British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Exeter' (1697)

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Exeter

174
Nominal Guns60B028
NationalityKingdom of England
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered8.3.1694/95BWAS-1603
Launched26.5.1697B028
How acquiredPurpose builtB028
ShipyardPortsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth B028
Ship Class1691 Program - 60 gun 4th Rates (1691)B028
Designed by
John TippettsBritish
Ship Builder
Service 1650-1692
BWAS-1603
Constructor
William BagwellBritish
Ship Builder
Dockyard Staff
Service 1694-1698
BWAS-1603
CategoryFourth RateB028
Ship TypeShip of the LineB028
Sailing RigShip RiggedB028
Broken Up to Rebuild3.1739/40BWAS-1603
Becomes
British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Exeter' (1744) (58) 1744-1763
British 58 Gun
4th Rate Ship of the Line

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck148' 0"Imperial Feet45.1104 
Length of Keel122' 5"Imperial Feet37.1914 
Breadth38' 2"Imperial Feet11.5888 
Depth in Hold15' 9"Imperial Feet4.6177 
Burthen948 50⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


1697Broadside Weight = 408 Imperial Pound ( 185.028 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck22 British 24-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck24 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck10 British 6-Pounder
Roundhouse4 British 3-Pounder

1703Broadside Weight = 375 Imperial Pound ( 170.0625 kg)BWAS-1714
Lower Gun Deck24 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck26 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck10 British 6-Pounder
Forecastle4 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
1697365EstablishmentBWAS-1714

17 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
10.3.1696/97 - 10.12.1699Captain
Richard EdwardsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1688-1708
ADM 6/4/81BWAS-160326.2.1700/1 - 25.12.1701Captain
James StewartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1691-1705
ADM 6/6/62BWAS-160329.12.1701 - 13.1.1701/2Captain
Robert HancockBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1691-1706
ADM 6/6/126ADM 6/614.1.1701/2 - 23.6.1702Captain
Charles CornewallBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1692-1718
Transfered ADM 6/6/130ADM 6/624.6.1702 - 3.2.1706/7Captain
Thomas SwantonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1716
ADM 6/7/43BWAS-160326.8.1707 - 9.12.1707Captain
Hovenden WalkerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1688-1715
Transfered ADM 6/9/90ADM 6/910.12.1707 - 6.11.1711Captain
Beaumont RaymondBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1692-1715
ADM 6/9/108BWAS-160326.7.1715 - 11.10.1716Captain
Nicholas HaddockBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1699-1744
Transfered ADM 6/12/47BWAS-160313.10.1716 - 30.1.1716/17Second Captain
Thomas WhitneyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1702-1740
ADM 6/12/98
Confirmed 29.4.1717ADM 6/1231.1.1716/17 - 19.12.1717Captain
Tudor TrevorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1694-1717
ADM 6/12/86ADM 6/1212.11.1720 - 27.1.1721/22Captain
Sir Robert JohnsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1722
ADM 6/12/218BWAS-160328.1.1721/22 - 11.8.1722Captain
Samuel BraithwaiteBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1702-1739
Transfered ADM 6/13/69
Confirmed 21.4.1724ADM 6/1312.8.1722 - 7.10.1723Captain
John CockburnBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1689-1731
ADM 6/14/61
Confirmed 26.11.1723BWAS-160330.3.1731 - 18.5.1731Captain
John RobertsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698-1734
Transfered ADM 6/14/71ADM 6/1419.5.1731 - 13.1.1731/32Captain
Thomas DurellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1741
Transfered ADM 6/14/76BWAS-160315.1.1731/32 - 26.2.1732/33Captain
Robert TrevorBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1741
Transfered ADM 6/14/98BWAS-160322.2.1733/34 - 18.8.1737Captain
John YeoBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1706-1747
Transfered ADM 6/15/166BWAS-1603

4 Flag Officers


DatesRankNameSource
1702 - 1704Rear-Admiral of the Blue
John LeakeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1688-1712
BWAS-16031705Vice-Admiral of the Blue
Sir George ByngBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1684-1703
BWAS-160312.1707 - 7.1.1707/8Rear-Admiral of the Blue
Sir John NorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1689-1740
TransferedB056-67.1.1716/17 - 1717Commodore
William ClevelandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1692-1717
ADM 6/12/84ADM 6/12

37 Commissioned Officers


DatesRankNameSource
10.3.1696/97 - 17.6.1697First Lieutenant
William DewsterBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1699
ADM 6/4/82ADM 6/43.6.1697 - 19.4.1699Second Lieutenant
Michael LovellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1699
ADM 6/4/102ADM 6/417.7.1697 - 10.12.1699First Lieutenant
Robert StudleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1692-1716
ADM 6/4/109ADM 6/420.4.1699 - 10.12.1699Second Lieutenant
George PeytonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1694-1702
ADM 6/6/17ADM 6/627.2.1700/1 - 23.5.1701First Lieutenant
Henry HubbardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1692-1714
Transfered ADM 6/6/63ADM 6/628.2.1700/1 - 3.3.1700/1Second Lieutenant
John StephensBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1679-1718
Transfered ADM 6/6/64ADM 6/64.3.1700/1 - 26.1.1701/2Second Lieutenant
The Hon. Charles StewartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1701-1736
ADM 6/6/66ADM 6/624.5.1701 - 17.11.1702First Lieutenant
Robert StandleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1702
ADM 6/6/97ADM 6/627.1.1701/2 - 27.2.1703/4Second Lieutenant
Richard LestockBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1701-1746
Transfered ADM 6/6/140ADM 6/618.11.1702 - 19.2.1706/7First Lieutenant
James GraingerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1711
ADM 6/7/60ADM 6/729.9.1703 - 19.2.1706/7Second Lieutenant
John CleavlandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1703-1715
ADM 6/8/84
Confirmed 1.7.1704ADM 6/1426.8.1707 - 7.1.1708/9First Lieutenant
Augustus RouseBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1701-1711
ADM 6/9/90ADM 6/926.8.1707 - 7.1.1708/9Second Lieutenant
Luke FitzgeraldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1707-1713
ADM 6/9/90ADM 6/98.1.1708/9 - 26.11.1711First Lieutenant
Luke FitzgeraldBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1707-1713
ADM 6/10/24ADM 6/108.1.1708/9 - 7.8.1710Second Lieutenant
James SmithBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1708-1729
ADM 6/10/22ADM 6/1028.8.1710 - 26.11.1711Second Lieutenant
William ClelandBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1710-1743
ADM 6/11/172
Confirmed 29.10.1711ADM 6/1127.7.1715 - 14.10.1716First Lieutenant
Robert CallisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1701-1732
Transfered ADM 6/12/47ADM 6/1227.7.1715 - 19.12.1717Second Lieutenant
Julian LeggBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1727
ADM 6/12/47ADM 6/1212.11.1720 - 29.3.1731First Lieutenant
Robert WhitleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1707-1731
ADM 6/14/218ADM 6/1212.11.1720 - 11.1.1722/23Second Lieutenant
John JohnsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1710-1723
ADM 6/12/218ADM 6/1212.11.1720 - 10.1.1721/22Third Lieutenant
Thomas CookeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1719-1722
ADM 6/12/218ADM 6/1211.1.1721/22 - 5.5.1726Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
David MorganBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1715-1727
Transfered ADM 6/13/61
Confirmed 17.9.1723ADM 6/1312.1.1722/23 - 1.2.1724/25Second Lieutenant
William BerkeleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1721-1733
Transfered ADM 6/13/60
Confirmed 19.9.1723ADM 6/1330.3.1731 - 31.12.1731First Lieutenant
Robert PysingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1706-1734
ADM 6/14/71ADM 6/1430.3.1731 - 31.12.1731Second Lieutenant
Thomas PellattBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1712-1742
ADM 6/14/71ADM 6/1430.3.1731 - 31.3.1732Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
Richard WestBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1730-1735
Transfered ADM 6/14/71ADM 6/141.1.1731/32 - 26.2.1732/33First Lieutenant
Robert PysingBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1706-1734
Transfered ADM 6/14/96ADM 6/141.1.1731/32 - 13.6.1732Second Lieutenant
Thomas PellattBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1712-1742
ADM 6/14/96ADM 6/1414.6.1732 - 21.3.1732/33Second Lieutenant
Francis WithersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1727-1746
ADM 6/14/111ADM 6/1414.6.1732 - 14.2.1732/33Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
Thomas PellattBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1712-1742
ADM 6/14/111ADM 6/1415.2.1732/33 - 26.2.1732/33Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
George TockettsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1717-1743
Transfered ADM 6/14/134ADM 6/1423.2.1733/34 - 7.11.1734Second Lieutenant
Edward NorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1721-1742
ADM 6/14/169ADM 6/142.3.1733/34 - 7.11.1734Third Lt. & Lt. at Arms
Alexander A'CourtBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1727-1794
ADM 6/14/170ADM 6/1413.3.1733/34 - 7.11.1734First Lieutenant
Thomas LeyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1714-1738
Transfered ADM 6/14/175ADM 6/148.11.1734 - 27.3.1737First Lieutenant
Edward NorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1721-1742
Transfered ADM 6/15/197ADM 6/148.11.1734 - 18.8.1737Second Lieutenant
Alexander A'CourtBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1727-1794
Transfered ADM 6/15/197ADM 6/1428.3.1737 - 19.8.1737First Lieutenant
John WilliamsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1722-1755
Transfered ADM 6/15/54ADM 6/15

11 Warrant Officers


DatesRankNameSource
4.9.1695 - 25.10.1695Carpenter
Thomas SmithBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1698
Transfered ADM 6/3/75ADM 6/310.9.1696 - 26.1.1696/97Purser
Peter SkinnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1698
Transfered ADM 6/4/24ADM 6/427.1.1696/97 - 1697Purser
John WardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1697
ADM 6/4/67ADM 6/422.2.1696/97 - 1697Boatswain
John MaddoxBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1695-1697
ADM 6/4/76ADM 6/410.4.1697 - 1697Chaplain
William HattonBritish
Naval Sailor
Clergyman
Service 1697
ADM 6/4/89ADM 6/422.6.1697 - 6.7.1697Gunner
Nathaniel ButtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1698
ADM 6/4/105ADM 6/47.7.1697 - 1697Gunner
Patrick HutchinsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697
ADM 6/4/108ADM 6/420.8.1698 - 1698Boatswain
Thomas GibsonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1698
ADM 6/5/28ADM 6/523.2.1698/99 - 1699Boatswain
Thomas CorbinBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1699
ADM 6/6/16
Issued by
Mathew AylmerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1677-1698
, The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 6.9.1699ADM 6/69.12.1701 - 31.12.1701Midshipman Extra
Alexander StewartBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1694-1711
ADM 6/6/124ADM 6/61738Boatswain
John MorrisBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1738
ref:1618

11 Petty Officers


DatesRatingNameSource
10.3.1696/97 - 7.1.1697/98Volunteer
William DoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1698
Transfered ADM 6/4/81ADM 6/410.3.1696/97 - 17.3.1699/1700Volunteer
William ThoryBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1709
Transfered ADM 6/4/81ADM 6/410.3.1696/97 - 18.3.1699/1700Volunteer
William PhillipsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1700
Transfered ADM 6/4/81ADM 6/48.1.1697/98 - 1698Volunteer
Tobias LisleBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1698-1713
ADM 6/4/136ADM 6/44.7.1698 - 19.4.1700Midshipman
Lewis BillingsleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1696-1707
Transfered ADM 107/1/199ADM 107/11700 - 15.3.1699/1700Volunteer
Toby LukeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1700
Transfered ADM 6/6/25ADM 612.3.1700/1 - 15.4.1701Midshipman
Philip StanhopeBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1697-1708
ADM 107/1/196ADM 107/123.6.1709 - 16.9.1712Volunteer-per-order
Richard NewellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1709-1716
ADM 107/3/39ADM 107/328.4.1731 - 10.11.1731Midshipman
William GallowayBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1726-1738
Transfered ADM 107/3/235ADM 107/330.4.1731 - 18.6.1731Midshipman Ordinary
Samuel Frederick AntrimBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1726-1736
Transfered ADM 107/3/306ADM 107/322.5.1731 - 23.1.1731/32Midshipman
George Charles DurellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1716-1749
Transfered ADM 107/3/307ADM 107/3

5 Crewmen


DatesRatingNameSource
22.2.1693/94 - 19.2.1695/96Able Seaman
John BarkleyBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1691-1705
Transfered ADM 107/1/304ADM 107/14.5.1723 - 31.3.1724Captain's Servant
James HovellBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1721-1743
Transfered ADM 107/3/488ADM 107/31.3.1732/33 - 24.3.1732/33Able Seaman
Christopher HillBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1730-1778
Transfered ADM 107/3/361ADM 107/311.5.1736 - 9.10.1736Able Seaman
Frederick RogersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1730-1754
ADM 107/3/303ADM 107/329.8.1737 - 26.10.1737Able Seaman
James ThomasBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1736-1771
Transfered ADM 107/3/521ADM 107/3

Service History


DateEventSource
30.5.1702Took the Privateer
Le Cerf (Unknown) 1702-1702
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

14.2.1705Took the Frigate
La Thétis (44) 1697-1705
French 44 Gun
5th Rate Frigate (Frégate-Vaisseau de 1er Ordre)
losing 11 killedBWAS-1603
1708In the Channel and North SeaBWAS-1603
1.6.1708Took the Privateer
Le Kengarre (Unknown) 1708-1708
French Unknown Gun
Privateer Unknown

1710In the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
22.3.1710/11Action off Vado
1715Commissioned for the BalticBWAS-1603
2.1719Began large repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth BWAS-1603
4.1720Completed large repair at Portsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth at a cost of £12656.3.9dBWAS-1603
4.1720fitting at Plymouth - Devon at a cost of £6975.3.9dBWAS-1603
1731Fitted for the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
12.1731Guardship at PlymouthBWAS-1603
7.1732Fitted for the Channel at PlymouthBWAS-1603
8.1732Guardship at PlymouthBWAS-1603
22.3.1732/33Paid offADM 51
1736Guardship at SheernessBWAS-1603
3.1739/40Break up completed at Plymouth prior to being rebuiltBWAS-1603


Sources


IDNameAuthorType
ADM 107/1ADM 107/1 1691-1703 Lieutenants' passing certificates. Archive
ADM 107/3ADM 107/3 1712-1745 Lieutenants' passing certificates. Archive
ADM 51ADM 51 1669-1853 Admiralty: Captains' Logs Archive
ADM 6ADM 6 Admiralty Service RecordsAuthority, Archive
ADM 6/10ADM 6/10 Commission and Warrant Book 1708 Dec.-1709 2 Nov. Archive
ADM 6/11ADM 6/11 Commission and Warrant Book 1709 10 Nov.-1714 13 Oct. Archive
ADM 6/12ADM 6/12 Commission and Warrant Book 1714 14 Oct.-1721 Jan. Archive
ADM 6/13ADM 6/13 Commission and Warrant Book 1721 Feb.-1728 3 Oct. Archive
ADM 6/14ADM 6/14 Commission and Warrant Book 1728 4 Oct.-1735 23 Dec. Archive
ADM 6/15ADM 6/15 Commission and Warrant Book 1735 26 Dec.-1742 4 Jan. Archive
ADM 6/3ADM 6/3 Commission and Warrant Book 1694/5 Jan.-1696 25 May Archive
ADM 6/4ADM 6/4 Commission and Warrant Book 1696 25 May-1698 20 Jan. Archive
ADM 6/5ADM 6/5 Commission and Warrant Book 1698 28 Jan.-1699 1 June Archive
ADM 6/6ADM 6/6 Commission and Warrant Book 1699 2 June-1702 26 Jan Archive
ADM 6/7ADM 6/7 Commission and Warrant Book 1702 28 Jan.-1703 6 July Archive
ADM 6/9ADM 6/9 Commission and Warrant Book 1706 9 July-1708 Oct. Archive
B028Ships of the Royal Navy - Volume IJ. J. Colledge, Book
B056-6Lives of the British Admirals Vol VIJohn Campbell, Digital Book
BWAS-1603British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714Rif Winfield, Book
BWAS-1714British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792Rif Winfield, Book
ref:1618Devonshire Quarter Sessions (Sacrament Certificates) Document
 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by Jon Miller on Thursday 21st of May 2026 06:27

London, 25 March 1720: His Majesty’s ships the Exeter and the Salisbury, that went with the East Indies Company’s fleet, and were so shattered in their rigging, that they had their masts broke by the board, that they were obliged to put into Lisbon to refit; but Commodore Matthews, with the two other men of war, proceeded on his voyage with the Companies fleet. [Newcastle Courant, 1 April 1720]

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