Letter from Captain John Stapleton and the loss of his ship CONQUEST.
Letter from Captain John Stapleton to Sir Arthur Moore Esq. of the ship CONQUEST, 8 January 1693/4, describing an action with French off Lisbon during which his ship was lost. In the Letter Stapleton recounts his attack and how he managed to escape relating that even if the ship had been loaded with gold he would n'o have been able to save her. He also says how he is injured in the arm and asks that Arthur Moore does not tell his wife. Captain Stapleton was given command of the DRAKE soon after. Related Material ADM/A/1813/194 and ADM/A/1828/352.
Administrative / biographical background
On the 3 January 1694, the English Merchant ship CONQUEST, 8 guns with John Stapleton as master and 20 men was on her voyage when it was chased by three french ships. By the 4 January, he was attacked by a 26-gun French frigate off the Rock of Lisbon. John Stapleton defended his ship for 6 hours and lost his boatswain, carpenter and 6 of his crew out of 19. At the end he had used the last of his ammo and fired 4 guns which set the CONQUEST on fire and in doing so set the French frigate ablaze as well. In the confusion Stapleton took 2 boats and sailed to Lisbon [Lisbourne].
Administrative / biographical background
On the 3 January 1694, the English Merchant ship CONQUEST, 8 guns with John Stapleton as master and 20 men was on her voyage when it was chased by three french ships. By the 4 January, he was attacked by a 26-gun French frigate off the Rock of Lisbon. John Stapleton defended his ship for 6 hours and lost his boatswain, carpenter and 6 of his crew out of 19. At the end he had used the last of his ammo and fired 4 guns which set the CONQUEST on fire and in doing so set the French frigate ablaze as well. In the confusion Stapleton took 2 boats and sailed to Lisbon [Lisbourne].
Record Details
| Item reference: | AGC/S/29; MSS/86/103.0 MSS/86/103 MS1986/103 |
|---|---|
| Catalogue Section: | Manuscript documents acquired singly by the Museum |
| Level: | ITEM |
| Extent: | Folder |
| Date made: | 1694-01-08 |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
-
-
- Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell: instructions to Captain Richard Haddock, 30 July 1705 regarding his operations off the Spanish coast. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/1)
- Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell: Navy Office letter dated April 1702 signed Shovell and others regarding boom and materials for a chain for St John's harbour. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/2)
- Alexander John Scott, Nelson's secretary: copy of Nelson's memorandum of 9 Oct 1805 in Scott's handwriting. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/3)
- Rear-Admiral Sir Hamnet H Share, Paymaster: letter to Lieutenant Commander L R D Helm describing the death of Lord Jellicoe, dated 7 Dec 1935. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/4)
- T C Spaulding, master of a whaler: letter to unknown dated Anger, 1 September 1858 regarding whaling in the Southern Ocean. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/5)
- Adm-Fleet Sir Edward Seymour: letter to his mother; W R Seymour (brother to Sir Edward): letter to his father, dated ENTERPRISE Rosarie. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/6)
- Letter from lower deck seaman CH Swinburne, 1814. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/7)
- Admiral W H Smyth: letters to Sir John Phillippart, 1845-60, with an undated postscript. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/8)
- Gen Sir Edward Sabine: holograph to John P Shewell, written on board HMS ISABELLA, before the departure to the North West Passage. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/9)
- Admiral Sir James Scott: letter to Sir John Phillippart on naval patronage. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/10)
- Lord St Vincent: letter to Benjamin Tucker saying he prefers the American to the Mediterranean Station. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/11)
- Captain W H Sweny: letters to Captain James Scott. (Manuscript) (AGC/S/12)
-