 men, Abraham Verleth, Amsterdam Directors (perhas 17 August 1653)
Friday, May 12, 2006
I am still looking at alternatives for publishing reference material
Frank Fox has been encouraging me to get at least some of my research into print. Because of the presumed limited audience for 17th Century naval history and ship data, I have thought that a publishing-on-demand solution would be what was needed. Cafe Press, who provides our "gear" and hosts our store with my various pieces of art on them, also does publishing on demand. They have a more limited set of options than Lulu, started by the founder of "Red Hat", the Linux company. there are also other options, for a cost, such as Xlibris.
Some of my projects are the sort of thing that the Society for Nautical Research has published in the past. Frank Fox says that there is no funding for anything from them, these days. Some of my projects that are pretty far progressed include:
- Dutch Naval Officers: 1600-1720
- English Naval Officers: 1642-1720
- Dutch Ships in Various Operations in the First Anglo-Dutch War
- Dutch Ships: 1620-1720
- The First Anglo-Dutch War
- Johan E. Elias, De Vlootbouw in Nederland 1596-1655, 1933
- Jodocus Hondius, Onstelde-Zee, Oft Zee-Daden, 1654
Thursday, May 11, 2006
English Captain: Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright served in the Commonwealth navy. In 1652, he commanded the hired ship John and Elizabeth (26 guns). He may have commanded her at the Battle of Plymouth on 26 August 1652. From 1653 until 1655, he commanded the Heartsease (36 guns). He fought in the Battle of the Gabbard on 12 and 13 June 1653. He was assigned to James Peacock's division in the Red Squadron. He very likely fought in the Battle of Scheveningen on 10 August 1653 (all these dates are new style). From 1656 until 1660, he commanded the Fame. The Fame must be the captured French Renommée, which eventually served a fireship. Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Dutch ships and captains
So, given how much we have learned, what Dutch ships are there where know about the ship and not the captain, or know about the captain and not his ship's name? This is the current list, as far as I can tell. Hopefully, I have not overlooked too many:
Adm Ship Guns Crew Captain Z ? 26 100 Adriaan Banckert (1652) Z ? 18 100 Lambert Bartelszoon (1652) Ho-Dir ? 28 105 Pieter Adriaansz van Blocker (1652) N ? ? ? Jan Bourgoigne (1652) Z ? ? ? Daniel Cornelisz Brackman (1652) R-Dir ? 26 105 Ruth Jacobsz Buys (1652) Z ? ? ? Jan Duijm (1653) A ? 26 100 Abraham van der Hulst (1652) ? ? ? ? Andries Kroeger (December 1652) En-Dir ? 28 110 Gijsbert Malcontent (1652) N ? ? ? Herman Munnekes (December 1652) Mi-Dir ? 30 105 Johannes Regermorter (1652) Z ? ? ? Jacob Wolfertszoon (1652) A Achilles 32 ? ?(from 1630, but July 1654) ? Arke Noach 24 80 ?(22 July 1652) ?-Dir Colburg ? ? ?(30 March 1652) ?-Dir Harderin ? ? ?(30 March 1652) ?-Dir Harderwijk ? ? ?(30 March 1652) ?-Dir Herenberg ? ? ?(30 March 1652) A-Dir Keurvorst van Keulen 34 ? ?(4 April 1653) ?-Dir Samson 28 ? ?(27 January 1653) En-Dir Sampson van Enkhuizen 28 100* ?(22 July 1652) A-Dir Schacht den Harculus 28 ? ?(4 April 1653) ? Sint Jan Baptist 22 80 ?(22 July 1652) ?-Dir Sint Johannes 28 ? ?(8 February 1653) ?-Dir Sint Pieter 28 ? ?(10 January 1653) ?-Dir Wesp ? ? ?(30 March 1652) ?-Dir Zutphen ? ? ?(30 March 1652) A Zwaan 28 100* ?(22 July 1652)
Monday, May 08, 2006
Some interesting tidbits from Dr. Ballhausen about ships at the Battle of Scheveningen
While Dr. Ballhausen seems to have not used any archival documents, he did do a comprehensive review of the published literature, much of it quite obscure. He often makes assessments that I would not accept. I will list some interesting information about ships and captains from the list for Scheveningen (Katwijk-aan-Zee):
Adm Captain Ship Guns Crew
Jan Bonkier Zeepaard ? ?
A Cornelis Cornelisz Jol Moorin 28 105
Z Cornelis Evertsen de Oude Wapen van Zeeland 26-28 130
or Zeeuwsche Leeuw
Mi-Dir ? Antonius Bonavetura 36-38 110
A Pieter Teunissen Bontebotter Zwarte Arend 28 100
F Frederick Stellingwerff Zevenwolden 38 135
F Lieutenant Hasselgants Sara 24 85
Ha-Dir Ariaan Heeres Kleintje Sint Vincent 28 100
Vl-Dir Michiel De Ruyter Witte Lam 40 150
flag captain Gillis Janszoon
Mi-Dir Markus Hartman Gekroonde Liefde 36 145
A-VOC Jacob Swart Gerechtigheid 45* 200*
WIC? Captain Ezechiel Gecroende Haes ? ?
A Jan Rootjes Raadhuis van Medemblik ? ?
(or is it the Koning Radbout or Radbout van Medemblik of the
Medemblick Directors, as Dr. Elias says)
A Captain Dirick (Dircksz?) Zeepaardstoet van ? ?
Enkhuizen
N Reynst Cornelisz Zevenhuisen Mars 45* 200*
I have made a few corrections to the information.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
More ships which fought in the Battle of Scheveningen
From Dr. Elias, in Vol.V of Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, we know more ships that fought in the Battle of Scheveningen. Some of these duplicate what is in other lists:
Adm Ship Guns Crew Commander
A-Dir Blauwe Arend 28 110 Hendrik Claesz van der Streeck
A-VOC Huis van Nassau ? ? Jan Pietersz van Strijp
NQ Peereboom 24 80 Tijs Tijmansz Peereboom
Mi-VOC Zwarte Bul ? ? Willem Folkertszoon
A Groningen 42 140 Gillis Thyssen Campen
A Westfriesland 28 140 Hendrik Huyskens
A Zutphen 26 120 Hillebrandt Jeroenszoon
A Gouden Reael 28 110 Adriaan van Loenen
A-Dir Moor 34 108 Adriaan Cornelisz van Ackersloot
A-Dir Walvisch 30 110 Abraham Verleth
NQ Prins Maurits 32 110 Cornelis Taenman (sunk)
NQ Monnikendam 38 138 Pieter Florissen
R Rosencrans 42 ? Jan de Haes (partially burnt)
A Jonas ? ? Joris de Caulerij (Colerij)
F Graaf Willem 12 ? Jan Coenders
A Brak 18 70 Poppe Brinckers (Binckes)
Z Vlissingen 40 ? Jan Evertsen, flag captain
Jan Pouwelszoon
A Vrijheid 46 170 Witte de With, flag captain
Abraham van der Hulst
R-Dir Sint Pieter ? ? Simon Corneliszoon van der Meer
R-Dir Burgh ? ? Hendrik Adriaansz Glas
Z Liefde ? ? Jan Thyssen
Z Hollandia 38 160 Adriaan Bankert (sunk)
Z Westcappel 28 110 Claes Janszoon Sanger (sunk)
Z Eendracht 24 98 Andries Fortuijn (burnt)
Z Zeeuwsche Leeuw 30 120 Cornelis Evertsen de Oude (sunk)
A Hollandia 32 120 Evert Antonissen (sunk)
A Dolphijn 32 100 Gerbrand Schatter (sunk)
A Omlandia ? ? Maarten Schaeff (sunk)
F Zevenwolden 38 135 Frederick Stellingwerff (sunk)
A-VOC Mercurius 40 200 Pieter de Bitter (sunk)
Z Witte Lam 40 145 Michiel de Ruyter
NQ Hoorn 28 105 Pieter Aldertszoon
R Gorcum 30 131 Willem Adriaanz Warmont (killed)
R Roskam 26 105 Corstiaen Eldertszoon
R Brederode 54 270 Maarten Tromp (killed), flag captain
Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer
I have taken some of the data from my unpublished list of Dutch ships and captains. Between all the lists, we have a good number of the ships that fought at Scheveningen. There is also the list of captains from Michiel De Ruyter's squadron, for example. The latter has one error, because Anthony Foppenthey (or Fappenlain) was Hendrik Huysken's lieutenant on the Westfriesland.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
So what does the July 1653 list indicate about the Directors?
The July 1653 list has relevant information about the Directors and which ships were taken at the Battle of the Gabbard:
Directors of Edam
- one ship was captured
- one ship was captured
- The other ship was a great ship, which was also very good. The ship was not ready for service in war, however.
No ships are listed for the Directors of Enkhuizen.
The Hoorn Directors have one ship listed:
- Not ready for service in war. The ship has sand ballast.
Issues about captains, ships, and who they served
There seem to be some inconsistencies about which captain and ship served which Directors. On page 94 of Vol.V of Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Jacob Duym is said to have served the Edam Directors and commanded the Zon (Vergulde Zon), but in Hendrik de Raedt's pamphlet and in Aitzema (page 822, Vol.III of Saken van Staet in Oorlogh in ende omtrent de Vereenigte Nederlanden) he is said to have been in the service of the Enkhuizen Directors. In the same reference in Aitzema, Hendrick Pieterszoon is said to have commanded a ship, the Man van Edam, an Edam Directors' ship. The Man van Edam must refer to the Maan, or Halve Maan, which was captured by the English at the Battle of the Gabbard. Again, Dr. Elias, in Schetsen, writes that Hendrick Pieterszoon was in the service of the Monnikendam Directors. I found the page in Aitzema because Dr. Ballhausen referred to it, in reference to his list for the Battle of the Gabbard, where he mentioned the Man van Edam, commanded by Hendrick Pieterszoon.
Ships we think that we can identify in the July 1653 list of ships at Vlissingen
There are a few ships in the July 1653 list of ships lying at Vlissingen that are explicitly named. There are also a good number that we can identify from the context:
List No. Adm Name Guns Crew Commander
13 A Gelderland 28 100 Cornelis van Velsen-blown up
47 M Brederode 54 250 Lt-Admiral Tromp-most ready of all
65 Ed-Dir Vergulde Star 28 108 Jacob Claesz Duijm-captured
66 N Monnikendam 38 138 Pieter Florissen-ship
of the commandeur
72 N Stad Medemblik 30 110 Pieter Schellinger-captured
76 Mo-Dir Halve Maan 30 110 Hendrik Pieterszoon-captured
77 Mo-Dir Zwarte Beer 32 115 Jan Cornelisz Oly
87 Z Neptunus 28 134 Adriaan Jansz den Oven-captured
100 Mi-VOC Zwarte Bul ? ? Willem Folkertszoon
101 F Zevenwolden 38 135 Frederick Stellingwerff
102 F Sara 24 85 Luitenant Hasselgants-unready fluit
103 F Westergo 28 98 Tijmen Claeszoon-captured
104 F Kameel 42 ? Joost Bulter-sunk
105 Ha-Dir Sint Vincent 28 105 Ariaan Heeres Cleijntien
From other sources, we can fill in more ships, but not by list number.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Perhaps this might be of interest to others
I have been doing more research about the Dutch fishery protection squadron that was captured or sunk on 22 July 1652:
I am less sure of the mappings between the complete list of captains, ships, and admiralties:
Ship Guns Crew Captain Adm References Paulus (Sint Paul)24 80 Dirk van Dongen M 1DW4,p.383,Vreug 194 Waterhond 24 80 Renout Venhuijsen M 1DW1, p.383, Vreug 213 Kalmar Sleutel 24 80 Dirk Vijch M 1DW1,p.383, Vreug 141 Wapen van Holland 30 110 Herman Munnekes N 1DW4,p.314,Vreug 208, 1DW1 p.383 Adam en Eva 24 80 Jan Heck N 1DW4, p.314, Vreug 91(from The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, page 314, this appears to be a ship hired by the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier, despite what Vreugdenhil says. The Adam en Eva is listed in a group of Noorderkwartier ships on page 314 of The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, as I wrote.
Ship Gun Crew Captain Adm References Sampson van Hoorn 24 80 Willem Ham N 1DW1,p.383,1DW4,p.313, Vreug 182 Sampson van Enkhuizen 28 100 En-Dir? 1DW1,p.383, Vreug 181 Land van Beloften 24 80 Jan Noblet N 1DW4,p.314,Vreug 146 Marcus Curtius 24 80 Hendrik Kroeger A 1DW4,p.310,Vreug 153 Juffrouw Catharina 24 80 Dirk Bogaart A 1DW4,p.310,Vreug 100 Zwaan van Amsterdam 28 100 A 1DW1,p.383,Vreug 219 Arke Noach 24 80 A 1DW1,p.383,Vreug 163 Sint Jan Baptist 22 80 A 1DW1,p.383,Vreug 188I had thought that this might have been one of the squadron of possibly 15 ships, but this was taken by James Peacock in October 1652. Vreugdenhil had listed the Morgenstar (Morgenster) as being a fishery protection ship
Ship Guns Crew Captain Adm References Morgenstar 20 80 ? Vreug, p.160
Key: References: 1DW1 = The First Dutch War, Vol.I 1DW4 = The First Dutch War, Vol.IV Vreug = Vreugdenhil's list from 1938 Admiralties: A = Admiralty of Amsterdam M = Admiralty of the Maze N = Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier En-Dir = Enkhuizen Directors
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Marco Schuffelen keeps adding new, good stuff
I have been remiss in not checking Marco Schuffelen's site more frequently. He now has a page called "Everyday Dutch". As I continue to struggle to learn more Dutch, and to learn to speak and understand spoken Dutch, I need this kind of material. I can read a good deal of Dutch, at least if the topic is 17th Century Dutch naval and maritime history. Since I want to be visiting the Netherlands to research, I would like to have some basic facility with the spoken language. His main site (the new one) "Hear Dutch Here" has the cool picture: "The Bitter Draught" of the guy who has just tasted something really bad (presumably extremely bitter). This is his old home page.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
I have taken on a new project: to transcribe and translate Witte de With's journal for 1 October to 5 November 1658
Now that I have Witte de With's journal from 1 October to 5 November 1658, I need to transcribe and translate it. I suspect that the contents will be of some historical interest. They chronicle the last month of Vice-Admiral Witte de With's life, at least from a professional perspective.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The journal of Hendrick Ernst de Bertry
I had seen that there was a pamphlet listed in Knuttel's list that contained part of Hendrick Ernst de Bertry's journal. Carl Stapel says that it is for the period of the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. Captain de Bertry commanded the hired ship Hollandia for the Admiralty of the Maze. I am always hoping to discover more information about Dutch captains and warships in 1652 and 1653.
The journals of Witte de With
When the Brederode was taken by the Swedes at the Battle of the Sound, the ship was in a sinking condition and they "ransacked" the ship. For that we may be thankful, as they rescued Vice-Admiral Witte de With's letters and journals. They are in the Swedish archives, with the papers of the Swedish Admiral Wrangel. Carl Stapel had told me about the journals. Prof. Jan Glete, who is in Stockholm, at the university, had seen them, told us about the letterbook. He was disappointed that there were no ship lists, as I am, although I did not really expect to find anything but lists of captains. Those do exist in the journal. Thanks to Ambassador Antoine van Dongen, Dutch Ambassador to Sweden, I have a copy of Witte de With's journal from 1 October to 5 November, 1658. The last date is the last entry in the journal. I find the handwriting very neat and relatively easy to read, although I can only read part of the words, without more details study. There are quite a few lists of captains. This may blow apart one theory of mine, about a certain captain's name. Grove gives the name as Jan Samplon, while Witte de With seems to have written the name as Jan Semplon. After reading more of the journal, I must say that the handwriting is not uniformly neat. Some of it is harder to read, as it might have been written more hastily. I really am grateful for the kindness of the Ambassador in sending me the copies.
Monday, May 01, 2006
English Captain: Matthew Dawson
Matthew Dawson served in the Restoration navy as a fireship commander. In 1672, he commanded the Success fireship (6 guns). In April and May 1672, the Success was attached to the Rear Admiral of the Blue Squadron's division. The Success was sunk in 1673. In 1673, he commanded the Thomas and Edward fireship (6 guns). The Thomas and Edward was sold in 1674. Finally, on 7 May 1678, the King appointed him as captain of the Spanish Merchant fireship (8 guns). The Spanish Merchant was sold in 1686. Oddly enough, the second edition of Anderson's list has missing entries in the index, which is why I used the first edition. Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1935
- J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903
Sunday, April 30, 2006
I like how my English-to-Dutch conversion factors work
Frank Fox had encouraged me, a few years ago, to see if I could arrive at a system for converting English measurements to Dutch, so we could estimate the Dutch dimensions for ships that had been taken by the English. Ships that survived in service after the Restoration were recorded by Samuel Pepys, so we have them for our perusal. It is not beyond the realm of possibilty that there are dimensions for other ships in existence. The problem is the uncatalogued heaps of papers dating from the Interregnum and beyond. No one has taken the time to examine them, and only people like us, a very small segment of historical researchers, have any interest. Frank Fox was able to hire a researcher in Britain for look for him, and she found records about guns painted, so Frank was able to greatly expand his information about armament carried in the Four Days' Battle in 1666. I have wondered if there might also be records that show the circumstances under which the Dutch prizes were taken in 1652 and 1653. Some of them, we know, such as the ships hired by the Amsterdam Directors and taken at Portland and the Gabbard.
One of the Dutch fishery protection vessels taken on 22 July 1652
We know for certain that the Paul, which was a Dutch prize, was one of the fishery protection squadron ships taken on 22 July 1652 (the Paulus). The Paul is one of those ships that we actually have English dimensions. That is only because the ship survived in service until 1667, as the English naval administration under Samuel Pepys kept a tidy set of records. The Paulus was a ship hired by the Admiralty of the Maze and her captain was Dirk Claeszoon van Dongen. The ship carried 24 guns and had a crew of 80 men. Let us estimate her Dutch dimensions:
English measurements: Length on the keel: 84ft Beam outside of the planking: 25.5ft Depth in hold at the center: 9.67ft Estimated Dutch Dimensions in Amsterdam feet (283mm): Length from stem to sternpost: 112ft Beam inside the planking: 29ft Hold at the side: 11ftI have seen estimates that there were as many as 15 ships in the fishery protection squadron in Dr. Elias's book, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.II. We know the identities of 13 of these ships, although fewer of the captains. I have wondered if another Dutch prize used by the English, the Sophia, taken in 1652, might have been an otherwise unknown member of the fishery protection squadron. The Sophia's dimensions and estimates are as follows:
English measurements: Length on the keel: 90ft Beam outside of the planking: 26ft Depth in hold at the center: 11ft Estimated Dutch Dimensions in Amsterdam feet (283mm): Length from stem to sternpost: 120ft Beam inside the planking: 29.5ft Hold at the side: 12.5ftThe Sophia seems to be too large, though, to have been relegated to the fishery protection squadron. She carried as many as 34 guns in the English service. Her other name was Speaker's Prize. The only question is where she came from. My own parochial view of the Battle of the Kentish Knock is that the only two Dutch losses were the Maria (Claes Sael's ship) taken as prize and the Burgh van Alkmaar (Gerrit Nobel's ship), which was destroyed by explosion. Perhaps the "Sophia" (we don't know her Dutch name) was a merchant prize that was good enough to be taken into the English naval service.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Dutch ships taken by the English in the First Anglo-Dutch War
A number of Dutch ships were taken as prizes by the English in the First Anglo-Dutch War. We are not presently able to account for them all. Anderson credits the Bear as being taken in late 1652, which would make by theory about her origin not work. This is the list given by Anderson and Frank Fox:
English Name Guns Year Dutch Name Adm Violet 38 1652 Bear 36 1652/3 Zwarte Beer Mo-Dir Raven 38 1652 Princess Maria 38 1652 Prinses Roijaal Marie R Welcome 36 1652 Stork 36 1652 Arms of Holland 30 1652 Wapen van Holland NQ Sophia 26 1652 Peter 1652 Middelburgh 32 1652 Middelburg A Waterhound 32 1652 Waterhond R Tulip 32 1652 Oak 28 1652 Ackerboom Dolphin 30 1652 Falcon Flyboat 28 1652 Valck Sampson 26 1652 Sampson van Enkhuizen En-Dir? Paul 22-30 1652 Paulus R Falmouth 26 1652 Wapen van Rotterdam R Sampson 26 1652 Sampson van Hoorn NQ Advantage 26 1652 Eendracht Plover 26 1652 Morgenster Adam en Eva 20 1652 Adam en Eva A John Baptist 22 1652 Sint Jan Baptist A Mathias 38-52 1653 Sint Matheeus A-Dir Great Charity 36-46 1653 Groote Liefde A-Dir Black Raven 38 1653 Katherine 36 1653 Catharina A-Dir Golden Cock 36 1653 Vergulde Haan Mi-Dir Elias 36 1653 Elias A-Dir Little Charity 32-28 1653 Liefde Pelican prize 34-36 1653 Vergulde Pelicaen A-Dir Fortune 32-26 1653 Fortuijn Half Moom 30-36 1653 Halve Maan Mo-Dir Westergate 26-34 1653 Westergo F Rosebush 24-34 1653 Rooseboom A-Dir Augustine 26-32 1653 Church 20-26 1653 King David, storeship 1653 Koning David Estridge, hulk 1653 Vogelstruis A-VOC Indian 1654 Roos, East Indiaman A-VOCAt least some of these were captured merchantman, such as the Indian, taken very close to the end of the war. Hopefully, I have included all Dutch prizes, and none that are not Dutch.
Friday, April 28, 2006
New information
In discussions with Carl Stapel, and thanks to new information that he has found, we have a more complete picture of some events surrounding the return of ships that had been in Brazil in June 1652. Philips Schooneman had commanded a ship named Dolphijn in Brazil from 1649 until 1651, when he died, along with two other captains, presumably from illness. Marinus de Clercq had been there, commanding a WIC jacht named Ster. When Captain Schooneman died, Marinus de Clercq was appointed to command the Dolphijn and her brought her safely home in June 1652. Paulus van den Kerckhoff had also been in Brazil, commanding the Nijmegen (26 guns) (ex-Casteel van Medemblick). On his return voyage, his ship was intercepted by English frigates and was sunk. Since he was senior to Marinus de Clercq, he was appointed to command the Dolphijn (or Gulden Dolphijn). Marinus de Clercq was eventually given command of a newly hired ship (perhaps one of the 100 ships of 1652). After the Battle of Dungeness, Dirck Vijch and Marinus de Clercq were ordered to operate as privateers and continued to do so until July 1653. They brought in many prizes and also created legal problems due to suits by owners of ships that they had taken. There is documentary evidence that indicates that crewmen who had previously served under Captain Schooneman and were paid, were later paid while serving under Paulus van den Kerckhoff.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Allert Janszoon and the Dubbele Arend (beating the topic to death)
I did more research on the topic of Allert Janszoon and the ship Dubbele Arend. The only link between Allert Janszoon and the ship named Dubbele Arend (or Dubbelden Arent) is on page 87, Vol.III of Dr. Elias's book Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeeewezen. In other places, we see Allert Janszoon described as being in the service of the Vlissingen Directors. The last mention of Allert Janszoon is in November 1652, when he was one of the captains who was courtmartialed for cowardice or disobedience at the Battle of the Kentish Knock. By December, his lieutenant, Teunis Post, was acting commander of the ship. The reference on page 87 has the list of captains and ships. There is at least one error in ship names, as we know from unpublished manuscripts that Lambert Pieterszoon's ship was named the Nassouw (34 guns), not the Hector.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
So what ship did Allert Janszoon command in the First Anglo-Dutch War?
We have a modest amount of evidence about what ship Allert Janszoon commanded in the First Anglo-Dutch War. Hendrick de Raedt's pamphlet lists him as being in the service of the Vlissingen Directors, in a ship of 28 guns and a crew of 100 men. Dr. Elias, on page 87 of Vol.III of Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, gives his ship's name as Dubbelden Arent, which I had interpreted as the Zeeland ship Dubbele Arend (in more modern spelling). He is not mentioned in after December 1652, in any source. I had thought that he was mentioned in the Staet van 1654, but I am not so sure, anymore. I need to check when I get home.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Tromp's fleet in May 1652 was largely composed of Directors' ships
Dr. Ballhausen has the only published list of ships that comprised Tromp's fleet on 29 May 1652. That list is rather suspect, as is everything produced by Dr. Ballhausen. Still, it is all we have, to date. Many, if not the majority of ships were Director's ships. The reason that we need to be skeptical is simply that Dr. Ballhausen can be right and he can be wrong. You need to check his references to know which is the case. He comes up with gems, such as the name of Jan de Liefde's ship, the Jonas. He also had the reference with supplied the number of guns carried by the Kameel (42 guns). On the other hand, he called Dirk Juynbol's ship the Hoop, when it was actually named Gelderland. Once you saw where the name came from, you could dismiss the Hoop as being wrong (it came from an obviously fictional list of ships from an unknowledgable English source). A feature of Dr. Ballhausen's research is that he only used published sources, although they might be obscure sources. He never used materials from the Nationaal Archief, almost inexplicably.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Paulus van den Kerckhoff commanded the Nijmegen
Dr. Elias wrote in a note on page 84, in De Vlootbouw in Nederland, that Paulus van den Kerckhoff commanded the ship that he spelled Nijmeghen. The Nijmeghen, originally named Casteel van Medemblick, was purchased by the Admiralty of the Maze on 28 March 1645. The Nijmeghen was 105 Maas feet long, which is about 115 Amsterdam feet. Maas feet were divided into 12 inches, and were about 308mm, while Amsterdam feet were divided into 11 inches and were about 283mm. It was the Nijmeghen which was sunk by the English while it was returning home from Brazil in June 1652.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
De Sneuper on Joost Bulter and the Kameel
De Sneuper lists Joost Bulter and the Kameel. They say that the Kameel was a Groningen Director's ship, which I had thought to be the case, at one point. The explanation of the 50 Directors' ships to be hired in 1652 included one Groningen ship. What changed my thinking on this was that Dr. Elias called the Kameel a ship belonging to the Admiralty of Friesland. The list of ships at Vlissingen in July 1653, which lists all the ships at the Battle of the Gabbard, and gives their fates, also says that the Kameel was a ship belonging to the Admiralty of Friesland.
Sources:
- H. T. Colenbrander, Bescheiden uit vreemde archieven omtrent de groote Nederlandsche zeeoorlogen 1652-1676, 1919
- Eimert Smits, De Sneuper web site, Vereniging van Archiefonderzoekers te Dokkum
- List of ships at Vlissingen in July 1653, 1653
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Joost Bulter's ship
Joost Bulter commanded a brand new ship at the Battle of the Gabbard. This was a ship that had been recently built for the Admiralty of Friesland, perhaps as part of the new building program. That might mean that we would know the ship's approximate dimensions: about 130ft x 32ft x 12ft. Perhaps the new Zevenwolden was of a similar size.
I realized that Dr. Ballhausen had a reference about Joost Bulter's ship from The Life of Richard Deane, one of the more obscure books that I own. On page 649 of that biography, it says that Joost Bulter's sunken ship carried 42 guns. The ship is not mentioned by name.
On page 94 of Dr. Elias's book, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.V, Joost Bulter's ship is named Kameel.
Vol.V of The First Dutch War, on page 22, has C. T. Atkinson's translation of Tromp's account of the Battle of the Gabbard from Aitzema, Vol.III, page 821. I happen to own Aitzema (Saken van Staet en Oorlogh), and the statement is actually "capiteyn Joost Bulter van Stadt en Lande". C. T. Atkinson had translated this as "Captain Joost Bulter of the Town and Country", as if the name of his ship was named Stad en Lande, a very plausible Friesland ship name. Stad en Lande is much more plausible than Kameel, to my mind. The whole passage translated by Atkinson is: "There was also lost in the heat of the struggle Captain Joost Bulter of the Town and Country which went down with about thirty men, the rest being saved by Captain Willem van der Zaan, who was next to the sinking ship, and that evening the enemy's fleet was reinforced by six or seven ships, some say more." My reading would be that Joost Bulter was from the "Stad en Lande" (Groningen).
In Oud Holland 17 (1899), my translation of the passage from the article about Willem van de Velde de Oude says:
"While De Ruijter thus won the wind from Lawson, Tromp's squadron lay between those of Lawson and Monk, and the first of these was caught between two fires. This masterly tactic achieved only partial success, because Monk and Lawson quickly could recover, and because Tromp's guns were not strong enough to sufficiently damage even a weaker enemy in a short time, and to put them out of the battle. 1) The struggle was now a general melee, where by the English broke through Dutch fleet to win the windward side. In this furious battle, we look for Lawson to cut off the captains Willem van der Zaan and Joost Bulter. The ship of the last, the Kameel, sank; Van der Zaan rescued himself. One hour after sunset, the ship of Cornelis van Velsen blew up, due to gunpowder in the air. The night brought an end to the struggle. Both fleets drifted, due to wind and tide, towards the Flemish coast, not far from Nieuport."
The Oud Holland article, therefore, also calls Joost Bulter's ship the Kameel.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer's squadron
From Dr. Elias, we find that Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer, whose permanent rank was kapitein-ter-zee, was a temporary squadron commander, acting as the admiral for the squadron. His temporary vice-admiral was Gideon de Wildt, who was appointed by the Admiralty of Amsterdam. His temporary schout-bij-nacht (rear-admiral) was Abel Roelantszoon Verboom. He was usually called Abel Roelants in the published literature.
Sources:
- Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.VI, 1930
- Carl Stapel, personal communication "abel roelantz", 2005
Thursday, April 20, 2006
In September 1653, Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer was an acting flag officer
Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer had been stuurman of the Brederode in 1652. He eventually became Tromp's flag captain, when Abel Roelantsz was elevated to temporary flag officer. By September 1653, Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer was a temporary flag officer, himself, and squadron commander. He flew his flag on the Brederode. He and his squadron joined Witte de With's fleet on Saturday, 25 October 1653. He had a squadron of about 16 ships under his command, and had three merchant ships in company. They had sailed from the Texel on 12 October. De Ruyter indicated in his journal that the fleet had now grown to 76 ships and there were about 4oo merchant ships and five East Indiamen. By early 1654, the politicians had appointed Jacob van Wassenaer as the new fleet commander, as an unhappy compromise, and as a crutch for van Wassenaer, Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer was appointed has his flag captain on the new fleet flagship, the Eendracht (58 guns). He was eventually raised back to flag rank. His career had been marked by a slow advancement. In 1626, he was a constable. By 1636, he was a stuurman. In 1652, he was an opper-stuurman. By 10 April 1653, he was a captain. He jumped to Vice Admiraly on 8 May 1659, and Lieutenant-Admiral by 29 January 1665.
Sources:
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930
- Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De Vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992
- Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928
- Michael S. Robinson, Van de Velde Paintings, Vol.I, 1990
Strategy in the First Anglo-Dutch War
The First Anglo-Dutch War was a purely naval war. What is significant is that both the English and Dutch followed a fundamentally battlefleet-oriented naval strategy. The Dutch position was complicated by the fact that they needed to protect commerce at a time when they were unable to win battles. As long as Robert Blake commanded the English fleet, the Dutch were able to be competitive, even if they ended up losing, such as at the Kentish Knock or the Three Days' Battle (Portland). After George Monck became fleet commander, at first with Richard Deane, and then on his own, his mastery of line tactics made the Dutch position untenable. Even when the Dutch started to tentatively fight in an informal line, the disparity of ship strength and gunpower was so great as to render them unable to win. The Dutch answer was the building program that was started in early 1653 (with some purchases prior to that). The first larger ships came into service for the later battles, but they were insufficient to counteract the presence of so many small ships, so lightly armed. The problem was not really solved until the finish of the Second Anglo-Dutch War building program, when a large number of new ships were completed. By the beginning of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch finally solved their gun supply problem, so that ships like De Ruyter's flagship Zeven Provinciën were able to carry their full armament (in this case, a complete lower tier of 36 pounders).
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
We now know the name of Jacob Claesz Boet's ship
Jacob Claeszoon Boet (or Boot) served the Monnikendam Directors. We now know that the name of his ship was the Zwarte Beer (32 guns and a crew of 115 men). He was with the fleet in June 1652, and took part in the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. He also fought in the Battle of Dungeness in December 1652 and the Three Days' Battle (Portland) from 28 February 28 until 2 March 1653. Carl Stapel says that he died shortly after the battle. Jan Corneliszoon Oly was appointed to replace him in early April 1653.
Sources:
- James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005
- Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652
- Carl Stapel, personal communication "221 Monnikendam-dir Zwarte Beer", 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
A possible candidate for the Sampson commanded by Robert Plumleigh
One obvious candidate for the Dutch ship taken be the English and later commanded by Robert Plumleigh is the Sampson, commanded by Jacob Pieterszoon Houck. That was ship hired by the Hoorn Directors and last seen in January 1653, when the ship was missing after a storm. That Sampson carried 30 guns and had a crew of 110 men.
Monday, April 17, 2006
English Captain: Robert Plumleigh
Robert Plumleigh served in the Commonwealth navy. He took command of a new Dutch prize named Sampson in early March 1653. We can only speculate as to which Dutch ship this was. Somewhere about April 1653, he was at Portsmouth, with the General's squadron. In July, he was in the Dover roads, tasked with commerce protection on the east coast. In September 1653, he still commanded the Sampson (32 guns). In December, he and his ship were at Plymouth, tasked to protected the collier trade. In December, the Sampson only carried 28 guns. In November 1653, he was nominated to command a new frigate building at Shoreham. He ended up being appointed to the Reserve, instead. From 1654 until the Restoration, he commanded the Reserve (44 guns), a 4th Rate.
Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Larger Noorderkwartier ships from 1625 to the 1640's
The Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier built some larger ships from 1625 up until the 1640's:
Eenhoorn, 30 guns Built 1625 (the "Patriarch" of the Dutch fleet) 200 lasts Length: 125ft Beam: 29ft Hold: 12ft (estimated) Guns: 7-iron 12pdr 13-iron 10pdr 4-iron 8pdr 2-iron 6pdr 2-iron 4pdr 2-iron 3pdr Eendracht, 41 guns Built 1639 220 lasts (estimated) Length: 130ft Beam: 32ft Hold: 12ft Guns: 4-brass 24pdr 2-brass 18pdr 4-brass 12pdr 2-brass 9pdr 4-brass 6pdr 2-brass 4pdr 8-iron 18pdr 8-iron 12pdr 7-iron 8pdr Prinses Roijael, 26 guns Built 1641 Length: 125ft Beam: 30ft Hold: 11.5ft Guns: 2-brass 24pdr 2-brass 18pdr 4-brass 6pdr 4-iron 12pdr 12-iron 8pdr Jonge Prins, 28 guns Built 1634 Length: 120ft Beam: 28ft Hold: 11.5ft Guns: 2-brass 24pdr 2-brass 12pdr 8-iron 12pdr 8-iron 8pdr 2-iron 5pdr 4-iron 4pdr 2-iron 2pdr Monnikendam, 38 guns Built 1644 (Pieter Florissen's flagship in the First Anglo-Dutch War) Length: 120ft Beam: 28.5ft Hold: 11ft Guns: 2-brass 12pdr 6-brass 6pdr 8-iron 18pdr 8-iron 12pdr 2-iron 10pdr 4-iron 6pdr 6-iron 4pdr 2-iron 3pdr Wapen van Enkhuizen, 34 guns Built 1645 Length: 120ft Beam: 29ft Hold: 11.75ft Guns: 2-brass 18pdr 6-brass 6pdr 10-iron 12pdr 9-iron 8pdr 5-iron 5pdr 2-iron 3pdrAll this data is from the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654 (the date is July 1654).
Saturday, April 15, 2006
English Captain: Edward Barrett
Edward Barrett served in the Commonwealth navy. From 1651 to 1652, he commanded the 6th Rate Lily (10 guns). In 1652, he may have commanded the Hunter (10 guns), a French prize used as a fireship. In 1653, he commanded the Great Gift (34 guns). In December 1653, he was on the voyage to Gotenborg, under the command of Christopher Myngs.
Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930
Friday, April 14, 2006
I can add to the biography of Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker
Back on 9 January 2006, I first wrote about Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker (sometimes just called Pieter Adriaanszoon). I figured out a few more things, so I am now in a position to do a longer biography. In November 1649, he left Brazil in command of the Noorderkwartier ship Witte Eenhoorn (30 guns). He had succeeded Jan Gijzen in command. He had been with Witte de With's relief squadron sent to try and retrieve the Dutch position in Brazil. Sadly, they were not given adequate support, and failed. From early 1652, he commanded a Hoorn Director's ship of 28 guns. In June 1652, he was with Tromp's fleet, and took part in the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. He was a survivor of the storm. In mid-August, he was with Witte de With. He joined Witte de With's fleet on 18 October 1652, after the Battle of the Kentish Knock. In December 1652, he fought in the Battle of Dungeness. He was assigned to Pieter Florissen's squadron. In January 1653, he was missing from the fleet, after a storm. He is absent from the published literature after that, so we might speculate about his ship being lost in the storm or being captured by the English (one of the mystery prizes, perhaps). Dr. Ballhausen seems to be totally wrong about Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker taking part in the Battle of Portland, where he cites this last reference.
Sources:
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910
- Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923
- Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898
- Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900
- Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906
- W. J. van Hoboken, Witte de With in Brazilië, 1955
- Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652
Thursday, April 13, 2006
I can augment my earlier article about Jacob Andrieszoon Swart
I originally wrote about Jacob Andrieszoon Swart on 12 February 2004. I believe that I can augment what I wrote then. He lived from 1620 to 8 May 1679. When he was pretty young, in 1645, he commanded the rechte Liefde (26 guns), a ship hired by the New Amsterdam Directors. He was with Witte de With's fleet that forced a fleet of merchant ships into the Sound without paying the toll to Denmark. In 1652 and 1653, he commanded the Vliegende Faam (28 guns), an Amsterdam Directors' ship. He took part in many of the operations and battles, including Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. By 1654, he commanded the Bommel, a regular warship of the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1656, he commanded the three-masted jacht Windhond (22 guns). He took part in the operation to blockade Danzig, under the command of Jacob van Wassenaer. He commanded the Huis te Kruiningen at the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was assigned to Lt-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer's squadron. In August, he was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's squadron in De Ruyter's fleet. In June 1666, he fought in the Four Days' Battle, where he commanded the Deventer (66 guns). He was assigned to the center division of Cornelis Tromp's squadron. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle in August 1666, where he commanded the Deventer (66 guns). Again, he was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's squadron. In May and July 1667, he commanded the Stad en Lande with the fleet operating in the Channel.
Sources:
- James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Directors' Ship Information 1652-1653", 2004
- Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687
- Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996
- G. W. Kernkamp, De Sleutels van de Sont, 1890
- Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652
- Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1654, July 1654
A small Brederode poster is now available
Sorry for the commercial announcement, but I have wanted to have color posters for five years. Only now have I found a way to do that. This is only a small start, but we now have a store at CafePress.com where one of the products that is available is the small Brederode poster of the painting (or at least, one alternative of that). There are other products, as well, but I really wanted a Brederode poster to see how it would be. The nice thing is that the price is pretty low, although it is quite small, as well. I apologize again, as I will be cross-posting this announcement, as well.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Check out our new store at CafePress.com
We now have a store at CafePress.com where you can buy "Anglo-Dutch War gear" (so to speak). There is a Zeven Provinciën product line, a Brederode photo product line, and a Brederode painting product line. (Come visit our store on CafePress!) There is more, as well. We plan to have color posters and a second edition our our Brederode booklet with a color cover and expanded and updated information.
English Captain: Peter Whittey (Whitty, or White)
Peter Whittey (Whitty, or White) served in the Parliamentarian and Commonwealth navies. In 1643, he commanded the Notterdam (6 guns abd a crew if 29 men). He was assigned to the Summer guard in 1643. In 1644, he commanded the Crescent (14 guns, a crew of 50 men, and a size of 140 tons). He was assigned to the Summer Guard in 1644. In 1646, he commanded the hired merchantman President, which was lying in the Thames in the summer. In 1653, he commanded the hired merchantman Freeman.
Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
- J. R. Powell, The Navy in the English Civil War, 1962
So, how about Anglo-Dutch Wars blog gear, posters, and books?
I read PhD Comics. They have "Piled High and Deeper" gear for sale from Cafe Press. I like the idea of having Anglo-Dutch Wars gear, color posters (admittedly, small sizes), and perhaps a second edition of my Brederode booklet.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
English Captain: Nicholas Heaton
Nicholas Heaton served in the Commonwealth navy. He was said to have served well as trumpeter's mate on the 2nd Rate Triumph. As a reward, he was promoted to captain. From 1653 until 1655, he commanded the 4th Rate Sapphire (38 guns). At one point, he fought a successful action against Sir Edward Spragge (in a ship of 26 guns) and his brother-in-law, Captain Colaert (in a ship of 36 guns), son of the famous Dunkirk admiral. He drove them back into port, as they had tried to break out on a privateering voyage. He fought in the Battle of the Gabbard in June 1653, when he was assigned to the General's division in the Red Squadron. He very likely fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, in August. He was with the active fleet in September 1653. In December, his ship was lying at Portsmouth. By September 1655, he was sick and was absent from the Sapphire in November. From 1656 to 1660 (to the Restoration), he commanded the 4th Rate Gainsborough (eventually renamed Swallow, at the Restoration). Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930
- Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898
Monday, April 10, 2006
The two Genoese ships in the First Anglo-Dutch War
In 1653, the Dutch took over two ships building for Genoa. One was somewhat larger than the other. The largest ship was named Huis te Zwieten and the smaller ship was named Huis te Kruiningen. In early August 1653, Witte de With made the Huis te Zwieten his flagship and Michiel De Ruyter flew his flag on the Huis te Kruiningen. Neither ship was ready in time for the Battle of Scheveningen, so Witte de With was again in the Vrijheid while Michiel De Ruyter was apparently back in the Witte Lam. After Scheveningen, both ships eventually come into service. Witte de With and De Ruyter used the two ships on the expedition to Norway, where they were to convoy back home a large number of merchant ships and a few East Indiamen. Those ships had taken refuge in Norwegian waters to avoid capture by the blockading English fleet. The two ships managed to survive the great storm that hit the convoying fleet just short of the Texel. One thing that Witte de With and Michiel De Ruyter quickly learned was that the Huis te Zwieten and the Huis te Kruiningen desperately needed girdling, as they could usually not open their lower deck guns, due to lack of displacement and inadequate stability. By July 1654, Witte de With was able to transfer his flag to the Brederode, his perferred ship, while Michiel De Ruyter flew his flag from the Huis te Zwieten. We know the Dutch dimensions for both ships (in Amsterdam feet of 283mm) and their armaments in July 1654:
Ship Length Beam Hold Brass Guns Iron Guns Huis te Zwieten 146ft 36ft 14ft 10-24pdr,6-12pdr,10-6pdr 16-18pdr,18-12pdr Huis te Kruiningen 140ft 34ft 13.5ft 6-18pdr,6-12pdr,8-6pdr drakes 18-18pdr,16-8pdrThe two ships were girdled after the storm in early November 1653. The Huis te Zwieten eventually was given to the VOC, and served in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, in 1665, until she was taken by the English. Frank Fox has said that she was the best Dutch ship taken by the English.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The Dutch ship Prins in 1653
There are references in the published literature to a ship named Prins in 1653. The ship was hired by the Rotterdam Directors. I believe that the ship mentioned is the shi that Michael Robinson, in the Van de Velde Paintings book, called the Prins te Paard. Up until the Battle of Portland, the Prins te Paard was commanded by Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon. He was killed in the battle. After that, the ship was commanded by Jacob Cleijdijck. His original ship, the Meerman, was sunk at Portland. He was given the Prins te Paard after that.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
There is an interesting discussion of the Dutch participation in the Armada campaign in 1588
J. C. A. Schokkenbroek has a chapter in P. Gallagher & D. W. Cruickschank, God's Obvious Design: Papers for the Spanish Armada Symposium, Sligo, 1988 titled "The Role of the Dutch Fleet in the Conflict of 1588". For whatever reason, Schokkenbroek tries to minimize the importance of the Dutch in the Armada campaign. The main Dutch role in the campaign was to contain the Duke of Parma, so that he could not send an invasion force to England. Schokkenbroek argues that the vessels provided to the Duke were not suitable, so that even if they had broken out, they would not have arrived in England. Those which could have escaped the Dutch blockade would have been easy targets for English guns. One feature of the campaign was the rivalry and ongoing conflict between Holland and Zeeland. Apparently, the Zeeuwse would have liked to be an independent state. The number of Dutch vessels involved in various roles was large, in the neighborhood of 400. There were 90 blockading Flanders, 32 blockading Sluys, which had fallen to the Duke of Parma, 135 blockading Antwerp, 100 blockading Delfzijl, and another 50, which were eventually added to the fleet on the coast of Flanders. They were generally small, the largest being perhaps 200 tons, and the others being as small as 25 tons.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Dutch Captain: Jan Duijm
Jan Duijm served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He definitely fought in the Battle of Portland. He must have been in Michiel De Ruyter's squadron, and his most prominent act was to use his ship to tow Michiel De Ruyter's flagship, the Witte Lam (40 guns), through the last two days of the battle, after the Witte Lam was dismasted during the first day. We do not see Jan Duijm mentioned again until 1658, when he commanded the Zeeland ship Prins Willem (28 guns, and a crew of 75 sailors and 25 soldiers). His ship was victualled for four months. He fought in the Battle of the Downs, where he was assigned to Lt-Admiral van Wassenaer's squadron. Sources:
- list of ships dated 8 August 1658, Staten Generaal, 1.01.06, inventory number 12580.16
- G. L. Grove, Journalen van de Admiralen Van Wassenaer-Obdam (1658/59) en De Ruyter (1659/60), 1907
Thursday, April 06, 2006
English Captain: Thomas Keysar
Thomas Keysar served in the Commonwealth navy, and possibly before that, in the Parliamentarian navy. From 1649 to 1650, he commanded the Royalist prize Leopard's Whelp (10 guns). In 1651, he commanded the Royalist prize Swan (22 guns). In the sources that I have, his activities are not mentioned, and he is not mentioned as serving after 1651. Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Roberto Barrazzuti will be presenting at a symposium in September 2006
Our friend and occasional contributor, French researcher Roberto Barrazzuti,
will be presenting at a symposium in September 2006 at Granville in Normandy. The symposium is on the admirals and admiralty. Roberto will be speaking about the
french, english and dutch officers who served in the navy of King Louis XIV.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
I just received my copy of De Admiraliteit van Amsterdam in Rustige Jaren 1713-1751
I had seen a reference to this book on a website that had Dutch naval officer information from 1688 to 1784 (I think). The book is by J. R. Bruijn, and is called De Admiraliteit van Amsterdadm in Rustige Jaren 1713-1751, published in 1970. The book is a paperback, and I bought my copy from a bookseller in Germany, through ABE Books. The book includes a list of flag officers and captains in the service of the Admiralty of Amsterdam. There is also a list of ships built in this period, as well as a list of the charters (the dimensions to be used for ships). I had almost given up hope that I would receive the book, as I received the book 48 days after purchasing it online.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Dutch Captain: Andries de Boer
Andries de Boer served the Admiralty of Zeeland, according to Dr. Elias in Vol.III of Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen. He commanded a ship named Zeelandia (32 guns) in the Mediterranean Sea. He fought in the Battle of Monte Cristo on 27 August 1652, under the command of Johan van Galen. Joost Willemszoon Block was also in the Mediterranean Sea at this time. He also served the Admiralty of Zeeland. His ship was variously called Zeelandia or Wapen van Zeeland. This was also a 32-gun ship. Because he still commanded this ship in July 1654, we know that he commanded the 118ft-long ship. Andries de Boer took part in a drunken party on board the captured English frigate Phoenix on 20 November 1652. As fate would have it, this was when Owen Cox staged an attack with men in three boats. The Phoenix was mostly abandoned, after the party, so the attack succeeded. Cornelis Tromp dived through a nearby window in the stern in escape, but Andries de Boer was taken prisoner with the Phoenix. Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, "The First Dutch War in the Mediterranean," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.49, No.4, November 1963
- Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1925
- "Staet van Oorlog te Water" for the year 1654
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Dutch Captain: Jan Hollaer (Hollare)
Jan Hollaer (Hollare) served the Admiralty of Zeeland. Between at least 1626 and 1629, he commanded the ship Postpaert (crew of 85 sailors). The Postpaert was apparently a ship of 140 lasts. I have generally estimated that a vessel of 140 lasts might be 112ft x 25.5ft x 11ft, or even slightly smaller. He took part in the second expedition to Spain, from 12 November 1626 to 10 July 1627. This was commanded by Laurens Reael. One question is if this Jan Hollaer (Hollare) is different from the Jan Hollare, son of Vice-Admiral Marinus Hollare. The son of Marinums Hollare commanded his fathers' ship (the Samson) from 1642 to 1645, with Pieter Hollare as his lieutenant. Sources:
- Carl Stapel, personal communication "more findings about Zeeland", 10 February 2006
- Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1628
- Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1629
- Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Tweede Nederlandse Engelse vloot in12 november 1626 tot 10 juli 1627 naar Spanje", 18 June 2005
Saturday, April 01, 2006
English Captain: Robert Storey
Robert Storey served in the Commonwealth navy. From 1653 to 1654, he commanded the Dutch prize Cardiff (ex-Fortuijn). In 1654, he commanded the Dutch prize Arms of Holland (Herman Munnick's ship Wapen van Holland, captured on 22 July 1652). From 1655 to 1656, he commanded the 4th Rate Pelican. From 1656 to 1657, he commanded the 4th Rate Hampshire. He was in the Mediterranean Sea with Robert Blake and took part in the capture of the Spanish Plate fleet, loaded with riches. He took the dispatch back to England, informing the government of the success. Finally, in 1658, he commanded the 3rd Rate Fairfax. Sources:
- R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964
- R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966
- C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910
- Michael Baumber, General-at-Sea, 1989
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