- IMPORTANT ARCHIVE RELATING TO ONE OF BRITAIN'S WORST NAVAL DISASTERS -

[DUCKWORTH (Admiral Sir John Thomas, Royal Navy officer, 1748-1817); BLACKWOOD (Captain Henry, Royal Navy officer, 1770-1832)]

Unique collection of original manuscript lists of survivors picked up by Royal Navy ships following the fire on HMS Ajax, 14/15th February 1807. 

A collection of 11 manuscript sheets (including 10 survivors lists) completed in ink in various neat copperplate hands, most with watermarks (see foot of listing for examples), some with dates (between 1801-5). The additional list is a tally of survivors. Variety of navy issue laid paper, some ruled, various sheet sizes (smallest 6in x 5in / largest 20in x 16in unfolded).

Near Fine overall condition. One list with two large tears (the folded sheet has been torn, resulting in identical tears to both sides of the list), still in one piece and all names still readable (could be repaired by a skilled archivist). A little age toning and a smidgen of edgewear to some lists, but overall still in excellent condition. Please ask if you require a more detailed condition report, or view gallery images.

These astonishing and historically important manuscript Royal Navy documents shed light on one of the worst Royal Navy disasters in history: the destruction of the HMS Ajax by fire off the coast of Cape Janissary in the Dardanelles on 14/15 February 1807, which claimed 252 lives. See below for a fuller account of the tragedy and its circumstances.

Written in various neat copperplate hands (by first officers?) and signed in nearly all cases by the captains of the ships that took part in the rescue operation, these documents list the names and ranks of many of those who were saved from the burning Ajax or the freezing sea around the stricken vessel. 

These original documents - most bearing contemporary watermarks - were discovered among the archives of Admiral Sir John Duckworth, who was on board his flagship, the Royal George, and commanding the fleet at the time.

Duckworth ordered the captains of each ship involved in the rescue to prepare a complete list of each person they had rescued. Each list is signed by the captain of the relevant ship (except for that of the Royal George, which was signed by the First Lieutenant). The captains are Richard Dacres, Charles Boyles, Thomas George Shortland, Richard Moubray, Thomas Harvey, Richard Dunn, John Talbot, Commanders Robert Elliot and James Collins and the 1st Lieutenant aboard the Royal George (possibly Teager?).

The captain of HMS Ajax at the time of the tragedy was the mercurial Henry Blackwood, who was one of Nelson's right-hand men at the Battle of Trafalgar, and who had a fascinating naval career. He is famous for receiving Admiral Nelson's last instructions, and, together with Captain Hardy, witnessing the so shamefully disregarded codicil to the admiral's will. He was then ordered to return to his ship. 'God bless you, Blackwood,' said Nelson, shaking him by the hand; 'I shall never speak to you again.'A short biography of Blackwood can be found here. Blackwood himself was saved by the Canopus, having survived clutching an oar in the water for an hour.

HMS Ajax was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 March 1798. She fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 under the command of Lieut. John Pilfold. During the battle she assisted Orion in forcing the surrender of the French seventy-four Intrépide.

Several years later she was in Admiral Duckworth's squadron which had been ordered to Constantinople to confront the Turkish fleet. At 9pm on the 14th February 1807 at the entrance of the straits fire broke out, supposedly due to the 'drunken carelessness of the purser's steward.' Only 381 out of her compliment of 633 were saved. The ship drifted on to the island of Tenedos and blew up at 5am on the 15th February. For a full account of the tragedy, see the excerpt below from Naval History of Great Britain by William James*. A short history of the Ajax can be found here.

These lists provide details of all 382 of the survivors (though one of the names is crossed out in pencil [John Mitchell] presumably because he later died) plus mention of some who perished during the rescue. One woman is also listed as having been saved, which brings the final tally to 383 survivors. Several of those listed are on the Trafalgar rolls, and doubtless many of those lost were also survivors of Trafalgar.

Here we have included a little information about each of the Royal Navy vessels that picked up survivors, as well as a selection of names and ranks where noted in the relevant survivors list.

HMS Royal George was a 100-gun first rate ship of the line launched from Chatham Dockyard on 16 September 1788. She served as the flagship at the Battle of Groix and wore the flag of Admiral Alexander Hood at the Glorious First of June. At the time of the Ajax incident, she was serving as the flagship of Admiral Sir John Duckworth during the Dardanelles Operation.

There are two lists from the Royal George. The first shows the name and rank of Ajax crew transferred from HMS Repulse after the rescue operation on the 15th, and lists 19 men. They include Gunner's Mate Alex Sinclair; Able Seaman Joseph Dangiana; Ordinary Seaman Lawrence Noreberry; and Landsman Robert Welsh. It also includes 2nd Lieutenant Cinnamon (actually Joseph Cinnamond, a Royal Marine); John Keets (actually John Keech, Able Seaman), both of whom are present in the rolls of sailors who fought at Trafalgar. This list also includes the cost of the supplies the sailors consumed, with a total bill at the bottom of the sheet. The list is on a printed sheet, and watermarked 1804.

The second shows the name and rank of those directly rescued by the Royal George. There were 20 survivors, including Lieutenant Charles Hood, Marine Lieutenant Charles Ellis, and Seamen Juan Sisero, William Friddle and Nicholas Tulley. Trafalgar survivors include Midshipman William Walpole (who was aboard the Colossus), and Clerk Samuel Armstrong (who was aboard the Euryalus). The paper is watermarked but not dated.

HMS Canopus was originally the French ship Franklin (named after Benjamin Franklin), but was captured during the Battle of the Nile and renamed. She was an 80 gun ship of the line that fought at the Battle of San Domingo, and served as the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Louis during the Dardanelles Operation.

The Canopus appears to have picked up a majority of the survivors, 234 in total. They include Lieutenant Procter, Surgeon's Mate Armstrong, Marine Jacob Vilbers, Seaman James Cowley, and a single Boy, Joshua Maley. Those at Trafalgar included Lieutenant Henry Rowe, and Midshipmen Norwich and Thomas Duff (both of whom served aboard the Mars). The Canopus also picked up the Ajax's Captain, Henry Blackwood, who apparently was found clinging to an oar nearly an hour after having to abandon ship. Blackwood commanded the Euryalus at Trafalgar and is famous for having taking instructions directly from Horatio Nelson before the death of the Admiral. See below for annotated biography of Blackwood. The paper is watermarked 1805.

HMS Meteor was a bomb (mortar) vessel of the Royal Navy. She was previously a civilian vessel, the Sarah Ann. She was purchased in October 1803. In 1807, under the command of James Collins, she was a member of a fleet sent against the Turks.

The Meteor picked up 22 survivors, most notably Acting Boatswain John Dunford (there is a note alongside the list stating that Dunford's wife was also saved); Seamen Cornelius Loney, John Crane and Gabriel Spears, Marine Jacob Faygers, and another Boy, John Gandy. Trafalgar survivors include Marine John Summers (actually John Summer), and Seaman Edmund Kelly. The paper is watermarked but not dated.

HMS Thunderer was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at the Wells brother's shipyard in Deptford and launched on 13 November 1783. In 1794 she fought at the Glorious First of June under Captain Albemarle Bertie, and she fought at the Battle of Trafalgar under the command of her First Lieutenant John Stockham. The surgeon on board was Scotsman James Marr Brydone, who was the first to sight the French fleet.

The Thunderer picked up 27 survivors that are listed, and there is also a grim note under the list: "Five more Men and an Infant were picked up in the Boats survived only a few moments." Crew picked up included Seaman William Goddard, Waister Edward Lock, Marine John Sympson, and Gunner's Crew John Ranels. The one Trafalgar survivor we can identify is Marine Sergeant William Belman (only a private at Trafalgar). The printed form is identical to that used on the Royal George. It is watermarked.

HMS Active was a fifth rate frigate of the Royal Navy, launched on 14 December 1799 at Chatham Dockyard, and was part of the Channel Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars, and later served in the West Indies and the Mediterranean.

There were 36 survivors picked up. These include Boatswain James Turner, Midshipman Charles Greene, Seamen William Sewell and Thomas Harris and Pilot Frnacis Michello. Trafalgar survivors include Seaman John Jamieson, and Seaman William Evans. The watermarked paper is dated 1803.

We cannot find any details about HMS Lucifer, other than that she was the other bomb (mortar) ship in the Dardanelles fleet, and she was commanded by Robert Elliot. The Lucifer picked up just 6 survivors (none of whom had ranks listed), including George Brown, John Caseman, William Scofield, and William Foresides, plus two men listed at Trafalgar - Landsman William Moorman and Seaman Patrick Kelly.

This list also has two handwritten sums on it - the first under the list of survivors which seems to be a working tally of survivors picked up by each ship. The second on the verso appears to be a final list of officers and seamen saved, arranged by rank (from Captain and Lieutenant, down through Purser, Boatswain, Pilot, Schoolmaster, through to Clerk, Marines and Boys). This was presumably completed by Duckworth of one of his staff. The total number of survivors is listed as 382. The paper has a watermark, and appears to be part of an official RN form.

HMS Standard was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 8 October 1782 at Deptford. She was placed on harbour service in 1799, and served in the Mediterranean under Captain Harvey during the Dardanelles Operation.

Only 8 survivors were picked up by the Standard, including Purser William Buller (with anote alongside stating that he was 'remaining on board Standard', Forecastle John Prettyman, Gunner's Crew James Gowers, Marine George Dowley, Quarter Master Thomas Donnell, and Forecastle Philip Perkins, none of whom we can find listed on the Trafalgar roll.

HMS Windsor Castle was a 98-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 3 May 1790 at Deptford Dockyard. Windsor Castle was part of Robert Calder's fleet at the Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1805. In 1807, Windsor Castle served in the Dardanelles Operation as part of a squadron under Admiral Sir John Duckworth and was badly damaged when an 800 pound stone shot from a Turkish cannon sheared off her main mast as the squadron withdrew from the area.

The Windsor Castle picked up just three survivors, including John Branxton and William Morris. The list is written on the reverse of a printed form, which appears similar to those used for other lists.

HMS Pompée was a Téméraire-class 74-gun ship of the line of the French Navy. During the Siege of Toulon, Captain Poulain, her commanding officer, joined the British. She fled Toulon when the city fell to the French Republicans and sailed to Britain. She was commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Pompee. Under Captain Charles Stirling, she fought at the Battle of Algeciras Bay. In 1807 the ship, under the command of Captain Richard Dacres served in the Mediterranean squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir Sydney Smith, as part of the Vice-Admiral Duckworth's. Dardanelles Operation.

The Pompée picked up 7 survivors, including Able Seaman William Jones, Able Seaman John Byrnes, Quarter Gunner William Robinson, and Marine Private William Langdon, the latter of which is listed at Trafalgar. The list has another tragic postscript: "Three men and a young Midshipman who has a Shirt on markeed G.J. Lewis died in the Boats, any means were used to recover them but without success." The paper is watermarked either 1803 or 1805.

There is a final manuscript leaf, but we are not sure as to its significance. It is a list of ships in the Dardanelles fleet including those not mentioned in the above lists (the Endymion, Glatton, and Spider; the only ships that appear to be missing are the Madras, Juno and Delight), together with columns for seaman, marines, and boys (1st, 2nd and 3rd class), the final column titled "Total short of compliment", which totals the preceding columns. The numbers do not correspond to the above lists of survivors picked up from the Ajax (though it is closer to the 381 survivors picked up). If it is a list of casualties from the Dardanelles Operation it seems a little high - one contemporary report lists the casualties as 42 killed, 235 wounded, and 4 missing - the numbers here total 340 men. The paper is watermarked 1800.

What we have here is a quite remarkable piece of Royal Navy history, a record of 256 officers and seaman from the Napoleonic War period, recorded by the captains and commanders of 10 naval vessels, which will be of immeasurable interest to any scholar or collector of naval documents.

* "On the evening of the same day on which this preparative letter bears date, a melancholy accident befel the Ajax, one of the ships of Sir John Duckworth's squadron. At 9 P.M., just as Captain Blackwood had retired to rest, the officer of the watch ran into the cabin and acquainted him that there was a great alarm of fire in the after part of the ship. Signals of distress were immediately made and enforced by guns. The fire had broken out in the after cockpit, and in the course of 10 minutes, notwithstanding every attempt to stifle it, the smoke became so dense, that, although the moon shone bright, the officers and men on the upper deck could only distinguish each other by speaking or feeling : all attempts, therefore, to hoist out the boats, except the jollyboat, were ineffectual. The flames then burst up the main hatchway, thereby dividing the fore from the after part of the ship ; and with the greatest difficulty, the captain, and about 381 of the officers, seamen, and marines of the ship, effected their escape, chiefly by jumping overboard from the bowsprit, or dropping into the few boats that were enabled to approach in time to be useful. Captain Blackwood leaped from the spritsail yard, and, after being about half an hour in the water, was picked up much exhausted, by one of the boats of the Canopus.

The Ajax burnt during the whole night, and, the wind blowing fresh from the north-east, drifted on the island of Tenedos ; where, at 5 A.M. on the following day, the 15th, the ship blew up with an awful explosion. Her net complement of men and boys was about 633 ; therefore, admitting all to have been on board at the commencement of the disaster, 250 souls must have perished. Among the sufferers were two merchants of Constantinople, and two women : a third saved herself by following her husband with a child in his arms down a rope from the jib-boom end.

A court-martial sat on Captain Blackwood and his surviving officers and crew for the loss of their ship, and pronounced upon them a sentence of honourable acquittal. Nothing of a decisive nature appears to have transpired relative to the origin of the accident but rumour attributed it to a light falling among some hay which had been incautiously stowed away in the after cock-pit or bread-room. Mr. Parke, the chemist, seems, however, to think it highly probable, that the fire which destroyed the Ajax was occasioned by the spontaneous combustion of some coals having a quantity of martial pyrites mixed with them." [Excerpt from Naval History of Great Britain by William James, pp.300-301, Chapter 'Sir John Duckworth at the Dardanelles'.].