More about David Swerius (Sweers)

Mr. Stapel passed on some information about David Swerius (Sweers, or Sweerts) that may correct some things that I have written about him in the past. I will paraphrase what Mr. Stapel wrote. David Swerius was a "distant cousin" of the famous admiral, Isaak Sweers (spellings are always difficult, as there are many different versions of the same names). David Swerius wrote abot the raid on Chatham from the position of secretary to the fleet. Isaak Sweers was off the mouth of the Thames when David Swerius informed him as to the results. On 30 September 1670, he was the schrijver (writer) for Willem Baron van Ghent. He wrote to the admiralty about his operations against "the Turkish pirates. Mr. Stapel has seen this note at the Scheepvaart Museum in Amsterdam. David Swerius was wounded in the Battle of Solebay. In the following winter, he fought on land with marines under Isaak Sweers command against the French. They fought in defense of the shoreline. David Swerius commanded a small unit of 8 officers and 47 sailors, fighting ashore. He fought in the Battle of the Texel, where he lost both legs. He was taken to his cabin. He tried to attract attention, but in the heat of the battle, he was not heard, and bled to death. He was buried in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam with "a simple gravestone". A "death coin" was struck in his honor, and this can be seen at the Scheepvaart Museum. I have followed Mr. Stapel's account quite closely, and I hope that I have given sufficient quote marks where I have directly quoted him. I thank him for his input.