Nelson, Trafalgar and those who served

 
   

Trafalgar Ancestors

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John Francois aged 32 born in Curacoa, West Indies West Indies.

Ship: HMS Victory

Rank/Rating: Ordinary Seaman

 
 

Personal details

 
   

Notes

John Francois was taken from the French ship Embusacde, captured by HMS Victory in the Atlantic on 28 May 1803, before being entered on the ship's muster of HMS Canopus (TNA document reference, ADM 36/16065). His name appears in a list of 'blacks' in this document. In the ship's paybooks for HMS Milford (TNA document references ADM 35/2938 and ADM 35/3600) his age is recorded as 22 and his place of birth as Mariagalante. In the ship's musters for HMS Implacable (TNA document references ADM 37/2113, ADM 37/2776, ADM 37/2777, and ADM 37/3370 ) his age is recorded as 26 and his place of birth as Guadaloupe.

 
   
 

Service details

 
   

HMS Canopus

Ship's pay book number: (SLVO 211)
4 August 1803 to 17 August 1803
Comments: From: Canopus

HMS Victory

Ship's pay book number: (SB 695)
18 August 1803 to 15 January 1806 (Was at Trafalgar)
Rank/rating: Ordinary Seaman

HMS Gelykheid

Ship's pay book number: (SLWV 102)
18 January 1806 to 25 January 1806

HMS Ocean

Ship's pay book number: (SB 521)
27 January 1806 to 5 July 1809
Rank/rating: Ordinary Seaman

HMS Zealand

HMS Milford

Ship's pay book number: (SB 469)
31 August 1809 to 5 September 1810
Rank/rating: Landsman

HMS Implacable

Ship's pay book number: (SB 883)
6 September 1810 to 1 November 1812
Rank/rating: Landsman
Comments: Many of Francois's ship mates from HMS Implacable were transferred to HMS Diomede, but his name does not appear in this ship's muster for the relevant dates.

HMS Royal William

Ship's pay book number: (SLVO 51315)
6 November 1812 to 18 November 1812
Rank/rating: Landsman

HMS Superb

Ship's pay book number: (SB 380)
19 November 1812 to 6 September 1815
Rank/rating: Landsman
Comments: Discharged 6 September 1815 at Hamoaze, Plymouth, Devon, England.
 
   
 

Sources used

 
   

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15900

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/16065

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15896

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15897

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15898

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15899

Catalogue reference: ADM 35/2515

Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15901

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/176

Catalogue reference: ADM 35/2974

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/8

Catalogue reference: ADM 35/2938

Catalogue reference: ADM 35/3600

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/2113

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/2776

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/2777

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/3370

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/3554

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/3429

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/3447

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/4127

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/4128

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/5151

Catalogue reference: ADM 37/5152