Thomas Curtis, Commander, Royal Navy

His father was a Master Mariner, building ships.

1793 - 17 year old Thomas was on board one of his father's ships when he was press-ganged (abducted) into the Royal Navy

To his credit he rose in rank:

• 1805 Acting Master, HMS Lancaster
• 1828 Master on ss Seahorse.
• 1849 Commander, Royal Navy (Honorary title upon retirement)

HMS Hope, 26th Sept 1796 to 29th Nov 1796 (2 months, 1 week & 2 days). HMS Vindictive, 30th Nov 1796 to 26th Jan 1797 (2 months & 2 days). HMS Imperieuse, 24th? Jan 1797 to 26th Mar 1801 (4 years 2 months & 2 days). HMS Wi????, 27th Mar 1801 to 17th June 1804 (3 years, 2 months, 3 weeks & 6 days). HMS Lancaster, 18th Jun 1804 to 31st Aug 1806 (2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks & 6 days). HMS Seahorse, 2nd Dec 1806 to 24th Jun 1811 (4 years, 7 months, 1 week & 2 days). HMS Dannemark, 11th Apr 1812 to 29th Apr 1815 (3 years, 2 weeks & 5 days). HMS Protector, 15th Feb 1817 to 12th Mar 1818 (1 year, 3 weeks and 5 days).

While serving aboard HMS Seahorse the ship was involved in two notable actions:

On the 6th July 1808, HMS Seahorse captured the Turkish Frigate; Badere Zaffere. In 1847 this action was recognised when the 38 remaining crew members of HMS Seahorse were awarded the Naval General Service Medal (NGSM) with clasp and Thomas Curtis was one of the 38 to receive this medal in 1847 and a medal role survives showing his name.

On the 22nd August 1810, HMS Seahorse also saw action against the French Brig Renard.

According to his service record, Thomas spent a total of 18 years, 8 months and 2 days at sea up until 1818. Thomas remained with the Royal Navy until 1845 probably on half pay while not at sea. He continued to live in Kings Lynn until he passed away on the 3rd September 1855.

1841 Census for Parish of All Saints, South Lynn, Norfolk, UK

• Thomas 65-born 1776- Navy Half-Pay (I.e. Retired)
• Thomas 20-born 1821 - Merchants' Son
• Jane 50- born 1791
• Mary (Jane) 14-born 1827

(Witness to his daughter's marriage 2 May 1849 - Mary Jane Curtis to Thomas William Sheringham - at All Saints Parish Church of South Lynn)

Native of Kings Lynn, Norfolk

After his wife, Jane, passed on in 1843, Thomas is known to have married again. His second wife was called Sofia and by 1851, Thomas and Sophia lived at; number 8, London Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

Died 3 September 1855

[see National Archives (UK) Number 467 - Executor's Notes]

• PROB 11/2223/387
• Description: 4th November 1850 Will of Thomas Curtis, Commander in Her Majesty's Navy of Kings Lynn , Norfolk
• Proved: 22 December 1855
• Held by: The National Archives, Kew
• ADM 45/34/46
• Number: 467 Thomas Curtis, Commander Royal Navy (retired), who died: 3 September 1855. Notes on executor's application for money owed by the Royal Navy.
• Date: 1855
• Held by: The National Archives, Kew

Thomas left a will written on the 4th November 1850 and proved in London on the 22nd December 1855 by his executors; 1). The Reverend Vincent Raven (nephew of Thomas’s first wife Jane) and 2). Thomas Wells a chemist from Kings Lynn.

Thomas and Jane’s children are mentioned in the will;

• Thomas Michael Curtis (the will states that for some years Thomas Michael had been living in Australia),
• Francis Raven Curtis,
• . James Dillon Curtis
• Mary Jane Sherringham (nee Curtis).

Burial 7 September 1855

• Thomas Curtis
• England Deaths and Burials
• Name Thomas Curtis
• Gender Male
• Burial Date 07 Sep 1855
• Burial Place All Saints, South Lynn, Norfolk, England

CITATION: "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J8JP-5PL : 24 December 2014), Thomas Curtis, 07 Sep 1855; citing , reference item 5 p 66; FHL microfilm 1,471,635.

Also King's Lynn and area forum for Hardwick Road Cemetery has posted a couple of photos of his tomb (shown here on his profile page) with the following info:

• Grave Section C Number 193
• Sacred to the memory of/ Commander THOMAS CURTIS R.N./ native of King’s Lynn/ who died Sep 3rd 1855, aged 82 years/ he served his country from the year 1793 to 1845 without intermission
• Coloured inscription and designs of anchors/ large iron anchor on ledger stone
• The text and embellishments were originally coloured red and blue and there are still small traces of the pigment in some of the corners.