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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.

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