Catalogue description Folio 128: George Larkin, Courts Martial on board the Neptune, the Nore, to enquire...

Folio 128: George Larkin, Courts Martial on board the Neptune, the Nore, to enquire into; the sinking of the England frigate, which engaged a French private man of war. The court acquitted the Lieutenant, Boatswain, Purser and all the ships company; Charles Leadbeater and Robert Wilson were accused of deserting from the St. Paul fireship. It appeared they were very young lads and watermen's servants and had been given leave from Captain Mitchell to go to London for their clothes, where their Master would not let them return to the ship again. They were acquitted. Their Master's names are John Davies, who lives at the Swan Chelsea and Richard Woodstock of 3 Lunne Alley, Lambeth, Vauxhall; Robert Harding, a Marine Soldier in the Company of Captain Billop, in the Regiment of the Lord Marquis of Carmarthen, for deserting the Princess Anne. He was acquitted as the ship sailed before he could get aboard and he followed in to Cadiz and continued his service in the Rochester Enclosed in f127.