British sloop 'Spence' (1730)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Update
John StylesBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
Thomas ElkingtonBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Aurora (28) 1777-1814
British 28 Gun
6th Rate Frigate
Update
John Milligan SeppingsBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1793-1794
Update
John SkinnerBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1782-1794
Added
Princess Royal (6) 1794-1794
British 6 Gun
Merchant Packet
Update
Edward BrowneBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Polyphemus (64) 1782-1827
British 64 Gun
3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Update
William ShippardBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794
Update
Robert PassmoreBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1794-1798
See more...

Spence	6833
Nominal Guns	8	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	26.9.1729	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	14.6.1729	BWAS-1714
Named	30.12.1729	BWAS-1714
Launched	24.6.1730	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Drake Class (1728)	BWAS-1714
Designed by	Richard StaceyBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1695-1742	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Richard StaceyBritish Designer Ship Builder Dockyard Staff Service 1695-1742	BWAS-1714
Category	Unrated	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Sloop	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Brig	BWAS-1714
Sold	10.1.1748/49	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck87' 0"Imperial Feet26.5176
Length of Keel73' 5"Imperial Feet22.2927
Breadth23' 0"Imperial Feet7.0104
Depth in Hold6' 0"Imperial Feet1.8288
Burthen206 ⁵⁴⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

14.6.1729Broadside Weight = 19 Imperial Pound ( 8.6168 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck8 British 4-Pounder
Gun Deck12 British 1/2-Pound Swivel

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
1728100Design Complement

13 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
24.6.1730 - 30.6.1730Commander ADM 6/14/53ADM 6/141.7.1730 - 25.1.1730/31Commander ADM 6/14/53BWAS-171428.1.1730/31 - 7.2.1730/31Commander ADM 6/14/65ADM 6/148.2.1730/31 - 31.8.1731Commander Transfered ADM 6/14/67BWAS-17141.9.1731 - 1.3.1733/34Commander ADM 6/14/197
Confirmed 13.11.1734ADM 6/142.3.1733/34 - 1.2.1734/35Captain and Master Discharged Dead ADM 6/14/188
Confirmed 28.5.1734BWAS-17146.6.1735 - 21.7.1736Commander ADM 6/15/214BWAS-171422.7.1736 - bef.4.9.1736Commander Discharged Dead ADM 6/15/28ADM 6/1523.11.1736 - 6.7.1741Captain and Master ADM 6/15/44BWAS-171431.7.1741 - 15.7.1744CommanderBWAS-171416.7.1744 - 29.5.1745Commander ADM 6/17/154
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 17.9.1746BWAS-171425.5.1745 - 5.7.1745Commander ADM 6/17/417
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 2.12.1748ADM 6/175.7.1745 - 1.11.1748Commander ADM 6/17/401
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 4.11.1748BWAS-1714

7 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
7.7.1730 - 25.1.1730/31Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/14/54ADM 6/141.5.1732 - 1.1.1732/33Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/14/149
Confirmed 10.7.1733ADM 6/1427.9.1734 - 21.7.1736Lieutenant ADM 6/15/195ADM 6/1422.7.1736 - 22.11.1736Lieutenant ADM 6/15/28ADM 6/1523.11.1736 - 1737Lieutenant† Discharged Dead ADM 6/16/44ADM 6/1525.9.1743 - 10.8.1745Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/17/290
Issued by
Confirmed 1.12.1747ADM 6/1710.8.1745 - 1.11.1748Lieutenant ADM 6/17/400
Issued by , The Mediterranean Sea
Confirmed 4.11.1748ADM 6/17

4 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
9.8.1731 - 9.12.1732Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/3/237ADM 107/316.12.1732 - 6.1.1733/34Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/3/261ADM 107/31.10.1733 - 9.10.1735Volunteer-per-order Transfered ADM 107/3/373ADM 107/317.1.1734/35 - 16.3.1734/35Master's Mate Transfered ADM 107/3/371ADM 107/3

1 Crewman

DatesRatingNameSource
30.11.1736 - 31.7.1741Able Seaman Transfered ADM 107/3/510ADM 107/3

Service History

DateEventSource
14.6.1729Began building at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
24.6.1730Completed building at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1174.3.8dBWAS-1714
2.1731Began fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
3.1730/31Completed fitting at Sheerness Dockyard - Sheerness BWAS-1714
5.1734Began middling repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
7.1734Completed middling repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £1714.17.9dBWAS-1714
1735In the Leeward IslandsBWAS-1714
7.1736Began middling repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
30.7.1736Paid offBWAS-1714
1.1737Completed middling repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £2575.2.10dBWAS-1714
14.9.1739At Charleston, S.C. Reported "in immediate readiness to sail"ref:569
4.1740Georgia operationsBWAS-1714
4.1740Attack on St. Augustine
4.1741Returned home with dispatchesBWAS-1714
6.1741Surveyed at DeptfordBWAS-1714
6.1741Began great repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford BWAS-1714
7.1741Recommissioned for the MediterraneanBWAS-1714
1.1742Completed great repair at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4695.17.6dBWAS-1714
10.2.1743/44Battle of Toulon
10.10.1745Took the Privateer in the Mediterranean
10.2.1747/48SurveyedBWAS-1714
1.11.1748Paid offADM 106
23.12.1748Ordered to be soldBWAS-1714
10.1.1748/49Sold at Woolwich for £201BWAS-1714

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 106 Document

ADM 107/3 Archive

ADM 6/14 Archive

ADM 6/15 Archive

ADM 6/17 Archive

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

ref:569 Web Site

Previous comments on this pageno comments to display

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Sunday 14th of June 2026 17:55	Jon Miller	William PardoeBritish Naval Sailor Service 1790-1830
Sunday 14th of June 2026 17:51	Jon Miller	British gunvessel 'Fury' (1794) (4) 1794-1802 British 4 Gun Unrated Gunvessel
Sunday 14th of June 2026 17:40	Jon Miller	French Third Rate ship of the line 'L'Aquilon' (1789) (74) 1789-1798 French 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sunday 14th of June 2026 17:40	Jon Miller	French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Guerrier' (1753) (74) 1753-1798 French 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line
Sunday 14th of June 2026 17:36	Jon Miller	French Third Rate ship of the line 'Le Conquérant' (1765) (74) 1765-1798 French 74 Gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line

GDPR Statement