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on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. Please email site controller Eric
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John
Becher’s war
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Almost the first advice when his promotion was known was from a
sea captain telling him how to fiddle his expenses by listing five or six non-existent
servants when he went on board and claiming pay for all of them. From Claire Tomalin,
Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self. |
This practice is described in
Rodger's The Wooden World as “false
mustering”. By Henry Cort's time, according
to Rodger, it is "not well regarded", although it is "not
unusual for captains to bear their sons as servants in infancy". In this case it is assumed that the captain
is acting not out of greed, but to provide evidence of an early start should his
son wish to pursue a naval career.
Four of John
Becher's five sons are listed in ships' books between 1776 and 1783. You would hardly expect the two youngest, Alexander
and Robert, baptised in April 1770 and October 1772 respectively, to be taken
into a war zone in 1777!
The career of John Harman Becher
(baptised 1764) looks more genuine. On
27 June 1776 he enlists on the Daphne,
compliment 160 men. Two days later she sails off to America, arriving on
3rd October in the neighbourhood of New York, where British forces
have just driven out the American defenders.
Later she escorts a convoy to Florida and the Caribbean, while the main
British force strikes at Philadelphia.
Meanwhile John Becher is serving
as First Lieutenant on the 64-gun St
Albans. The ship's books list
seven-year-old Alexander Becher as captain's servant, four-year-old Robert as
first lieutenant's servant. Alexander's
pay will be collected by Captain Onslow, Robert's by his father. Can you believe the official record?
On 15 April 1777 St Albans sets sail with a convoy bound
for America, arriving in New York two months later.
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Moored in North River off New York Town From St
Albans log, 18 June 1777. |
She stays for four months before
being despatched to the Delaware River, where the British need to clear the way
to supply their troops in Philadelphia.
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This task proved to be extremely difficult, for the
Americans had placed six lines of underwater obstacles, or chevaux-de-frise, in the Delaware
River, effectively blocking navigation below Philadelphia. The American chevaux-de-frise were defended by a number of gunboats,
fire-rafts and galleys. In addition,
the obstacles were covered by the guns of a number of forts and batteries
that were difficult to attack because they were protected by shoal water and
swamps. From Syrett, The Royal
Navy in American Waters 1775-1783. |
The task is nearly complete when
St Albans arrives in November. The American craft have withdrawn up river,
but there are still rebels on the shore.
The ship’s log records the occasional skirmish.
On 22 November John Becher is
transferred to Richard Howe's flagship Eagle. The St
Albans paybook claims he leaves young Alexander behind but takes Robert
with him. So why no mention of Robert
in Eagle’s books?
Eagle remains with Howe's fleet in the Delaware for
several months. John Becher must have
impressed the admiral: on 3rd February 1778 he becomes acting
captain of the Ariel, compliment 160
men.
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Read the Commission of Capt
John Becher & Lt Lorking Order of Adml. From Ariel
log, 4 February 1778. |
Ariel is sent on an excursion into Chesapeake Bay; then to Sandy Hook, a
small island near the New Jersey coast, guarding the approach to New York
Harbour. In April she returns to the
Delaware. Early in May, Becher is
transferred again, this time to acting captain of the 160-man Camilla.
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Read a letter of thanks from Lord Howe & from General to the
Officers & Ships company for behaviour on every Occasion… 10pm came on
Board Captn Collins & Superseded Captn Becher in
the Command. From Camilla log, 24 May 1778. |
On 24 May he becomes commander
of the sloop Nautilus. Sons Alexander and Robert reappear on the
roll as captain's servants.
Miraculously, Alexander's period as servant to Captain Onslow of the St Albans seems to end the same
day. “Jumping ship”, you might say: the
two vessels are a hundred miles apart!
They will meet a few weeks later at Sandy Hook. Do their captains then get together to forge
a transfer date that fits both records?
(No official blots in Richard Onslow's career: he goes on to become an
admiral, a baronet, and Freeman of the City of London.)
I consult the St Albans muster book for clues.
Regular musters, four per
month. Alexander there in April, gone
in July.
May and June musters? Missing.
Ripped out, by the look of it.
Something to hide?
By this time the British find
they need to evacuate Philadelphia before the arrival of a French fleet under
Admiral d'Estaing. The Navy helps by
providing "a bridge of flat-bottomed boats" to ferry them from the
tip of New Jersey to Sandy Hook, then on to New York.
Nautilus is with the fleet awaiting d’Estaing’s arrival.
Neither the British naval
commander nor his French counterpart knows whether war has officially been
declared between their countries. News
of the Arethusa’s
engagement and King Louis's proclamation has not had time to
cross the Atlantic. Who wants blame for
firing the first shot? This factor
seems to have been ignored by many historians, but may play a large part in
determining the actions of both fleets.
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Howe ordered six of the line and the Leviathan, a shore
ship manned by volunteers and supplied with shore artillery, to anchor on a
line form Sandy Hook across the main channel.
From James, The Navy in Adversity. |
For eight days they confront one
another. Apparently no shot is fired.
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Saw French fleet take several small
vessels. From Nautilus
log, 18 July 1778. |
Evidence from elsewhere suggests
that a ship that is "taken" will be returned, after interrogation of her
captain, if the two sides are not at war.
Naval historians make no mention of any British losses during this
confrontation.
The French eventually tire and
slip off to sea. After a brief
excursion to Rhode Island, Nautilus
heads for New York, where she encounters the Daphne. On 29 September
John Harman Becher transfers to his father's ship. Four of the family now on the payroll!
Argument between father and
son? In Nautilus's books,
Harman is recorded as leaving on 30 October for the Roebuck. No sign of him,
however, in Roebuck’s books. Probably a quick transfer elsewhere. His trail goes cold for a year.
Nautilus’s next task is to escort a convoy in February
1779. During the voyage Captain Becher
is taken sick. He is superseded on 22
March.
According to Nautilus's pay book, Becher's sons Alexander and Robert leave with him
on 2nd April.
Half-pay records say he
"arrives from abroad" on 2nd May. His pay, at eight shillings per day, is
collected by agent Oliver Toulmin on 9th
July.
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