Two more sailors, both described as ‘a black’ in Royal Navy records, have been identified among those who served in Admiral Nelson’s fleet at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.[1]For more background to the Battle of Trafalgar see:https://www.britishbattles.com/napoleonic-wars/battle-of-trafalgar/ Although not a great deal is known about either of them, including them here adds to our understanding of the hidden diversity of British history.
Louis Le Roi
Louis Le Roi was born on the Isle of France in the East Indies (now Mauritius) c.1766-1768. He served as a Landsman on HMS Britannia at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), during which 10 of the ship’s crew were killed and 42 wounded. Louis Le Roi, “a Black”, was admitted as an out-pensioner “for life” at Greenwich Hospital in September 1815. On admission he was 47 years of age and had served in the Royal Navy for 18 years and 7 months, his last ship being HMS Wolverine. It was noted that he was married with one dependent daughter and a resident of High Street, Shadwell. He died in April 1842 aged 76 years and was interred in the burial grounds of Greenwich Hospital.[3]For Louis Le Roi (also rendered as Lewis Le Roy or Leroi) see: ADM 6/276. ADM 22/307 and 22/322. ADM 73/40. TNA RG/4/1675. findmypast.co.uk www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors/results.asp
Jabin Remington
Jabin Remington was born at Rhode Island, USA c.1758-1759. He served as an Ordinary Seaman on HMS Orion at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), during which the Orion helped force the surrender of the French ship Intrepide. Jabin Remington (“a black”) was admitted to out-pension at Greenwich Hospital in June 1812, being “wounded in the loins”. On admission he was 53 years of age and had served in the Royal Navy for 18 years and 2 months; his last ship being HMS Orion. It was noted that he was a labourer by occupation, not married and a resident of Greenwich. His fate remains unknown.[4]For Jabin Remington (also rendered as Jablin Rimington) see: TNA 6/284. ADM 73/56. ADM 73/66.http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors/details.asp?id=10890
Cato Mumford
Another black sailor at Trafalgar about whom little is known is Cato Mumford. We have already mentioned Cato in an earlier post on this site so he is not an entirely new discovery.[5]https://www.historycalroots.com/a-black-and-asian-british-regiment-the-york-rangers-a-regiment-of-lascars-mulattoes-c-c-1803-1805/ After serving as a drummer or fifer in Captain Adams’ Company of the York Rangers, Cato appears to have become a Rating in the Royal Navy: In 1805 Ordinary Seaman Cato Mumford served on HMS Agamemnon at the Battle of Trafalgar. It was noted that he had joined from “Resolute G.Bg”, was 38 years old and had been born at Rhode Island, USA. (The Mumford family were one of the earliest English settlers on Rhode Island)[6]https://www.historycalroots.com/trafalgar-day-21st-october/?fbclid=IwAR2eBmJ4D2HsgFhcLd24A5vos9Raa7U1WVDl87ZwHb5vHWmSQprRi8Xi8uM#f+9417+1+1
References
| ↑1 | For more background to the Battle of Trafalgar see:https://www.britishbattles.com/napoleonic-wars/battle-of-trafalgar/ |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | https://www.britishbattles.com/napoleonic-wars/battle-of-trafalgar/ |
| ↑3 | For Louis Le Roi (also rendered as Lewis Le Roy or Leroi) see: ADM 6/276. ADM 22/307 and 22/322. ADM 73/40. TNA RG/4/1675. findmypast.co.uk www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors/results.asp |
| ↑4 | For Jabin Remington (also rendered as Jablin Rimington) see: TNA 6/284. ADM 73/56. ADM 73/66.http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors/details.asp?id=10890 |
| ↑5 | https://www.historycalroots.com/a-black-and-asian-british-regiment-the-york-rangers-a-regiment-of-lascars-mulattoes-c-c-1803-1805/ |
| ↑6 | https://www.historycalroots.com/trafalgar-day-21st-october/?fbclid=IwAR2eBmJ4D2HsgFhcLd24A5vos9Raa7U1WVDl87ZwHb5vHWmSQprRi8Xi8uM#f+9417+1+1 |