1690 & Invasion
' The Great Fire of Teignmouth'© 2022
French Galley in English Waters
In 1690 on July 3rd French sailors ransacked the little town of Teignmouth pillaging it for twelve hours and destroying houses fishing boats and their nets and 11 ships ; “killing very many cattle and pigs which they left dead in the streets”. Reinforcing the fact that this was also a religious conflict, they, “entered both churches, tore Bibles and Common Prayer Books in pieces, broke down the pulpits, and overthrew the communion tables"
The Great Fire of Teignmouth a book for children by Annie J Pomeroy 2023 & available though Amazon
The Dutch Protestant Prince of Orange William became king of England because his wife Mary , was the heir to the British throne. Mary was the daughter of James II & took the throne in 1688 as the new Protestant King & Queen of England having been invited by English Peers to invade & after the death of Charle II . The new king then was the Catholic James II.
On the 1st of July 1690 William of Orange won the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland James II and a ragtag army.
On the 30th of June , with news of a sea battle spreading, local people on Essex coast gathered on the cliffs at Beachy Head near Eastbourne. There was going to be a sea battle.
The Dutch, our allies and the Anglo Dutch fleet were mustering although they only had 56 English and Dutch ships of the line, with 4,153 guns. The French fleet was much larger with 75 ships of the line, with their 4,600 cannons and 23 fireship and an large army standing ready on the French coast waiting to invade .
The Dutch fleet led by Cornelis Evertsen their allies in the English fleet under Admiral Herbert, Earl of Torrington, against French fleet under the Comte de Tourville . It took several days for the fleets to assemble , each keeping out of range of the other until, by the 3rd of July 1690 , they were arrayed in battle order.
An eight hour sea battle ensued in which the French were victors The greatest French naval victory over the Anglo English alliance. The Dutch lost nine ships of the line , three of them expendable fire ships; the English lost one ship of the line. The French did not lose a single vessel.
The English Channel then temporarily fell under French control.
“On the 13 of July the French fleet was seen riding at anchor in Torbay, and very quickly all the forces of Devon were drawn up to oppose their landing.”
Presumably it was the presence of English militia and possibly the defensive walls and gatehouse of Torre Abbey that dissuaded the French from landing. Instead, “several of their galleys drew off from the fleet and made towards a weak, unfortified place, called Teignmouth, about seven miles to the eastward of Torbay. Coming very near, and having played the cannon of their galleys upon the towns, shooting nearly two hundred cannon balls to drive away the poor inhabitants, they landed about seven hundred of their men. Then they began to set fire and plunder the towns of East and West Teignmouth, which consist of about three hundred houses.”
“By the late horrid invasion there were within the space of 12 hours burnt down and consumed 116 dwelling houses and also 172 dwelling houses were rifled and plundered and two parish churches much ruined, plundered and defaced, besides the burning of ten sail of ships with the furniture thereof, and the goods and merchandise therein”.
Source here
The differences in reported dates due to the difference between Julian and Gregorian calendar which is about 10 days. In 1690 most of Europe was using the Gregorian calendar
England was still using the Julian calendar, changing to the Gregorian Calendar in 1752
Other sources- In a petition to the Lord Lieutenant, it was declared,
“On the 26th day of this instant July 1690 by four of the clock in the morning, your poor petitioners were invaded (by the French) to the number of 1,000 or thereabouts, who in the space of three hours time, burnt down to the ground the dwelling houses of 240 persons of our parish and upwards, plundered and carried away all our goods, defaced our churches, burnt ten of our ships in the harbour, besides fishing boats, nets and other fishing craft”.
A report afterwards claimed that, as the French fleet weighed anchor and sailed west, while rounding Berry Head, “two slaves leaped from one of the galleys into the sea – one was recaptured; the second a Turk, after a desperate struggle for liberty, swam on shore, and was secured by the people who had witnessed the incident.
The Battle at Beachy Head was a four day battle.
There are discrepancies in the dates used for various reports
however this is probably because the Julian Calendar was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar, when the beginning of the legal new year was changed from March 25 to January 1.
Other European countries did this earlier than UK
1582 Spain, Portugal, France, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Italy, Catholic Low Countries, Luxembourg
1700 Protestant Low Countries, Norway, Denmark, some Protestant Swiss cantons
1752 Great Britain, Ireland,
It is reported that some of the galley slaves of the French were Protestants !
John Wilking of West Teignmouth died 1698 recorded as sailor on Royal Navy ship HMS Deptford -
The Deptford was part of theEnglish fleet at the Battle of Beachy Head and afterwards captured several privateers ships ( prize money for the crew ) It sailed to the Mediterranean in 1694 and the New England in 1697 before 1699 when it was put out of Navy use.
HMS Deptford
1690 Battle of Beachy Head
1691 In company with 50 gun Chester took a 22-gun privateer.
1692 Battle of Barfleur 1692 Battle of La Hogue
1692 Took the 24 gun Le Fortuné
1692 In company with 32 gun Portsmouth the 36 gun privateer La Hyacinthe 1694 In the Mediterranean
1697 Sailed for New England 1698 Arrived Home
1699 Crew paid off at Plymouth 1700 Ordered to be sold; was rebuilt at Woolwich
Oddly PARLIAMENT WAS NOT INTERESTED !
Calendar of State Papers
The 2nd Parliament of William and Mary was prorogued and remained so until 5 years later
Summoned 6 Feb. 1690 Assembled 20 Mar. 1690 Dissolved
The 3rd Parliament of William & Mary was summoned in 1695
During the next session, 1690-91, a ‘country opposition’ consisting of prominent men of both parties began making its presence felt. On the Whig side it was headed by Paul Foley I and Robert Harley, and on the Tory side by Sir Thomas Clarges and Sir Christopher Musgrave, 4th Bt. Together they secured legislation establishing a commission of accounts, consisting of themselves and several other non-ministerial MPs, to examine all aspects of public expenditure. The evidence gathered enabled the commissioners to lead an effective opposition to the ministry. Not only did they demand cuts in estimates, but they also tabled their own proposals for raising funds which, they maintained, would exceed the effectiveness of schemes advocated by the courtiers. Many of these proposals were successfully embodied in a whole series of supply measures during 1691-4, including Paul Foley’s innovative ‘Million Fund’ scheme approved early in 1693. This introduced the practice of ‘deficit financing’ and an institutionalised ‘National Debt’, which allowed much larger sums to be raised for the annual supplies.
The strength of feeling produced by these events is demonstrated by the publication of a popular song of some 18 verses celebrating
‘The Devonshire Boy’s Courage’ and lambasting the French.
It begins by applauding the rapid response to the invasion:
“Brave Devonshire Boys made haste away
When News did come from Tinmouth-bay,
The French were Landed in that Town,
And Treacherously had burnt it down.
It ends with the promise of an appropriate response next time:
“Then let proud French-men all bewail,
That e’re they did to England Sail,
Not words but blows shall make it out,
When we with them have ‘tother bout.”
Teignmouth is one of the most thoroughly destroyed & least archeologically understood
of the medieval ports in England
Part of a PDF. o n The militia assessments for South Devon, 1715: commentary and context by Paul Luscombe
Conflicting dates - The French used the new Gregorian calendar the English were still using the old Julian calendar
Link to document index at the Friends of Devon’s Archives website
Less than two years after William III’s accession and just two weeks after his victory over the exiled James II at the Battle of the Boyne, the Devon militia was raised and responded quickly to what was perceived to be a French invasion and part of a plan for a Jacobite rising. The defeat of the English fleet at Beachy Head at the end of June 1690 left the French in command of the Channel and, in England, anxiety in government and in much of the country. Orders were given for the arrest of papists and Jacobites. The Queen (William was in Ireland) was apprehensive about the security of Exeter and Plymouth. On 10 July, Mary, through her Secretary of State, the Earl of Nottingham, instructed Lord Lansdowne (Lord Lieutenant of both Devon and Cornwall and Lord Warden of the Stannaries) to ensure the safety of naval and merchant ships at Plymouth – “and for that purpose she would have you draw the militia of Devonshire to that place, that they may be in readiness for the defence of it”. Worries about a possible French attack on Portsmouth prompted sending two regiments of the Hampshire militia there and raising the Wiltshire militia on 12 July, followed three days later by orders “for the militia of all England.... to be in arms”.
On 23 July,1690 a correspondent writing to the Attorney-General from Exeter reported that the French fleet had been sighted off Exmouth on Sunday 20 July: “...consisting of 115 sail of great and small ships.... and doe still remain there, except 14 galleys, who are gone into Torbay. These drew the last night very close to the shoar, but retired on seeing some beacons on fire. All the militia of the county of Devon is raised, and warrants issued out this day for the posse [comitatus], all directing their course to Torbay. Never was there known more unanimity and resolution than appears in the people… to hinder their landing...
” The same correspondent writes again: “July 28. Exeter. On Saturday last [26 July], the French galleys approached Tingmouth, and fired many great shot towards the shore, which frighted all the people in and about the place, and made them fly into the country. Their small boats then landed about 300 men without any opposition, who burnt two small fishing towns, East and West Teignmouth, and all the ships and boats in the harbour, one or two only excepted..... They rifled the houses before they set them on fire. They broke down all the seats of the Church, tore in parts the Bible and Book of Common Prayer, carrying away the Chalice... This done they retired to their small boats which carryed them off to their galleys, and they to the fleet lying before Torbay.... Our militia is in arms, and the posse raised...
The London Gazette recounted the movements of the militia, particularly the troops of horse: “From the Camp at Torbay, July 27.
The Lord Lansdown having given the necessary Orders at Plimouth, came hither on the 25th with the Stannary Troop under the command of Sir John Fowell, where he found Sir Bowchier Wrey with his Regiment of Horse, Sir William Drake the Sheriff, and Major Rolle, with several other Deputy-Lieutenants of Devon. The next morning, upon Information that the French Galleys were gone towards Tingmouth.... he immediately marched thither with all the Horse, but being come to Newton (Abbot) , within 5 miles of Tingmouth, understood that the French Galleys had early that morning landed there some Men, who set the Town on fire, and some Vessels in the Port, and after that returned about Noon to their Galleys.
Afterwards( the French ) fired some Guns upon a little Town called Torquay. Whereupon the Lord Lansdowne went (turned) back with the Forces to Torbay. At their return thither in the Evening, they saw the whole French Fleet under sail standing to the Westward, the Wind at S.E. But the Wind coming Westerly, they returned this morning into Torbay, where they still continue. And the Militia remains here to observe them
LINKS http://www.foda.org.uk/militia/documentindex.htm
Teignmouth is in Exminster HUNDRED
Further observations
Contemporary reports show how news of the attack was spread across the country. On 23 July, a correspondent writing to the Attorney-General from Exeter reported that the French fleet had been sighted off Exmouth on Sunday 20 July: “...consisting of 115 sail of great and small ships.... and doe still remain there, except 14 galleys, who are gone into Torbay. These drew the last night very close to the shoar, but retired on seeing some beacons on fire. All the militia of the county of Devon is raised, and warrants issued out this day for the posse [comitatus], all directing their course to Torbay. Never was there known more unanimity and resolution than appears in the people… to hinder their landing...”
The same correspondent writes again: “July 28. Exeter. On Saturday last [26 July], the French gallys approached Tingmouth, and fired many great shot towards the shoar, which frighted all the people in and about the place, and made them fly into the country. Their small boats then landed about 300 men without any opposition, who burnt two small fishing towns, East and West Teignmouth, and all the ships and boats in the harbour, one or two only excepted..... They rifled the houses before they set them on fire. They broke down all the seats of the Church, tore in parts the Bible and Book of Common Prayer, carrying away the Chalice... This done they retired to their small boats which carryed them off to their galleys, and they to the fleet lying before Torbay.... Our militia is in arms, and the posse raised...”
Other accounts quote a force of 1,000 to 1,700 men landing at 4.0 am or 5.0 am " who in the space of Three Hours Ransacked and Plundered the said Towns and a village called Shaldon.... and Burnt and Destroyed One Hundred and Sixteen Houses,(116 ) together with Eleven ships.”
Meanwhile, The London Gazette recounted the movements of the militia, particularly the troops of horse: “From the Camp at Torbay, July 27. The Lord Lansdown having given the necessary Orders at Plimouth, came hither on the 25th with the Stannary Troop under the command of Sir John Fowell, where he found Sir Bowchier Wrey with his Regiment of Horse, Sir William Drake the Sheriff, and Major Rolle, with several other Deputy-Lieutenants of Devon.
The next morning, upon Information that the French Galleys were gone towards Tingmouth.... he immediately marched thither with all the Horse, but being come to Newton, within 5 miles of Tingmouth, understood that the French Galleys.... had early that morning landed there some Men, who set the Town on fire, and some Vessels in the Port, and after that returned about Noon to their Galleys; which afterwards fired some Guns upon a little Town called Torquay.
Whereupon the Lord Lansdowne went back with the Forces to Torbay. At their return thither in the Evening, they saw the whole French Fleet under sail standing to the Westward, the Wind at S.E. But the Wind coming Westerly, they returned this morning into Torbay, where they still continue. And the Militia remains here to observe them.”(98)
Details of the ordeal suffered by the people of Teignmouth were circulated to every parish in England and Wales in the form of a royal Brief seeking “liberal contributions” towards the costs of the loss and damage amounting to some £11,000.
The fishermen, returning from Newfoundland in the autumn having worked all summer in Canada, were confronted with what appears to have been devastation. However these were resourceful men who built new dwellings and fish processing plants in Newfoundland so building their homes would probably not have posed too much of a difficulty to them.
This I did not know !!
Teignmouth is one of the most thoroughly destroyed & least archeologically understood
of the medieval ports in England & Its historical records have large holes in them.
This (Teignmouth raid) was no hit-and-run raid, as has been implied subsequently.
The fleet remained in Torbay on 27 and 28 July “where our militia and others are in arms, consisting of 30,000 cheerfully resolving to oppose them”.
Despatches to newsletters referred to expectations of landings near Plymouth, heightened by the French fleet sailing out of Torbay on Tuesday morning 29 July
“In the afternoon, they appeared to the Westward of the Start Point, and some hours after came to an Anchor in Begbery Bay” [Bigbury] where some damage was done.
( AJP Note Start Point is just east of Salcombe Estuary so they were sailing west along the south coast )
Then, according to an account in a London newsletter
31 July: “An express from Plymouth, arrived to-day, says that the guard ship of Plymouth gave notice that the French fleet were standing (sailing) towards them, upon which 15,000 militia were drawn together to oppose their landing, with about 5,000 seamen resolving to defend Cattwater. They also say that the French weighed and stood to the westward.”99
Early the same morning, a galley was repulsed on approaching Lyme harbour.
The London Gazette said that the fleet was back in Torbay on Friday 1 August, sending boats on a sortie to Dartmouth the next day, “....but the militia fired so fast upon them they were forced to put out to sea again”.
The disquiet on shore must have intensified when more ships arrived in Torbay from Le Havre on Sunday – “the number being increased to 160 sail” - and loitered there all day and for most of Monday 4 August.
The Gazette’s next issue announced:”
“Plimouth, August 5. The French Fleet sailed yesterday in the evening from Torbay; But the Galleys who could not endure the Sea that was then pretty high, continued there till this morning, and then followed their Fleet;
which appeared about 5 this morning before our Habour, and by Noon was clear of Pentlee Point, standing to the Westward, and ‘tis not doubted but they are going home having.... great numbers of sick Men on Board.”
(AJP this is Penzance & Mousehole Cornwall )
Some of the most intriguing references in these descriptions are those to galleys
These vessels were designed for, and largely confined to, the Mediterranean, drawing too little water to withstand Atlantic weather. They were propelled by oars, and a despatch from Torbay on 1 August confirms that they were manned by ‘Galley Slaves’ one of whom “....leaped over Board, and after some hours swimming got alive to Land....”.100 .
The French navy’s excursion to the Devon coast for a fortnight in 1690 was an unusual expedition, and it is worth asking about its purpose.
Enquiries into French sources reveal that it was partly an experiment to evaluate the usefulness of galleys to the fleet along France’s Channel coast, brought forward by a group of naval officers and Jean de Chazelles, a hydrographer and mathematician.....
The innovatory element was to use galleys to tow frigates either when the wind failed or was against them, rendering them independent of the wind.
NOTES
French Galleys used Protestant slaves as oarsmen, one or two of whom apparently went over board when they were in the protected watres of Torbay
Big seas on the Devon coast
©AJP2022