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Saturday, December 31, 2005

Dutch Captain: Teunis Vechterszoon

Teunis Vechterszoon (or is his name Sijmon Vechterszoon?) served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. Sometimes, his last name was spelled Veghterszoon. During 1652, he commanded a small hired ship, of which we do not know the name. Dr. Ballhausen had suggested that the name was the Scheletje, but I believe that is a misreading of the source. His ship had a crew of 70 men, so we would suppose that the ship's armament was 24 guns. He served with the fleet in June 1652. While Hendrik de Raedt's pamphlet omits mention of him, he seems to have made the voyage to the Shetlands, as he attended the council of war on the Brederode on 6 August 1652, following the storm. He joined Witte de With's fleet on 29 September 1652, so he likely fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He also was with Tromp's fleet at the Battle of Dungeness. He disappears from the published literature that I have after that date. Apparently, his journal from 1652 survived, at least until about 1925. I have started the process to attempt to acquire a copy. Dr. Elias refers to him as Symon Veghterszoon, but I believe it is the same man. Sources:
  1. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  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.
  5. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Friday, December 30, 2005

I am hoping to find two journals from 1652

Dr. Elias references quite a few journals in Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons zeewezen. I have inquired to the Nationaal Archief to see what could be done about acquiring copies of journals for H. E. de Bertry and Symon Veghterszoon. The latter, we do not know the name of his ship.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Dutch Captain: Abaham Hendrickszoon van Campen

Abraham Hendrickszoon van Campen served the Amsterdam Directors. He took command of the Arke Troijane in March 1652, when the Directors hired the ship. The Arke Troijane was a 28-gun ship with a crew of 100-106 men. The ship carried 28 guns, consisting of 12-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 6-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. The ship's dimensions were 116ft x 26-3/4ft x 12ft. The height between decks was 6-1/4ft. Abraham van Campen and his ship were with Tromp's fleet in May 1652 and fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. His ship was one of those which had lost anchors, chains, cables in the storm prior to the battle. The majority of Tromp's fleet of 42 ships were Directors' ships from Amsterdam and Zeeland. He continued with the main fleet into June and made the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. In late August and September, he was with Witte de With, sailing from the Zeeland shallows in mid-September. His ship lost its bowsprit in a collision with Allert Janszoon's ship (the Dubbele Arend) on 25 September. He arrived at Goeree on 18 October, in company with 6 other ships. On 2 December 1652, he was with Witte de With's squadron with Tromp's fleet in the operations that led up to the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December. Abraham van Campen fought in the Battle of Portland and was killed in fighting on the first day, 28 February 1653, and his ship was sunk. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Directors Ship Information", 2004.
  3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1925.
  4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
  5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Battle on 16 May 1654 inside the mouth of the Dardanelles

Andrew pointed out this page from the Wikipedia about a fight on 16 May 1654 at the Dardanelles: "This battle, which took place on 16 May 1654, was the first of a series of tough battles just inside the mouth of the Dardanelles Straits, as Venice and sometimes the other Christian forces attempted to hold the Turks back from their invasion of Crete by attacking them early."

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Dutch Captain: Cornelis de Bagijn

Cornelis de Bagijn served the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam). He was born about 1573. He was promoted to captain in 1621. He commanded the ship Leeuwinne, a vessel of 180 lasts with a crew of 90 men, at least from 1626 until 1627. There is a note that in November 1626, he commanded the ship Geunieerde Nederlanden. The ship lay for 8 days at Hellevoetsluis, taking on victuals. In 1626, his ship was lying in the Goeree Gat. He was executed for cowardice in the face of the enemy on 26 November 1627. He had given up his ship to the Dunkirkers without a fight. Many of his crew were sold as slaves, but he was released. The Staet van Oorlog te Water for 1628 listed him, but he was already dead. One version of the list gave his ship as the Leeuw, a vessel of 24 guns with a crew of 90 men. In that list, the ship was said to be 150 lasts. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Cornelis Cornelisz de Bagijn", 2005.

Monday, December 26, 2005

Dutch Captain: Ruth Jacobszoon Buys

Ruth Jacobszoon Buys served the Rotterdam Directors during the First Anglo-Dutch War. He commanded a 26-gun ship with a crew of 105 men. We still have not discovered the name of his ship. He was with Tromp's fleet in June 1652, and took part in the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. In August, he was in Witte de With's squadron. He probably fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He also took part in the Battle of Dungness on 10 December 1652 (New Style). He also seems to have been with Witte de With's fleet that sailed to Norway in October 1653 and returned late, into the face of a storm where many ships were lost or damaged. Sources:
  1. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
  2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
  3. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Andrew pointed out this page about a battle in 1649

Andrew sent me an email that pointed out this battle in 1649. The Wikipedia has the page:
The naval Battle of Focchies took place on 12 May 1649, during the Cretan Wars, at Focchies, near Izmir (Smyrna) in western Turkey, when a Venetian fleet of 19 ships, under Giacomo Riva, defeated a Turkish fleet of 11 ships, 10 galleasses (mahons) and 72 galleys.
Many of the Dutch ships listed later served in the First Anglo-Dutch War, in the Mediterranean Sea (for example, the Profeet Samuel and Madonna della Vigna).

Sunday, December 25, 2005

We are experimenting with concept maps

Concept Maps seem like a good way to represent knowledge about ships, captains, and battles. We have been experimenting with them and Mind Maps (look at FreeMind). This is an example of what a concept map might look like, which shows my first attempt at representing ships, captains, and admiralties. Mind Maps seem well-adapted to structuring information for a book, as ultimately, the result needs to be linear. Concept maps seem more adapted to knowledge representation.

Start of a concept map to show information about ships and captains.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Dutch Captain: Sybert Vijgh

Sybert Vijgh served the Admiralty of Rotterdam (0r the Maze). In 1628, he commanded a small vessel with a crew of 30 men. In 1636, he commanded the Zeekalf, which had been built in 1622. The Zeekalf was a vessel of 200 lasts armed with 4 brass and 20 iron guns. The crew consisted of 90 sailors and 20 soldiers. On 13 March 1639, he was with Witte de With's squadron, which included Witte de With, Willem van Colster, Sijbert Vijgh, Willem van Brederode, Captain Halffhoorn, Captain Keert te Koe, Claes Ham, and Govert Voorns. In August, Willem van Colster complained that Sybert Vijgh had taken a flyboat but had not brought the ship to him, as he was Vijgh's commander. Charles Boxers says that he was in Tromp's squadron at the Battle of the Downs. Carl Stapel says that he was buried in January 12th 1642, so that in October 1642, it could not have been Sybert Vijgh who was in the Downs with Captain Forant. It must have been his son Dirk, who fought in the First Anglo-Dutch War. Sources:
  1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, De Proefjaar van Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp 1637-1639, 1946.
  2. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Duinkerkers, 1949.
  3. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.
  4. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jan Theuniszoon Sluys

Jan Theuniszoon Sluys served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He took command of the Walcheren (30 guns, a crew of 90 sailors and 20 soldiers) in April 1637, replacing Pieter Meeuszoon Vloo. The Walcheren was a vessel of 200 lasts. He was a captain of the Amsterdam admiralty, where he presumably only served from April 1637 until 25 August 1645, when we learn that he had died. He fought in all the battles in the autumn of 1639, and in the last battle, had the honour to bring in the first prize. From Blauhulck, we learn that he had the nickname of Boer Jaep, a name that we would otherwise only associate with the Van Nes family, which can cause confusion. Sources:
  1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
  2. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Dutch Captain: Barent Hendrickszoon Schaeff

Barent Hendrickszoon Schaeff served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. We know that he commanded the Vergulde Raven with Mooy Lambert's fleet that was in the Mediterranean Sea from May 1618 to February 1619. the Vergulde Raven was a vessel of 150 lasts. In 1619, he commanded the Zutphen, a vessel of 200 lasts. From May 1619 until October 1620, he was with Mooy Lambert's fleet in the Mediterranean Sea to fight the North African pirates. On 17 November 1627, he commanded a small vessel with a crew of 30 men. The size of the crew is the only thing we know about the ship. Sources:
  1. Staten Generaal "1 01 06", inventory number 12561-56", Amsterdam Admiralty ship list, 1628.
  2. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  3. Carl Stapel, personal communication "moy lambert mei 1618 - till february 1619", 2005.
  4. Carl Stapel, personal communication "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Dutch Captain: Carsten Pieterszoon Rosegaerdt

Carsten Pieterszoon Rosegaerdt served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In September 1617, he commanded the ship Vriesland, which had a crew of 82 men. It is likely that the Vriesland was a vessel of 140 or 150 lasts. In December 1628, the Vriesland carried 2-chambered 12pdr, 4-12pdr, 10-8pdr, 6-5pdr, and 6-steenstukken. Carsten Rosegaerdt was with Hillebrandt Quast's fleet sent to fight pirates in the Mediterranean Sea from September 1617 until May 1618. In 1628, he commanded the ship Tonijn, a vessel of 140 lasts which had a crew of 100 men. We know that the Tonijn was built in 1614 and was a vessel of 150 lasts (or, perhaps, just 140 lasts). In 1621, the Tonijn carried 24 guns and had a crew of 103 men. In September 1627, the Tonijn carried 2-18pdr, 4-12pdr, 4-8pdr, 8-5pdr, and 6-steenstukken. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. Carl Stapel, personal communication "Moy Lambert 1616 en Hillebrant Quast 1618", 2005.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Dutch Captain or Skipper: Adriaan Dommertszoon

Adriaan Dommertszoon (or is it Dommaszoon?) served during the campaign leading up to the Battle of the Downs in 1639. In September 1639, he was assigned to Witte de With's squadron. Adriaan Dommertszoon commanded the ship Sint Laurens (32 guns and a crew of 90 men). Charles Boxer indicates that he was among a group of captains from the WIC and the VOC. Dr. De Boer calls him Adriaan Dommertszoon, while Charles Boxer calls him Adriaan Dommaszoon. Tromp's Journal says that Adriaan "Domens" ship was hired at Amsterdam and carried 32 guns. The crew was 87 men. Amazingly enough, we know the dimensions of the ship in Amsterdam feet: 137ft x 29ft x 14ft. Adriaan Dommertszoon was operating with Tromp's fleet near the south coast of England from June through September 1639. He was still in Witte de With's squadron during the fight on 16 September, demonstrating that "Domens" and Dommertszoon are one in the same. He seems to have been with Witte de With's squadron of 30 ships at the Battle of the Downs, although I cannot definitely confirm that. Sources:
  1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
  2. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.

The Sint Pieter in the summer and fall of 1652

Sijmon Corneliszoon van der Meer apparently commmanded the Rotterdam Directors' ship Sint Pieter (28 guns and a crew of 122 men) after his ship, the Prins, was sunk by English frigates in the Channel in June 1652. When Sijmon van der Meer's health had deteriorated, his lieutenant Jan Janszoon van der Valck took command. By 13 August, Lieutenant van der Valck was in command, and was still in command in October.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Dutch Captain: Dirk Jasperszoon Cleynsorger

Dirk Jasperszoon Cleynsorger (or Cleysorgh) served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. We know that in Novembe 1619, he was in the Mediterranean Sea, with a fleet, operating against Algerian pirates. He commanded the ship Leiden (Leyden) with Mooy Lambert's fleet that was operating in the Mediterranean Sea from May 1619 until October 1620. The Leiden was a vessel of 150 lasts. This is the only period that I have seen him mentioned. Sources:
  1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, 1858.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jan Pellicoren

Jan Pellicoren served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He was with Hillebrandt Quast's fleet sent to the Mediterranean Sea to fight pirates from September 1617 until May 1618 He commanded the ship Hollandt, a vessel of 300 lasts with a crew of 130 sailors. He commanded the ship Zeelandia in Mooy Lambert's fleet sent to the Mediterranean sea to fight pirates from May 1619 until October 1620. The Zeelandia was a vessel of 280 lasts. He commanded a small vessel in March 1627 with a crew of 46 sailors. He was still commanding an unknown ship in 1628. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. Carl Stapel, personal communication "Moy Lambert 1616 en Hillebrant Quast 1618", 2005.
  3. Carl Stapel, personal communication, "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Jan van Diemen's ship in 1631

In 1631, Jan van Diemen commanded the Rotterdam ship Eendracht. This was a vessel of 170 lasts. A ship of that size might have dimensions of 118ft x 28ft x 11.5ft. In all likelihood, the proportions would have been different. The Eendracht had been built in 1624. Her armament consisted of 2-chambered brass 24pdr, 2-half cartouwen 18pdr, 2-brass 12pdr, 2-iron 12pdr, 2-iron 10pdr, 10-iron 8pdr, and 6-iron 4 pdr. The Eendracht's crew consisted of 85 sailors. This is based on information from the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1631.

Friday, December 16, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jacob Volckertszoon Vinck (or Vink)

Jacob Volkertszoon Vinck (or Vink) served the Admiralty of the Maze. He lived until 1631. He was promoted to captain in 1621. Andrew found a great page that includes a listing about Jan Jacobsen, talking about an epic fight in 1622, in which Jacob Vinck distinguished himself, while fighting Dunkirkers. This was when, under Mooy Lambert (Lambert Hendrikszoon), he fought against 3 Dunkirkers, where the Dunkirk admiral was caught. In 1623, he distinguished himself, under Josias de Moor, against the Dunkirkers by the Sorlings. In 1625, he served under Haultain at Rochelle. In 1627, he served under Van Dorp in the blockade service for Dunkirk. We know that in 1628 and 1629, he commanded the ship Utrecht, a vessel of 150 lasts. The Utrecht had a crew of 80 men and carried 30 guns (including 2-18pdr, 4-12pdr, 10-8pdr, 6-5pdr, 2-4pdr, and 6-steenstukken). In 1629, he served under Piet Hein against Dunkirkers and captured one. In 1631, he distinguished himself in a fight against 3 Dunkirkers, but stranded near Vlissingen, and drowned. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.
  3. Rick Vermunt, page from the Isle of Tortuga website, uncertain date, circa 2004.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Dutch Captain: Pieter Meuszoon Vloo

Mollema says that Pieter Meuszoon Vloo served the Admiralty of the Maze, and was promoted to captain in 1626. In 1626, he hunted two Dunkirkers along the shore. In 1627, he served in the blockade of Dunkirk under Van Dorp. Earlier in 1628, he seems to have commanded a larger ship, the Campen, a vessel of 140 lasts. In March 1628, he commanded the Leiden, a vessel of 110 lasts armed with 4-chambered 12pdr, 4-12pdr, 8-8pdr, and 4-5pdr. Her crew consisted of 70 sailors and 30 soldiers. He still commanded the Leiden in 1629. In 1629, he took part in the attempt to block Dunkirk with ships to be sunk. He took a Dunkirker near Terschelling. In 1631, he took a Dunkirker and was awarded a golden chain for his distinguished service. Dr. Graefe wrote that in 1636, Pieter Vloo served the Admiralty of the Maze and commanded the ship Walcheren (30 guns), a vessel of 200 lasts. In 1638, he distinguished himself again, under Tromp against the Dunkirkers. In 1639, he distinguished himself in the Battle of the Downs. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.
  3. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Dutch Captain: Adriaen Gerritszoon Bras

Adriaan Gerritszoon Bras served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He fought in the Battle of Gibralter, under Heemskerck, where he commanded the ship Stad Hoorn. From May 1618 until February 1619, he served under Moy Lambert (Lambert Hendrickszoon) in the Mediterranean where they were to operate against the North African pirates. Sadly, Captain Bras is not mentioned by either Mollema or De Jonge. Sources:
  1. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "moy lambert mei 1618 - till february 1619", 2005.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Gribaltar 25 april 1607", 2005.
On 16 February 1636, Jan Evertsen’s ship lay at anchor in the Downs. With him were captains Joost Bankert, Vlieger, and Adriaan Janszoon den Oven. A fifth ship, under Pieter Ita, cruised near the Flemish banks. There was a report that Jacques Collaert had come, concerned about Ita, and Evertsen’s ship raised anchor to support Ita. On the 18th, Evertsen and his captains fought with Collaert and his Vice-Admiral Mattheus Rombout, and at the end, Collaert’s and Rombout’s ships were brought to a sinking condition. With 48 dead and 50 wounded, Evertsen arrived back at Vlissingen on 27 February. This is based on the account in Doeke Roos's book Twee Eeuwen Varen en Vechten 1550-1750 (2003).

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Dutch Captain: Adriaan Engelen Silvergieter

Adriaan Engelen Silvergieter served the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam). His brother was Cornelis Engelen Silvergieter. Cornelis took part in the campaign leading up to the Battle of the Downs in 1639, but Adriaan must have been already gone. From September 1625 until January 1626, Adriaan was with joint English-Dutch fleet sent to the Mediterranean Sea to fight Spain. We do know that Adriaan still commanded the ship Neptunis in 1629, and we know some of her specifications. This was a ship built in 1614, a vessel of 140 lasts. The Neptunis had a crew of 80 men and carried 2-chambered 24pdr, 2-12pdr, 2-chambered 12pdr, 2-5pdr drakes, 13-4pdr, and 6-steenstukken (27 guns, if you are willing to count steenstukken, which Jan Glete says were swivels. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Eerste Engels-Nederlandse vloot expeditie tegen Spanje sept 1625 – jan 1626", 2005.

Monday, December 12, 2005

Dutch Captain: Pieter Aldertszoon

Pieter Aldertszoon served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. Dr. Ballhausen says that the ship he commanded was the Burcht (24 guns and a crew of 100 men). According to Dr. Ballhausen, he fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. He was with the fleet in June and took part in the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. He seems to have been absent from the Battle of the Kentish Knock. He did fight in the Battle of Dungeness in December. He also fought in the Battle of Portland and was reported killed in the battle. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
  5. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Dutch Captain: Anthonis van der Haept

Anthonis (or Anthony) van der Haept served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In April 1627, in 1628 and 1629, he commanded the large ship Thetis, a vessel of 250 lasts. Example dimensions for a ship of 250 lasts would be 128ft x 31.5ft x 13.5ft, although I expect that the Thetis had different proportions than these. The Thetis had a crew of 100 to 106 men and carried 34 guns, if you count steenstukken. The guns consisted of 2-24pdr, 2-18pdr, 2-chambered 18pdr, 12-12pdr, 10-8pdr, and 6-steenstukken. Carl Stapel credits the Thetis with 36 guns, including steenstukken, apparently. In August 1635, Anthonis van der Haept was part of two squadrons of ships under the command of Willem Codde van der Burch and Vice-Admiral Quast when they were operating against the Dunkirker admiral Colaert and his fleet, and fought an action against Coleart. Sadly, that is the extent of information that I have from my sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  2. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Dutch Captain: Bastiaan Bardoel

Bastiaan Bardoel served the Amsterdam Directors. When the Directors hired ships in March 1652, Bastiaan Bardoel was appointed to command the Engel Gabriel (28 guns). The Engel Gabriel had dimensions 124ft x 28.5ft x 13.5ft, and had a height between decks of 6-3/4ft. The guns carried were 4-brass 12pdr belonging to the state, 8-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 6-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. Early in 1652, he lieutenant was Cornelis Corneliszoon Joll. According to Dr. Ballhausen, he fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. He was with the fleet in the summer of 1652 and he was on the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. The last we hear of him was in December 1652, when he was with a squadron operating against smugglers in the Baltic. The Baltic Squadron included Admiralty of Amsterdam captsins Barent Cramer, Pieter van Zalingen, Gerbrand Schatter, Hendrik Huyskens, and "Lieutenant van Lapper" (Jan de Lapper?), and Amsterdam Directors captains Cornelis Janszoon Brouwer, Gerrit Schuyt (still in the Roseboom), Bastiaan Bardoel, and Dirck Pater. Sources:
  1. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  2. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.
  3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Directors Ship Information", 2004.
  4. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  5. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Friday, December 09, 2005

Dutch Captain: Cornelis Rocuszoon Teincen (or Feincen)

Cornelis Rocuszoon Teincen served the Zierikzee Directors. Dr. Ballhausen says that Cornelis Teincen commanded the ship Liefde (34 guns and a crew of 110 men). We know that he served with the fleet in the summer of 1652, at least from June, and was on the voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. He also fought in the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December 1652, as well. Dr. Ballhausen says that he fought in the Battle of Portland (the Three Days Battle). Sources:
  1. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  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.
  5. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Dutch Captain: Abraham Verleth

Abraham Verleth commanded a newly built ship, the Walvisch (30 guns and a crew of 110 men). He apparently fought in the Battle of the Gabbard and the Battle of Scheveningen. The only published source that mentions him is Vol.V of Dr. Elias's book, Schetsen. The Walvisch was an Amsterdam Directors' ship. Witte de With's journal from August 1653 would seem to be a good source of information from this period, if we could obtain a copy. We also are pretty certain that the Walvisch was not in service in April or earlier, based on records of Amsterdam Directors' ship from January through April 1653. After the Battle of Scheveningen, the Walvisch was one of those ships that Witte de With accused of running from the battle. Sources:
  1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Dutch Captain: Paulus van den Kerckhoff

Paulus van den Kerckhoff was born about 1616 and died in May 1658. He served the Admiralty of the Maze. His father was Jan Janszoon van de Kerckhof and his brother was Quirijn van den Kerckhoff. Paulus commanded the Nijmegen (26 guns), a purchased ship formerly named Kasteel van Medemblik. On the voyage back from Brazil in June 1652, his ship was sunk. After that, he was given command of the ship Gulden Dolphijn (eventually, 32 guns). Paulus fought in the Battle of Dungeness in December 1652 and then fought at the Battle of Portland from 28 February until 2 March 1653. His brother was said to have been killed in that battle, but he seems to have survived. He probably fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, after which his ship was unfit for immediate service. Tromp planned to transfer his crew to other ships. In the winter of 1653 to 1654, he and Corstiaen Eldertszoon captured a ship, the Fortune. They went into Vlissingen to repair damages suffered in the fight. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.
  4. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Paulus van den Kerckhoff of Paulus van de Kerkhoven", 2005.
  5. A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Dutch Captain: Gabriel Antheunissen

Gabriel Antheunissen served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He commanded the ship Kasteel van Medemblik (26 guns). He served under the command of Michiel de Ruyter in the Channel and fought in the Battle of Plymouth. In December, he fought in the Battle of Dungness, where he was with Pieter Florissen's squadron. In February-March 1652, he fought in the Battle of Portland. He disobeyed direct orders from Pieter Florissen, whom he was required to support. After the battle, he was dismissed from the service and replaced as captain by Adriaan Houttuijn. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
  3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Dutch Captain: Hendrik Kroeger (or Crueger)

Hendrik Kroeger (or Croeger) served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. From the beginning of the First Anglo-Dutch War until 22 July 1652, he commanded the Marcus Curtius (24 guns) which was with the fishery protection squadron. On 22 July, the English captured or sank the ships in the squadron. In January 1653, he became separated from the fleet due to the bad weather. In mid-April 1653, he was with Witte de With's squadron and attended a council of war on Witte de With's ship the Luipaard. According to Dr. Ballhausen, Hendrik Kroeger commanded the ship Leiden in 1653, and fought in the Battle of Dungeness in December 1652 and the Battles of the Gabbard and Scheveningen in 1653. We know that at the Battle of Scheveningen, he was assigned to Michiel De Ruyter's squadron. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  3. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jacob Janszoon Coppe

Jacob Janszoon Coppe served the Amsterdam Directors. He commanded the ship Catarina, a vessel carrying 28 guns and with a crew of 110 men. The dimensions of the Catarina were 125ft x 29.25ft x 12.5ft. The 28 guns included 12-12pdr, 6-8pdr, 8-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. The Catarina seems to have been hired in late January 1653, as the first document listing the ship is dated 30 January 1653. We know that the Catarina was operating with Witte de With's squadron in April 1653. He definitely fought in the Battle of the Gabbard where his ship was captured by the English. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  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.

A courtmartial on 18 June 1653 on board the Brederode

Tromp conducted a courtmartial of four ship commanders on 18 June 1653, not very long after the Battle of the Gabbard. Those tried included:
  1. Lt-Commandeur Uldinich (or Ulrich) de Jaeger, the ship Nieuw Gideon (34 guns) Amsterdam Directors
  2. Captain Andries Douweszoon Pascaert, the ship Sint Vincent (28 guns) Harlingen Directors
  3. Cornelis Naeuoogh, the ship Sint Matheeus (34 guns) Amsterdam Directors
  4. Jan Fredrickszoon Houcboot (or Hoeckboot) Vergulde Meerman (30 guns) Edam Directors
Jan Houcboot was acquitted while the others were convicted and sentenced to being deprived of their rank, and incapable of ever serving again, his pay confiscated, and costs and to pay costs and expenses, and to be imprisoned until they have carried out the terms of the sentence. The sentence was to be read with halters around their necks. Sources:
  1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Dutch Captain: Pieter Willemszoon Verhoeff

Pieter Willemszoon Verhoeff served the Admiralty of Amsterdam and als the VOC. He was appointed captain in 1600. In 1607, he distinguished himself as flag captain of Van Heemskerck in the Battle of Gibraltar. There was not only Jacob van Heemskerck, but Vice-Admiral Alteras, Commandeur Mooy Lambert, Captains Marinus Hollare, Verhoeff, Roest, Harpert Maartenszoon, father of Maarten Tromp, all of whom showed great courage. Van Heemskerck was killed by a Spanish cannonball on his flagship, the Aeolus, but the Dutch won the battle. He was appointed Schout-bij-Nacht and admiral of the VOC fleet sent to Molucca. In 1609, he was assasinated at Banda. Sources:
  1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, 1858.
  2. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Dutch Captain: Frans Janszoon (or Jansen)

Frans Janszoon (or Jansen) served the Admiralty of Zeeland. In 1639, he took part in the campaign leading up to the Battle of the Downs. In September, he commanded the Vlissingen (34 guns and a crew of 120 men: 100 sailors and 20 soldiers). At the Battle of the Downs, he served as Jan Evertsen's flag captain. Jan Evertsen flew his Vice-Admiral's flag from Frans Janszoon's ship. In late August 1640, he was with Captains Bankert, Forant, Tjaert de Groot, and the row jacht Captain Dorrevelt in the Channel. In November 1640, he and his squadron were assisting the Great Fishery, and cruising off the Hoofden. In April 1641, he commanded the ship Vlissingen. He was part of a group of ships carrying passengers, of which he carried 44. In October 1643, he was with Tromp's squadron in a fleet of two squadrons. In December 1645, Tromp was called to the Hague. Frans Janszoon was left in charge of ten ships to guard the coast. In April 1646, he was one of three captains of large ships that were to be sent to the West Indies, under the command of the West-Indies Company, despite the lack of ships to blockade Dunkirk. He was nominally part of Tromp's fleet that in April 1646 was blockading Dunkirk. Sources:
  1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
  2. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Duinkerkers, 1949.
  3. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.
  4. Dr. F. Graefe, De Kapiteinsjaren van Maerten Harpertszoon Tromp, 1938.

The Extra-Ordrinary Equipage and reality

This is from my translation of a paragraph in Dr. Elias's book De Vlootbouw in Nederland, on pages 90 and 91:
We learned a big lesson from the sum of experience with hired and lent ships during the First Anglo-Dutch War. That lesson was the untenableness of the ancient axiom: that which one had was the backbone of the defense at sea. We had greatly overestimated our supply of suitable ships. In February 1652, a pamphlet estimated the number of ships, in the country, which could be equipped as warships was 172, and which could carry at least 24 guns. On the other hand, when the official investigation began by a couple of ship brokers from Amsterdam and North Holland that the reserve of ships of 120-144ft in length and with 24 to 50 guns was no more than 43. They also found a number of fluits that were not suited as warships. In the entire Meuse district, there was almost nothing but fluits, and those of a smaller type with a maximum length of 113ft.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Barrels of gunpowder

There is a note in Charles Boxer's book Tromp's Journal 1639 that barrels of gunpowder were 100 lbs. each. That would resolve a question about gunpowder after the Battle of Scheveningen, where in some cases the amounts were in barrels and in other cases they were in hundreds of pounds. Sources:
  1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  2. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.

Dutch Captain: Jacob Meyndertszoon van Uyl

Jacob Meyndertszoon van Uyl served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He commanded Willem van Brederode's ship Utrecht (28 guns) at the Battle of the Downs in October 1639. Willem van Brederode appears to have died prior to the battle. Jacob Meyndertszoon van Uyl is believed to have been Van Dorp's and Tromp's first flag captain. One issue is that Charles Boxer calls him Gerrit Meyndertszoon, while Dr. De Boer calls him Jacob Meyndertszoon (van Uyl). Dr. De Boer is at least consistent, as in Tromp en de Duinkerkers, he also calls him Jacob Meyndertszoon van Uyl. Jacob Meyndertszoon van Uyl was involved in a battle with Dunkirkers in July 1640, with Witte de With. He was fortunate to be saved by Captain Baselaer's ship. Witte de With's ship was heavily damaged and on fire, close to the powder room. On 14 November 1640, while cruising off the Flemish coast, he took a galliot from Ostende, with three guns, commanded by Captain Jacques Bijl. In January 1641, he was given command of a group to attack two Dunkirker frigates off Plymouth. They took the St. Juan Evangelist, which was originally a Zeeland ship. In early September 1642, he was off England with Matthijs Gilliszoon, under the command of Schout-bij-Nacht Cats. There is another note from Tromp to the States General that calls him Gerrit Meyndertszoon van Uyl, the same as what Charles Boxer called him. The multiple references seem to indicate that Gerrit and Jacob are the same man. In October 1643, he was with Tromp, who had two squadrons dedicated to blockading Dunkirk. One squadron had Tromp along with captains van Coole, the ship of Joris van Cats, Bouckhorst, Jan Gijssen, the ship of Joost Bankert, Swart, Dorrevelt, and Frans Jansen (Janszoon). The other had captains Willem Codde, Lieven de Zeeuw, Den Uyl, Verhaef, the ship of Voorens, Ringelszoon, and the ship Aemilia. We believe at this date, Tromp used the Prinses Roijaal Marie as his flagship. Sources:
  1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Armada van 1639, 1941.
  2. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Duinkerkers, 1949.
  3. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.
  4. Johan E. Elias, De Vlootbouw in Nederland 1596-1655, 1933.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Captain: Jan Gijsen (or Gijzen)

Jan Gijsen (or Gijzen), from Hoorn, served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. In July 1640, he was with a group of four ships that had gone to Vlissingen to revicutual. In 1640 and 1641, he was often operating with Lieven de Zeeuw, Paulus Coole, Govert Voorns, and Claes Ham. In late January 1643, he was off Flamborough Head. In October, he was with Tromp and a group of ships, including the Aemilia, the ships of Joris van Cats, Captains Bouckhorst, Joost Bankert, Swart, Dorrevelt, Frans Janszoon, Willem Janszoon Codde, Lieven de Zeeuw, Gerrit Meyndertszoon van Uyl, Verhaeff, Govert Voorens, and Ringelszoon. In 1646, he was with Tromp's fleet blockading Dunkirk. In 1648, he commanded the Witte Eenhoorn (30 guns) in Witte de With's relief fleet sent to Brazil. He arrived in Brazil in March 1648. He died on 28 September 1648 and was barried at Recief. His ship was taken over by Pieter Adriaenszoon, his lieutenant. Sources:
  1. Dr. M.G. De Boer, Tromp en de Duinkerkers, 1949.
  2. W. J. van Hoboken, Witte de With in Brazilië, 1955.

This my rather poor attempt at translating the piece about the rearguard at Scheveningen

This is my rather lame attempt at translating a piece by Dr. Elias from Vol.V of Schetsen, about the rearguard action and aftermath at the Battle of Scheveningen. You can at least get a feel for what happened. I am still learning Dutch and expanding my vocabulary:

Only once in the rearguard action over 5 or 6 hours, off the north bank of the Meuse, did the English gain the upper hand in a sharp ship-to-ship fight. A ship from the North-Holland contingent was lost, the Prins Maurits of 32 guns, the ship of Captain Taenman, who acted as Vice-Admiral of Pieter Florissen’s squadron. The ship sank with the masts sticking up with the flag still flying. The ship sank, taking with it part of the crew. Only the topmasts showed out of the water, showing the place where the fight had happened.

It seemed that the entire Hoek of Holland seemed a graveyard of ships. Pieces of burnt and broken wreckage were taken on board and boats were washed ashore along the beach and in inlets along the bank. Three miles out to sea, from the mouth of the Meuse northward, was covered with floating figureheads, painted stern rails, pieces of head rails, mops, straps, and pigs. With our slow retirement in the night, about 11pm with burning fires past Katwijk came, with De With's rearguard of only 5 or 6 ships! Only small ships more wanted to distinguish he yet faintly for self out; all the remaining could not be seen and had as far away as they could. Yet the enemy had relented. Already with the increasing darkness at 8 o’clock, the firing came to an end. By moonlight, the pursuit went forward. Just about midnight, the wind shifted to the south-southwest, and the navigation through rain, bad visibility and high seas was too much for the English, and Monk was forced to give up and turned to the west northwest.

A passage from De Jonge about the fleet sent to aid Venice in 1618

This is based on my first cut at a translation of a passage from De Jonge's book , Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, from 1858:
It deserves to be noted that it assisted the Dutch common good in these years of truce to aid the Republic of Venice not only with soldiers but also with warships. Twelve ships under the command of Admiral Melchior van den Kerckhove left in the year 1618, and others followed. The Dutch assistance fleet behaved courageously and proved to be valuable to the Venetian service. In the meantime, it was less from the services performed for pay that the aid fleet was sent. It was more to prove to what degree the power of the United Netherlands had grown. It was now able to provide other nations with assistance and the renown of its navy had already been established in these days that others called upon its help.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Dutch Captain: Dirk Pieterszoon Heertjens (or Heertges)

Dirk Pieterszoon Heertjens served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He commanded the three-masted jacht Windhond (18 guns). In the fall of 1652, under the command of Augustijn Balck, Dirk Pieterszoon Heertjens sailed with a convoy to Muscovy. In March 1653, following the Battle of Portland, the Windhond was operating against English shipping from the Texel. We also know that he fought in the Battle of the Gabbard (12-13 June 1653), still in command of the Windhond. He had put into the Texel after the battle. He was accused of having run from the battle, and was courtmartialed. He was cashiered by the courtmartial, never to be allowed to serve again, and was fined. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  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.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Dutch Captain: Stoffel (Christoffel) Juriaenszoon

Stoffel Juriaenszoon served the Amsterdam Directors. His ship, the Sint Francisco (also called the Swarte Reiger) seems to have been hired in March 1652. His ship was substantial, of dimensions 133ft x 28.25ft x 13.25 with the standard 28-gun armament of 12-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 6-6pdr, and 2-3pdr. The crew consisted of between 100 and 105 men. According to Dr. Ballhausen, he fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. He served with the fleet in the summer and sailed to the Shetlands in July and August. He probably fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock on 8 October 1652. He seems to have missed the Battle of Dungeness, but fought in the Battle of Portland. On the third day (2 March 1653), his ship got in among the English, lost its mainmast and was taken. The Sint Francisco was one of those ships taken to Dover. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
  5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
  6. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Dutch Captain: Gerrit Munt (or Munth)

Gerrit Munt served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He started the First Anglo-Dutch War in command of the hired ship Huis van Nassau. Dr. Ballhausen says that he fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 March 1652. He served with the fleet in the summer of 1652 and sailed to the Shetlands in July and August with the fleet. There is an undated manuscript of similar date to that included in Thurloe (dated 22 June 1652). The document in Thurloe (reprinted in The First Dutch War, Vol.V) gives him as captain of the "Ganapan", which is, of course, a misreading of "Sampson". When you see the 17th Century Dutch handwriting for "Sampson", the resemblance is striking. The first time I saw "Sampson", I thought that I had found the reference to "Ganapan", although when I looked more closely, I found that the word was actually "Sampson". In the handwritten manuscript of similar date, Gerrit Munt was said to command the ship "Lastdrager". He may have fought in the Battle of the Gabbard, and almost certainly fought in the Battle of Scheveningen. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  3. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  4. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  5. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.II, 1859

Saturday, November 26, 2005

An early Dutch ship: the Abraham

I think that we are fortunate to have as much information as we do about Dutch ships from the early part of the 17th Century. For example, Ingelbrucht van de Leu commanded the ship Abraham for the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam) in 1629. The Abraham had been built in 1611 and was a ship of 180 lasts. We are on shakey ground estimating dimensions from lasts, but I do it anyway, for I find it useful. A ship of 180 lasts could have dimensions something like 118ft x 27ft x 12ft. The Abraham carried 22 guns and had a crew of 90 men. We also know the list of guns, in detail:
2-12pdr, 2-chambered 12pdr, 2-8pdr, 13-5pdr, 1-3.5pdr, and 2-2.5pdr
We can immediately see that the smaller guns are odd calibers and are probably archaic. You might think that they were Falcons and Falconets. Sources:
  1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.

Friday, November 25, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jan ter Stegen (or Verstegen)

Jan ter Stegen commanded the Amsterdam Director's ship Zwarte Raven (30 guns and a crew of 78 men) in June 1645. He was with Witte de With's fleet that forced a convoy of merchant ships into the Sound without paying the toll to the Danes. During the First Anglo-Dutch War, he served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. From the beginning of the war, he commanded the small hired ship, the Keyser (26 guns and a crew of 100 men). He was with the fleet in June 1652 and took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. He survived the storm. The Keyser was paid off and Jan ter Stegen was appointed as captain of the Prinses Aemilia (28 guns) when Willem van der Zaan was moved to the Campen in place of his dead brother, after the Battle of Portland. The Prinses Aemilia was in the Texel roads on 17 April 1653, with Witte de With's squadron. In the event, at the Battle of the Gabbard, the Prinses Aemilia was commanded in the battle by Jan ter Stegen's lieutenant Jan Franszoon Smit. The Prinses Aemilia was lost at the Gabbard. The Prinses Aemilia was one of four ships that had become tangled after a collision. One, the Frisian jacht Prins Willem escaped while the rest were taken (the Neptunis, the Prinses Aemilia, and the Sint Matheeus). Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.
  4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
  5. G. W. Kernkamp, De Sleutels van de Sont, 1890.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Dutch Captain: Arent Dirckszoon

Arent Dirckszoon served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. We don't know for sure what ship he commanded, but Arent Dirckszoon commanded a 26-gun ship in Witte de With's fleet in June 1645 that forced a convoy of merchant ships into the Sound without paying the toll to the Danes. Dr. Ballhausen says that Arent Dirckszoon fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1645, in Pieter Florissen's squadron. He was with the fleet during the summer and took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. He commanded the Monnick (or Monnikendam), a ship of 24 guns and a crew of 95 men. The Monnick eventually carried 28 guns and had a crew of 109 men. Arent Dirckszoon was with Witte de With's fleet in August and September and fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock on 8 October 1652. Later in the year, he was with the fleet and fought in the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December 1652. Dr. Ballhausen says that Arent Dirckszoon fought in the Battle of Portland (the Three Days Battle) from 28 February until March 2 1653. Dr. Ballhausen also lists Arent Dirckszoon as having fought in the Battle of the Gabbard from 12 until 13 June 1653 and at the Battle of Scheveningen on 10 August 1653. We also know that in July 1654, Arent Dirckszoon commanded the Wapen van Alkmaar (28 guns), a ship of the same size as the Monnick. Sources:
  1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
  2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
  4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
  5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
  6. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.
  7. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

A question...

My brother is starting a business, and he is considering making ship models for use in naval wargaming. He has long thought about ships for the Anglo-Dutch Wars. His first question is what scale that gamers would like to see. I would add another question: what type ships would people like to have available for gaming? I had thought that you might use larger scale ships and fight situations such as the Brederode at the Battle of Dungeness, when she was attacked by the Garland and the Anthony Bonaventure. Tromp was saved when Jan Evertsen came up in support in the Hollandia, and they took the two attackers, one at a time.

Dutch Captain: Claes Janszoon Sanger

Claes Janszoon Sanger served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He commanded the ship West Cappelle (or Westcappel) in the First Anglo-Dutch War. His ship was sometimes called the Galjas van Middelburg. His ship was with Tromp's fleet on 23 May 1652, and probably fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1652. In June 1652, he ship carried 26 guns and had a crew of 110 men and was with the fleet. He fought in the Battle of Plymouth in August, under Michiel De Ruyter's command. Witte de With sent his ship in for repairs on the recommendation of De Ruyter, as it was one of a group of ships that needed repairs from the last battle. He fought in the Battle of Portland in March 1653. Dr. Ballhausen had pointed out that Claes Janszoon Sanger was one of 17 captains and ships from Zeeland that returned home together after the battle. He probably fought in the Battle of the Gabbard in June. The July 1653 list of ships at Vlissingen includes 12 ships from the Admiralty of Zeeland, including a number that were very small, as was the West Cappelle. He fought in the Battle of Scheveningen in August 1653 where his ship was sunk and he was taken prisoner by the English. Sources:
  1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
  2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
  3. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.III, 1925.
  5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
  6. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

The Dutch situation after Scheveningen in August 1653

This is based on my translation of a passage in Vol.V of Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen by Dr. Elias. I have somewhat edited and augmented what was there:
Besides weakening our fleet by the loss of three senior officers (so that only De With and Pieter Florissen had been left with the fleet, as Tromp was killed, De Ruyter forced to go into Goeree, and Jan Evertsen’s ship was disabled) and the 9 named captains lost (some of whom were Cornelis Evertsen de Oude, Claes Janszoon Sanger, Andries Fortuijn, Gerbrand Schatter, and Jan de Haes taken prisoner and Willem Adriaanszoon Warmont and Cornelis Taenman killed), the fleet suffered the complete loss of 10 ships. The Zeeland contingent had suffered the worst, having lost 4 ships. Of them, the Hollandia (Captain Adriaan Bankert) and the Westcappel (Captain Claes Janszoon Sanger) had been sunk, the Eendracht was burnt (Captain Andries Fortuijn), and the Zeeuwsche Leeuw (or Wapen van Zeeland) was lost by exploding gunpowder that cracked the hull two and sank the ship (Captain Cornelis Evertsen de Oude). Of the Amsterdam ships, there were three lost: the Hollandia (commandeur Evert Anthonissen), the Dolphijn (Captain Gerbrand Schatter), and the Omlandia (Marten Schaeff). All were sunk. Moreover, the enemy had taken the Rosencrans (Captain Jan de Haes) and afterwards burnt her. The Frisian states’ ship Sevenwolden (Captain Frederik Stellingwerff) and the East Indiaman Mercurius (Captain Pieter de Bitter) were sunk. The English had saved as many of the crews as they could and took them into captivity.

English Captain: John Utber

John Utber served in the Restoration navy. In 1663, the Duke of York appointed him as lieutenant of the 4th Rate Phoenix. In 1664, he became lieutenant of the 3rd Rate Plymouth. In 1665, he was appointed captain of the 5th Rate Guernsey (28 guns). He was killed in the attack on the Dutch East Indiamen at Bergen on 2 August 1665. Sources:
  1. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
  2. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.

Monday, November 21, 2005

English Captain: Nicholas Parker

Nicholas Parker served in both the Commonwealth and Restoration navies. He commanded the frigate Bryer from 1656 until 1658. From 1659 until 1660, he commanded the Fagons (renamed Milford after the Restoration). In 1661, he was appointed to command the Greyhound. In 1663, he was appointed to command first the Coventry and then the 4th Rate Nonsuch (40 guns). He was with Sir Thomas Allin's fleet that sailed for the Mediterranean Sea in August 1664 and arriving at Gibraltar in September. In 1668, he was appointed to command the 4th Rate Tiger. He was operating in the Mediterranean area and off Spain with Sir Thomas Allin in 1668, but he was ill. He died of his illness in October 1668. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, The Journals of Sir Thomas Allin, Vol.I 1660-1666, 1939.
  2. R. C. Anderson, The Journals of Sir Thomas Allin, Vol.II 1667-1678, 1940.
  3. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

English Captain: William Long

William Long served in the Restoration navy. Later in 1665, he was lieutenant of the Golden Phoenix prize. In 1666, Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed him as lieutenant of the Dutch prize Slothany. In 1668, he was lieutenant of the Resolution. The King appointed him as captain of the Zante frigate on 3 February 1673. He was operating with the fleet in the late spring. On 26 April 1675, he was appointed as First Lieutenant of the Harwich. On 15 September 1678, the King appointed him as captain of the Europa. On 12 December 1678, he became captain of the hired ship Loyal Subject. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, Journals and Narratives of the Third Dutch War, 1946.
  2. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

English Naval Officer: Jeremy Smith

Jeremy Smith served in both the Commonwealth and the Restoration navies.

Advice (42 guns) in 1653. He fought in the Battle of the Gabbard in June 1653, where he was assigned to the Red Squadron, in the Generals' division. He very likely fought in the Battle of the Battle of Scheveningen, as well. R. C. Anderson thinks that the Advice was probably absent from the battle and operating off Scotland, but there are two pieces of evidence that argue otherwise. One was the published list of ships and captains at the Gabbard includes the Advice with Jeremy Smith as captain. Then, there is a document from 14 June that Anderson mentions in a note that says that the Advice's lieutenant was killed in the last battle. If we had access to Calendar of State Papers Domestic for 1652 to 1653, perhaps we could resolve the question.

Jeremy Smith continued to serve through the rest of the Interregnum. In 1654, he commanded the Torrington. In 1656, he commanded the Essex. From 1656 until 1657, he commanded the Dunbar.

After the Restoration, he commanded the 3rd Rate Mary (former Speaker) in 1664. He fought in the Battle of Lowestoft, where he was a second to the Duke of York. He was caught in a fierce fight with Bastiaan Centen in the Oranje (76 guns). After the battle, Jeremy Smith was knighted for his performance in the battle. He was apparently to the 1st Rate Sovereign, later in the year. This would seem to be contradicted by Frank Fox's list that shows him in the Mary on the expedition to Tangier. In September, he took part in the capture of the Dutch Indiamen. He received a share of the prize money. For his first independent operation, he commanded a fleet sent to Tangier from December 1665 until they returned in March 1666. At the time of the Four Days' Battle, his ship the Mary was at Portsmouth taking on victuals. Later in 1666, he was in the newly completed 2nd Rate Loyal London. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle where he commanded the Blue Squadron and flew his flag on the Loyal London (92 guns). Jeremy Smith was considered to be the protege of the Duke of Albemarle. He was in conflict with Sir Robert Holmes in July 1666, and it took the King's intervention to resolve the situation. In 1668, he was in the 2nd Rate Royal Katherine. Later in 1668, he joined the navy board along with Sir Thomas Allin, and served well until his death in 1675. We also know that he visited the fleet in the fall of 1672, and had responsibility for signing pay tickets for sailors. Sources:

  1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
  2. R. C. Anderson, The Journals of Sir Thomas Allin, Vol.II 1667-1678, 1940.
  3. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
  4. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
  5. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.

Michael Robinson's identification of Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon's ship

On page 8 of Vol.I of the Van de Velde Paintings book was where the author an Van de Velde expert Michael Robinson identified Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon's ship as the Prins te Paard. His reliance on Dr. Ballhausen, who has so many errors that we would be cautious in accepting anything he says without finding corroboration. If the identification is from writing on the drawing, then I am more willing to accept the identification. A good deal of what Michael Robinson used was from articles from Oud Holland, which published, among other topics, articles about the Van de Veldes and their artwork.

Friday, November 18, 2005

The storm in the Channel in late May 1652

This is based on my translation of the account in Dr. Elias' Vol.II of Schetsen:
The start of the journey was not successful. Already on the 23rd, the fleet, close under the coast of Flanders, was assaulted by a fierce north wind that scattered the ships while a gloomy drizzle took away the crews’ view. Between the poor visibility and the rough sea, the Admiral who commanded the “armada” thought that there was a serious danger of being driven onto the Flemish banks. After some of his ships had gone astray, Tromp decided on the 24th (of May) that between the rough seas and the mist, that they fleet needed to move to five miles off Dunkirk, with the whole fleet to anchor there. For four days, the dangerous weather kept him at this anchorage. Soon, by the 28th, the wind began to subside, although the seas remained turbulent, he decided to raise the anchors, taking a chance, and to collect the fleet, which was urgently needed, as some ships had drifted. He was therefore ready to pursue his mission, although some of the Directors’ ships captains complained that they had lost anchors and cables in the storm. This was foreseen, but he only had two anchors and two cables left. About that time, the wind increased again, and Tromp resolved to cross over to the English coast.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Their High Majesties granted commanders the use of discretion regarding actions based on the content of the concerned article or instruction of the practice and purpose of their High Majesties with respect to contact with the English. The state did not appear to have intended that Tromp take an aggressive stance with regard to granting respect to the English in the narrow and North Seas or the French in the Mediterranean Sea. Compared to their rival great powers, their High Majesties pursued a very circumspect policy which the senior naval officers ignored in their defiant stand towards rendering honors, This was in spite of clear instructions which were ignored. The Dutch commanders hoped to only have to salute the strongest English forces and that some of the English commanders would not enforce the salute. Tromp was loyal and patriotic commander, and his aggresive spiriti made a conflict inevitable that would lead to the opening of hostilities. This is my paraphrase, slightly summarized, of a passage from page 55 from Vol.II of Schetsen. Source:

  1. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

May 22nd 1652 off the Start

(Joris) Van der Zaan reported that the convoy escorted by 3 warships was returning from Genoa and Livorno with 7 rich Straatsvaarders carrying cargo valued at 50 barrels of gold. On 22 May the convoy had encountered Captain Young with a couple of frigates, who was guarding the westward approaches. Van der Zaan had reacted negatively to the order to strike his colors, ignoring the example of the convoy commander Huurluyt (Huyrluyt), who had struck his. This led to a sharp fight between the stubborn Amsterdammer and the English commander, which lasted 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Van der Zaan was finally forced to yield. He struck his flag and Young let the convoy proceed without further hindrance. This is based on my translation of a passage written by Dr. Elias. Source:
  1. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

The situation in May 1652

A provisional resolution was passed by their high majesties authorizing the hiring of ships on 16 May 1652. A definite decision was made by 28 May. Those ships of the "extraordinary equipage" which were ready by 28 May were to be sent to Tromp's fleet. Of the 50 Directors' ships, only 25 were ready and of the 38 admiralty ships, on 8 were at the rendezvous. Of Tromp's ships on 20 May, there were 7 Amsterdam Director's ships. This is based on my translation of a passage in Dr. Elias's book, in Vol.II. Sources:
  1. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.

Monday, November 14, 2005

A revised list of fishery protection vessels on 22 July 1652

Based on what Dr. Elias wrote in Vol.II of Schetsen, this would seem to be a better mapping of captains to ships for the fishery protection squadron taken by the English on 22 July 1652:
Dirk Claesz. van Dongen, admiral Paulus                24 guns   Rotterdam
Reynout Venhuizen, vice-admiral  Waterhond             24 guns   Rotterdam
                                 Kalmar Sleutel        22 guns   Rotterdam
Jan Noblet                       Land van Beloften     24 guns   Noorderkwartier
Captain Munnekes                 Wapen van Holland     30 guns   Noorderkwartier              
                                 Sampson van Enkhuizen 28 guns   Noorderkwartier
Jan Heck                         Adam en Eva           24 guns   Noorderkwartier
Willem Ham                       Sampson van Hoorn     24 guns   Noorderkwartier
                                 Jan Baptista          22 guns 
                                 Arke Noachs           24 guns   Amsterdam
                                 Zwaan                 28 guns   Amsterdam
Dirk Bogaert                     Juffrouw Katharina    22 guns   Amsterdam
Hendrik Kroeger                  Marcus Curtius        24 guns   Amsterdam

Dutch Captain: Dirk Claeszoon van Dongen

Dirk Claeszoon van Dongen served the Admiralty of the Maze. He served with Tromp's fleet during the campaign leading up to the Battle of the Downs in 1639. He commanded a buss convoyer at the time. In early October 1639, soldiers were distributed in the fleet from garrisons. Dirk Claeszoon van Dongen's ship received 20 soldiers. In the Battle of the Downs, he started the battle in Tromp's squadron. His employment normally was to protect "the great fishery". In 1652, he was still employed on fishery protection duties, except that he was now a more senior officer. He commanded a squadron of 15 vessels on fishery protection duties. That included 5 vessels hired by the directors of the fishery. The general resolution of 10 May 1652 included 15 ships for the protection of the fishery out the 150 ships of the "great equipage". When the English frigates approached, Dirk van Dongen's ship drifted from the others. Apparently, he and Reynout Venhuysen surrendered to the English without fighting, when the English offered quarter. The two were eventually imprisoned. This would indicate that Van Dongen was the "admiral" and Venhuysen his "vice-admiral". Sources:
  1. Charles R. Boxer, The Journal of Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp Anno 1639, 1930.
  2. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.

Sunday, November 13, 2005

The fishery protection vessels on 22 July 1652

One thing that I learned from this research is that Captain Munnekes, whose ship, the Wapen van Holland (30 guns) was captured on 22 July 1652 is probably the captain who fought in the Battle of Dungeness. His name was something like Herman Munnekes (or Munnich). If we take a ship-centric perspective on the list of ships performing fishery protection duties on 22 July 1652, we see the following:
Rijnhart Venhuizen, admiral Paulus                24 guns   Rotterdam
vice-admiral (Dongen?)      Waterhond             24 guns   Rotterdam
                            Kalmar Sleutel        22 guns   Rotterdam
Jan Noblet                  Land van Beloften     24 guns   Noorderkwartier
Captain Munnekes            Wapen van Holland     30 guns   Noorderkwartier                
                            Sampson van Enkhuizen 28 guns   Noorderkwartier
Jan Heck                    Adam en Eva           24 guns   Noorderkwartier
Willem Ham                  Sampson van Hoorn     24 guns   Noorderkwartier
                            Jan Baptista          22 guns   
                            Arke Noachs           24 guns   Amsterdam
                            Zwaan                 28 guns   Amsterdam
Dirk Bogaert                Juffrouw Katharina    22 guns   Amsterdam
Hendrik Kroeger             Marcus Curtius        24 guns   Amsterdam
One troubling aspect of this is that Vreugdenhil does not list a Jan Baptista, or anything similar, although other sources definitely do show the ship. There is some reason to believe that there might have been as many as 15 fishery protection vessels.

The captured firshery protection ships from 22 July 1652

It turns out that the biography of Cornelis Tromp, from 1692, has what is supposed to be a list of captains whose ships were captured or sunk on 22 July 1652. We know a more complete lists of ships, but not the mapping to captains.
Rijnhart Venhuizen        Paulus             24 guns    Rotterdam
Gerrit Janszoon Schuimer 
Dirk Gerritszoon (Pomp?)                                Noorderkwartier ?         
Jan Noblet                Land van Beloften  24 guns    Noorderkwartier
Captain Munnekes          Wapen van Holland  30 guns    Noorderkwartier                 
Luitje
Dirk Claeszoon van Dongen                               Rotterdam
Dirk Bogaert              Juffrouw Katharina 22 guns    Amsterdam
Jan Heck                  Adam en Eva        24 guns    Noorderkwartier
Hendrik Kroeger           Marcus Curtius     24 guns    Amsterdam
Dirk Vijch                                              Rotterdam
Willem Ham                Sampson van Hoorn  24 guns    Noorderkwartier

Dutch Captain: Dirk Vijch

Dirk Vijch served the Admiralty of the Maze. He was captured by the English on the morning of 22 July 1652. He was commander of the Enkhuizen fishing busses. The biography of Cornelis Tromp seems to confirm that (page 50). He was repartiated in September and relieved Cornelis Engelen Silvergieter as captain of the small frigate Overijssel (22 guns). In December, he fought in the Battle of Dungeness, where he was in De With's squadron (although Michiel De Ruyter was acting commander in De With's absence). Following that, he was engaged in convoying. In the period following the Battle of Portland, there was a great deal of trouble with mutinies, and Dirk Vijch's crew seems to have mutinied at the end of March 1653. In April 1653, he was operating independently off the English coast, presumably looking to disrupt shipping. Dr. Ballhausen says that Dirk Vijch fought in the Battle of the Gabbard (Nieuwpoort) in June. The First Dutch War, Vol.IV seems to support that assertion. If we can rely upon the Staet van Oorlog te Water for 1654, Dirk Vijch still commanded the Overijssel in July 1654. Sources:
  1. anonymous, unpublished manscript "Staet van Oorlog te Water voor den Jaere 1654", 1654.
  2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
  3. Lambertus van den Bosch, Leven en Bedryf van den Vermaarden Zeeheld, Cornelis Tromp, 1692.
  4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.
  5. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
  6. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Another look at the Admiralty of the Maze in March 1653

As we have previously noted, we have a summary of the Dutch ships in service, except the Directors ships, in March 1653. I wanted to see if I could see any sign of the ship that Michael Robinson called the Prins te Paard. The original list from the Hollandsche Mercurius attributed 38 guns and a crew of 110 men to the ship. The captain was originally Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon. He took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. Hendrik de Raedt's pamphlet gave an armament of 38 guns and a crew of 120 men. The guns must be correct, then, at least for 1652. After Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon was killed at the Battle of Portland (the Three Days' Battle), Jacob Cleijdijck became her captain. Jacob Cleijdijck's Rotterdam Director's ship the Meerman (30 guns) was sunk at Portland, so he was reassigned to the Prins te Paard. One issue is whether the Prins te Paard was hired by the Rotterdam Directors or the Admiralty of the Maze. Hendrik de Raedt's pamphlet says that the Prins te Paard was one of the 100 ships hired in 1652. If that is the case, then the Prins te Paard should appear in the list for March 1653 in Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I. The summary is as follows, where I have attempted to supply the ship name and captain. The problem I see is that there is no place for the "Prins te Paard" as a 38 gun ship. The evidence suggest that it was, in fact, a Directors' ship:
Landsschepen

Ship name             Commander                       guns     Sailors    Soldiers
Brederode             Lt-Admiral Tromp                54       200        50
                      Egbert Meeuwssen Kortenaer
Gelderland            Michiel Franszoon van den Bergh 40       110        30
Prinses Louise        Abel Roelants                   36       124        46
Dolphijn              Paulus van der kerckhoff        32        95        30
Gorcum                Willem Adriaanszoon Warmont     30     80-95     20-30
Rotterdam             Jan Aertszoon Verhaeff          30     80-95     20-30
Gelderland            Aert van Nes                    24        80        20
Utrecht               Leendert Haexwant               22        80        20
Overijssel            Dirk Vijch                      22        80        20
Haai, adviesjacht                                      6        15
fireship                                                        14        
fireship                                                        14

Hired ships

Ship name             Commander                       guns     Sailors    Soldiers

Roskam                Corstiean Eldertszoon           26        80        20
Gulden Beer           Jan de Haes                     26        80        20
Maria                 Quirijn van den Kerckhoff (dead)26        80        20

Hollandia             Ernestus de Bertrij             26    Paid off Nov 1652

Losses

Captured

Ship name             Commander                        guns     Sailors    Soldiers

Prinses Roijaal Marie Willem Joosten van Colster       36
Maagd van Dordrecht                                    26
Wapen van Rotterdam                                    26
Sint Paulus                                            24 (not listed by De Jonge)
Waterhond                                              24 (not listed by De Jonge)
Kalmar Sleutel                                         22 (not listed by De Jonge)

Sunk

Ship name             Commander                        guns     Sailors    Soldiers

Gelderland            Dirk Juynbol                     30       131              
Nijmegen              Paulus van den Kerckhoff         26       
Wapen van Holland     Hendrik de Munnik                26       

Friday, November 11, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Jacob Hoek

Jacob Hoek served in both the Dutch navy and the Danish navy. Most of the information about Jacob Hoek's service in the Danish navy is from Andrew, except that from Anderson. Jacob Hoek served in De Ruyter's expedition to Martinique in June 1674, where he commanded the snauw Faam. He served the Admiralty of the Maze during his Dutch naval service. While De Ruyter led a fleet to the Mediterranean Sea, Jacob Hoek went to the Baltic where he served in the Danish navy. He commanded the 62-gun ship Enighed in 1676. He fought in the Battle of Eland in June 1676 and took part in operations at Rugen in August 1676. In 1676, he commanded the Christiana (54 guns). He fought in the Battle of Kjoge Bay on July 1st, 1677, under command of Niels Juel. He was assigned to the Third Squadron under Admiral J. Rodstehn. This turned out to be a great Danish victory over the Swedes. Frank Fox has told me that Niels Juel was a master of line tactics. I believe that he was the reason that the Danes fared so well in the war. Sources:
  1. R. C. Anderson, Naval Wars in the Baltic, 1910.
  2. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Cornelis Boermans

Cornelis Post served the AdmiraltyAbout 16 May 1673, Cornelis Boermans commanded the fireship Vergulde Post (4 guns). He was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's squadron. He fought in the First Schoonveld Battle on 7 June 1673, where he was still with Cornelis Tromp's squadron. He was still with the fleet on 12 June, so he probably fought in the Second Schoonveld Battle, as well. He served with De Ruyter's fleet on the expedition to Martinique in 1674. He commanded the fireship Sayer (4 guns). Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Dutch Naval Officer: Jan Corneliszoon Poot

Jan Corneliszoon Poot served the Admiralty of Zeeland as a commandeur. He fought in the First Schooneveld Battle, where he was in Cornelis Tromp's squadron. He had been with the fleet on 23 May, prior to the battle. He was still with the fleet on 12 June, so he probably fought in the Second Schooneveld Battle, as well. In August, he fought in the Battle of the Texel, where he commanded the adviesjacht Bruinvis (Bruijnvisch) (6 guns). He was assigned to Jan de Haan's division in Cornelis Tromp's squadron. Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
  3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Dutch Captain: Hendrik Hendrikszoon

Hendrik Hendrikszoon served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In June 1666, he fought in the Four Days' Battle, where he commanded the fireship Wapen van Engeland. He was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's squadron. In 1667, he took part in the Raid on Chatham, where he commanded the fireship Katharina. He was assigned to Aert van Nes's Second Squadron. In 1671, he commanded the fireship Velsen in De Ruyter's squadron. He apparently fought in the Battle of Solebay, where he still commanded the fireship Velsen. He was now in Van Ghent's squadron. On 23 June 1672, he was with the fleet, assigned to Isaac Sweers' squadron. He was also with the fleet on 31 July, where his fireship Velsen was said to have 4 guns. About 21 September, he was with the fleet off the Texel. 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.

Monday, November 07, 2005

Dutch Captain: Anthonie Liederkercke

Anthonie Liederkercke served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He lived from 1587 until 1660. He was promoted to extra-ordinary Captain in 1623 and to ordinary captain in 1647. He seems to have served under Mooi Lambert and in 1626 took three Dunkirker prizes. He was awarded a golden chain. In 1626, he also took an ambassador to Barbary. In 1628, he was a commander at Vlissingen. In 1639, he distinguished himself before Dunkirk and at the Battle of the Downs. In 1640, he carried supplies to Morocco. From 1643 until 1644, he served in the blockade service before Dunkirk. In 1645, he commanded the Amsterdam ship Gelderland (32 guns) and was with Witte de With on the expedition to push a large fleet of into the Sound without paying the toll to Denmark. Andrew says that he commanded a ship in 1647, and that Cornelis Tromp, when he was very young, served as his lieutenant. Sources:
  1. J. C. De Jonge, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen, Vol.I, 1858.
  2. G. W. Kernkamp, De Sleutels van de Sont, 1890.
  3. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Dutch Captain: Dirk Klaaszoon Harney

Dirk Klaaszoon Harney served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He apparently commanded the fireship Sint Jakob en Anna with the fleet in September 1672, after the actions on 3 September and 9 September. On 10 May 1673, he was with the fleet off of Schooneveld. He now commanded the fireship Vrede. He was with Lt-Admiral van Nes's Second Squadron. By about 16 May, he was with Cornelis Tromp's squadron. He fought in the First Schooneveld Battle on 7 June. On 12 June, he still eommanded the Vrede in Tromp's squadron. He fought in the Battle of the Texel, where he commanded the fireship Vrede (4 guns). He was assigned to Isaac Sweer's division in Cornelis Tromp's squadron. In 1675, he sailed for the Mediterranean with De Ruyter's fleet sent to aid the Spanish in their fight against the French. He commanded the fireship Jakob en Anna. He fought in the Battle of Stromboli on 8 January 1676. He was in the Third Squadron. He fought in the Battle of Etna on 22 April 1676, where he was assigned to the Second Squadron. He still commanded the fireship Jakob en Anna (4 guns). Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
  3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jan van Kampen

Jan van Kampen served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. On 23 June 1672, he commanded the fireship Sayer (4 guns) in De Ruyter's First Squadron. On 31 July, he was still in the Sayer in De Ruyter's squadron. He was still in command of the Sayer with De Ruyter in September 1672, as well. By May 1673, he commanded the fireship Wapen van Emmerick (4 guns) in Lt-Admiral van Nes's squadron. By 16 May, he was in Tromp's squadron. He commanded the Wapen van Emmerick fireship in the First Schooneveld Battle. Prof. Bruijn wrote that after 7 June 1673, he commanded the Wapen van Velsen (4 guns) in Tromp's squadron. He was absent from the fleet list for 12 June 1673. We know that he commanded the fireship Wapen van Velsen in the Battle of the Texel, where he was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's division. He was in De Ruyter's expedition to Martinique in June 1674, where he commanded the fireship Leidster (4 guns). In 1675, he commanded the fireship Salm in De Ruyter's fleet that sailed for the Mediterranean Sea. On 8 January 1676, he was with De Ruyter at the Battle of Stromboli. On 22 April, he fought at Etna. Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
  3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Dutch Captain: Thomas Vlugh

Thomas Vlugh served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. He lived from about 1640 until 11 November 1683. He was promoted to captain in 1672 and Vice-Admiral on 6 October1673. In 1674, he served under Cornelis Tromp in the expedition to French coast and in the Mediterranean Sea, where he convoyed a retourvloot. In 1677, while serving as a squadron commander in the Channel, he captured a Turkish pirate and cruised against the Dunkirkers. In 1683, he served under Schepers on the expedition to Gothenburg. He was drowned on the homeward voyage with his ship Westfriesland (80 guns), when his ship was wrecked in a storm. Sources:
  1. Lambertus van den Bosch, Leven en Bedryf van den Vermaarden Zeeheld, Cornelis Tromp, 1692.
  2. Luc Eekhout, Het Admiralenboek: De Vlagofficieren van de Nederlandse marine 1382-1991, 1992.
  3. J. C. Mollema, De Eere Rol, from Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee, Vol.II, 1940.
  4. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst 1683 bestaande uit 29 gewapende oorlogsschepen", 2005.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Dutch Captain: Willem Willemszoon

Willem Willemszoon served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He commanded the fireship Draak (4 guns) in 1673. He commanded the Draak with the fleet in early May 1673. He was assigned to De Ruyter's squadron. On 17 May, he was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's squadron. He fought in the First Schooneveld Battle on 7 June. On 12 June, he was with the fleet at Schooneveld, still with Tromp's squadron. Presumably, he fought in the Second Schooneveld Battle, as well. He also fought in the Battle of the Texel, where he was assigned to Jan De Haan's division in Tromp's squadron. In June 1674, he commanded the fireship Groene Draak (the same ship?) with De Ruyter's expedition to Martinique. Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
  3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Dutch Captain: Jan Janszoon Verboekholt

Jan Janszoon Verboekholt served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1667, he commanded the jacht Windhond (18 guns), which was apparently newly completed. He was with the fleet in May 1667. he took part in the Raid on Chatham, where he was assigned to Van Ghent's Third Squadron. On 18 June, he was up the Thames to Rochester with the group of ships that included Jan van Brakel's ship Vrede and and Jan Danielszoon van Rijn's Pro Patria fireship. On 15 July 1667, he was with De Ruyter's squadron. Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst tocht naar Chatham", 2005.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Dutch Captain: Pieter Magnussen (or Magnuszoon)

Pieter Magnussen (also called Magnuszoon) served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He fought in the St. James's Day Battle in August 1666. He commanded the frigate Edam (37 guns). He was assigned to Cornelis Tromp's division in the Third Squadron. He took part in the actual Raid on Chatham in the Raadhuis van Haarlem. He was assigned to van Ghent's Third Squadron. He was also with the fleet in July 1667, as well, which was destined for the Thames. 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 "Vlootlijst tocht naar Chatham", 2005.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Dutch Captain: Gerrit Boos

Gerrit Boos served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. In August 1665, he commanded the old frigate Kasteel van Medemblik (30 guns). He was assigned to Tjerk Hiddes de Vries's Fourth Squadron. In May 1667, he commanded the Prins van Oranje (62 guns) with de Ruyter's fleet in the Channel. In the actual Raid on Chatham, he was assigned to Aert van Nes's Second Squadron. On 15 July 1667, he was with the fleet near the Thames. At different times, his ship was variously called the Jonge Prins, Prins van Oranje, or Prins Willem. In 1671, hecommanded the Drie Helden Davids with the fleet. He was assigned to Van Ghent's squadron. Sources:
  1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
  2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst tocht naar Chatham", 2005.

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