Richard Anderson (bef. 1774 - 1835)

Born before 13 Mar 1774 in Kilham, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Eggleston) Anderson — married 24 Oct 1800 (to 24 Dec 1833) in Kilham, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died 5 Dec 1835 after age 61 in Kilham, Yorkshire, England

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Biography

Richard was born in 1774 on a farm near Kilham on the Yorkshire Wolds, the sixth son and seventh child of Robert Anderson and his wife, Elizabeth Robson. He was baptised at Kilham All Saints on the 13th of March 1774. ^[1] Richard and the two brothers who followed him, Christopher and Robert, wanted to go to sea. With an uncle, Edward Anderson, and his eldest brother, Thomas, both being ship owners in Hull it wasn't such a strange ambition for a farmer's son. He duly went to sea and was coerced into the Royal Navy.

Richard was impressed in 1793 aged 19 and taken to serve aboard "La Nymphe" captained by Edward Pellew.^[2] It seems likely that he was one of those seamen taken from the convoy that Nymphe had escorted to the Downs, ^[3] The ship had been woefully understrength and Richard was one of the few seamen taken. Perhaps that was why he could write "so don't fret for me for I am well-used aboard the "La Nymphe" and I shall have liberty to go on shore whenever I ask the officers for I have got in with them." ^[2]

HMS Nymph and La Cleopaytre

On the 19th of June 1793 "La Nymphe" fell in with the French frigate, "Cleopatre" and a fierce battle ensued at very close quarters. Eventually Captain Pellew ordered his crew to board "Cleopatre" and, Captain Jean Mullon having been killed, the French surrendered. The two ships were tangled together and Captain Pellew offered ten guineas (around £800 in 2022) to the man who would go up the mast and cut the ship free. Richard and a mess mate succeeded in the task and were each paid 5 guineas.^[2]On June 21st the Nymphe and Cleopatra sailed into Portsmouth with her prize in company, all the ships in harbour cheering her as she passed ^[3] and it was from there that Richard wrote home on 24th June to his "Honourable Parents" to tell them all about his adventure.^[4][2] "Cleopatre" was taken into the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Oiseau. ^[5] Richard has become a family hero and it is difficult to sort out the myths from the facts. What is certain is that on the 8th of May 1795, aged 21, he was made a Ship's Master only two years after he was impressed. Richard's father, Robert, died in 1796 ^[6] but brother John was happy to remain with their mother and run the farm.

During the years that followed Richard made time to visit Kilham for on the 24th of October 1800 at All Saints he married Mary, ^[7] daughter of William Eggleston of Kilham. "My little Mary" he called her and she proved a good Naval wife, writing regularly and doing his laundry. ^[8]

HMS Prince.

On the 13th of February 1805 he was posted to HMS Prince, ^[9] captained by Richard Grindall. Prince, a heavy lumbering ship described by some wit as "sailing like a hay stack" was sent to join the blockade of the Franco-Spanish Navy at Cadiz in the summer of 1805. Richard's diary is full of little bits of interesting information but he was bored, playing his flute, chatting with Captain Grindall, moaning about the slowness of the mail and whipping his boy.^[8]

When matters came to a head and the combined fleet put to sea Prince and another couple of slow ships were ordered to follow the fleet as best they could. Desperately slow, Prince was the last British ship to engage the enemy and was thus lucky enough to have no one killed at the Battle of Trafalgar on the 14th of October 1805. She engaged the Principe de Asturias with two broadsides then put three into the Achille, blew away her masts and set her on fire. Then, in the way of the sea, the crew of Prince set about rescuing the crew of Achille ^[10] as imagined by Richard Brydges Beechey.

Rescue of the crew of Achille during the Battle of Trafalgar, by HMS Prince

Prince took the greatest prize, the Santissima Trinidad, but a great storm blew up and all the prizes were lost on the way to Gibraltar. ^[10] "We all cry for him" wrote Richard when he recorded the death of Lord Nelson. ^[8]

In 1806 his youngest brother, Robert, was forced to leave his ship and return home as he was dying of consumption. Elizabeth Anderson followed him to the grave in a matter of months ^[11]much mourned by her family. ^[12]

Eventually Richard left the navy and settled back in Kilham to raise a family. His first child, Richard Eggleston Anderson, was born in 1816, followed quickly by Edward, William and Mary.

Richard's "little Mary" died on Christmas Eve 1833. His life was drawing to its end and on the 2nd of January 1834 he wrote his will, being at pains to ensure a future for his daughter, Mary, then aged 13. He died on the 5th of December 1835 aged 61 and was buried at All Saints on the 7th. ^[13]

Richard's grave.

"In memory of Richard Anderson late master in the Royal Navy who died on the 5th day of December 1835 aged 61 years, and Mary his wife who died on the 24th day of December 1833 aged 55 years. Also Mary their daughter who died on the 28th day of March 1838 aged 18 years"^[14]

His affairs were attended to by his brother, David. His goods and chattels were valued at £283 but there was also his house in Kilham and the house in Hull which had been left to him by uncle Edward in 1806.

Research Notes

31 October, 1825, letter to Sir Henry Wright-Wilson from Robert Anderson, Master R.N. informing of death of Mr. Hopper, trustees in his will together with Mrs. Hopper and her two daughters may continue at the farm...reports, details and suggested arrangements. (Could this Richard? No Robert Anderson Master RN)

Sources

1. ↑ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 (Kilham All Saints, Yorkshire 13 March 1774 Richard son of Robert Anderson) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "England Expects", biography of Richard Anderson. Val Tonks
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Edward Pellew - By Parkinson, C. Northcote, London, 1934 CHAPTER IV - The Partisan not taken by the Press Gang ashore.
4. ↑ Letter of Richard Anderson dated Portsmouth June 24th 1793 describing the taking of "Cleopatra". Now kept in Australia.
5. ↑ Wikipedia: French frigate Cléopâtre (1781)
6. ↑ Monumental Inscriptions, Kilham: Robert Anderson
7. ↑ England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 FHL Film Number 990920 (Kilham All Saints, Yorkshire 24 October 1800 Richard Anderson married Mary Eggleston) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} The Diary of Richard Anderson 1805, Greenwich Museum (The diary is kept at Greenwich Museum and may be viewed there. It has also been photographed and a DVD is available by post)
9. ↑ Trafalgar Ancestors
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} HMS Prince and Trafalgar " The Trafalgar Companion " Mark Adkin, Aurum Press 2005 ISBN 1 84513 0189
11. ↑ Monumental Inscriptions, Kilham: Robert Anderson
12. ↑ "The Sailor" Edward Anderson 1828
13. ↑ East Yorkshire Family History Society. Kilham Burial records, Kilham All Saints 116 (7 December 1835 Richard Anderson, Kilham, 61)
14. ↑ Monumental Inscription, Kilham All Saints: Richard Anderson.

• The Andersons: The History of a Kilham Family (1772-1880). Valerie Tonks 1985