HMS Blenheim 1857

[Joanna Tolhurst]

According to the Navy List for 1857, HMS Blenheim was stationed at Portsmouth. She was a screw steam guardship 450hp.
Any ideas of where I should look to find any voyages she made around 30 Sept 1857?

Jo

[liverpool annie]

Hi JoT!!

I was looking for obit clippings and came across this - they say it's maybe a bit later than 1857 - but the uncertainty made me think it might be interesting!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1800s-Photograph-H-M-S-Blenheim-Channel-Squadron_W0QQitemZ6502621291QQcategoryZ125QQcmdZViewItem

Annie

[MarMnkly]

Hi Jo there's a bit about the Blenheim in the Times for September [12th September] and October [Monday, Oct 19, 1857 - Portsmouth harbour] that fits with being stationed at Portsmouth. I can't see anything relating to voyages at this time.

Margaret

[Joanna Tolhurst]

Thanks Annie for the link to the photo and thanks Margaret for the Times ref.  Was the Blenheim at Portsmouth harbour on both of those dates according to the Times?

[MarMnkly]

Hi Jo, got to retype so will post individually for each date - hope this helps:

Wed August 12 1857
"Her Majesty's ship St Vincent 102, Captain Eyres, C.B; and Blenheim, 60, Captain the Hon F.T. Pelham, C.B, returned to spithead yesterday from their special services at Spithead and resumed their former occupations."

[MarMnkly]

Sept 12th 1857
"The Victory, 104, Captain G.H. Seymour, C.B., has been taken into the basin at portsmouth to be stripped, prior to a thorough survey and examination to ascertain whether she is repair-worthy again. The Port Admiral, Sir George Seymour, whose flag she carries, returned from his tour in the Black Eagle yesterday, and hoisted his flag in the Blenheim, screw depot ship of the steam reserve, Captain the Hon. F.T. Pelham, C.B."

[MarMnkly]

October 19th 1857
"The Brazillian corvette Imperial Marinhero, 15 guns, arrived at Spithead on Saturday forenoon, and saluted the flag of Rear-Admiral Baynes........... This was a mistake, as the flag of Admiral Sir George Seymour, the Commander in Cheif, was flying on board the Blenheim, in Portsmouth harbour; but as the salute could not be unfired, the Blenheim acknowledged it with the same number of guns."

[Joanna Tolhurst]

Thankyou Margaret, I think that they were extremely helpful.  Gt gt grandpa James Graham joined the Blenheim on the 30th Sept, so since she was in Portsmouth on the 12th and then the 19th Oct, she was most likely there when he joined.