English ship Jersey (1654)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Jersey.

The Jersey was a 40-gun fourth rate frigate of the English Navy, originally built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England by the contract shipbuilder James Starling at Maldon, Essex, and launched in 1654.^[1] In 1660 at the Stuart Restoration she became part of the new Royal Navy without change of name. By 1666 her armament had been increased to 48 guns, comprising 22 culverins on the lower deck, 20 demi-culverins on the upper deck, and 6 sakers on the quarterdeck.^[1]

Commodore Richard Beach and Dutch Admiral Van Ghent in a joint task force destroy six Barbary ships near Cape Spartel, Morocco, 17 August 1670, Jersey is the third left ship shown
History
England[1]
Name	Jersey
Ordered	27 December 1652
Builder	James Starling, Maldon
Launched	1654
Commissioned	1654
Captured	1691, by the French
France
Acquired	1691
Fate	Destroyed, 10 May 1694
General characteristics [2]
Class & type	Fourth rate frigate
Tons burthen	560 43⁄94 bm
Length	101 ft 10 in (31.0 m) (keel)
Beam	32 ft 2 in (9.8 m)
Draught	15 ft 6 in (4.7 m)
Depth of hold	13 ft 3 in (4.0 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	190
Armament	40 guns (1660); 48 guns (1677)

In 1669, the diarist Samuel Pepys, while a member of the Navy Board, was temporarily named captain of Jersey as a legal maneuver to make him eligible to sit on a court-martial.^[3]

in March 1689 Jersey, together with the merchantman Deliverance brought stores to the city of Derry, which allowed it to sustain the Siege of Derry. The expedition was commanded by Captain James Hamilton, later the 6th Earl of Abercorn. The Jersey was commanded by Captain John Beverley RN.^[4]

Jersey was captured by two French warships off Guadeloupe on 18 December 1691 and added to the French Navy under the name Jerzé. She was attacked in Berthiaume Bay on 10 May 1694 by the British warships Monmouth, Resolution and fireship Roebuck,^[1] but survived and remained in the French service until sold in 1717.^[5]