Benjamin Howe
In researching Benjamin Howe, it transpired that the Howe family did not originate in Hampshire, but in Somerset. Fortunately, Benjamin's Royal Marine service records have survived.
Benjamin Howe was born at born Kingsbrompton, Somerset, about 1803-4. Kingsbrompton, now known as Brompton Regis, was in the hundred of Williton Freemanors, there nearest town being Dulverton, West Somerset.
In 1826, aged 21, he travelled to Plymouth where, on 11 Oct 1826, he enlisted in the Royal Marines as Benjamin HOW, under the command of Colonel George Elliot Vinnicombe. He made a X mark where he had to sign, which presumably accounts for why his name is spelled HOW not Howe. At that time he was 5 ft 11 inches tall, of fair complexion, hazel eyes, and with dark brown hair, and gave his trade as a labourer.
He received a £4 bounty for signing on, a substantial sum in those times. He joined the R.M. Artillery 2 Company on 17 Dec 1826. (See Role of the Royal Marines in the 19th Century )
The Ships.
Throughout the great maritime wars, into the second half of the 19th century, wooden fighting ships became larger and more heavily armed, some carrying as many as 120 guns.
On 5th July 1828, Benjamin Howe joined the Britannia, serving on her for 2 months 8 days.
This was the 7th Britannia and she was launched at Plymouth in 1820. A true fighting ship, she has 120 guns. She was of 2602 tons, and carried a crew of 900 men. Her length, beam and draught were 205 ft., 53 ft., and 18ft.
The British maintained a fleet in the Mediterranean, and in 1831 Benjamin Howe served on two further ships, Ganges and St. Vincent. He moved ships quickly, being on the Ganges for only 21 days (28th Jan 1831-22nd Feb1831) and St. Vincent for 12 days (8th Mar 1831-19th Mar 1831).
Ganges was the second HMS Ganges and another historic ship. She was a 2nd rate, 3,594 tons, 84 gun ship with a ships company of 800. Built of teak at the Bombay Dockyard under master shipbuilder Jamsetjee Bomanjee Wadia. Admiralty orders of 5th June 1816 directed her to be built as a facsimile of HMS Canopus which was the ex French ship 'Franklin' which fought at the Battle of the Nile. Building began in May 1819 and she was launched on the 10th November 1821. She was commissioned at Portsmouth in 1823 by Captain (afterwards Vice Admiral) Sir Edward Brace.
In her last engagement the Ganges had travelled to Brazil in 1828. There, a Royal Marine contingent landed at Rio de Janeiro for the protection of the Emperor of Brazil, in consequence of a serious mutiny which had broken out among German and Irish troops. Emperor Don Pedro in appreciation awarded the RM Officer in charge and Captain Inglefield with the Order of the Southern Cross.
After a brief spell as Guard ship at Portsmouth she joined the Mediterranean Fleet, where Benjamin HOWE served.
Following Benjamin's departure, the Ganges went on to take part in the 1838 Syrian campaign, the 1840 landing of troops at D'Journi, the bombardment of Beirut and the Blockade of Alexandria (see William John GATES ). The Ganges became a training ship for boys at Falmouth in 1866, and was later transferred to Harwich. In 1906 she was renamed Tenedos III.
In 1910 she became a training establishment for artificers at Devonport under the name Indus V.
That year, 1831, Benjamin also joined the St. Vincent which was also part of the Mediterranean Fleet at that time. The St. Vincent was a first rate ship designed to carry 120 guns. She had been laid up until her first commission in Feb 1831 for Service with the Mediterranean fleet. Benjamin served on her for a short period only before joining HMS Excellent on 28th June 1831.
This was the second Excellent, a 98 gun ship of 2155 tons, formerly called the 'Boyne'. She had been launched at Portsmouth in 1810 and built to the plans of Nelson's 'Victory'. Her length, beam and draught were 186 feet, 51 feet and 18 feet. At this time, Excellent was a Gunnery school ship. Gunnery was an important aspect of naval warfare, and much of the credit for the victories against the French during the Napoleonic Wars was credited to superior British Gunnery. Benjamin's occupation had been described as 'Instructor' which could explain why he spent so long on the Excellent. Excellent continued to act as the Gunnery School until 1859.
Benjamin was certainly still in Portsmouth in 1832 as on 4th March he married Elizabeth Langrish. His son was born the next year, followed by a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1835.
Benjamin served on Excellent until 3rd November 1842, a period of 11 years 4 months and 7 days.
On 7th December 1842, he was discharged from the service at Portsmouth, (while a patient in Haslar Hospital). He was invalided due to varicose veins & rheumatism contracted in the Service.
He had served a total of 16 years, 1 month 27 days, comprising 4y 6m 4d ashore in the UK and 11y 7m 23d foreign or afloat.
His discharge papers state that "He produces several certificates of excellent character from Sir Thomas Hastings and other officers with whom he has served." His conduct was "very good". (Sir Thomas Hastings was an Artillery Officer who was the head of Ordnance at the Woolwich Arsenal in 1847).
Research is still ongoing to establish what happened to Benjamin and his family after he left the Royal Marines.
|
|
