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Friday, April 01, 2005

Could the Dutch prize St. Jacob have been the vessel from the First Anglo-Dutch War?

I was looking at English fireships during the Restoration, and saw the Dutch prize St. Jacob listed. A St. Jacob served as a fireship during the First Anglo-Dutch War. I suppose that when the St. Jacob was captured, it was too long after the war to be credible. This St. Jacob was taken in 1666. There were still first war prizes serving in the English navy at this point, so it is not impossible. Surviving hired ships were turned over to their owners in 1654, after the end of the war. This St. Jacob was 65ft x 22ft-6in x 11ft long and of 175 tons burden. That would translate to Dutch dimensions of 86ft x 25ft x 12.5ft (about). The St. Jacob was sold out of the service to Sir Edward Spragge in November 1667. He seems to have owned a number of ships, and must have engaged in trade (or privateering?).

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