British Fifth Rate ship 'Mermaid' (1707)

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Mermaid

5381
Nominal Guns36B028
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered20.6.1706B028
Acquired5.8.1707B028
First Commissioned18.7.1707B028
ShipyardChatham Dockyard - Chatham B028
Designed by
Benjamin RosewellBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1695-1741
B028
Constructor
Benjamin RosewellBritish
Designer
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1695-1741
B028
CategoryFifth RateB028
Ship TypeShipB028
Sailing RigShip RiggedB028
Broken Up26.6.1734B028

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck108' 0"Imperial Feet32.9184 
Length of Keel90' 0"Imperial Feet27.432 
Breadth29' 8"Imperial Feet8.8618 
Depth in Hold12' 0"Imperial Feet3.6576 
Burthen421 31⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


8.1707Broadside Weight = 126 Imperial Pound ( 57.141 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck8 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck6 British 4-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
8.1707155 BWAS-1603

6 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
18.7.1707 - 9.5.1710Captain
John ChilleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Dockyard Staff
Service 1689-1722
: on board from 5.8.1707 Transfered ADM 6/9/83BWAS-160310.5.1710 - 25.4.1715Captain
William CollierBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1736
ADM 6/11/51BWAS-160326.4.1715 - 29.11.1715Captain
William CollierBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1736
ADM 6/12/40ADM 6/1218.5.1719 - 19.7.1719Captain
John YeoBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1706-1747
: on board from 24.5.1719 TransferedBWAS-160317.7.1719 - 28.10.1722Captain
Digby DentBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1737
: on board from 20.7.1719 Transfered ADM 6/12/175BWAS-160328.10.1722 - 20.7.1724Captain
Joseph LawesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698-1734
ADM 6/13/74
Confirmed 17.7.1724ADM 6/13

4 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
19.7.1707 - 2.2.1710/11Lieutenant
Thomas WaterhouseBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1702-1741
ADM 6/9/83ADM 6/92.2.1710/11 - 20.6.1711Lieutenant
Robert BoothBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1699-1740
ADM 6/11/106ADM 6/1120.6.1711 - 22.3.1715/16Lieutenant
John SymondsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1702-1720
ADM 6/11/147ADM 6/1118.5.1719 - 20.7.1724Lieutenant
John GregoryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1710-1727
ADM 6/12/170ADM 6/12

2 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
13.9.1712 - 25.2.1712/13Midshipman Extra
Henry RossingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1702-1741
Transfered ADM 6/11/224ADM 6/1126.10.1713 - 24.11.1713Midshipman Extra
Henry RossingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1702-1741
Transfered ADM 6/11/275ADM 6/11

3 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
19.7.1706 - 24.7.1708Midshipman
Richard RiddellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1706-1713
Transfered ADM 107/3/11ADM 107/315.1.1713/14 - 22.3.1715/16Midshipman
Lancelot WhitehallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1710-1716
ADM 107/3/30ADM 107/34.5.1723 - 20.7.1724Volunteer-per-order
Thomas BrodrickBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1723-1759
ADM 107/3/180ADM 107/3

Service History


DateEventSource
5.8.1707

Captain John Chilley, the Mermaid, Chatham. Notification of the launch of the Mermaid, now under his command.

ADM 106
1709On the coast of ScotlandBWAS-1603
5.1710On the coast of ScotlandBWAS-1603
1712In the ChannelBWAS-1603
1714Sailed to the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
1716Sailed to the BalticBWAS-1603
22.3.1715/16

Paid off

ADM 33
7.1716Began repairs at Portsmouth - Hampshire BWAS-1603
10.1716Completed repairs at Portsmouth - Hampshire at a cost of £4658.6.9dBWAS-1603
1720At JamaicaBWAS-1603
6.1720Sheathed for a voyage to the West IndiesBWAS-1603
20.7.1724

Paid off

ADM 33
10.11.1724

Surveyed

BWAS-1603
26.6.1734

Break up completed ad Deptford

BWAS-1603

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Wednesday 20th of May 2026 17:29

London, 3 September 1720: The Purser of his Majesty’ ship the Melford of 32 guns, and 155 men, Captain Chamberlain commander, which split on a rock near the Island of Cuba, with thirteen men more came to town, and reports that having suffered very much on the rock where they continued some days; they were at last happily preserved from famine, by his Majesty’s ship the Mermaid, Captain Digby Dent commander, who took them up and sent them for England: they add that the coast for a considerable way was covered with the dead bodies of those who perished in that terrible hurricane. [Stamford Mercury, 8 September 1720]

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