Recent updates


Recent Comments



John Fryer


NationalityBritish 
RolesNaval Sailor 
Date of Birth15.8.1752 - Wells next the SeaCSORN
First Known Service10.1.1781CSORN
Last Known Service6.4.1812CSORN
Date of Death26.5.1817 - Wells next the Sea

Event History


Date fromDate toEventSource
10.1.1781 Master 
20.1.17811782
Camel (26) 1776-1784
British 26 Gun
6th Rate Ship
, Master
 
9.9.1782 Qualified as master of a Fifth Rate 
8.10.17829.1783
Syren (32) 1782-1822
British 32 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Master
 
6.3.1787 Qualified as master of a Third Rate 
20.8.17871789
Bounty (4) 1787-1789
British 4 Gun
Unrated Survey Vessel
, Master
W043
7.12.17901793
Thunderer (74) 1783-1814
British 74 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
, Master
 
9.1.17931795
Inconstant (36) 1783-1817
British 36 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
, Master
 
14.3.1795 Action off Genoa 
26.7.17951796
Saint George (98) 1785-1811
British 98 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
, Master
 
17.1.1796 
Britannia (100) 1762-1825
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
1812 Renamed "Princess Royal"
1812 Renamed "Saint George"
1819 Renamed "Barfleur"
, Master
 
1799 Superintending master of the 1st division of ships in ordinary at Portsmouth. 
3.11.18002.1801
Royal George (100) 1788-1822
British 100 Gun
1st Rate Ship of the Line
, Master
 
11.2.18017.1801
London (90) 1766-1811
British 90 Gun
2nd Rate Ship of the Line
, Master
 
2.4.1801 Battle of Copenhagen 
13.7.180112.1801
Serapis (14) 1782-1826
British 14 Gun
5th Rate Ship
, Master, and Commanding Officer
 
8.12.1801 Appointed Superintending master of ships in ordinary at Deptford 
19.4.1804 
William (18) 1798-1807
British 18 Gun
Unrated Armed Vessel
, Master, and Commanding Officer
 
21.8.18066.4.1812
Abundance (24) 1799-1823
British 24 Gun
Unrated Storeship
, Master, and Commanding Officer
 
6.4.1812 Placed on Half-Pay 

Notes on Officer


Letter confirming Sailing Master's competancy

Supplied by Timothy Young of Pitcarin Island



Trinity House, London
10th January 1781
Gentlemen,
Pursuant to yours of the 27th Ultimo We have examined the Bearer Mr John Fryer and find him qualified to take Charge as Master of any of His Majesty's Sloops from the Downs thro' the Channel to the Westward, and Pilot thro' the Needles & into Hamoaze: likewise thro' the Cattegart up to Elsinore.
We are
Your affectionate Friends
Wm. James
D.M. Jos. B. Santy
John Addison
Principal Officers & Commrs
of His Majesty's Navy.

Doctor's note
H.M. Store Ship Abundance
March 31st 1812
Hon'ble Sirs,
Mr Fryer, Commander of this Ship of which I am Asst. Surgeon having desired me to state the nature of his illness & complaints, I have to lay before the Board the exact opinion I have formed and which he says is the near statement of his case-General debility, spasmodic rigidity of almost the whole body, great anxiety of mind, with disturbed imaginations during sleep and with much loss of memory; the whole forming a disease of extreme nervous irratability: No particular pains attached to any particular part, but sight & speech much impaired. Ascribes no cause for the above complaint, but from the anxiety of having the present charge of Ships Provisions & Cargo, which I have the opinion the cause to be entirely attributed to respecting his restlessness & anxiety; the other symptons most probably have arisen from the number of Years he has been in the service.
This Honble Sirs I believe to be the true statement and I have
The Honor to be
Honble Sirs
Your most obedt. servt.
James Fry.


Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page







Recent comments to other pages

Date postedByPage
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01James Daschuk
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56AvM
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37Jon Miller
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33Jon Miller
British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753
British 20 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:26Jon Miller