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Archiver > Mariners > 2001-09 > 0999550918


From: Paul Benyon <>
Subject: Re: [Mar] Commodore Christopher W. Betty
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 22:02:49 +0100
References: <012f01c134b2$99cf3080$cabc7ad5@annette>
In-Reply-To: <012f01c134b2$99cf3080$cabc7ad5@annette>


On Mon, 3 Sep 2001 20:57:02 +0100, you wrote:

>Family folklore has it that we are related to Commore Christopher W. Betty, who we have found in records at the PRO as Lieutenant in 1801, and retired as Commodore in 1848. Could somebody please advise where we should look next for more information about this man? There's Christopher William Betty who married in Cornwall in 1799 who may be the one we are after.
>
>Cheers
>Annette of Wales

Hello Annette!

In 1845 there was a Commander Christopher William BETTY who entered the
Royal Navy on 1 Aug 1793, as an Able Seaman, onboard HMS INVINCIBLE, a
74 gun ship under the command of Captain the Hon Thos Packenham, which
was based on the Channel. He was removed, as they so quaintly put it,
as a Midshipman in Oct 1793, to HMS MAJESTIC, a 74 gun vessel, commanded
by Sir Charles Cotton, under whom he fought in Lord Howe's action on 1
Jun 1794 - was that not the Glorious First June?

He then spent 2 years in the West Indies and rejoined Sir C Cotton on
the MARS of 82 guns: Capt. Alex. HOOD succeeded in command and he was
present on 21 April 1798 when MARS captured the French ship HERCULE
after a very bloody hour's battle.

Mr BETTY was subsequently attached to HMS PRINCE and HMS PRINCE GEORGE,
both 98s, both carrying the Flag of Sir Charles Cotton, and following
his "meritorious conduct" on the MARS, was, as you say, promoted to
Lieutenant with a seniority of 17 Sept 1801 whilst serving on board HMS
ATLAS: Capt Theophilus Jones.

From May 1802 until July 1804 he served onboard HMS SEAGULL, 18 under
Capt H Burke. He then appears to have had a short break in service
until he joined HMS DREADNOUGHT, 98, which was the flag ship for vice
admiral COLLINGWOOD, and commanded latterly by Capt John Conn. To quote
the statement says he "bore a part and was slightly wounded, in the
ensuing Battle of Trafalgar."

He left the DREADNOUGHT in April 1806 and again spent a period
unemployed until 24 March 1808, when he joined the Sloop MYRTLE which
was operating in the Channel, under the command of Capt Thos Innes for a
few months before being transferred to HMS TÉMÉRAIRE, 98, under Capt Sir
Charles Hamilton, which was subsequently flag ship of Rear Admiral
Manley Dixon on the Baltic Station.

On Nov 17, 1809 he transferred to HMS TONNANT, again with Capt Hamilton,
which had the not so pleasant task of operating with the force which was
blockading Cadiz!

He then appears to have spent another 15 months ashore unemployed,
half-pay?, before joining HMS ZEPHYR, a sloop, on 24 Feb 1812, under
Capt Thos. C Hitchens, which was stationed on the north of Spain..

According to the NBD, from whence this all comes, he was not employed
(more time on half-pay) from Aug 1813 and "he at length accepted the
rank he now holds" from what appears to be an effective date of 4 April
1832 ie as a Commander

And having read all that to what he would really like to read ;-) But
regret there isn't much on the genealogy side, unlike some of these pen
pictures, except to say that he married on 11 March 1799 and has issue
two children. But perhaps it confirms what you may already know.

Source: The Naval Biographical Dictionary (NBD) which was produced by
William O'Byrne in 1849 and is based on those who are included in the
Navy List in Jan 1845.

You can read the Battle of Trafalgar at:

http://www.btinternet.com/~PBenyon/Naval_History/Vol_IV/Vol_IV_P_023.htm

but regret that DREADNOUGHT doesn't get much more than a passing
mention.

Kind regards

Paul
Portland

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