Naval Biographical Database Sample

NON-STANDARD REPORTS

Initially based on the standard reports, the intention here is to make use of additional data collected along the way.  An example might provide the following information in the standard report.

INDIVIDUAL - CAREER
Gardner, Thomas
Appt/Pat/Wrt	Enter/Start	Discharge/End	Position
29 Apr 1678	02 May 1678	27 Oct 1680	Lieutenant, HUNTER, 1672-1683
	01 Sept 1680	09 Dec 1680	Captain, JAMES (Hired), 1679-1680
05 Dec 1688			First Lieutenant, HENRIETTA, 1660-1689
23 May 1689	22 May 1689	07 July 1690	Captain, ROSE (Prize), 1684-1696
	08 July 1690	08 July 1690	Captain, RESTORATION, 1678-1703
	09 July 1690	14 Sept 1690	Captain, DUCHESS, 1679-1701
	15 Sept 1690	08 Jan 1690/1	Captain, BURFORD, 1679-1719
	10 Jan 1690/1	21 Oct 1691	Captain, NEPTUNE, 1683-1724
	01 Jan 1691/2	30 Jan 1692/3	Captain, NEPTUNE, 1683-1724
	22 Feb 1692/3	23 Mar 1692/3	Captain, ROYAL OAK, 1674-1764
	24 Mar 1692/3	12 Jan 1693/4	Captain, LION, 1640-1698
08 Sept 1696	11 Sept 1696	07 Dec 1697	Captain, EAGLE, 1679-1707
	08 Dec 1697	29 June 1699	Captain, Half Pay
		29 June 1699	Died

There are notable gaps, particularly between 1680 and 1688.  However, from the entries to date, a further look at accompanying and associated data yields promising additional information:

First located appointment, as Lieutenant, on 29 April 1678, he had brief command of the James (hired), a ship 'hired for Virginia', following the death of his Captain, Anthony Young, on 26 August 1680.  Back to being a Lieutenant, his first proper command was the Rose Prize, sometimes called Sally Rose or Rose Sall(e)y prize, changed to a 6th rate of 22 guns and 80 men on 3 May 1689 - a ‘post' ship. He then moved on to Restoration, Duchess and Burford - all for short periods, probably as a ‘stop-gap or as Second Captain - records of this period seldom made the distinction.  The next appointment, to Neptune, was certainly as Second Captain to Admiral Rooke, leaving when his Admiral was relieved by Lord Berkeley.  Thence to the Royal Oak, again probably as 2nd Captain to Admiral Rooke, on the latter's appointment as Vice Admiral of the Red and Commander in Chief Mediterranean.  His first independent command was Lion, followed by Eagle.  This ship ended wages on 7 December 1697 and was paid off at Portsmouth on 15 December.    He went onto half pay (at the Captain of a 2nd Rate pay) until his death in 1699.  The balance of his half pay, £341 8s., was paid to his widow, Elizabeth, on 4 May 1702.    

© CHD 2004