English Captain: Thomas Sparling (Updated)

Thomas Sparling served in the Parliamentarian, Commonwealth, and Restoration navies. I will need to add more about his service in the Restoration navy, later. In 1648, he commanded the shallop Spy (6 guns). From 1650 to 1653, he commanded the 5th Rate Little President (22 guns). He fought at the Battle of the Kentish Knock, as captain of the Little President. On 3 September 1653, he still commanded the Little President. That was also true on 17 December. From 1654 to 1660, he commanded the 4th Rate Assistance. King Charles appointed him to continue to command the Assistance after the Restoration. He died before 1688. 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, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
3. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
4. David Syrett, R. L. DiNardo, The Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy 1660-1815, 1994.
5. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.