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John Willett Payne


NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
Date of Birth1752TRN3
First Known Service21.4.1766TRN3
Last Known Service29.4.1802TRN3
Date of Death17.11.1803CSORN

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
21.4.17661769
Royal Naval Academy (Unarmed) 1733-1837
British Unarmed Gun
Shore Unknown
1806 Renamed "Royal Navy College"
, Scholar ADM 6/20/116
ADM 6/20
9.3.1777 LieutenantCSORN
17781.1778
Florida (6) 1774-1778
British 6 Gun
Unrated Sloop
, Lieutenant, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1714
10.1.177920.8.1779
West Florida (6) 1776-1779
British 6 Gun
Unrated Schooner
, Lieutenant, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1714
6.11.1779 CommanderCSORN
6.11.17798.7.1780
Cormorant (14) 1776-1781
British 14 Gun
Unrated Sloop
, Commander, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/63
Issued by
George JohnstonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1744-1787
, Portugal
Confirmed 10.12.1779
BWAS-1714
8.7.1780 CaptainCSORN
8.7.17808.1.1781
Artois (40) 1780-1786
British 40 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/22/189
Issued by
Gideon JohnstoneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1752-1781
, North America
Confirmed 30.10.1780
BWAS-1714
15.8.17817.1.1783
Enterprise (28) 1774-1807
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer: On board from 31.8.1781 ADM 6/22/325
BWAS-1714
5.1.178316.4.1783
Leander (52) 1780-1798
British 52 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/23/227
Confirmed 1.7.1784
BWAS-1714
16.4.178320.7.1783
Princess Amelia (80) 1757-1788
British 80 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/23/147
Issued by
Hugh PigotBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1735-1787
, Barbados
Confirmed 2.10.1783
ADM 6/23
1.10.17879.10.1788
Phoenix (36) 1783-1816
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Captain, and Commanding Officer ADM 6/23/421
BWAS-1714
20.3.179315.10.1796
Russell (74) 1764-1811
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Captain, and Commanding Officer: On board from 28.3.1793 ADM 6/24/222
BWAS-1714
1.6.1794 Glorious 1st of June 
1.17952.1796
Jupiter (50) 1778-1808
British 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
, as Flag Officer, Commodore,
BWAS-1714
23.6.1795 Action of Ile Groix 
9.17963.1799
Impetueux (74) 1794-1813
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
1795 Renamed "Impetueux"
, Captain, and Commanding Officer
BWAS-1793
14.2.1799 Rear-Admiral of the BlueCSORN
1.1.1801 Rear-Admiral of the WhiteCSORN
29.4.1802 Rear-Admiral of the RedCSORN

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cam on Sunday 3rd of July 2016 16:09

Researching ancestry


Posted by Bob Brooks on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 15:51

Midshipman John Willett Payne joined Lord Howe's flagship HMS Eagle (3d/64) on 06 Nov 1776 [from HMS Greyhound?] (ADM 34/272 #511) whence he as assigned 2d in command of HM Armed Sloop Mary (6x4pdrs; 28 men; 74-48/94 tons) commanded by Master's Mate Thomas Goldesbrough. Carrying dispatches from New York to Rhode Island, the Mary wrecked on the east end of Long Island in late Feb 1777. Apparently Payne's conduct was preferred by Lord Howe over Goldesborough's as Lord Howe commissioned Payne as 2d Lieutenant, HMS Brune (5th rate; 32 guns) on 09 Mar 1777 whereas Goldesbrough was not commissioned until 15 Apr 1777 as 1st Lieutenant, HMS Vigilant, Armed Ship [floating battery].


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