Thank you Lesley and Anna. I don't know why I forgot to look in my copy
of 'Jack Tar', nor why I forgot to list Horatio Nelson, born on board the Minotaur, and who you have mentioned before, Anna.
A more detailed account of the washerwoman's son, born on board the Minotaur, is found in the Naval Chronicle for December 1805 (vol 14), and includes the facts that the baptism had been at the British Factory Chapel, Leghorn, in July 1800, and was attested by the Clergyman, Rev. Mr. Cummins, and also that a public subscription was then being organised by 'Mrs. Admiral Sutton'. The level of detail makes it a very convincing story, but sadly there is no hint as to the surname of the family!
Quote:
BENEVOLENT TRAIT OF THE LATE LORD NELSON.
Plymouth, Nov. 13.
A MOST curious circumstance respecting the ever-to-be-lamented Lord Nelson, happened on Monday last : As Colonel Tyrwhitt, Vice Warden of the Stannaries, Cornwall, and Devon, was, with other gentlemen, looking through a telescope at the French prizes going up the harbour, he observed a fine little boy, of an open countenance, cheering with his play-fellows, and heard him several times called Nelson. This raised (on being often repeated) his curiosity to know who the boy was. Colonel Tyrwhitt went to his father's cottage, who was a quarry-man, and lived at Rusty Anchor, under the West Hoe. By this time the boy was returned, first appearing shy, but on a little conversation, this wore off, and the boy said, Lord Nelson was his godfather, but he was shot and killed the other day in a great battle. The Colonel then entered the hut, and found the father, who had lost a limb in the Minotaur, in the battle of the Nile, and his wife and four children, clean, though poorly dressed. Colonel Tyrwhitt then asked if the circumstance was true of Lord Nelson's being godfather to this little boy, and was answered yes : the mother then produced the certificate of his baptism, at the British Factory Chapel, Leghorn, July 1800, attested by the Clergyman, Rev, Mr. Cummins - and signed
EMMA HAMILTON,
WM. HAMILTON,
and BRONTE.
The child was named Horatio Nelson. His mother was washerwoman on board the Minotaur, of 74 guns, Captain Louis : when the child was born in the bay of Leghorn, his Lordship, Sir Wm. and Lady Hamilton, said they would stand sponsors. He had promised when the boy grew up to put him to sea, and give him a nautical education. But after the Peace of Amiens, these poor people, through ignorance, forgot (though desired by his Lordship when he sailed for England) to write him where they were settled. The Minotaur was paid off at this port, and the father of the boy, with his small pension and by hard work, contrived to maintain his family ever since. After talking over the circumstance of the intended kindness of Lord Nelson to this poor little boy, if he had known their situation and place of abode, Colonel Tyrwhitt, determined to follow up his Lordship's good wishes, has taken the boy as his protégé, and with his usual humanity had him directly clothed, and has put him to school, meaning to give him a regular nautical education to fit him for the naval service of his country. A little purse, by way of subscription for present purposes, has been opened under the patronage of Mrs. Admiral Sutton, which will no doubt be soon filled, out of respect to the memory of a Hero, beloved, admired, and almost adored, and whose memory will be cherished and entwined round the heart-strings of every lover of British naval virtue and heroism.