Biography of Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis 1764-1805
Paternal Family Tree: Ricketts aka Jervis
On 19 Apr 1757 [his father] Wiliam Henry Ricketts (age 20) and [his mother] Mary Jervis (age 20) were married.
On 04 Nov 1764 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis was born to Wiliam Henry Ricketts (age 27) and Mary Jervis (age 27) at Park Street, Grosvenor Square, Belgravia.
In 1781 William Ricketts (age 16) entered the service aboard the Foudroyant commanded by his uncle [his uncle] John Jervis (age 45).
On 20 Apr 1782 the Foudroyant captured the Pégase 74 after a long chase off Brest. William Ricketts (age 17) was present.
On 05 Sep 1782 William Ricketts (age 17) was promoted to Lieutenant, and he joined the Success.
On 05 Sep 1782 William Ricketts (age 17) was promoted to Commander.
In 1792 [his future wife] Elizabeth Jane Lambert (age 16) was awarded damages of four thousand guineas against a newspaper which had alleged that she had eloped with a footman.
On 09 Nov 1793 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis (age 29) and Elizabeth Jane Lambert (age 18) were married.
In 1799 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis (age 34) and Elizabeth Jane Lambert (age 23) were divorced by an Act of Parliament following Elizabeth’s infidelity with a Captain Hargrave of the Lancashire Fencibles, whereupon Jervis was awarded a thousand guineas damages.
On 05 Oct 1799 [his father] Wiliam Henry Ricketts (age 62) died. Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis (age 34) and [his brother] Edward Jervis Ricketts aka Jervis 2nd Viscount St Vincent (age 32) jointly inherited the estate of Mount Ricketts in Jamaica with a deferral of twenty-one years, together with the estate of Canaan on that island.
The London Gazette 15336. Whitehall, April 21, 1801. The King has been pleased to grant the Dignity of a Viscount of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to the Right Honorable [his uncle] John Earl of St. Vincent (age 66), Knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, and Admiral of the White Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet, and to the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten by the Name, Style, and Title of Viscount St. Vincent, of Meaford, in the County of Stafford, with Remainders severally and successively to William Henry Ricketts (age 36), Esq; Captain in the Royal Navy, and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten; to [his brother] Edward Jervis Ricketts (age 34), Esq; Barrister at Law, Brother of the said William Henry Ricketts (age 36), and Sons of Mary Ricketts (age 64) by William Henry Ricketts. Esq; late of the Island of Jamaica, deceased, and Sister to the said John Earl of St. Vincent (age 66), and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten, and the Dignity of Viscountess St. Vincent, of Meaford, in the said County.of Stafford, to the Right Honourable [his sister] Mary Countess of Northesk (age 32), Daughter of the said Mary Ricketts (age 64), and Widow of William Henry Ricketts aforesaid, and the Dignity of Viscount St. Vincent to the Heirs Male of her Body lawfully be gotten.
On 26 Jan 1805 Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis (age 40) drowned at Brest when the four-oared gig in which he and Captain Patrick Campbell of the Doris had set off to attend Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton (age 47) aboard his flagship San Josef capsized. Campbell survived by clinging to an oar, but Jervis died despite the valiant efforts of his coxswain who stayed with his captain until he could no longer save him.
On 17 Jan 1830 [his former wife] Elizabeth Jane Lambert (age 54) died.
Father: Wiliam Henry Ricketts
Captain William Henry Ricketts aka Jervis
GrandFather: Swynfen Jervis
Mother: Mary Jervis