N.D. (After 1830.) - H. D. Simcoe reminiscences of Captain John Simcoe & Lieutenant General John Graves Simcoe
CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMS1930.6.18
My Grand Father died, when my Father was so young,
that he knew him only from the relation of his excellent Mother
(of whom he always spoke in terms of the highest veneration and affection)
and of his Friends. consequently, very few particulars of his life
and history have reached us — My Father always spoke of
him, as a man of superior abilities and attainments; and of
great bodily as well as mental energy and activity —
It seems that he early showed an ardent disposition for the Navy —
The nautical manuscripts he left, were highly valued, and I trust
should it please God to spare you, will be treasured by you, as
they merit, hereafter. The Prayer which I found at the
commencement of one of the M.S.S. I am sure you will value.
It appears from his journals that my Grand Father was
employed on the Jamaica Station, under Sir Charles Ogle, chiefly
for the protection of Trade from September 1732 to December 1734 —
when he returned to England — and again on the same station
from November 1743 to March 1747, when he arrived in the
Downs — He was first in Command, of the Bomb Ketch
Thunder, for three months — afterwards, of the Kent, man of
war. of the Sea horse, and the Falmouth— in which he
sailed June 1747 from Leith roads to Flushing as convoy for
Transports in July. He was stationed in the Kings road, Bristol
for the protection of Trade, where he remained till March,
of the following year — in August 1748, he sailed for Thurnofs-
This is all I can learn of his naval expeditions from the Journals.
After the dreadful earthquake at Lisbon 1755 he was sent there with
supplies for the poor sufferers.
When my Father was sent to Portugal on a secret mission in 1806,
the name of Simcoe, was remembered by some who hailed him as
come to their succour a second time.
I have heard that my Grand-Father sounded the St. Laurence,
and laid down the plans for the erection of Forts &c. preparatory
to the siege of Quebec — to which he attached great importance, as
appears from the three letters which I have transcribed.
Capt
. Cooke, the great circumnavigator, was at that time serving
on board the Pembroke, as Lt. I have understood. In his
memoirs, mention is made of his having been very useful in
sounding the St. Laurence and as having given an account
of the capture of Quebec, from on board the Pembroke.
I imagine that my Grand Father died just before the siege —
he died of the gout, refusing to quit his ship. I have
heard my Father say, that when it was proposed to convey
his body to England, he said, "No, keep your tar for the ships
side, and your lead for the ships use. commit me to the deep."
My Grandmother was residing at the time at Cotterstock
Hall, near Oundle, a place my Grand Father had hired
and which was once in the possession of my Mother's
Ancestors — in the church at Cotterstock is a monument
erected by his widow — of wch
I have given a sketch.
She afterwards removed to Exeter with my
Father and his brother Percy, where she died
whilst my Father was engaged in the American
war. Percy was drowned when a boy in the R. Exe
Capt . Simcoe born at Lee side house near Bishops Aukland
My Father went out to San Domingo in the Janus, a Dutch built
Frigate very slow sailor … seen by Hocke's squadron returning
from Ireland passed by Him a gun going off by accident the
Enemy took it for one of defiance & left pursuing it — eight
weeks going, put in at Madeira to repair.
returned in a fast sailing sloop twenty seven days
H.D.
Mayor Holland told me that when my Father was applied to, to know
whether his body should be preserved to be buried on shore — he
replied, apply your pitch to its proper purpose, keep your
lead to mend the shot holes, commit me to the deep.
J.G.S.