Summary : 1667 wreck of English Fourth Rate ship of the line which was scuttled as a blockship east of the defensive chain between Hoo and Gillingham (1584707), along with the NORWAY MERCHANT (1433221).Her scuttling took place during the Raid on the Medway (1584349), towards the end of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Efforts were made to raise her, since she was described as 'the best wreck in the river', but these failed and she was broken up in 1670. Constructed of wood, this sailing vessel of mercantile origin had served the Royalist cause from 1650-1652, until her crew defected to the Parliamentarian side. She had seen action in the Four Days' Battle, 1666 (1583919). |
More information : Primary Sources:
Aug. 5 [1668]. Chatham. John Moore and Edw. Moorcock to the Navy Commissioners.
We are preparing to attempt the weighing of the MARMADUKE, which is the ship most hurtful to the river. The greatest want is men; they only come in 4 or 5 a day; 40 able seamen would suffice, with those we have, to carry on the work. (7)
Aug. 28 [1668]. The FRIEZLAND, Chatham. Edw. Moorcock and John Moore to the Navy Commissioners.
Have begun weighing the MARMADUKE, and have removed her nearer shore. Asks whether, if they make her swim, they shall transport her to the dock or otherwise, the place where she is being unsuitable. (8)
Aug. 30 [1668]. Chatham. John Moore and Edward Moorcock to the Navy Commissioners.
Have made the MARMADUKE swim, and brought her towards the shore, though one of the holes bored to sink her was as low as the ballast; she will soon be in a condition to be transported to where they shall order. Found her full of ouse [ooze?]; cast 50 ton overboard, and a greater quantity is still in her hold. (9)
July 1. Chatham. Phineas Pett to the Navy Commissioners.
I send a demand of things required for the repair of the docks, wharves, cranes, and storehouses. The MARMADUKE wreck may be of use for carrying on of those works, and I desire she may be brought up to the new dock, to be broken up for that purpose. (10)
Aug. 19 [1669]. Chatham.John Brooke to the Navy Commissioners.
I was with all the ordinary and some carpenters and caulkers, aboard the MARMADUKE, thinking to have pumped out the water, and made her swim, but cannot do it, and can see no way but to bring her up to the dock. (11)
Aug. 26. [1669] Chatham.Edw. Gregory and 3 other officers to the Navy Commissioners.
We think that the best manner of disposing of the MARMADUKE will be by exposing her to sale, she being incapable of removal, and inconvenient to break up at so great a distance from the yard. With note by Capt. Edw. Moorcock and John Moore, that the MARMADUKE did swim from Aug. to Jan. last, and lately floated out of dock; but if she is now incapable of removal, they think with the other officers that she ought to be sold. (12)
Sept. 3. Chatham. Edw. Gregory and 3 others to the Navy Commissioners.
We have viewed the wreck of the MARMADUKE, and find neither tackle nor furniture; we appraise her bare hull at 145l. Noted to be sold 22 Sept. by the candle at Chatham. (13)
May 3. Chatham. [Thos.] Gould has begun breaking up the MARMADUKE, and promises to clear the river of the wrecks he bought . . . (14)
Pictorial Sources:
A contemporary print of the event, with a key, depicts at No.13 '2 Grote Eng. gesoncken Scheepen by de Kettingh', 'Two great English ships sunk by the chain', consistent with the MARMADUKE and NORWAY MERCHANT. (6)
Secondary Sources:
Originally a merchant vessel purchased in 1650 by the Royalists, the crew deserted to Parliament in 1652, taking the vessel with them. Scuttled near the boom chain across the river Upnor in an attempt to stop the Dutch fleet taking Chatham Dockyard. Efforts to salvage her failed, but such timbers as were recovered were ordered to be used in repairs to the dock at Chatham, the wreck remains being sold to Mr Boys on 22-SEP-1669. (1)(2)
The date the vessel purchased is unclear: it would appear from the text of (1) that she was acquired in 1650, but source (2) gives the date of purchase as 1652.
Merchantman captured by Royalists 1650, renamed REVENGE, deserted and brought back to England 1651, sunk to block the Medway 1667. A date of 1652 is given, presumably the date the vessel entered the Cromwellian Navy. (3)
Merchant, purchased 1650 by Royalists, deserted to Parliament 1652 and renamed MARMADUKE, sunk June 1667 as a blockship in the Medway. (4)
A council of war took place on Tuesday 11 June 1667 to discuss how to protect the Medway. It was resolved to take the MARMADUKE, SANCTA MARIA, and NORWAY MERCHANT to the chain at Upnor. It was ordered to be done 'at peril of their lives' as soon as possible: there was a short window of opportunity between the close of the meeting at 11pm and high tide at 1am. The MARMADUKE and NORWAY MERCHANT were successfully scuttled near the chain with a cable from the ROYAL CHARLES between them as a further obstruction (the SANCTA MARIA stranded in Cockham Reach).
Pepys commissioned James Norman, Clerk of the Survey at Chatham, to assess the financial impact of the damage to the warships scuttled and lost during the Raid. In a letter to Pepys of 17 August 1667 [Rawlinson MS A.195, ff106-7] he pointed out that the MARMADUKE had just been refitted, making her 'the best wreck in the river'; she was thus valued at £1,000.
The MARMADUKE was sold to a Mr Gould on 22 September 1669 for £151, but he did not begin to break her up until May 1670. (5)
Served as the Royalist REVENGE OF WHITEHALL 1651-2, when the crew mutinied and went over to the Parliamentarian cause. (15) As the MARMADUKE she served in the Four Days' Battle. (16)
NB: Source (5) indicates the date of loss as 12-JUN-1667, in contrast to (1) and (2) which indicate the date as 11-JUN-1667.
Purchased: 1650 (1)(4); 1652 (2) Prize: 1650 (3) Owner: Royal Navy (all sources) Armament: 32 - 42 cannon (3)(4); 42 guns (1)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss |