Nelson & His World

Hi All,
Wonder if anyone can help me on what seems to have been some incident involving HMS Vanguard in January 1801, here in Malta.
A number of the crew seem to have been killed or wounded in some accident at the time. Interested to know more.

Steve

What was the source of that information?

Info I have here says that Vanguard was in British waters between December 1800 and April 1801 - most of that time out of commission and undergoing running repairs??!!

MB

Mark,
The deaths seem to occur in January 1801 and are interesting, must have been during repair work, as the French had already surrendered in 1800.

Go to the Malta Family History web site click on the indexes and go to the Royal Navy index. Its fascinating reading.

Stephen

Steve

Think you mean HMS Alexander - not Vanguard!

WIll see what I can find for Alexander.

MB

I'm not sure that the entries refer to deaths at all. I think they may just be records that the men were working in the dockyard at that time. The site sems to contain a mixture of all sorts of entries from 'various sources'.

Tony

Was just about to post very same thing.

Because the names are interspersed with deaths I can see how misunderstanding could have occured.

I think these are just tradesmen from various ships seconded to work in the dockyard.

MB

I’m afraid the only background I can give is that I have so far only three letters in the January by Ball--as Civil Governor--to the British Govt and there are no references to any deaths there. Alexander Ball rejoined his ship the Alexander on the 20th Feb 1801 before meeting up with Adml Sir John Borlase Warren the following month for yet another blockade, this time Toulon.

Sorry all for the Slight confusion, but here are two confirmed burials at the Msida Bastion Cemetery, Valletta, Malta. I put these on the 1805 Club Forum last year.

Alexander Shippard - Was the youngest son of Alexander Shippard, a purser in the Royal Navy and entered the service in 1786. Promoted Lieutenant in 1793. He served with Nelson on HMS Vanguard in 1798. He became a Rear Admiral in 1838 and received a pension for Meritorious Service. He married Jane Knight, daughter of Admiral Sir John Knight KCB and had several children. He died on 4th April 1841, Aged 69. His wife survived him by seven months. Grave Number 426 Zone C

George Wickens Willes - Captain of HMS Vanguard. Had a distinguished career during the Napoleonic Wars. Died aged 67 Grave Number 118 Zone C