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Friday, June 17, 2005

The Dutch captains Block

I am sure it is confusing. For a long time, I was confused about the two Dutch captains named Block who served during the First Anglo-Dutch War. Another, Willem Joosten Block, commanded a ship that seems to have been named the Zeeuwschen Leeuw (at least that is what the handwriting in the Staet van Oorlog te Water for 1628 seemed to indicate). In more modern Dutch, it might be named the Zeeuwse Leeuw. Willem Joosten Block served the Admiralty of Zeeland. Two others, Joris Janszoon Block served the Amsterdam Directors and Joost Willemszoon Block served the Admiralty of Zeeland. Presumably, by his name, the latter is the son of the captain from 1628

Joris Janszoon Block commanded the Hollandsche Tuin in 1653. The Hollandsche Tuin was hired by the Amsterdam directors and had the following characteristics:

Hollandsche Tuin
 Length: 130ft
 Beam:    29ft
 Hold:    13.5ft
 Guns:   32
  consisting of: 4-18pdr, 10-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 8-6pdr, and 2-3pdr
The listing doesn't give us the crew size.

Joost Willemszoon Block commanded the Wapen van Zeeland in 1652. This was a ship that carried 32 guns and was 118ft long. He commanded the same ship, apparently, at least until July 1654. The latter listing is somewhat problematic, as there are ships and captains either listed twice or listed in the Staet van Oorlog te Water for 1654 where the ship had been sunk earlier. In 1656, Willem Joosten Block commanded the Ter Veere (or Kampveere) in the expedition to Danzig.

There was another captain named Blok (which is another spelling for the same name as Block). This was Simon Blok, who served in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, and who served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He will be covered separately, if he has not already been covered.

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