Folios 301-302: Samuel Malbon, 13 Clements Hill. Reports that he commanded HMS Skipjack...

Folios 301-302: Samuel Malbon, 13 Clements Hill. Reports that he commanded HMS Skipjack in the West Indies between 14 March 1806 and 17 January 1808. During this period he suffered ill health and as he did not have a clerk to make out regular muster books, he kept documentation to enable him to provide the necessary accounts. After 7 years in the West Indies, he was sent to Newfoundland en route to Halifax to improve his health, leaving his box of paperwork behind. His passage to England was ordered by Sir John Duckworth as it proved too late to proceed to Halifax. Arriving in December 1810, he was sent to Haslar Hospital for 3 to 4 months. At this stage he wrote to the Purser requesting his box be sent to England and it was sent on HMS America arriving in the middle of 1813. The papers were found to be damaged by salt water and despite providing some paperwork this was not accepted as evidence to enable payment of accounts and half pay. Encloses affidavits from Thomas Godfrey, Purser on HMS Statira [folios 303-304] and one made by himself [folio 305]. Asks that the accounts be dispensed with and he is afforded reimbursement.

Folios 303-304: enclosure with folios 301-302. Affidavit dated 13 November 1815 by Thomas Godfrey, sworn before W Parsons. States that he was Purser on HMS Stavia when Lieutenant Samuel Malbon left a trunk on board containing the accounts from HMS Skipjack. Lieutenant Samuel Malbon was taken sick and sent to Halifax from the West Indies in 1810 and the trunk was stored on the transcom in the After Gun Room. It was there a considerable length of time before he requested it be sent to England. It was placed on board HMS Africa in November 1812 but was in a damp and damaged condition and the papers therein would have been damaged and probably illegible.

Folio 305: enclosure with folios 301-302. Affidavit dated 13 November 1815 by Commander Sameul Malbon, sworn before [?]. States that during the time he commanded HMS Skipjack frtom 14 March 1816 to 17 January 1808 every possible care was taken of the store, clothing, beds, tobacco and provisions and none of these were sold, embezzled, or fraudutlently taken . Also states that the box containing papers from HMS Skipjack were in the state as described in the letter to the Admiralty.

Topics

Clothing

Litigation

Caribbean

Navy

Americas

Armed Forces (General Administration)