Author: ROYAL NAVY AT PORTSMOUTH
Title: Pendants of the Private Ships. [Those navy ships not flying an Admiral's flag]
Description: Portsmouth: Manuscript, 1st February 1787. Single sheet, folded twice, 198 x 320 mm. Hand drawn and written illustrated list of coloured pendants used for identifying ships at the Portsmouth Station. Signed by Captain [Sir] Samuel Marshall, Captain of the Pegase [captured from the French], guardship at Portsmouth. Marshall rose from Able Seaman to Deputy Controller of the Navy. These illustrated lists would probably be drawn by Midshipmen before being written and addressed by the Captain's Clerk, ready for signing by the Captain and sent to all the relevant ships on the station for the ready identification of vessels. This became especially important during the Napoleonic Wars as ships changed hands quite frequently so the lines and build were no sure guide. This example is addressed to Captain Charles Thompson of H.M.S. Edgar: Thompson, later a Vice-Admiral, was Jervis's second in command at the Battle of St. Vincent in 1797.

Keywords: