Magnus Booth of HMS Bellerophon at the Battle of Trafalgar

By John D Ellis

Magnus Booth was born in Santa Cruz c.1775. Described as a “mustee” (someone who was of 1/8^th African origin) he was one of ten Black sailors identified as serving on HMS Bellerophon at the Battle of Trafalgar. In Magnus Booth’s case, as an Ordinary Seaman.

Magnus Booth became an out-pensioner of Greenwich Hospital in February 1815, being awarded a sum of £12 per annum. On examination he was 40 years of age, suffering from rheumatism and had served in the Royal Navy for 9 years and 5 months.

He augmented his pension by working as a merchant sailor, co-habiting with a woman named Elizabeth Campbell when not at sea. The relationship appears to have broken down and he was admitted to Newgate Gaol on the 30^th of May 1825, charged with stealing a shawl (worth 5s), the property of Elizabeth Campbell. On admittance he was 50 years of age, 5 feet 10” tall, with a dark complexion, black hair, black eyes and being stoutish built. He had been born in St Croix (Santa Cruz) and was a mariner by occupation. A week after being admitted he fell ill, subsequently dying on the 16^th of June 1825.

Magnus Booth was buried at Christ Church, Newgate with St Leonard, Foster Lane on the 20^th of June 1825. The subsequent inquest into his death was reported on by the Star (London):

Saturday an Inquest, before Thomas Shelton, Esq. Coroner for London, was held at the jail of Newgate on the body of Magnus Booth, a prisoner committed for trial and the next Old Bailey Sessions. It appeared from the evidence of the surgeon, that the deceased was labouring under the affection of the lungs when he was brought into custody, and fever following, he was removed to the infirmary of the prison, where he had received proper medical treatment, but after remaining there about a week, he died. This poor man was a seaman, a native of the Danish Island of Santa Cruz, without any friends in the country; he was committed to Newgate by one of the Thames Police Magistrate, for taking away and pawning a shawl, which belonged to a woman with whom he had been accustomed to cohabit on his return from his sea voyages.

There was no mention of his service at the Battle of Trafalgar.^[1]Sources: The National Archives (TNA) ADM 6/276. HO77/32 and PCOM2/198/129. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors www.sacco.org.uk/kaleidoscope/2019-october-december/nelsons-black-heroes … Continue reading