Navy Men Of The 1700's.

I have done a lot pages on navy men of the 1800’s but have done very few on the navy men of the 1700’s, one reason is that before 1812, the navy records are hard to find and when you do fine them you can not follow his service very far. The navy did not record on their rosters the lower ranks as seamen and so on, until the mid 1900’s, that’s why it’s so hard to find any information on them.

This will be a short list, but the information will be important to those families looking for these ancestors.

Note. This information will come from Naval affairs which is housed at the Library of Congress.

1. Joseph Roberts, was a Carpenter, on the ship of war Hampden, which was under the command of Titus Salter, he was a resident of Berwick, Maine, he was wound on August 15, 1779, lost his left arm at the siege of Penobscot. His pension was $5., dollars per month, had arrearages of $263, dollars.

2. Ambrose Smith, Mariner, under Captain Mc Cleave’s galley, he was a resident of East Haven, Connecticut, was wounded in August 1776, at Toppon bay. He was wounded in his right hand by a nine pound shot, which fractured the bone of his middle finger and prevents him from having a full use of that hand. His pension was to be one-half.

3. James Cole, Sailor, Sloop Mechias Liberty, he was a resident of Westfield, New York, was wounded in June of 1775, was wounded in the leg in an action with a British tender. His pension was unknown, in the remarks it’s stated that this Person of this description never had a pension stipulated.

4. John Browne, 1st, Lieutenant, Marines, he was a resident of the county of Philadelphia, was wounded on May 27, 1777, on the Frigate Boston, was wounded in his hip and the small of his back by a large chest giving way out of the wardroom. His pension was half. In the remarks it’s stated, Evidence complete except as to disability from known wounds and time when he left the service.

5. William Dunton, Sailingmaster, Marines, he was a resident of the county of Philadelphia, was wounded on April 8, 1782, on board the Hyder Ally. Was wounded in the left arm in action between Hyder Ally and the British ship of war Monk. His pension was Half, in the remarks it was stated, Evidence is incomplete, no proof when he left the service.

6. Andrew Allen, Private, Marines, he was a resident of the County of Berks, in Pennsylvania, was wounded in November of 1775, on the ship Columbus. Afflicted with a rupture which he received at the fort of New Providence, and while in the actual line of his duty in the service of the United States, in dragging of a large cannon on the ground through the sallyport; said cannon, by a short turn, rolled over, and the drag-rope, taking him by the belly, so much hurt him that it has occasioned the said rupture. His pension was Half, In the remarks it was stated, Evidence incomplete as to witnesses to prove the continuance of his disability, and his place of residence since he left the service.

7. John Kesler, Midshipman, Marines, he was a resident of the county of Philadelphia, was wounded in 1781, on the frigate Alliance. His wound, Deprived of the use of the middle finger of the left hand, in the actual line of his duty in the service of the United States. His pension was One-third. In the remarks it states, Evidence incomplete as to his place of residence, as required by law, by means of his following the sea for several years after he left the service.

8. Joachim J. Brandt, Marine, Ship Columbus, he was a resident of the county of Philadelphia, was wounded in March of 1776, New Providence. His wound, At the taking of New Providence, in moving a cannon, was struck by an iron bar and wounded in the lower part of the belly, which brought on a rupture, of which he has become an invalid. His pension is Full. In the remarks it’s stated, Evidence incomplete as to his place of residence, as required by law, by means of his following the sea for several years after he left the service.

9. Samuel Makins, Mate, on the ship Queen of France, he was a resident of the county of Philadelphia, was wounded on October 9, 1779, at Boston, Was wounded when taking an anchor from the wharf to carry on board said ship, by means of his leg being caught between the anchor and wharf which fractured the bone, and was very near depriving him of the use of that leg.

10. John ManIey, Captain marines, resident of Massachusetts, was wounded on June, 1777, place not stated, wound, received several wounds and blows in his left leg and shoulder, by which he was lamed, and his toes contracted. His pension is $30, dollars per month and has a arrearages of $500, dollars.

11. Robert Mercer, Midshipman, 14 November, 1799, was on the Frigate Delaware in 1792, was issued a certificate on April 25, 1792, with interest starting December 5, 1778, the amount of the certificate was $49.83, He resigned 30 December, 1800.

12. Richard Dale, Lieutenant, August 1779, Continental Navy, was issued a certificate on April 26, 1792, with interest starting November 6, 1781, the amount of the certificate was $506.40.

13. Samuel York, Lieutenant of the Continental Navy, was issued a certificate on June 9, 1792, with interest staring on July 8, 1792, amount of certificate was $150.94.

14. John Schoolfield was a Midshipman of the Frigate Virginia, was issued a certificate on August 2, 1793, with interest staring October 18, 1781, amount of certificate was $644.16.

15. John Young, Midshipman of the Frigate Confederacy, was issued a certificate on August 1, 1793, with interest staring April 4, 1781, amount of certificate $48.52.

16. Joseph Ravenscroft, of the Brig Cobat, was issued a certificate on December 5, 1793, with interest staring August 6, 1776, amount of certificate $20.74.

17. John P. Rathbon or Rathbun, was commission Captain of the Navy, 15 February 1777, was issued a certificate on April 1, 1794, interest to start on May 5, 1779, amount of the certificate $1331.80.

18. Israel Barney, Drummer on the Frigate Boston, was issued a certificate on April 4, 1794, interest to start on July 16, 1780, amount of the certificate $56.49.

19. John Cowen, Seaman, Frigate Boston, was issued a certificate on January 2, 1795, interest to start on July 16, 1780, amount of the certificate $67.68.

20. James Irons, Marine, was issued a certificate on January 2, 1795, interest to start on January 11, 1780, amount of the certificate $50.95.