Maritime Heritage

The Use of Archives, Record Offices &

Museums to Find Primary
&
Secondary Resources of Use for
Topic Research
Presented by: Janelle Harrison 2006
 Deciding On What Or Who To
Research
• Generalize Topic, i.e.. “British 18th Century
Ships”
• Conduct a General Internet Search
• Examine Internet Results
• Question Validity and Source of Material
• Narrow Topic for Research
 The Internet Search
• SHIPS OF THE OLD NAVY
A history of the sailing ships of the Royal Navy
by Michael Phillips
• http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/INTRO.htm
• H.M.S. Venerable 1784-1804
 Learning General Information
• At this point, one should not expect to find
or to be deriving knowledge from primary
sources, but rather, using secondary sources
to familiarize oneself with the chosen
subject/topic.
• Use information gather from a general
source to find supporting secondary sources
& supporting primary sources
The H.M.S. Venerable 1784-1804
• There were actually two ships called H.M.S.
Venerable; a second ship was launched 4
years after the first ship wrecked in 1804
• Both had illustrious histories of service in
wars, or fights against pirates, but it was the
first H.M.S. Venerable that shipwrecked 24th
Nov. 1804 & I wanted to find out the details
about the wrecking
 The National Archives
• I browsed The national Archives online
prior to visiting it
• A one day introduction & research proved
too short a period
• I conducted research on other topics
• Sutton Hoo
• Mary Rose
 Primary Source

Secondary Source
 H.M.S. Primary Sources
• CO 101/35/37
• Acknowledges receipt of circular letter conveying account
of victory of Vice Admiral Duncan over Dutch fleet on the
coast of Holland. Charles Green, Grenada, Folios 144 -
145.
– Depart: Records of the Colonial Office, Commonwealth and
Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, Empire Marketing Board,
and related bodies
• Division: Correspondence with the colonies, entry books and registers
of correspondence
– Series: Colonial Office and predecessors: Grenada, Original
Correspondence
» Sub-Series: Secretary of State
 H.M.S. Venerable AMD
• Total of 39 records found for “Venerable”
with a date constraint of 1784-1804
– ADM 52/3714: Records of the Admiralty, Naval
Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies
•  Masters' logs: details of ships are given at item level
– Dates covering: 1803 Aug 30 - 1804 Nov 25
– I found this source online and was not able to examine it for
details or information regarding the ship, the admiral or the
incidences of the ship wreck
– This is a Primary Source
 Department: Chancery (C)
• C 114/183: UNKNOWN CAUSES: Appeal on
behalf of the Rev Mr Kirke, the chaplain of HMS
Venerable, wrecked in Torbay
– C: Records created, acquired, and inherited by
Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household,
Exchequer and various commissions
• Records of the Equity Side: Chancery Masters
• This is a Primary source I found online and may hold answers
to my questions about the wrecking at Torbay
The National Maritime Museum
• The Caird Library
– With a one day introduction & research and
systems down for most of the day I found very
little but,
– AMD/A/2971 was the Admiralty logs for
Duncan during the Battle of Camperdown 11
October 1797 against the Dutch
– A primary source
– Pictures of the log were taken for the date of the battle
and the day before and after
 Admiralty Log: Duncan
• On Wednesday
the 11th October
1797 Admiral
Duncan Logged
the battle between
H.M.S. Venerable
& The Dutch Fleet
• Primary Source
• 13 Seaman & 3
Mariners Kill’d
The National Maritime Museum
Online

BHC0505, The Battle of Camperdown, 11 October 1797

© National Maritime Museum, London
Duncan & The Dutch Admiral

BHC3100, Duncan Receiving the Surrender of de Winter at the Battle of Camperdown, 11 October
1797
© National Maritime Museum, London
 Conclusion
• The National Archives and The National
Maritime Museum may house the primary
sources I am looking for with regards to
H.M.S Venerable’s role in the Battle of
Camperdown
• From my research of the archives on line I
have not yet found any court hearing papers
for the wrecking at Torbay 24th Nov. 1804