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Worcester

549
Nominal Guns54BWAS-1603
NationalityGreat Britain
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered1713BWAS-1603
Keel Laid Down2.5.1713B028
Launched31.8.1714BWAS-1603
First Commissioned17.2.1714/15B028
How acquiredPurpose builtBWAS-1603
ShipyardDeptford Dockyard - Deptford B028
Ship Class1706 Establishment 54-Gunner (1706)B028
Constructor
Joseph AllinBritish
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1695-1715
BWAS-1603
CategoryFourth RateBWAS-1603
Ship TypeShip of the LineB028
Sailing RigShip RiggedB028
Broken Up to Rebuild3.5.1733B028

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck131' 5"Imperial Feet39.9329 
Length of Keel108' 7"Imperial Feet32.9406 
Breadth35' 3 ½"Imperial Feet10.6807 
Depth in Hold14' 0"Imperial Feet4.2672 
Burthen719 3494Tons BM 

Armament


31.8.1714Broadside Weight = 228 Imperial Pound ( 103.398 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck22 British 6-Pounder
Quarterdeck8 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
11.1693280Design Complement

5 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
17.2.1714/15 - 10.2.1716/17Captain
Thomas KempthorneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1719
Transfered ADM 6/12/27
BWAS-1603
11.2.1716/17 - 23.12.1717Captain
Chaloner OgleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1749
ADM 6/12/88
BWAS-1603
24.3.1718/19 - 28.3.1720Captain
Charles BoyleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1699-1720
: on board from 12.4.1719 ADM 6/12/163
BWAS-1603
9.5.1720 - 31.3.1721Captain
Francis Blake DelavallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1711-1721
ADM 6/12/224
Confirmed 10.12.1720
BWAS-1603
1.4.1721 - 12.2.1721/22Captain
Robert ManBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1736
ADM 6/13/8
BWAS-1603

14 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
17.2.1714/15 - 20.2.1716/17First Lieutenant
George ProctorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1708-1736
Transfered ADM 6/12/27
ADM 6/12
17.2.1714/15 - 20.2.1716/17Second Lieutenant
John OliphantBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1741
Transfered ADM 6/12/27
ADM 6/12
21.2.1716/17 - 23.12.1717First Lieutenant
Stephen DowseBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1709-1728
ADM 6/12/91
ADM 6/12
21.2.1716/17 - 22.9.1717Second Lieutenant
Thomas BridgesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1725
ADM 6/12/91
ADM 6/12
23.9.1717 - 23.12.1717Second Lieutenant
Robert CarletonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1713-1719
ADM 6/12/106
Confirmed 15.11.1717
ADM 6/12
24.3.1718/19 - 23.3.1718/19First Lieutenant
Charles BignallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1693-1719
ADM 6/12/163
ADM 6/12
24.3.1718/19 - 27.3.1720Second Lieutenant
George WestonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1709-1727
ADM 6/12/163
ADM 6/12
11.1.1719/20 - 12.2.1721/22First Lieutenant
Gilbert BuryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1704-1723
ADM 6/15/188
ADM 6/12
28.3.1720 - 4.4.1720Second Lieutenant
William SmithBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1713-1747
Transfered ADM 6/12/200
ADM 6/12
4.4.1720 - 21.7.1720Second Lieutenant
Edward BakerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1715-1747
ADM 6/12/201
ADM 6/12
4.4.1720 - 15.5.1720Third Lieutenant
Basil WoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1713-1731
ADM 6/12/201
ADM 6/12
16.5.1720 - 20.7.1720Second Lieutenant
Basil WoodBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1713-1731
Transfered ADM 6/12/223
ADM 6/12
16.5.1720 - 12.2.1721/22Third Lieutenant
Edward GuyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1720-1742
ADM 6/12/223
Confirmed 12.12.1720
ADM 6/12
21.7.1720 - 12.2.1721/22Second Lieutenant
Edward AllenBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1693-1743
ADM 6/15/224
Confirmed 13.12.1720
ADM 6/12

Service History


DateEventSource
8.1714Commissioned for Newfoundland and the StraitsBWAS-1603
1717In the BalticBWAS-1603
10.5.1719Bombardment of Donan Castle
5.1.1719/20

Captain Charles Boyle, Henry Browell and Edward Gray, the Worcester at Leith. Account of stores received on board the Worcester. Leith

ADM 106
13.2.1719/20

Captain Charles Boyle, The Worcester at Woolwich. He asks for his ship to be rerigged and a longer topsail yard fitted. Woolwich

ADM 106
10.5.1720

At 4 unmoored ship and hove short. At 7 weighed and at 8 anchored before Eilean Donan Castle , the castle bearing NE by E half mile. Sent a flag of truce ashore which they fired at, upon which we began to fire upon the castle in company with the Enterprise and Flamborough. At 10 left off firing in order to get closer in. At half past the Flamborough hauled out of the line and anchored again about 3 cables to the eastward of us. This morning I confined Mr Bignel for neglect of duty.

ref:1023
11.5.1720

Fresh gales and squally with rain. At 1 pm weighed and anchored near castle, it bearing NE quarter mile. Carried out one stream anchor and hove our broadsides again upon the castle. At the same time the Flamborough was ordered to weigh and come in again and stand up the river about 3 miles. We had intelligence by a Spanish deserter who came over to us that there was a house there with several barrels of powder in it. Upon the Flamborough appearing near the House, the rebels set fire to a great quantity of powder and other ammunition. We and the Enterprise still continued firing at the castle.

Fresh gales and squally with rain. At 1 pm weighed and anchored near castle, it bearing NE quarter mile. Carried out one stream anchor and hove our broadsides again upon the castle. At the same time the Flamborough was ordered to weigh and come in again and stand up the river about 3 miles. We had intelligence by a Spanish deserter who came over to us that there was a house there with several barrels of powder in it. Upon the Flamborough appearing near the House, the rebels set fire to a great quantity of powder and other ammunition. We and the Enterprise still continued firing at the castle.

ref:1023
12.5.1720

Moderate gales and rain. At 3 pm sent across 16 barrels of powder to blow up the castle. At 9 the westermost part of the castle blew up.

ref:1023
13.5.1720

Moderate gales with squalls of rain. At the beginning of the latter part fresh gales and squally with hard showers of hail and rain. Sent ashore 11 barrels of powder to blow up the rest of the walls of the castle fronting the sea side

ref:1023
14.5.1720

At 2 pm sent ashore the longboat for water. At 3 a man was shot by the rebels ashore through the arm and on the breast although not mortally.

ref:1023
3.1720/21refitting at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £3035.18.7dBWAS-1603
3.5.1733Docked at Portsmouth to be broken up and rebuiltBWAS-1603


Fleets

DatesFleetFleet CommanderSource
6.1719-11.1719British Baltic Fleet 1719
Sir John NorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1689-1740
 
13.4.1721-20.10.1721British Baltic Fleet 1721
Sir John NorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1689-1740
 
 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 21st of May 2026 13:52

London, 14 February 1721: A true account of the behaviour and last dying words of the malefactors that were executed at Tyburn last week -
Edward Ely, condemned for he murder of Lieut Bicknell in Sweden. He said he was about 32 years old, born in Bloomsbury of very respectable parents, who put him apprentice to Mr Gibson a surgeon in Ludgate-street, and had been a Surgeons Mate on board several men of war. He owned, and was extremely concerned for the fact he died for, the Lieutenant being, he said, the only man he loved in the world, and if he had a diamond as big as a house, he would give it to fetch his life again. He behaved himself very penitently all along. [Ipswich Journal, 18 February 1721]


Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 21st of May 2026 13:42

London, 16 February 1721: The youngest Lieutenant of his Majesty’s ship the Worcester, who left Mr Ely lately executed, his sword to fight Lieutenant Bicknell, is dismissed the service, and rendered incapable to serve the Crown in any post whatever for the future. [Ipswich Journal, 18 February 1721]


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