SAMUEL SUTTON ESQ. - REAR-ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE (1760-1832)

Samuel Sutton was a Yorkshireman, born on 17th June 1760 in Scarborough, the son of William Sutton & Jane (née Minithorp) who had married there three years before. He was baptised at Scarborough Parish Church on 22nd July 1760. Unlike his younger sisters who seem to have been content to settle in Scarborough, wanderlust seems to have motivated him to join the Royal Navy at the early age of 16 years 9 months.

“Nineteen-year-old” Samuel Sutton entered the naval service on 25th March 1777 as an Able-Bodied Seaman on the 74-gun ship Monarch, receiving as a volunteer the customary bounty of £5-0-0. In less than a month, on 9th April 1777, he was appointed Midshipman. The Monarch was commanded by Sir Joshua Rowley, Bart., with whom Sutton went on to serve on the Suffolk, Conqueror, and other ships until the peace of 1783.

The Monarch formed part of the Channel fleet under Admiral Keppel, and had two men killed and nine wounded in the action with M. d’Orvilliers on 27th July 1778. The Suffolk was attached to Vice-Admiral Byron’s squadron, and on that occasion seven men were killed and 25 wounded. The Conqueror’s loss in the battles between Rodney and de Guichen, off Martinique in April-May 1780 amounted to 87 killed and wounded. Among the latter was her commander, Captain G. Watson, who lost an arm and died soon afterwards.

At the conclusion of the war with the American colonies in 1783, Samuel Sutton was appointed first Lieutenant of the Preston, a 50-gun ship bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Rowley, at Jamaica, from whence he was soon afterwards compelled to return to England through ill-health.

During the Spanish armament, he served as a signal officer of the frigate Iphigenia, one of the repeaters of the fleet then assembled under the orders of Lord Howe. In January 1793 at Plymouth he joined the 74-gun Culloden, built in 1783 and commanded by Sir Thomas Rich. He transferred thence to the Mars, another third rate, as first Lieutenant to Sir Charles Cotton and under Rear-Admiral Harvey.

The Mars was with Vice-Admiral Cornwallis when that officer “effected the most masterly retreat, from an immensely superior French fleet, ever recorded in the annals of the British navy; and being the stern-most ship, sustained the brunt of the enemy’s attack, but fortunately not a man was killed, and only 12 wounded.” (Marshall’s Naval Biography, Vol. I, Part II, p. 832). This took place on 16th June 1795, and for his actions Sutton was awarded the Naval General Service Medal.

In September 1796, Lieutenant Sutton was promoted to the command of the Martin sloop of war, built in 1750. His pay at that time would have been six shillings a day. In 1797 the Martin was ordered to convey the Duc d’Angouleme from Leith to Cuxhaven; immediately afterwards Sam Sutton was advanced to post rank, by commission dated 27th June.To achieve this rank, he had to command a ship of the line for a day, and the ship he commanded on 27th June 1797 was the Alligator. Subsequently he commanded the Monarch bearing the flag of Sir Richard Onslow, in the North Sea; and in 1799 became Flag-Captain to Sir Charles Cotton, with whom he continued to serve till the commencement of 1801. The purser on the Monarch in 1798 was James Harvey. Sutton was then appointed to the 32-gun frigate Alcmène.

Samuel Sutton arrived at Portsmouth on 4th March 1801 from the Channel Fleet, and sailed to join the North Sea Fleet on 14th March. It was his report following his return from the Swedish naval base at Carlskrona, that the Swedish fleet was at sea that prompted the admiralty to send for Nelson (David Walder, 1978, Nelson, p. 412) and on 2nd April 1801, the Alcmène assisted at the capture and destruction of the Danish line of defence before Copenhagen, losing five men with fourteen wounded. (http://www.nelson-society.org.uk/html/body_copenhagen.htm)

Samuel Sutton then took over command of the 38-gun Amazon, as successor to the gallant Captain Riou, who had fallen in the battle.

On 28th September 1801, at Deal in Kent, Captain Sutton was a prominent mourner at the funeral of Captain Edward Thornborough Parker who had died on 27th September 1801 aged 23, following wounds received during Nelson’s attack on the French fleet moored at Bologne on 15th August that year. Sutton marched in front of the coffin, Nelson behind. (http://www.aboutnelson.co.uk/0322graveparker.htm)

On 5th December 1802, Nelson wrote to Captain Sutton, still on the Amazon in the Downs:

" For what good purpose they can keep you thumping in the Downs I cannot guess… Lord St. Vincent's conduct about the Medals for Copenhagen, appears to me extraordinary."

On 26th December 1801, and despite major financial problems, Nelson sent £20 to Captain Sutton aboard the Amazon: (http://www.aboutnelson.co.uk/27archive1.htm)

"My dear Sir:- I send you a £20 note, which will leave a little to go on with, and, if you please, to give the lads one guinea each when there is a probability of your being paid off. . . I am not going abroad - that you may be assured of. Reports say the Definitive Treaty will soon be finished, and then, I suppose, we will get our discharges; but I cannot obtain mine. What a waste of public money! But we hope soon to see you at Merton, where you shall have a hearty welcome; for believe me ever your much obliged, NELSON AND BRONTE Sir William, Lady Hamilton, and Mr. Nelson desire to wish you a merry Christmas."

Captain Sutton was next to command the first-rate, 104-gun Victory, from 9th April 1803, though he was already supervising her fitting-out by the 22nd March. (Edgar Vincent, 2003, Nelson – Love & Fame, p. 484-5). On the 16th May, Lord Nelson, Vice Admiral of the Blue, was appointed Commander in Chief, Mediterranean. Two days later he hoisted his flag in the Victory, with Samuel Sutton as his flag captain, and sailed to assume chief command in the Mediterranean. On the 28th May 1803 Captain Sutton captured the French Embuscade, a French frigate of 32 guns and 187 men, bound for Rochefort from San Domingo. (http://y2u.co.uk/&002_Images/Victory_Nelson_02.htm). Capt. Sutton sent her into Malta where the dockyard was ordered to safeguard her stores, value the hull, masts, rigging and stores and, with the assistance of the carpenter of Kent, put her into a proper condition to be commissioned as soon as possible. Victory rejoined Lord Nelson off Toulon on the 30th July 1803 when Captain Sutton exchanged roles with Captain Thomas M Hardy of the frigate Amphion, leaving the Victory to communicate with Admiral Cornwallis.

Nelson, who was noted for showing concern for his staff, wrote to a Mr Benjamin Baynton, the father of a young and confused new midshipman whose clothes chest had been lost, on the 25th August 1803:

Captain Sutton was “very actively employed during the most important part of his Lordship’s command in the Mediterranean station, and had the good fortune to assist at the capture of a Spanish squadron laden with specie (money in the form of coins) on 5th October 1804”. (Marshall’s Naval Biography, p. 833). The Amphion on this occasion was opposed to la Mercedes, the Spanish Admiral’s second astern, which blew up with a tremendous explosion in less than ten minutes after the commencement of the action, and all on board except 40 men perished. Nelson was to again correspond with Captain Sutton about Lord St Vincent’s reluctance to make recommendations to the King regarding the award of medals for this action. (Edgar Vincent, 2003, Nelson – Love & Fame, p. 471).

Captain Sutton obviously had hopes of great rewards from the capture of the Spanish squadron’s booty, and wrote explicitly to Emma, Lady Hamilton, on the 20th October 1804:

Emma quickly circulated the news; [her] family were soon like bees around a honey pot. In the event there was to be no prize money as such. War not having been declared, the ships and treasure were a droit of the Crown and so "A grant was made to the captors which, according to one account, amounted to a quarter of a million sterling." One-eighth of this shared by the commanders-in-chief the flag officers on both Nelson’s and Cornwallis’ stations would have been £31,250.

On the 13th October 1805 Amphion joined the fleet from Lisbon and, since Captain Sutton was by that time in poor health, Nelson gave her command to Captain William Hoste of Eurydice. (http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/A3.htm). His career from that time seems to have been at a desk, but he continued to be a full-time officer, and was advanced to the rank of Rear-Admiral on the 19th July 1821, and appointed a Flag Officer of the Fleet. (The Times, Jul 21, 1821; pg. 2; Issue 11304; col F).

In a Court Circular printed in The Times of the 29th July 1830 (The Times pg. 2; Issue 14291; col C) Rear-Admiral Sutton presented his son Captain S. Ives Sutton at a levée attended by King William IV and very many dignitaries.

Samuel Sutton died in 1832 (http://www.sailingnavies.com/show_person.php?id=1070).

LITERARY MENTIONS

Samuel Sutton appears as a character in the book "Hornblower and the Hotspur" by C.S. Forester. (http://www.sailingnavies.com/show_person.php?id=1070).

The Will of Rear-Admiral Samuel Sutton [PROB 11/1808]

Proved at London 1st November 1832 before the Worshipful William Calverley Dr of Laws and Surrogate by the Oath of Charlotte Sutton widow, the relict the sole Executrix to whom admon was granted being first duly sworn to administer.

CHARLOTTE SUTTON (née IVES, c.1780-1852)

Charlotte Ives was born at Bungay, Suffolk c.1780.

In the census of 30th March 1851, and following the earlier death of her husband, Charlotte was residing with Diana Gorham, widow of Captain Gorham at Hill House, Aldeburgh, Suffolk. (HO 107/1802/540).

She died there not long afterwards.

The Will of Charlotte Sutton [PROB 11/2153]

[The Will was written on the 1st November 1837 and witnessed by Thos. M KEITH, Sol’r, Norwich; Philip MINES Tailor & Draper, Norwich; and Mary SHEPPHARD, servant to Mrs SUTTON.]

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Charlotte SUTTON late of Woodbridge in the County of Suffolk but now of Aldeburgh in the said County, widow…

[The Codicil recognised that she had made financial advances to her sons, and on her death these advances were to be counted as having already been paid out of her estate to each of them. She also left £40 a year to Mary SHEPPHARD, her servant. Codicil dated the 24th August 1851.]

The Will & Codicil were proved at London on the 26th May 1852 by the oath of John SUTTON.

JOHN SUTTON (1810-1891)

John Sutton was born on the 11th July 1810 and baptised three days later at the parish church of Ditchingham, Norfolk.

A month before his twentieth birthday, on the 11th June 1830, he purchased a commission in the 47th Regiment of Foot as an Ensign.

He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 22nd October 1833.

From the 5th October 1834 to the 7th March 1841 he served in the Mediterranean area, being promoted to Captain on the 17th February 1837.

From the 31st March 1841 to the 28th October 1841 he was stationed in the West Indies.

On the 9th March 1842 he married Mary Ogden Evans at Parsonstown, King’s County (now Co. Offaly), Ireland. Mary Evans had been born in Canada and was two years his junior.

On the 15th October 1850 he was promoted to the rank of Major, and left the Army on the 12th October 1852.

In the 1881 census, John and his wife are resident at 7 Queen’s Road, Tonbridge (RG 11/915/110), with a visitor Julia Wells and two servants. Julia (née Harvey) was his widowed former sister-in-law, who had married Peter Wells at the end of 1858. (My thanks to Maureen Bartlett for writing to mention this).

He died on the 19th April 1891 at Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

SAMUEL IVES SUTTON (1807-1850)

According to his Army service record (National Archives, WO 76/244/13), Samuel Ives Sutton was born on the 3rd May 1807 at Brooke, Norfolk. At the age of 18 he joined the 88th Regiment of Foot (the Connaught Rangers) by purchase of commission on the 20th September 1825.

He served in Corfu from February 1826, where he purchased a commission as Lieutenant in the 80th Regiment of Foot on the 16th November 1826. After his return to the UK he exchanged this for a commission in the 60th Foot (King’s Own Rifle Corps) on the 20th March 1827.

He purchased a commission as Captain in the 69th Foot on 11 June 1830 and served in the West Indies in this capacity from the 6th February 1832 to the 14th July 1833.

On the 27th October 1833 he exchanged his commission in the 69th Foot for the same rank in the 60th Foot. He transferred from the 60th Foot to the 76th Foot on the 13th July 1837 (The Times, pg. 3; Issue 16469; col A).

On the 20th October 1837 he went onto half-pay and joined the Portuguese and Spanish Service, where he remained, being promoted to the rank of Major on the 9th November 1846.

He married his wife Julia (née Harvey) (http://freebmd.rootsweb.com, 4Q 1837, Blofield, ref 13 54) on the 14th November 1837 at the parish church of Thorpe Episcopi, Norfolk. Julia was the daughter of Major-General Sir Robert Jno Harvey and his wife Charlotte Mary Harvey. (My thanks to Maureen Bartlett for writing to correct this).

Samuel Ives Sutton died aged 43 on Sunday, 3rd February 1850 at Kenilworth (The Times, Feb 05, 1850; pg. 9; Issue 20404; col A. He is described as the “eldest son of Rear-Admiral Sutton of Ditchingham, Norfolk.”). On his death certificate the cause of death is shown as "dysentery and disease of the intestinal canal". His fellow army officers placed an announcement in The Times regretting his demise.

His will was proved on the 1st March 1850 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/2110). The will is not very legible, but appoints his brother John as one of the Executors, and the Revd. Henry Churchman Long as the other. He made provision for his godson, Henry Walter Long, who was Henry Churchman Long’s eldest son. The Rev. Henry Churchman Long, Vicar of Newton Flotman in the 1881 census, married Charlotte Emma Harvey between July and September 1838, and she may have been a relative of Samuel's wife.

Interestingly, the writer H. Rider Haggard, who had many connections with Africa, stayed at Ditchingham Lodge (http://www.uwc.ac.za/arts/english/interaction/96js.htm). The house is still on many lists of Norfolk country houses (http://www.ives55.btinternet.co.uk/nfkhall/nfkhall.htm).

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM SUTTON CB (c.1808 -1864)

As was the procedure at the time, William Sutton purchased a commission as Ensign in the 75th Regiment of Foot on the 5th June 1827. The 75th Regiment of Foot regiment was originally a Highland regiment, raised for service in 1787 to support the East India Company’s impending war against the French in India. When the danger of war passed the EIC refused to support or embark the regiment and the regiment was regularised. The regiment remained a Highland Regiment until 1809, but after that date did not wear highland dress again until 1881, when the 75th was once more restored to its position among the Highland Regiments, and, resuming the kilt and Highland dress after a lapse of seventy-four years, became the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. It was known as the "Stirlingshire Regiment" from 1809 to 1881, had a distinguished career, having taken part in the Kaffir War of 1835 (see below), as well as in many of the engagements which have been recorded in connection with the other Highland Regiments.

William was commissioned as a Lieutenant on the 16th March 1830, the year the regiment embarked for service at the Cape of Good Hope. By 1835 he was the regiment’s Adjutant, a role he had held since at least 1832. He was promoted to Captain on the 30th July 1836. He is listed as such, having already served for 13 years, in Hart’s Army List of 1840, at which time the 75th Foot was still serving at the Cape of Good Hope under the command of Col. Joseph Fuller GCH. William commanded the Burgher Forces of the Eastern Division during the 2nd war (also known as the “7th Kaffir War", April 1846 - May 1847) (see http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol013jh.html) and the Kat River Burghers during the attack on the Amatolas in 1846. He commanded a Division in 1847. For his participation in these campaigns, he is twice listed on the medal roll for the South Africa medal of 1854. [There were no campaign clasps to this medal. William Sutton’s own medal is known to be in a private collection.]

On the 9th November 1846 William was appointed Major in the Cape Mounted Riflemen, originally formed in 1827 as an imperial cavalry corps. [There is an interesting account of the various troubles of 1846-47 online at http://members.fortunecity.com/78blencowest/ch2.htm which includes Sir John Stoke’s encounters with Major Sutton during the latter’s service with the Cape Mounted Riflemen.]

William was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel on the 15th September 1848. He successfully defended Fort Beaufort ‘against overwhelming odds’ when the town was attacked by anti-colonial forces led by Hermanus Matroos at the commencement of the 3rd campaign (http://www.rugby365.com/SA_Schools/Schools_Profiles/story_37719.shtml) (1850-53, the “8th Kaffir War”). This was reported as a ‘very important success’. He served with the 1st Division in 1851, and is recorded as having embarked on the ship Malabar from Portsmouth on the 15th February 1852, again bound for the Cape of Good Hope.

Some Cape Mounted Riflemen effectively mutinied in 1850 by joining a coloured rebellion in the Eastern Cape (http://members.fortunecity.com/78blencowest/ch3.htm). This is the year Lt.-Col. Sutton was put in overall command; it cannot have been an easy assignment. The regiment was mixed White and Coloured until 1854 when coloured recruitment ceased. Lt.-Col. Sutton was promoted to full Colonel on the 28th November 1854. It must be likely that he was a recipient also of Sir Harry Smith’s Medal for Gallantry (Sir Harry Smith (1787-1860) was governor of Cape Colony from 1847 and had this medal struck at his own expense and awarded to troopers who took part in the epic ride from Fort Cox to Kingwilliamstown in 1851. Only 31 medals were presented. Harrismith in the Orange Free State was named in his honour, and Ladysmith in Natal was named after his beautiful and spirited Spanish wife, Juanita), which was awarded for the 8th Kaffir War of 1850-1851, primarily to members of the Cape Mounted Rifles. He was granted a financial award for Distinguished and Meritorious service (with the Cape Mounted Riflemen) - on the 3rd August 1858

William relinquished command of the Cape Mounted Riflemen to Lt-Col. G Staunton in 1859, and was given the temporary rank of Brigadier-General of the 31st Regiment of Foot.

The commander of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot was Gen. Sir Patrick Edmonstone Graigie, KCB. William commanded the second Brigade.

An account of the involvement of the 31st Foot in the Chinese War of 1860 (History of the 31st Foot (Huntingdonshire Regiment) and 70th Foot (Surrey Regiment), subsequently the First and Second Battalions, The East Surrey Regiment by Col. H W Pearse, DSO) is appended to this report. It may be noted that the history states, perhaps erroneously, that William died ‘during the war’. He was in command of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division with the rank of Brigadier throughout the operations in the north of China in 1860 and was present at the action of Sinho, the storming of Tangka, the advance on Tientsin and Pekin and the battles of the 18th and 21st September. For this service, His name is first on the medal roll, and he was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath on the 28th February 1861. The regiment was granted the honour of ‘Taku Forts’ on the regimental colour. [The 31st Foot were to become the 1st Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment in 1881.]

General Sutton CB went onto half-pay on the 1st April 1861, and died on the 20th February 1864 at Eastbrook House, Eastbrook Place, Dover (At one time off Maison Dieu Road, Dover). His brother John Sutton of Coombe Down, Bath, was his executor. In 1891 Eastbrook House had become a convent occupied by the Sisters of Charity (Kelly's Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex, 1891. [Part 2. Kent: Court & Trade Directories], page 1001), so it must have been a fairly substantial property.

SOURCES

Army List 1827
- no mention

Army List 1829
p. 260 75th Regiment of Foot
Ensign William Sutton 5th June 1827

Army List 1830
p. 256 75th Regiment of Foot
Ensign William Sutton 5th June 1827

Army List 1832
p. 263 75th Regiment of Foot
Lt. William Sutton 16th March 1830

Army List 1834
p. 264 75th Regiment of Foot
Lt. William Sutton 16th March 1830

Army List 1840
p. 260 75th Regiment of Foot
Capt. William Sutton 30th July 1836

Army List 1844
p. 315 75th Regiment of Foot
Capt. William Sutton, Seniority in Regiment 26th March 1841, Seniority in Army 30th July 1836

Army List 1847
p. 53 & 316, Major William Sutton 9 Nov 1846 Cape Mounted Riflemen

Army List 1853-54 and 1854-55
Lt.-Colonel William Sutton 15 Sep 1848, Major 9 Nov 1846, Captain 30 Jul 1836

Embarkation Returns 1839-1857 WO 25/3504
1852
From: Portsmouth 15 February
Lt-Col. Sutton
Ship: Malabar
Destination: Cape of G.H.

Army List 1856 and 1858-59
p. 27, 399
Colonels
William Sutton 28 Nov 1854
Lt.-Col. 15 Sep 1848
Major 9 Nov 1846

Army List 1861-62
pp. 21, 109, 150, 412
p. 21 Brigadier-Generals
William Sutton, CB 31F

Local or Temporary Rank
Brigadier-General 1 Apr 1861
While in command of a brigade

Member of the Order of the Bath

Lt.-Col. 31st Regiment of Foot
William Sutton CB Seniority in Regt. 18 Mar 1859
Seniority in Army 28 Nov 1854

Army List 1862-63
Officers on Half-Pay
William Sutton CB from 1 Apr 1861

Army List 1863-64
pp. 17, 150, 633
p. 17 Major Generals
William Sutton CB 21 Dec 1862

p. 150 Members of the Order of the Bath
Sutton, Maj.-Gen. William 28 Feb 1861

p. 633 Rewards for Distinguished or Meritorious Service
Maj.-Gen. William Sutton CB
Date from which reward granted: 3 Aug 1858

Army List 1864-65
p. 783
Deaths
Major-Generals
William Sutton CB

Hart’s Army List 1839
7th Regiment of Foot – serving at the Cape of Good Hope – embarked for service 1830
Captains
12y 0m William SUTTON

Hart’s Army List 1841
p. 346 Captains
SUTTON, William On half pay 26 June 1840 Unattached

Hart’s Army List 1845
p. 245 Cape Mounted Riflemen
Captains
17y 9m William SUTTON

Hart’s Army List 1859
p. 30 Colonels
William SUTTON Lt.Col. Cape Mounted Riflemen

p. 354
Colonel SUTTON served throughout the Kaffir War of 1846 and 47 (medal).

Hart’s Army List 1863
p. 30
William SUTTON CB Lt.Col. Half-Pay 31 Foot
Brigadier Comanding a Brigade at Shorncliffe.

ADDITIONAL WEBSITES WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/31stRegimentofFoot.html

http://www.iridis.com/glivar/List_of_Regiments_of_Foot

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/c_nickname.html

William Sutton died on the 20th February 1864 at Eastbrook House, Dover. He died of Acute Hepatitis, from which he had suffered for seven weeks. His age was 56 years, so he was born about 1808. His executor Alfred Templeman of the 21st Fusiliers was present at his death and reported the death to the registrar four days later. [Death Certificate]

COLONEL SIR ROBERT JOHN HARVEY

Army List

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Oman C, 1947, Nelson, The Reprint Society, pp. 426, 431, 450-3, 460, 503, 529

Kennedy, Ludovic, 1976, Nelson and His Captains

Marshall’s Naval Biography, Vol. I, Part II

Edgar Vincent, 2003, Nelson – Love & Fame

David Walder, 1978, Nelson, ISBN 241 899655X

Army List, multiple editions.

Langley M, 1972, The East Surrey Regiment (The 31st and 70th Regiments of Foot)

Pearse H W, 1916, History of the 31st Foot (Huntingdonshire Regiment), 70th Foot (Surrey Regiment), subsequently the 1st & 2nd Battalions, the East Surrey Regiment.

Appendix: MEMORANDUM OF SERVICES OF CAPTAIN SAMUEL SUTTON

Never had any employment on shore either in the impress service or the Sea Fencibles.