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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: sheeponahill on Monday 31 March 25 20:30 BST (UK)

Title: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: sheeponahill on Monday 31 March 25 20:30 BST (UK)
What is this captain’s name please? It looks like Hames or Hanes, Hamer or Haner. Maybe even Horner?

It was painted in 1825 when he was in his 77th year, so born in 1748-1749 by my reckoning.

It says “Captain” and “R.N.” but he may have worked as a captain of a merchant vessel after serving with the Royal Navy in a more junior capacity (everything is possible).

Please note - this image is part of a picture listed for auction currently with Griffin’s Auctioneers and the images are theirs:
https://auctions.griffinsauctions.co.uk/catalogue/lot/0c80aa7ba7aa0538b41b1fd87f874fa3/bc09431f170ad976be15f1da4fefbdfd/antiques-interiors-collectables-lot-531/

(@admin, I think this is ok isn’t it?)
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: Tin man on Monday 31 March 25 20:36 BST (UK)
I reckon it looks like Captain Hamer R.N.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: Bookbox on Monday 31 March 25 21:19 BST (UK)
It's hard to see, but I think it is n in the middle, not m. It could be Horner.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: sheeponahill on Monday 31 March 25 21:32 BST (UK)
I wondered about Horner too…
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 01 April 25 01:51 BST (UK)
I don't think it ends with an "s" or an "r", the last 2 letters look more like the "en" in "taken" and "then" below. I think the second letter is most like an "a". So possibly HANEN? Or maybe HANSEN or HARSEN?

Although HORNER would make more sense - there are a number of newspaper references in the late 1700s/early 1800s to a Captain HORNER (probably more than one).
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: sheeponahill on Tuesday 01 April 25 16:09 BST (UK)
Thank you. I’ve had very little luck figuring out who it is. I feel like I should have enough between the partial name, captain rank and year of birth, but nothing yet.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 01 April 25 21:22 BST (UK)
Could it be Hanee I wonder?
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 01 April 25 22:57 BST (UK)
That got me thinking Wiggy. could also be HANCE. I can see references to a Captain HANCE RN around the right time.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:00 BST (UK)
Definitely a possibility.   Better than Hanee too.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: Gadget on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:17 BST (UK)
Is it Harner or Horner  ?
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: sheeponahill on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:32 BST (UK)
Yes I think Hance is a really nice one. I have been trying to find a Captain Hance R.N. who might have been born around 1748, but nothing conclusive yet.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:32 BST (UK)
There is a John HANCE, Commander in the Royal Navy who died in Helston 1836 aged 89, so born c1747. His will is on Ancestry, mentions daughter Mary (bap Stoke Damerel 22 Feb 1787) who married Francis JAMES (attorney) in 1828.

A possibility.
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:38 BST (UK)
For interest, Mary JAMES died 5 Oct 1852. Death notice
Saturday,  Oct. 9, 1852
Publication: Bristol Mercury
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: sparrett on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:40 BST (UK)
Hi Maddy,
Is this the same man?
I'm not able to see more
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:41 BST (UK)
A death notice
   Friday,  Nov. 25, 1836
Publication: Royal Cornwall Gazette
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:44 BST (UK)
Quote from: sparrett on Tuesday 01 April 25 23:40 BST (UK)
Hi Maddy,
Is this the same man?
I'm not able to see more

yes, that's the same. It was the first reference I saw that started me tracking who he might be.  :D

Saturday,  Apr. 19, 1828
Publication: Royal Cornwall Gazette
Title: Re: Royal Navy captain's name
Post by: PatLac on Wednesday 02 April 25 02:12 BST (UK)
His Royal Navy history

https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_crewman&id=7975