STORM AND COMPANY
Extracts from the LOG of HM Armed Lugger Speculator kept 1805-6 by Lieut Edward Hall alias Storm, Commander.
INTRODUCTION
Edward HALL alias STORM
(1777-1860) was son of Edward STORM (1747-1784) master mariner,
and grandson of Isaac STORM and Mary nee HALL his wife, of Robin
Hood's Bay. Edward Storm senior took his mother's name of Hall
when he ran away to sea. He was master of a transport vessel in
the American war of Independence. At New York he transferred to
the Royal Navy as Master and was for a time navigator of Admiral
Rodney's flagship in the West Indies. His last appointment was
that of Master Intendant of Antigua.
(EDITOR's NOTE: On first mention surnames are in capitals for
ease of study.)
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Edward junior went straight into the Royal Navy. He was a Midshipman in the incident reported in the following log book extract, when HMS Juno nearly sailed into a trap at Toulon. There was a French plan to capture HMS Juno whose captain did not know the British Fleet had gone. A Midshipman spotted the Frenchmen were disguised- the cockades in their hats were wrong.
Extract from log of HMS Juno
"Variable weather with showers of rain. Employed
tacking, occasionally turning in towards the harbour of Toulon.
At 10pm bore up and stood into the harbour. Passed the Grand Tour
point. Hauled up for the town; the wind baffling obliged us to
bear up under a man-o-war brig's stern which lay there at anchor,
by which means the ship grounded on a mud bank forward. Clewed up
the sails and furled them. Hoisted out the six oared cutter and
launch to lay out warps. Found the ship to back off into 4
fathoms of water. Let go the best bower (anchor). Found the ship
to take the ground aft. Came on board from the shore a boat with
12 Frenchmen on board, and found Lord Hood with the fleet to have
evacuated Toulon. Confined the French below. Loosed the topsails
and sheeted them home and hoisted them, cut the cable and made
sail. Found the ship to gather way off the bank on which the
man-o-war brig began to fire, and was succeeded by all the
batteries on both sides as we stood out of the harbour. Returned
the fire on the batteries of Cape Sepet which with great
difficulty we weathered; half past 12 the firing ceased the Cape
NNE 2 miles"
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In 1805 Bonaparte had an army at Boulogne and an invasion of England was a possibility. Speculator was with the fleet keeping watch in the channel when Edward junior joined her at Ramsgate on 15th October, the month of Trafalgar.
Tuesday October 15 1805
AM Moderate with rain at 8. Joined as Commander Lieut. Edward
HALL and superseded Lt R YOUNG. Mustered the vessel's company
twenty five in number. PM. Ditto weather at 8. Strong gales and
squally with rain at times.
Wednesday October 16 1805
AM. Fresh gales with rain. Absented themselves without leave -
John GREYLAND, Wm LARGE, John LARGE, Valentine EPPS, Thos EPPS,
George CLEMENTS, Edward SUTTON, John FAX, John BAKER, John
HAWLING, Henry WALL, Joseph WALL, John WALLMAN, and Thomas
ROBONS, in all fourteen men. Sernt their descriptions to the
Officers of Impress and reported them to the Commander in Chief.
PM Light breezes with rain.
Thursday October 17 1805
Moderate with rain. Arrived several Transports. Employed getting
ready for sea. PM Strong gales and squally. Transports embarking
troops from off the pier.
Friday October 18 1805
....Got everything ready for warping out of harbour.
Saturday October 19 1805
... Received the powder from the magazine. Warped out of Ramsgate
harbour and made sail for the Downs at 11. Came into 6 fathoms of
water. Sandown Castle NW by N 1 1/2 miles.
Sunday October 20 1805
...Received orders from Vice Admiral HOLLOWAY to put ourselves
under Commodore Sir Sidney SMITH....Received beer and water.
Monday October 21 1805
...Mustered the crew eleven in number and one sick on shore. ....
(EDITOR's NOTE: Trafalger Day! The day when a Whitby man, Robert MOORSOM (1760-1835) captained the Revenge in action at Trafalgar. Robert was the son of Richard MOORSOM (1729-1809), Whitby magistrate and builder of Airy Hill, and grandson of Richard Moorsom born Fylingdales 1693. Robert's 13 year old son Constantine Richard MOORSOM (1792-1861) was also on the ship's musterbook, but did not serve. At Nelson's funeral Robert carried the Grand Banner. He later became an Admiral and received a knighthood.).
Tuesday October 22 1805
...Eleven of those who absented themselves on the 16th returned
aboard viz John Greyland, John Large, Vallentine Epps, Thomas
Epps, George Clements, Edward Sutton, John Fox, John Baker, John
Howling, John Warman and Thomas Robons. Entered two men John
MIPSTEAD (Able) and Henry JAFFERY
Wednesday October 23 1805
...employed occasionally. Answered our signal for a Lieutenant on
board the Antelope..
Thursday October 24th 1805
..Absented himself without leave Thomas WASMAN Able Seaman...'At
4 came into Walmer Road per order of Sir Sydney Smith in 5
fathoms. Walmer Castle WSW 1 1/2 miles....Entered one man Thomas
SCUNES Ordinary Seaman
Sunday October 27 1805
...Answered our signal for a Lieutenant aboard the Antelope. At
11 weighed and made sail westward with despatches from Sir Sydney
Smith for His Majesty's Ship Valorous.
Monday October 28 1805
Strong gales with rain. Lying to... Spoke the Spanish ship Elizabeth
Maria from St Lucia bound to North Bergen. ..Spoke to HM
Brig Calypso and Flint cutter at 11. Carried
away the foremast. Cleared the wreck and bore away for Seaford
Road. At 12 came to Seaford Cliff ESE. Arrived HMS Valorous and
delivered the despatches. Arrived the Monkey gun vessel
and Flint cutter.
Tuesday November 5 1805
Light airs and hazy. At 10 answered the General Signal for weekly
account on board the Antilope. PM Light airs and breezy
at 1 Saluted being the Anniversary of the Gun Powder Plot.....
Monday November 11 1805
.....at 10 received five quarters of beef for the Immortality..
Tuesday November 12 1805
Spoke His Majesty's Ship Immortality and delivered
depatches and the beef... Answered one signal to examine a
strange sail SW. Boarded a Bark from Liverpool to Bremen with
salt. Also a Bremen Dogger from Bordeaux to Bremen
Wednesday November 20 1805
...at 10 weighted and made for Boulogne.... joined ompany with HMS
Antelope and Squadron. Fresh breezes Boulogne SE by S 4
miles Lying too off and on watching the enemy's advanced squadron
of the flotilla
Thursday November 21 1805
....Exercised Great Guns
Answered the signal to prepare for battle
Answered the signal for all Lieutenants
Lying too Bombs throwing skills at the enemy's advance squadron
To be continued.