Dutch Naval Officer: Jan Janszoon van der Valck

Jan Janszoon van der Valck served the Rotterdam Directors. In the summer of 1652, he was lieutenant of Sijmon Corneliszoon van der Meer, who commanded the ship Sint Pieter (28 guns and a crew of 122 men). Captian van der Meer's first ship, the Prins (apparently) had been sunk in combat with English frigates in the Channel. In fact, he went back to sea in the Sint Pieter. He was so ill, he had to relinguish command to his lieutenant. Jan Janszoon van der Valck apparently commanded the Sint Pieter on Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August. He was specifically mentioned on 13 August 1652. He was not mentioned further in the published literature. Sources:

1. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.
4. A. Vreugdenhil, Ships of the United Netherlands 1648-1702, 1938.

Dutch Captain: Evert Pieterszoon Swart

Evert Pieterszoon Swart served the Amsterdam Chamber of the VOC (the East Indian Company). He commanded the VOC warship Gerechtigheid, which we estimate to have carried about 36 guns. If, in fact, the Gerechtigheid was built to the same charter as the Mercurius, the ship may have carried as many as 40 guns. We now know that the Mercurius was a ship of dimensions 123ft x 30ft x 12ft. On 23 April 1653, he put to sea in the Gerechtigheid to join Witte de With at the rendezvous. On that basis, we can be reasonably assured that he fought in the Battle of the Gabbard in June. From the list of ships at Vlissingen in July 1653, we see that there were three ships belonging to the Amstedam Chamber of the VOC which fought in the Battle of the Gabbard. Evert Pieterszoon Swart definitely fought in the Battle of Scheveningen, where he was in De Ruyter's squadron. Within the squadron, he was assigned to Frans Mangelaer's small unit. On 12 August, the Gerechtigheid was lying at anchor, two miles to sea from Scheveningen. He was with Witte de With's fleet on the voyage to Norway in September to November 1653, and died with the majority of his crew, when the Gerechtigheid foundered in the storm. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.V, 1928.
4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.VI, 1930.
5. Carl Stapel, personal communication "a grisaille by Willem van de Velde of the VOC ship Mercurius", 2005.
6. Staten Generaal 1.01.04 Inv. Nr. 5556, "List of ships at Vlissingen on 2 July 1653", 1653.

Dutch Naval Officer: Pieter de Moor

Pieter de Moor served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He fought in the First Schooneveld Battle, where he was assigned to De Ruyter's squadron. He commanded the Advijs jacht Tonijn (6 guns). He was still with De Ruyter on 12 June and probably fought in the Second Schooneveld Battle, as well. In August, he fought in the Battle of the Texel, where he was in Aert van Nes's division in De Ruyter's squadron. Sources:

1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
2. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Johannes Michielszoon (or Michiels)

Johannes Michielszoon (or Michiels) served the Admiralty of Zeeland. He commanded one of the 100 ships of the Extraordinary Equipage of 1652. His ship carried 20 guns and had a crew of 100 men. His ship was described as a fast-sailing storeship. I suggest that he may have commanded the ship Augustine that was captured by the English and used as a "victualler" during the last part of the First Anglo-Dutch War. I would imagine that the Dutch name might have been Sint Augustijn. After the Battle off Dover, in early June 1652, Tromp sent Joannes Michielszoon to Ostend and Nieuwpoort, where two ships in distress might have gone. In July 1652, he was acting as a scout for Tromp's fleet when he took a small English vessel from Dover and learned that Blake had taken the English fleet to the north. In response, Tromp resolved to take his whole fleet of 83 warships and 9 fireships north, as well. Tromp left Adriaan Jansz. den Oven's jacht cruising off the Wielingen to let ships looking for the Dutch fleet know where they have gone. On 15 January 1653, he was with four Zeeland warships convoying some merchantmen and West Indiamen from "the islands". The four ships included the ships of Joannes Michielszoon, Claes Janszoon, Cornelis Mangelaer, and Jan Duijm. Joannes Michielszoon fought in the Battle of Portland and was reported by Jan Evertsen, in his journal, to have been killed there. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de geschiedenis van ons zeewezen, Vol.II, 1923.
4. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
6. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.
7. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Dutch Captain: Jacob Claeszoon Boot (or Boet)

Jacob Claeszoon Boot (or Boet) served the Monnikendam Directors. He probably commanded the ship Leeuwin (32 guns and a crew of 115 men). The guns consisted of 4 brass and 28 iron guns. In June, he served with the fleet during June to August 1652, and was on the voyage to the Shetlands. He took part in the council of war on 6 August on board the Brederode. He also fought in the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December 1652 and the Battle of Portland on 28 February to 2 March 1653. Sources:

1. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
4. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.
5. Jodocus Hondius, Onstelde-Zee, Oft Zee-Daden, 1654.

Dutch Captain: Emmanuel Zalingen

Emmanuel Zalingen served the Admiralty of Amsterdam during the First Anglo-Dutch War. He commanded the hired fluit, the Aartsengel Michiel (40 guns and a crew of 120 men). His ship carried relatively small guns, despite the size of the ship. He reported late to De Ruyter's fleet on 26 July 1652 and was assigned to Jan Gideonszoon Verburch's division. He fought in the Battle of Plymouth on 26 August 1652. He joined Witte de With's fleet with the rest of De Ruyter's fleet, but was sent in for repairs on 2 October 1652, as his was among the ships judged unfit for battle. On October 29, Witte de With ordered captain Zalingen's ship to receive victuals for 10 weeks at sea. At the end of the year, he was ordered to the Mediterranean Sea, where his ship was used a storeship. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "The First Dutch War in the Mediterranean," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.49, No.4, November 1963.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

New information about "Cornelis Hoola"

A note from the Rotterdam notary records reopened the issue of the identity of the captain of the Amsterdam Directors' ship Moorin. The notation mentions Cornelis Houtebeen (wooden leg) as the commander of the Moorin on 25 July 1653. We thought that we knew that the Moorin's captain in October and November was "Captain Tol". However, Dr. Ballhausen says that the Moorin's captain was Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol, apparently the son of Cornelis Jol, "Admiral Houtebeen". Dr. Ballhausen also says that Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol was also known as Cornelis Jol Hola (Tola) and had commanded the ship Leiden in 1652. This seems to be a case where we can be reasonably sure that Dr. Ballhausen is correct. His last name could also be rendered as Holla or Hoola. By the way, we know specifications for the Moorin:

Moorin
Amsterdam Directors

Dimensions:  125ft x 29ft x 12-3/4ft
Guns: 28 consisting of 10-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 8-6pdr, and 2-3pdr
Hired circa 28 January 1653

Sources:

1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
3. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
4. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Captains", 2004.
5. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Directors' Ship Information 1652-1653", 2004.
6. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Moorin", 2006.

Dutch Captain: Harmon Sonne

Harmon Sonne served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1652 and 1653, he commanded the hired ship Madonna della Vigna. The Madonna della Vigna had a crew of 100 men and very likely carried 28 guns, although we cannot confirm that fact. He fought in the Battle of Livorno on 14 March 1653, under the command of Johan van Galen. His ship was the only Dutch ship lost in the battle. The Madonna della Vigna fought the Levant Merchant (28 guns) and was forced to beach, north of the harbour. The Madonna della Vigna had served under Venetian command from at least 1649 until 1651 and had fought in two battles: the Battle of Focchies on 12 May 1649 and the action of 10 July 1651. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "The First Dutch War in the Mediterranean," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.49, No.4, November 1963.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.

Tromp's council-of-war on 6 August 1652

Following the storm in the Shetlands, on 6 August 1652, Lieutenant-Admiral Tromp held a council-of-war on board his flagship, the Brederode. The list of captains present has been preserved and is published in Vol.I of The First Dutch War, in the order listed at the end of Tromp's document. It is available on the Google Book Search. From what we know, we can augment this list with additional information:

Officer:                        Admiralty:           Ship:              Guns: Crew:
Maarten Harpertsz. Tromp        Rotterdam            Brederode             54 270
Witte Cornelisz. de With        Rotterdam            Prinses Louise        36   ?  
Albert Claesz. de Graeff        Amsterdam            Hollandia             32 110
Nicoleas Marrevelt              Amsterdam            Zeelandia             36 120
Abraham van der Hulst           Amsterdam            ?                     26 100
Hector Bardesius                Amsterdam Directors  Nieuw Gideon          34 115
Corstiaen Corstiaenszoon        Rotterdam Directors  Prins te Paard        38 120
Adriaan Banckert                Zeeland              ?                     26 100
Joris van der Zaan              Amsterdam            Campen                38 130
Cornelis Hoola                  Amsterdam            Leiden                28 100
Johannes van Regermorter        Middelburg Directors ?                     30 105
Jacob Cornelisz. Swart          Amsterdam Directors  Faam                  28 110
Stoffel Juriaenszoon            Amsterdam Directors  Sint Francisco        28 105
Allert Janszoon                 Zeeland              Dubbele Arend         28 100
Abraham Hendricksz.van Campen   Amsterdam Directors  Arke Troijane         28 100
Pieter Adriaanszoon van Blocker Hoorn Directors      ?                     28 105
Teunis Vechterszoon             Noorderkwartier      ?                     24? 70
Jacob Adriaansz. Penssen        Middelburg Directors Gouden Leeuw          30 110
Pieter Aldertszoon              Noorderkwartier      Burcht?               24 100
Antheunis Post, Allert Janszoon's skipper
Lambert Bartelszoon             Zeeland              ?                     18 100
Johan Evertsen                  Zeeland              Hollandia             38 160
Pieter Florissen                Noorderkwartier      Monnikendam           36 138
Gideon de Wildt                 Amsterdam            Vrede                 42 160
Cornelis Evertsen de Oude       Zeeland              Wapen van Zeeland     30 120
Pieter Schellinger              Noorderkwartier      Stad Medemblik        26 100
Arent Dirckszoon                Noorderkwartier      Monnick               24  95
Adriaan Nicolaesz. Kempen       Zeeland              Amsterdam             30 120
Philips Joosten                 Zeeland              Hollandia              ?   ?
Jan Jacobsz. van Nes            Rotterdam            Gorcum                30 131
Pieter Gorcum                   Zeeland              Dordrecht?            17? 50?
Jacob Paulussen Cort            Amsterdam            Star                  28  95
Gerrit Femssen                  Noorderkwartier      Wapen van Enkhuizen   30 110
Jacob Claesz. Boot             Monnikendam Directors Leeuwin               32 115
Gijsbert Malcontent             Enkhuizen Directors  ?                     28 110
Cornelis van Houtten            Amsterdam Directors  Witte Lam             30 110
Gillis Thyssen Campen           Amsterdam            Gouden Leeuw          24  80
Ruth Jacobsz. Buys              Rotterdam Directors  ?                     26 105
Gerrit Nobel                    Noorderkwartier      Burgh van Alkmaar     24  95
Gillis Janszoon                 Zeeland              Zeeridder             28 100
Daniel Cornelisz. Brackman      Zeeland              ?                      ?   ?

Dutch Captain: Wolphert van Brederode

Wolphert van Brederode served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In June 1652, his ship and that of Evert Anthonissen were sent to convoy corn ships to Muscovy. He commanded the ship Hoop (24 guns and a crew of 80 men). On 29 October, he was under orders with Marten Schaeff (Vice-Admiral), Jan Janszoon Lapper, Pieter van Zalingen, Hendrick Huyskens, and Cornelis Janszoon Poort, to convoy East Indiamen into the Sound and to protect them from harm. By March of 1653, his ship had been paid off. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
3. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Dutch Captain: Pieter Teunissen Bonteboer

Pieter Teunissen Bonteboer served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. He commanded the hired ship Zwarte Arend in the Mediterranean Sea. He fought in the Battle of Livorno on 14 March 1653. There is a Van de Velde picture of the battle that was drawn based on the accounts, a Willem van de Velde de Oude was not present, as no other artist was, either. The Zwarte Arend took the English Peregrine, after the Peregrine had lost her mizzenmast to the Roode Haas in a 1-1/2 hour fight. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "The First Dutch War in the Mediterranean," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.49, No.4, November 1963.
2. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.

Dutch Captain: Jacob Sichelszoon

Jacob Sichelszoon (or possibly Jan Sichelszoon or Sichelsen) apparently served the Admiralty of Zeeland and commanded a hired ship, the Wapen van Swieten (28 guns and a crew of 95 men). On 29 July 1652, the States General had appointed Michiel De Ruyter to command a fleet to be stationed at the Wielings (Wielengen) rendezvous to convoy merchant ships in the Channel. Jan Sichelszoon was one of the captains assigned to this fleet. He apparently fought in the Battle of Plymouth on 26 August 1652 (a new style date). After De Ruyter's fleet joined Witte de With's fleet, some ships that had been damaged were sent in for repairs. Jacob Sichelszoon's ship was one of those needing repairs, so he missed the Battle of the Kentish Knock. We do not see any further mention of Jacob (or Jan) Sichelszoon in the published literature available to us. Volume II of The First Dutch War, which contains much of this information, can now be read at the Google Book Search. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol. VI, 1930.
2. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.

Dutch Naval Officer: Arnoud Leunissen

Arnoud Leunissen served the Admiralty of Zeeland in 1673. He commanded the advijs jacht Jonge Maria (10 guns). He fought in the first and second Schooneveld battles. He fought in the Battle of the Texel. In all these battles, he was assigned to De Ruyter's division. Sources:

1. Gerard Brandt, Het Leven en Bedrijif van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter, 1687.
2. J. R. Bruijn, De Oorlogvoering ter zee in 1673 in Journalen en Andere Stukken, 1966.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Vlootlijst Schooneveld I 7 juni 1673", 2005.

Another good book in the Google Book Search

Another good book in the Google Book Search is State Papers Relating to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Anno 1588. This is a book that contains a good deal of original source documents relating to the Armada campaign. If you search for "Defeat of the Spanish Armada", you will find some interesting books as well this one. The advantage of this book is the original source material and the fact that it must now be in the public domain.

Dutch Captain: Quirijn van der Kerckhoff (UPDATED)

I need to revise this, as Carl Stapel had pointed out that Quirijn van der Kerckhoff had fought in the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665, and had other milestones after 1653. Quirijn van der Kerckhoff was the brother of captain Paulus van der Kerckhoff. They both served the Admiralty of the Maze (or Rotterdam), as did their father, Jan Jansz van de Kerckhof. At the beginning of the First Anglo-Dutch War, Quirijn commanded the hired ship Maria (26 guns and a crew of 110 men). His ship was one of the "100 Hundred ships" to be hired by the Admiralties, after the Directors had hired their 50 ships. He took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. He seems to have missed the Battles of the Kentish Knock and Dungeness. There is a mention of him operating with Augustijn Balck, who commanded the convoy to the Sound in the fall of 1652. In any case, he took part in the Battle of Portland and was reported killed on the first day, 28 February 1653. Dr. Ballhausen says that he was assigned to Tromp's squadron. Reports had said that his brother had been killed, but there was a record that Quirijn was buried on 6 April 1653. That must have been someone different. A careful reading of Dr. Elias shows that Quirijn Pouwelszoon van den Kerckhoff was killed in the Battle of Portland. In fact, Quirijn van der Kerckhoff (perhaps Quirijn Janszoon van der Kerckhoff) brother of Paulus, seems to have survived, as he was promoted to kapitein-ordinaris, in place of his brother Paulus on 23 July 1658. Paulus had died in May 1658. We also know that a "Crijn Cerckhove" (an alternate spelling) commanded the Wapen van Rotterdam (50 guns) in the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665. Carl Stapel says that he eventually moved to North Holland and died there. Sources:

1. C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.IV, 1910.
2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
3. Johan E. Elias, Schetsen uit de Geschiedenis van ons Zeewezen, Vol.IV, 1927.
4. Johan E. Elias, De Vlootbouw in Nederland 1596-1655, 1933.
5. Frank Fox, A Distant Storm: the Four Days' Battle of 1666, 1996.
6. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
7. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
8. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.
9. Carl Stapel, personal communication "crijn van den kerckhove", 2006.
10. Carl Stapel, personal communication "krijn kerkhove", 2005.
11. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Paulus van den Kerckhoff of Paulus van de Kerkhoven", 2005.

A good book in the Google Book Search: Granville Penn's book

I would highly recommend the book by Granville Penn, Memorials of the Professional Life and Times of Sir William Penn. I have a copy of the book that is falling apart. It is a great thing to have this book be part of the Google Book Search. You may find it by searching with the title.

Dutch Captain: Adriaen de Zeeuw

Adriaen de Zeeuw served the Rotterdam Directors. We believe that his ship was one of those attacked by English frigates in the Channel in June, when Sijmon Corneliszoon's ship, the Prins, was sunk. Adriaen de Zeeuw's ship was damaged by gunfire, and we do not read any more about him in the published literature that is available to us. He only appears in the list from the Hollandsche Mercurius (reprinted in The First Dutch War, Vol.I), circa June 1652 and Hendrick de Raedt's pamphlet. His ship was lying in the Meuse, having been damaged. Sources:

1. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
2. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.

Dutch Captain: Willeboort Leendertszoon (or Lenaertszoon)

Willeboort Leendertszoon (or Lenaertszoon) served the Admiralty of the Maze (Rotterdam). In 1628 and 1629, he commanded the ship Dolphijn. The Dolphiijn was a vessel of 170 lasts and had a crew of 85 men. The Dolphijn was built in 1623. In 1629, the Dolphijn's armament consisted of 2-24pdr, 2-chambered 24pdr, 2-12pdr, 8-8pdr, 4-6pdr, 2-5pdr, 2-4pdr, and 5-steenstukken with 5 chambers. In 1633, he still commanded the Dolphijn, but the ship now carried 29 guns. An extra 2-4pdr were added (this is if you count steenstukken, which seems to be a common practice, but which I have not done in the past). Willeboort Leendertszoon does not appear in any of the published sources available to me. Sources:

1. Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1628.
2. Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1629.
3. Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1633.

Dutch Captain: Dirck Janszoon Bijnacht

Dirck Janszoon Bijnacht served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. We know that in 1621, he commanded the ship Leiden (Leyden), a vessel of 150 lasts that carried 30 guns and had a crew of 90 men. It seems likely that Dirck Janszoon and Dirck Janszoon Bijnacht are the same man. We know that Dirck Janszoon Bijnacht commanded the Orangieboom in 1628. I looked again at my notes from the Staet van Oorlog te Water for the year 1628, and that seems to be confirmed. That Staet gives the captain of the Orangieboom as Dirck Janszoon in March 1627. The Orangieboom was a vessel of 120 lasts that carried 22 guns and had a crew of 75 men. The guns were 2-chambered guns and 14 ordinary guns with 6-steenstukken. We also know that he was still in command of the Orangieboom in 1629, when the ship's crew was now 80 men. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Schepen en kapiteins in 1621", 2005.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Schepen en kapiteins in 1629", 2005.

Dutch Captain: Jan Ysbrantszoon (or Ijbrantszoon)

Jan Ysbrantszoon (or Ijbrantszoon), from Edam, served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Jan Ysbrantszoon commanded some ship in the fleet that went to the Mediterranean Sea with Moy Lambert from May 1619 until October 1620. In 1621, he commanded the Gekroonde Liefde, a vessel of 130 lasts that carried 16 guns and a crew of 75 men. In 1628, he commanded the ship Vrieslandt, a vessel of 150 lasts probably built in 1617. The Vrieslandt carried 28 guns and had a crew of 80 men. I was somewhat confused about Jan Ijsbrantszoon and Jan Ijsbrantszoon Halffhoorn, as I had wondered if they were the same or different men. Sources:

1. Carl Stepel, personal communication "moy lambert's fleet mei 1619-oktober 1620", 2005.
2. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Schepen en kapiteins in 1621", 2005.
3. Carl Stapel, unpublished manuscript "Schepen en kapiteins in 1628", 2005.