William & Mary Dyer: June 2019

Thursday, June 13, 2019

A ship William Dyer probably knew

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Recently, I was cruising the internet for images of 17th century ships (as one does). I've been doing this for years, but only in November 2018 discovered this Dutch blog, written in English, that creates models of ships from paintings and drawings of the period.

Why would we 17th century Dyer fans and descendants care particularly about such art? William Dyer was commissioned by the Council of State in England (Oliver Cromwell, Sir Henry Vane, John Thurloe, etc.), and by the colony of Rhode Island, as Commander in Chief Upon the Seas, making him the admiral of operations in New England waters (specifically Long Island Sound) during the First Anglo-Dutch War.

What we don't know is if the English Council of State provided William Dyer with ships, ammunition and cannon, sailors, and provisions. It's possible that they did, because they outfitted a Boston commander, Maj. Robert Sedgwick, who had raised a few hundred Massachusetts and Connecticut men to invade Long Island and Manhattan, known as New Netherland in the Dutch towns, and New Haven Colony in the English territories. He was about to attack the Dutch (where William Dyer had command), when he received word that an English and Dutch treaty had ended the war in January 1654. Why let some pesky peacemaking get in the way when you're all ready to kill and destroy? So Sedgwick sailed north to Acadia (modern Maine and Nova Scotia), captured several forts, and transferred ownership of the territories from France to Great Britain.

"I'd like to show my latest render of a British light frigate, the HMS Martin, built in 1652.
This ship had quite an active career, sailing to the West Indies, Mediterranean and was part of the squadron capturing New York from the Dutch in 1664. Although she was very lightly armoured, she participated in several battles during the First and Second Anglo-Dutch wars."
Photo copyrighted by Artex, and used here by his permission. THANK YOU!
https://bloodflag.blogspot.com/2017/04/

On Minotaur.org, I found a list of British Royal Navy actions, wins and losses, from 1652 to 1654, during the First Anglo-Dutch War. These actions were taken from Cornwall's The Lizard, across the English Channel to Dutch waters. Most of the paintings one finds were made by Dutch artists and the subjects are Dutch ships.

1652. May 19. Blake engaged the Dutch, under Tromp, off Dover.
1652. June 12. Engagement between English and Dutch off the Lizard.
1652. June. The Tiger and another Frigate engaged two Dutch Men of War.
1652. July. Capture of the Rotterdam. Re-named Falmouth, July 19.
1652. Aug. 27. Defeat of the English by the Dutch, off Elba.
1652. Sept. 28. Battle of the Kentish Knock. Defeat of the Dutch Fleet.
1652. Oct. Capture of the Morning Star. Re-named Plover, Oct. 30.
1652. Nov. 30. Defeat of Blake by Tromp.
1653. Feb. 18. Battle of Portland.
1652-3. Mar. 4. Defeat of Appleton by Van Galen, off Leghorn.
1653. June 3. Battle off the Coast of Essex. Death of Doane.
1653. July 31. Decisive Defeat of the Dutch. Death of Tromp.
1653. Nov. "Scuffle" between the Nonsuch and a Dutch Man-of-War.
1653. Dec. Action between Phoenix and a Dutch Man-of-War.
1654. Jan. Capture of the Walcheren by the Sapphire.
1654. Feb. The Amity captured a Dutch Man-of-War of 20 Guns.