Richard Soaper, Royal Navy Mariner, 1790s
4 Richard Soaper wills. Scans for sale from National Archives : [presume made on joining a new ship]
Will 31 Jan 1791, a mariner on 'Niger' :
Will 21 May 1793 'Juno' :
Will 6 Oct 1794 'Oiseau' :
Will 27 Apr 1796 'Pheobe' a Quarter Gunner. [In charge of 4 guns]
In this 1796 will he wanted to leave his Estate to his executor & brother William Soper of Butcher's Row, Portsea Common, a labourer belonging to His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth
The will dated 27 Apr 1796, the top of the will dated 29 Apr 1796 & it's cover 2 May 1796
Richard signed with an 'X'
Biog from his ships
- - - 'Niger' 33-gun built 1759 & prison hulk 1810, (so speculate perhaps static vessel by 1791?? if so might speculate a pauper age abt.11?? as at sea 1893)
- - - 'Juno'; a 32-gun 5th rater; (1780-1811) 126ft, 220 men; refit Portsmouth by Jan 1893, Capt Hood, patrolled channel for French privatiers; to Med, attacked Corsica May; Entered Toulons unaware Brits had left, so bombarded at point blank range, but light damage, wiki [but Richard returned before ship's refit 1896]
- - - 'Oiseau', French 32 gun captured & 1873; May 1794 Plymouth > Halifax; helped captured convoy, & french warships; wiki [stayed in WI so speculate Richard returned on prize crew??]
- - - 'Pheobe' 32 gun frigate, 264 crew, commissioned 1795 captured French vessels 1797 16-gun off Scilly Isles (Jan) & 36-gun N�r�ide (Dec), captured privateers 1799 & 1800 wiki
Speculation on Richard's family
Perhaps the 1791 will, if looked up, might mention a parent rather than jist his brother William? a Richard Soper was a naval Lieutenant, 13 July 1808, in "Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy, 1660-1815" : no discharge date : [presume date was on his appointment as lieutenant] : from Ancestry.com a Lieut Richard Soper, commanded gunboat nr8. A Royal navy squadron at the mouth of the River Elbe [just downstream of Hamburg] consisting of frigate Desiree (36 gun), 4 gun-brigs (12-14), a schooner sloop (10) & eight gunboats. [if Richard would have been at least 19 to be 'a mariner', if so at least 42 in 1813, so perhaps too old to be the same person?]overlaps at this place & time]
: 1766 Richard Soaper shipwright at Portsmouth. Petitioned the Navy Board for more leave 20 Jan 1766 : Two days later a warrant issued allowing this : ADM 106/1149/6 : ADM 106/1149/6 : Nat.Archives
: 1766 Richard Soaper in 1766 : A Navy Board Records (ADM 106/1145/27) 'Commissioner Richard Hughes, Portsmouth. Receipt of letter that the Juno is ordered to take the money to Plymouth & warrants to allow more leave to Richard Soaper, shipwright & the Pursers of the Saint George, Lenox & Warspite & for the Officers : [this might imply Soaper was at Plymouth, Dev] from nationalarchives.gov
: 1768 connection? Thomas & Margaret Soaper baptisms at St Thomas, Portsmouth ; Sarah 4 Dec 1768 (d.25 Feb 1769) ; Elizabeth Soper 1 Apr 1770 (d.1 Jul 1771) ; Mary Soaper 12 Aug 1772, Thomas Soaper 25 Jun 1775 (d.17 Mar 1776) [igi]
: 1773 a Richard Soaper bpt.15 Aug 1773 Portsea, St Mary, father Thomas Soaper [igi database] : [Sally Soaper also bpt.25 Sept 1768 Portsea, St Mary, father Thomas Soaper [perhaps indicating that another family
: 1777 Richard Soper one of two deputies of Portsmouth dock yard; & two deputies from Plymouth, Chatham, Woolwich & Sherness dock-yards, signed a letter to the King. Shipwrights from Portsmouth & Plymouth have gone to French dock-yards Unless grievances are redressed more will also quit; Sentimental Magazine 1775 google books
Will Cover
