Primary Sources:

For convenience, the numbers assigned to each source cited in Letters and Papers relating to the First Dutch War (4), where present, are quoted, to assist retrievability, viz. 932, etc. In the same way numbers of letters cited in the Calendar of State Papers Domestic (5) are also retained for ease of retrievability.

Background History (Battle of Portland):

872. Feb. 22/March 4, 1652/3. News of the Fleet. [Mercurius Politicus, pp.2257-2259. BM Press Mark E, 688, 10.]

‘From several good hands from Dover, it is certified as followeth:-

‘Dover, 22 February, past nine at night. One sent from hence to discover the motion of the Dutch fleet returns, and says, he was so nigh them, as that he raised their hulls, and discovered their flags and their number to be thirty-five sail, which rode at anchor a little to the eastward of Calais.

‘This evening the FAIRFAX came into this road. Captain Lawson, the commander of her, is well in his person, but hath lost and wounded about 100 of his company; his mast much wounded, and the ship very much shattered . . . ‘ (4)

Wreck Event:

932. March 22/April 1, 1652/3. Ph[ineas] Pett to Navy Commissioners. [Tanner MS 53, fol. 232]

'Right Worshipful, -

'This night about ten of the clock the FAIRFAX became on fire and is almost burned down to the water; by a great providence the UNICORN was preserved. I much doubt there was treachery in it for that she was the weathermost ship, the tide newly come, the wind easterly and the fire so sudden that it was discovered ashore before the ship's company were sensible of it. The UNICORN was not a cable's length from her, and was yare in cutting cables in the hawse, and so with a warp bowsed ashore on the east side, the GREYHOUND and other ships did the like, and she drove ashore upon the west side. I dare assure you there is no danger of the other ships but she is irrecoverable, her lower tier of guns are out, and part of her upper and her powder taken out at Queenborough. I thought fit to give you this brief account and shall be more punctual when I shall see the event; in the meantime I crave leave to remain,

'At your command, Phinn. Pett. Chatham Dock, 22 March 1652, at 1 in the morning.' (4)

56. March 22. Chatham. Capt. Phineas Pett to the [Navy Commissioners]. I send you the examinations of persons concerned in the FAIRFAX. She is burnt to the water, and we have been compelled to sink her to put out the fire. We shall have her up next tide, and take out what provisions are serviceable. There were 16 men on board when she fired, and only two hurt. The rest I have entered on the UNICORN [1 page]. Enclosing:

57.i, ii. Examinations of Sam. Cowdall, gunner, and Nich. Woodman, yeoman of the powder on the FAIRFAX, relative to its firing, by the explosion of 30 or 40lbs of gunpowder. 22 March 1653. [2 papers]. (5)

61. March 23. 11pm, Gravesend. Major N Bourne to the Admiralty Committee.

'I have come down as you ordered, and sent to Capt. Lawson to attend me at Chatham respecting the FAIRFAX. I suspect there may have been a combination between the yeoman and the gunner of the powder room, and the gunner's mate, to steal some rope from the powder room in the night, but I do not think it was treachery. "The hand of God hath principally touched them two, which speaks out something." (5)

935. March 24/April 3, 1652/3. Bourne and Lawson to the Admiralty Commissioners. [Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Commonwealth, xxxiv, 69]

'Right Honourable - According to order we came this morning to this place. Immediately went to view the ruins of the FAIRFAX which is burnt down fore and aft to the lower futtock, only her bottom remaining wherein was the guns and other provisions left on board. And in the pursuance of your Honours' commands in order to a strict examination of the manner of burning the aforesaid ship and also the persons who are guilty or accessories thereof, we have accordingly used the best way and means to inform ourselves whether this said disaster happened by treachery or neglect of duty in those concerned in your trust . . . in the meantime shall only give your Honours this general account of our apprehensions (that concurs with what one of us gave you last night) that there is no appearance of any design by treachery to destroy her, but only a thievish contrivement which occasioned the setting on fire some loose powder that was scattered in the powder room by the fall of a candle, and as to that part of neglect of duty we humbly conceive that cannot be excused, for upon examination we find that there was borne upon her book thirty men, whereas there was but fourteen on board and he that was the principal officer of trust (who was yeoman to the boatswain) was absent, and the gunner's mate and yeoman of the powder room, who were on board, we conceive will appear most deeply chargeable. We find by examination that no watch was kept on board; no boatswain or gunner belonging to her, nor any other care taken to prevent this untimely loss. We shall take boldness to represent matters clearly to your Honours as we apprehend, as also offer our thoughts thereupon when we have more fully acquainted ourselves therewith, which we hope to effect tomorrow, so for present crave leave to subscribe ourselves,

'Right Honourable, Your very faithful and humble servants
N. Bourne / J. Lawson.' (4)

936. March 24/April 3, 1652/3. Bourne to Admiralty Commissioners. [Calendar of State Papers Domestic, Commonwealth, xxxiv, 70]

'Right Honourable, - The last night from Gravesend I gave you a rude account of what I gathered up concerning the business of the FAIRFAX and was bold to give you my opinion thereupon so far as I then apprehended, and according to your command given me I came this morning hither, and Captain Lawson also, who came up to Gravesend in the night, and upon our coming here we went to view the remainder of the aforesaid ship, which was afloat by the hulk's side where was most of the help about the yards employed to get out those guns that were left aboard, being about twenty-eight, many of the brass guns being melted. The lower tier and three of the upper tier were taken out before and laid on board the hul there to bear aboard her; I have given them order to take out what lies in the ground tier, being about 20 tons, and shall dispose the same in the best way I can if it be not spoiled already by the heat of the fhrie, and to-morrow shall clear her. As for that part of the hull remaining I cannot at present give your Honours my apprehensions rationally whether she will be worth it to rebuild or not, she being burned fore and aft down as low as the lower futtocks; but forasmuch as the dock is open and must be shut up empty, I have given order to bring her in there to-morrow where she will be fully surveyed whether she be found fit to be built upon or otherwise; if she shall be broken up it will be suddenly done and with least charge there; her sails are all ashore and all her rigging unless her shrouds, her topmasts also and all her anchors . . .

'Your very humble servant, N. Bourne,
'Chatham, 24 March, 1652.' (4)

97, 98. March 29. Council of State. Day's Proceedings.

'6. The Admiralty Committee to take care that the FAIRFAX frigate, burnt down to the lower decks in Chatham water, be new built as soon as possibly may be, according to the certificate from the Navy Committee.' (5)

April 6. Admiralty Committee to Navy Commissioners. 'Order that the FAIRFAX be rebuilt from the portion still uninjured to her former proportions.' (6)

April 13. Capt. Jno. Taylor, Chatham, to Navy Commissioners. 'Mr Maplestone has used all diligence in furnishing the stores with timber at low rates; as the FAIRFAX is to be rebuilt, thinks 1,000l. should be imprested to him, to enable him to pay his liabilities, as also for his encouragement.' (6)

April 16. Maj. Rob. Thompson, Navy Office to Admiralty Committee. 'Has issued warrants to the officers at Chatham to rebuild the FAIRFAX.' (6)

Secondary Sources:

Background History:

Present at the Battles of the Goodwin Sands (1573120) and Dungeness, 1652 (1575143), and at the Battle of Portland, 1653 (1582162). She was in Dover Roads, 22nd February 1653. (8)

The FAIRFAX under Lawson, and some other fast English ships, attacked de Ruyter's wing and detached two or three escorts and a number of merchantmen from it. (9)

Wreck Event:

Date of loss cited in (1) as 21st February 1653, which in fact was immediately after the Battle of Portland, which ran from 18th to 20th February 1653. Date of loss cited in (2) as 29th March 1653, and vessel described as a Second Rate.

'Whilst lying at Chatham, loose gunpowder was accidentally ignited and started a fire that spread rapidly, burning her down to the waterline, after which she sank.' (1)(2)

FAIRFAX, 740 tons BM. Burnt 1653 by accident at Chatham. (3)

FAIRFAX, Third Rate, burnt 31st March 1653. Her dimensions cited as 116 ft x 34ft 9in x 14ft 4in x 743 or 745 tons. (4)

FAIRFAX, from 50 to 62 guns, 116ft x 35ft, 745 tons. Accidentally burnt 1653. Details doubtful. (7)

Built: 1649 (2)(3) - date of ordering (4); 1650 (1)(7) - date of launch (4)
Builder: Peter Pett (4)
Where Built: HM Dockyard, Chatham (1)(2); Deptford (3)(5)
Commanding Officer: Captain Sir John Lawson, RN (1)(2)
Armament: 50 cannon (3)(7) (peacetime); 52 cannon (1)(2); 62 (wartime) (7)
Owner: English Navy [Cromwellian Navy, not Royal Navy] (all sources)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

<1> British Warship losses in the Age of Sail 1650-1859 (Monograph). SKE6713.

<2> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.

<3> Ships of the Royal Navy vol.1 (Monograph). SKE6711.

<4> 1765-, London Gazette (Newspaper). SKE56185.

<7> Lists of Men of War 1650-1700 Part 1: English Sips 1649-1702 (Monograph). SKE6710.

<5-6> Calendar of State Papers Domestic (Bibliographic reference). SKE6354.

<8-9> Peter Higginbotham, 2000, The Workhouse (Website). SKE56079.