British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Assurance' (1646)

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Assurance

401
Nominal Guns40B028
NationalityKingdom of England
OperatorState Navy
Ordered12.1645BWAS-1603
Launched1646B028
First Commissioned8.10.1646B028
How acquiredPurpose builtB028
ShipyardDeptford Dockyard - Deptford B028
Constructor
Peter PettBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Service 1610-1672
B028
CategoryFourth RateB028
Ship TypeShip of the LineB028
Sailing RigShip RiggedB028
Sold1698B028

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB065
Length of Keel89' 0"Imperial Feet27.1272 
Breadth26' 10"Imperial Feet7.9248 
Depth in Hold11' 0"Imperial Feet3.3528 
Burthen340Tons BM 
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB028
Length of Gundeck106' 6"Imperial Feet32.3342 
Breadth29' 0"Imperial Feet8.8392 
Burthen456Tons BM 
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB022
Length of Keel89' 0"Imperial Feet27.1272 
Breadth26' 10"Imperial Feet7.9248 
Depth in Hold13' 6"Imperial Feet4.0132 
Burthen340 81⁄94Tons BM 
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck106' 7"Imperial Feet32.3384 
Length of Keel89' 0"Imperial Feet27.1272 
Breadth26' 10"Imperial Feet7.9248 
Depth in Hold13' 6"Imperial Feet4.0132 
Burthen340 81⁄94Tons BM 
DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentDB002
Length of Gundeck89  

Armament


1666Broadside Weight = 209 Imperial Pound ( 94.7816 kg)B022
Gun Deck10 British Culverin
Gun Deck24 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck4 British Saker

1677Broadside Weight = 155 Imperial Pound ( 70.2926 kg)B022
Lower Gun Deck20 British Demi-Culverin
Upper Gun Deck18 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck4 British Saker

1685Broadside Weight = 171 Imperial Pound ( 77.5485 kg)B022
Gun Deck8 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck14 British 6-Pounder
Gun Deck2 British 3-Pounder

1685Broadside Weight = 194 Imperial Pound ( 87.9794 kg)BWAS-1603
Gun Deck10 British Culverin
Gun Deck12 British Demi-Culverin
Gun Deck16 British Saker
Gun Deck4 British 3-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1646115 BWAS-1603
1652150EstablishmentB022
1660115EstablishmentB022
1666150EstablishmentB022
1670160EstablishmentB022
1.7.1673170ADM 8/1/1ADM8-DB
1.1.1675/76140 ADM 8/1
1.1.1679/80115For peaceADM8-DB
1.1.1679/80150For war abroadADM8-DB
1.1.1679/80180For war abroadADM8-DB

26 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
8.10.1646 - 1649Captain
William PennBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1644-1670
W0151650 - 1652Captain
Benjamin BlakeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1649-1657
BWAS-16031653 - 3.1652/53Captain
Robert SandersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1650-1667
BWAS-16033.1652/53 - 1660Captain
Philip HollandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1651-1666
BWAS-16031660 - 1661Captain
John StokesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1649-1665
B0511661Captain
Edward WyeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1661-1662
B0514.5.1661 - 16.3.1662/63Captain
John TyrwhittBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1660-1688
BWAS-16037.9.1664 - 6.1665Captain
John JefferiesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1652-1666
B05118.6.1665 - 16.9.1665Captain
Philemon BaconBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1661-1665
B05118.9.1665 - 10.6.1666Captain
Thomas GuyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1665-1696
BWAS-160311.6.1666 - 29.10.1667Captain
John NarboroughBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1664-1688
B05130.10.1667 - 19.8.1638Captain
Napthali BallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1665-1673
BWAS-160313.7.1670 - 10.1.1671/72Captain
Charles WyldeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1659-1678
B05110.12.1671 - 23.10.1672Captain
William BeestonBritish
Naval Sailor
Administrator
Service 1671-1702
BWAS-160315.5.1672 - 3.9.1673Captain
Ralph LassellsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1665-1677
B0515.9.1673 - 23.4.1674Captain
Henry WilliamsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1667-1688
B05122.4.1675 - 27.4.1675Captain
William HoldingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1666-1682
B0511.5.1676 - 28.1.1677/78Captain
Sir Robert RobinsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1653-1748
B05114.5.1678 - 26.9.1678Captain
Thomas LovellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1672-1678
BWAS-160315.5.1680 - 13.10.1682Captain
Stephen AkermanBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1665-1689
B05124.5.1688 - 13.12.1688Captain
Randolph M'DonaldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1688
BWAS-160330.4.1689 - 9.12.1689Captain
Simon FowkesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1680-1702
ADM 106/389/291BWAS-160311.2.1689/90 - 1690Captain
John MayneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1672-1704
BWAS-16031691 - 31.10.1692Captain
Isaac TownsendBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1687-1706
TransferedBWAS-16031693 - 27.10.1693Captain
John PriceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1689-1708
BWAS-160310.11.1693 - 16.2.1697/98Captain
William FasebyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1661-1698
DischargedBWAS-1603

4 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1661Lieutenant
George LiddellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1661-1672
B051bef.9.1676 - aft.1.1677First Lieutenant
Anthony HastingsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1666-1692
ADM 8/1/78ADM 8bef.1.1.1676/77 - aft.21.5.1677Second Lieutenant
Henry WrightBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1673-1677
ADM 8/11688Lieutenant
Richard FitzpatrickBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1687-1703
ADM 106/383/317ADM 106

10 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1695 - 1.9.1695Gunner
Ralph JeffrysBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1696
Transfered ADM 6/3/75ADM 6/3c.1695 - 25.8.1695Carpenter
Nicholas EdwinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1698
ADM 6/3/69ADM 6/326.8.1695 - 3.4.1696Carpenter
John FoxBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1696
Transfered ADM 6/3/73ADM 6/32.9.1695 - 6.4.1696Gunner
Henry LaneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1696
ADM 6/3/75ADM 6/37.4.1696 - 1696Carpenter
James MarlinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696
ADM 6/3/144ADM 6/37.12.1696 - 4.12.1696Gunner
Richard BaggottBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1717
ADM 6/4/51ADM 6/41698 - 28.3.1698Purser
George LouchBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698-1699
Transfered ADM 6/5/14ADM 6/51698 - 3.8.1698Boatswain
Richard GodfreyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698-1701
ADM 6/5/36ADM 629.3.1698 - 12.5.1698Purser
Robert GouldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698
Transfered ADM 6/5/14ADM 6/514.5.1698 - 3.8.1698Purser
Richard AtheyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698
ADM 6/5/20ADM 6/5

9 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
1689 - 5.1689Master's Mate
William HarrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1689
ADM 106/389/296ADM 10613.7.1689 - 24.6.1690Midshipman
Edward DemerittBritish
Naval Sailor
Merchant Sailor
Service 1679-1693
ADM 107/1/26ADM 107/123.10.1689 - 14.4.1690Quarter Gunner
Joseph JoynerBritish
Naval Sailor
Merchant Sailor
Service 1684-1695
ADM 107/1/36ADM 107/13.8.1690 - 27.10.1692Master's Mate
Thomas RaylyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1688-1692
ADM 107/1/16ADM 107/116.2.1690/91 - 9.12.1691Master's Mate
Thomas TeddimanBritish
Naval Sailor
Dockyard Staff
Service 1690-1744
Transfered ADM 107/1/30ADM 107/123.9.1695 - 1695Volunteer
Richard PierceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695
ADM 6/3/80ADM 6/31696 - 15.12.1696Volunteer
William PomroyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696
Transfered ADM 6/4/54ADM 6/418.12.1696 - 1696Volunteer
Richard CrossBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696
ADM 6/4/54ADM 6/41698 - 10.8.1698Volunteer
George PearceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698
Transfered ADM 6/5/27ADM 6/5

3 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
4.10.1681 - 4.12.1681Not Rated
John HumphreysBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1681-1697
Transfered ADM 107/1/90ADM 107/130.10.1688 - 13.7.1689Able Seaman
Edward DemerittBritish
Naval Sailor
Merchant Sailor
Service 1679-1693
ADM 107/1/26ADM 107/126.2.1691/92 - 17.8.1692Able Seaman
Covill MayneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1692-1741
Transfered ADM 107/1/98ADM 107/1

Service History


DateEventSource
1646Part of the Winter Guard 1646/47BWAS-1603
1646Completed at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2352.0.0dBWAS-1603
1647

Service in the Irish Sea until 1649

BWAS-1603
10.3.1649/50Blockade of the Tagus
26.7.1650

Sent in at night to alarm Prince Ruperts ships anchored under the guns of Fort St. Julian, which fired on the Assurance

TRN2
14.9.1650

Took part in Robert Blake's interception of the Spanish 'Brazil Fleet'. Boarding the Spanish Vice-Admiral and saving most of her men from burning.

BWAS-1603
10.1650Took a Portugese 28-gun frigateBWAS-1603
1651Part of fleet in the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
19.5.1652Battle of Dover
28.9.1652Battle of Kentish Knock
1653Off the Dutch coast during the Winter of 1653/54BWAS-1603
18.2.1652/53Battle of Portland
2.6.1653Battle of the Gabbard
31.7.1653Battle of Scheveningen
8.1655In the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
1659

Operations in the Sound (Øresund )

BWAS-1603
1660Rerated as a 32 gunner
8.12.1660

Was sunk by a storm at Woolwich . Twenty men were drowned. She was salvaged

BWAS-1603
17.12.1660

Refloated

B022
1661

At Tangier

BWAS-1603
31.7.1661

At Algiers

BWAS-1603
3.6.1665Battle of Lowestoft
3.9.1665Took the Ship of the Line
Westfriesland (50) 1661-1665
Dutch 50 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line
BWAS-1603
1666Rerated as a 38 gunner
1.6.1666Four Days Battle
25.7.1666St James Day Battle
9.8.1666Holmes' Bonfire
25.6.1667Battle of Martinique
28.5.1673First Battle of Schooneveld
4.6.1673Second Battle of Schooneveld
11.8.1673Battle of Texel
31.8.1673

Pay record starting 15.3.1672 for a period of 16 months, 3 weeks & 5 days for a value of 4,029.0.0d. ADM 8/1/6

ADM8-DB
28.9.1673

At Deptford

ADM8-DB
1677Rerated as a 42 gunner
1677

Sailed for The Mediterranean Sea

BWAS-1603
30.8.1677Took the Ship
Date Tree (28) 1677-1677
Algerian 28 Gun
6th Rate Ship
BWAS-1603
1678

In the English Channel

BWAS-1603
15.10.1678Paid offADM 33
1689

Off Dunkerque

BWAS-1603
7.5.1689

Captain Simon Foulkes, the Assurance, the Nore. His Master has been made Lieutenant of the Berwick and he is sending William Harris, his Chief Mate for an examination to become Master. Asks for a supply of blank tickets and muster books as Captain Kirkpatrick left none. He gave the Master of the hoy, which came with Seamen, a certificate.

ADM 106
20.2.1690/91Refitted as a Fifth RateADM/A
1692

Sailed for the  Colony of Virginia

BWAS-1603
1694

Guardship at Sheerness

BWAS-1603
3.8.1698

Paid off

ADM 33


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
1647-1648Winter Guard of 1647
Thomas RainsboroughBritish
Naval Sailor
Administrator
Service 1643-1648
 
9.1649-1650Winter Guard of 1649  
14.2.1649/50-1652Fleet sent to Lisbon
Robert BlakeBritish
Naval Sailor
Soldier
Service 1649-1657
 
1659-1659British Baltic Fleet 1659
Edward MontaguBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1656-1672
 

Notes on Ship


Cost of buildingB022

The total cost of building the Assurance was £3,830.2.0d broken down as

Hull £2,618.0.0d
Cordage £292.0.0d
Cables £452.5.0d
Anchors £175.17.0d
Blocks, Tops and Pumps £79.0.0d
Sails 212.10.0d

 
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