Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Amazon 13 March 1806, 6 Jan Boat Service 1813 (Joseph Payne.) good very fine £8,000-£10,000

Glendining’s, October 1911; Fergus Gowans Collection (1947-71); Christie’s, November 1985; Colin Message Collection.

30 clasps issued for Amazon’s action, and 25 for the Boat Service action.

Joseph Payne is confirmed on the rolls as a Landsman at the first action and as an Ordinary Seaman in the boats of Bacchante at the latter. It is a unique name and a unique clasp combination.

Payne, born in London and with a stated age of 22, was a Landsman on the Amazon 38 (turned over from Victory), at the former action and an ordinary seaman in the boats of Bacchante at the latter. His surname is given as ‘Paine’ (no. 362) in the Amazon's books (ADM 36/16336). He appears as Joseph Payne (no. 217) on Bacchante's and like most of the crew had joined directly from the Amazon. His age on commissioning in November 1811 is given as 28. A Joseph Payne was baptised on 4 December 1785 in St Saviour's, Southwark, who is very likely to be this man.

Two French ships, the Marengo 80 and Belle Poule 40 were returning to their home port from the East Indies, when they were spotted by the Foudroyant, Amazon and London. Amazon (Captain William Parker) pursued the Belle Poule and London, the Marengo. Both the French ships were brought to action off Brest and forced to surrender. The Boat Service clasp was awarded to crews of boats from Bacchante and Weazle who attacked French gunboats in Otranto harbour and captured five of them.

Sold with research notes compiled by Colin Message.