Benjamin Rosewell (shipwright)

Benjamin Rosewell (c.1665–1737) was a master shipwright at Harwich, Plymouth, Chatham and Sheerness Naval Dockyards, and Governor of Hawkins Hospital, Chatham.

Family

Benjamin was the son of John Rosewell (1643-1692), Gentleman of Chatham, Kent and grandson of Reverend Walter Rosewell (c. 1610-1658), Presbyterian minister of Chatham. Benjamin married Elizabeth Wyborne on 11 September 1684 at Saint Katherine's by the Tower, London. Their children included: John (1689-1711); Jeremiah (1697-1741); Benjamin (d. 1727); William (d. 1726); Edward (1698-1727); Elizabeth (1700-1775); and Sarah (d. 1743).^[1]

• John died at the age of 22 and was buried at Chatham on 8 November 1711.
• Jeremiah married Rebecca Ford on 19 September 1724 at Deptford, Kent. He was Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard (1732-1741); Beadle of the Manor at Chatham in 1738; and launched Rupert, a 60 gun Ship of the Line, on 27 Oct 1740.^[2] He died at Sheerness and was buried at Chatham on 19 January 1741. He named Curtis Barnett and George Musgrave as executors in his 1739 will which was proved 11 August 1742.^[3] On 9 November 1749 administration of the estate was granted to Richard Rosewell, son of Jeremiah, as Curtis Barnett was deceased.^[1]
• Benjamin was purser on HMS Lyon (Lion) when he wrote his will in 1726. His executor was Curtis Barnett and his will was proved 16 Nov 1727.^[4]
• William married Elizabeth. He was appointed Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard in December 1722 but died in November 1726 and was buried at Devonport, Devon. He was survived by his wife and six children including:

Benjamin Rosewell (c. 1720-1782), Attorney of Throgmorton Street and Clapton, London;

John Rosewell (c. 1722-1755), Inspector of Building at Hull Dockyard (1740-1741) and Master Caulker at Chatham;

Rear Admiral^{[nb 1]} Henry Rosewell (1716-1782^{[nb 2]}), former Commanding Officer of HMS Lively and HMS Medway.

Benjamin Rosewell, William’s father, made detailed provisions for the children of his deceased son in his will of 1731.^[1][6]

• Edward was sent to Madras, India as a Factor (agent) for the British East India Company and died there on 12 April 1727.^[1]
• Elizabeth married Commodore Curtis Barnett (1696-1746) on 13 May 1725 at St Pauls Cathedral, London.
• Sarah (name recorded as Rosell) married (1) Lieutenant Young and (2) George Musgrave,^[7] storekeeper of the ordinance at Chatham and sixth son of Sir Christopher Musgrave, fourth Baronet, by his second wife Elizabeth Franklyn.^[1]

Career

Nothing has been found of Benjamin Rosewell’s career as a ship builder until 1696 when he would have been about 30 years old. It is presumed that he was apprenticed to one of the Medway ship yards between the age of 14 and 21.

The following is a summary of his known career:^[8]
1696 Assistant to Master Shipwright at Chatham Dockyard

• 1699 Refitted HMS Stirling Castle

1702 Appointed Master Shipwright at Harwich Dockyard
1702 Appointed Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard

• 1703 Refitted HMS Rupert
• 1705 Refitted HMS Plymouth

1705 Appointed Master Shipwright at Chatham Dockyard

• 1705 Launched HMS Stirling Castle
• 1706 Refitted HMS London
• 1707 Launched HMS Salisbury
• 1707 Refitted HMS Mermaid
• 1708 Launched HMS Chester
• 1709 Launched HMS Lion
• 1710 Refitted HMS Vanguard
• 1711 Refitted HMS Bonaventure
• 1712 Launched HMS Rose
• 1712 Refitted HMS Sandwich
• 1715 Refitted HMS Defiance^{[nb 3]}
• 1716 Refitted HMS Rupert
• 1717 Refitted HMS Newark
• 1718 Refitted HMS Norwich
• 1718 Refitted HMS Suffolk
• 1719 Refitted HMS Swallow
• 1721 Launched HMS Edinburgh
• 1721 Refitted HMS London
• 1721 Refitted HMS Colchester
• 1721 Launched HMS Hawke
• 1722 Refitted HMS Plymouth
• 1723 Refitted HMS Lenox
• 1724 Launched HMS Sunderland
• 1725 Launched Supply
• 1725 Refitted HMS Anglesea
• 1726 Refitted HMS Union
• 1727 Refitted HMS Biddeford
• 1727 Launched HMS Rye
• 1729 Launched HMS Royal Sovereign
• 1732 Designed Spy
• 1732 Launched Spy

1732 Appointed Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard

• 1737 Refitted HMS Gloucester

Governor of Hawkins Hospital

Benjamin Rosewell is recorded as a Governor of Hawkins Hospital at Chatham in 1726 and 1734.

Death

Benjamin Rosewell died and was buried at St Marys, Chatham on 4 December 1737, presumably in the family vault. His will, written on 8 September 1731, with codicil written 5 October 1731, was proved 10 January 1738.^[6] The executors were Jeremiah Rosewell and George Musgrave.^[1] His wife, Elizabeth, was buried at Chatham on 14 February 1730.

Notes

1. Henry Rosewell was named as 'Rear Admiral Henry Rosewell' by his widow, Fanney Rosewell in her will of 1803.^[5]
2. In his will of 21 April 1782, his brother Benjamin 'forgives that which he now owes me'. So he was alive then.
3. Refit of ship built at Chatham in 1707.

References

1. Atkinson, David (2014). Descendants of Benjamin Rosewell. Pers. Comm.
2. "Three Decks". Warships in the Age of Sail. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
3. Will of Jeremiah Rosewell of Sheerness, Kent, (1742), National Archives, PCC 11/720/104
4. Will of Benjamin Rosewell of HMS Lyon, (1727), National Archives, PCC 11/618/187
5. Will of Fanney Rosewell, Widow of Stoke Newington, (1803), National Archives, PCC 11/1398/35
6. Will of Benjamin Rosewell Master Shipwright at Chatham, (1738), National Archives, PCC 11/687/71
7. Will of George Musgrave of Chatham, (1751), National Archives, PCC 11/787/51
8. "Three Decks". Warships in the Age of Sail. Retrieved 1 January 2015.