Pip, we are on a roll here - William's mother Mary, daughter of Joshua and Margaret Nunn was baptised November 14th 1744, at Shorne, Kent
Click here for the register.
The Medway City Ark site is a fantastic resource - for those parishes included. If only there were more! I was fortunate that some of my ancestors' records are available there, so I have used it before.
William had two sisters who were christened at Gillingham: Mary, christened 17 Feb 1779, and Sarah born Oct 11 1787, christened June 16 1788. Ther may of course be other siblings. So it looks as though the family were fairly settled at that time, rather than in Jamaica.
Stephen, The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll is available
here. And yes, Pip, it is specific that William's medal is at the Royal Naval Museum (I know they have several).
Now for more of William's story - He had an earlier marriage. He married Jemima Niblett at East Stonehouse, Devon (near Plymouth) around February 1821. (Source: Monthly magazine and British register, Volume 5, for February 1821)
They had a son, William Franklin Niblet Jewell, born 20 Dec 1821, and christened 05 Jul 1822 at Perranuthnoe, Cornwall (near Marazion and Penzance). (Source: IGI extracted parish record.)
Interestingly, there was a tin (and copper) mine adjacent to Perranuthnoe, named Wheal Jewell, so I suspect some part of the family was involved in mining. (There is another Wheal Jewell near Redruth.)
Presumably he lost his wife Jemima and later married Sarah Weavers. Then tragedy struck again and he lost his son from the previous marriage:
Quote:
H.M.Steam Vessel Shearwater,- Largs N.B., May 18. - A deplorable event occurred yesterday afternoon, whereby two enterprising young Officers, belonging to this vessel, were suddenly drowned. Mr. E Cayley, Midshipman, and Mr. W.N. Jewell, Master's Assistant were sailing in a boat between Largs and Cumbrays, when, in the act of jibing, the boat was upset, and sunk immediately in 25 fathoms. HM Revenue st. v. Vulcan, was in the offing, and proceeded immediately to the spot, as also the boats of the Shearwater; but although only a few minutes elapsed they were both gone, having been probably entangled in the boat's rigging. Their caps were picked up, and every effort will be made for the recovery of their bodies. This sad event has deprived the Service of two young gentlemen of great promise. They were deservedly esteemed and beloved by their Officers and messmates; and the anxiety as to their fate, evinced by the inhabitants of Largs, was a test of the respect they were held in on shore. Mr. Cayley was son of Mr. Cayley, M P. of North Riding; and Mr. Jewell, son of Lieut. W. N. Jewell, R.N.
Source: The Nautical magazine, 1844, Page 415
Pip Byrne wrote:
Is there any resource that would detail his wound at Trafalgar?, and how would i access that?
That may be difficult. Naval surgeons were not required to keep journals, although there are some that do exist. Captains (or in this case the surviving 1st Lieutenant) did not include details of the injuries in their returns, just sometimes whether slightly or severely wounded. In fact they only named officers (and petty officers) that were wounded. They simply gave the number of seamen wounded, without listing names. You could try the National Maritime Museum, the Wellcome Trust and the National Archives for a surgeon's journal, but I have never seen one quoted for the Bellerophon at Trafalgar.
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Would it be possible that a boy (born in England?) join the Royal Navy in Jamaica at only 10 years old (?) - how would he have been in Jamaica to join there?
Yes, the regulations were that the minimum age was 13, or 11 for the sons of officers, but regulations were often ignored. He would have been younger than most, but it was not all that unusual. If (and it's a big IF) his father was Thomas Jewell, the purser, he might have had his wife and son with him on board, or specifically taken his son with him in the hope of finding a place for him.
I would suggest checking the muster books of his first ships (at the National Archives) to see whether Thomas Jewell (or indeed Walter Jewell) was also on board.
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Why would he have passed his Lieutenants Certificate in 1806 and not have got a commission until 1812 - was that normal for the times?
Yes this was normal. Most promotions occurred early during the war as the fleet was mobilised and the number of ships increased. Later in the war, and especially after Trafalgar, it was a case of waiting for a vacancy - and having the influence (or interest, as it was called) to be the one chosen. After passing his exam, he was what is termed a 'passed midshipman', and would not gain the rank of Lieutenant until the Admiralty gave hime a commission as lieutenant of a specific ship.