I recently visited a Church in Rolvenden , Kent. Inside the Church I met a local lady who was interested to hear of my project concerning the Royal Navy. She has long been a volunteer at the Church, and has always been interested in a memorial with a naval connection. After reading the inscription I agreed to see if I could shed any light on the men recorded on the stone. The memorial read:
BENEATH THIS STONE LIE THE REMAINS OF LAWRENCE PETERS WHO HAVING BEEN FOUND IN A DESTITIUTE AND PERILOUS CONDITION ON A FOREIGN SHORE WAS PROVIDENTIALLY AND HUMANELY RESCUED BY CAPTAIN JAMES MONYPENNY R.N HE LIVED FOR MANY YEARS A FAITHFUL AND ATTACHED SERVANT IN HIS BENEFACTORS FAMILY AND AT HIS OATH BEQUEATHED THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED POUNDS (THE SAVINGS OF HIS HONEST SERVICES) THE INTEREST THEREOF TO BE APPLIED ANNUALLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE POOR OF THIS PARISH THE INHABITANTS DESIROUS OF RECORDING THEIR GRATEFUL RECOLLECTION OF THIS BENEVOLENCE HAVE ERECTED THIS TABLET A.D. 1853
My first thought was that it would be great to try and find out where and when Lawrence Peters was discovered by Monypenny. I’m due to visit the National Archives on 27th April, I believe if I can find as much information as possible about Monypenny’s career, I might be in with a chance of solving the mystery. Thus far, these are the snippets I have found, I would really appreciate any information anyone could add!! I quickly established the memorial was erected 76 years after Lawrence Peters death. Lawrence Peters died in Rolvenden in 1777 aged 77. James Monypenny died on October 23rd 1721.
The strands of information I have found on Monypenny’s career:
Promotions -Lieutenant 16 Apr 1697, Captain 16 Aug 1704.
Ships Warwick, 1696-1697 then 1701-1702. Royal Katherine, 1704 (1st Lieutenant, Sir George Rooke’s flagship at the capture of Gibraltar) Royal Ann, 1707 (Captain, flagship Admiral Sir George Byng)
The Royal Ann provides an interesting possibility regarding Lawrence Peter’s. She narrowly avoided following four of Sir Cloudsley Shovell’s fleet onto the rocks of the Scilly Isles. Among the principal three ships: Association, Romney and the Eagle there was only one solitary survivor. However, there was a number of survivors from the fourth ship, the fireship Firebrand, was Lawrence Peters among those survivors? He would only have been seven years old at the time, but it’s not impossible. Moneypenny’s log survives at the N.A, which I will make my starting point. The paybook for Firebrand also survives; it would be interesting to see whether anyone with the surname Peters was serving on board. Does anyone know if a list of survivors was printed anywhere?
Any information or suggestions would be much appreciated! Richard.
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