Artificer at capture of St Lucia 1794

[PATc2]

I have a piece of paper dated 1801 from 'No 31 Minories London'. It relates to John Northcroft a bricklayer in the Artificers Department and goes on to say that he died on or around 24 May 1794 at the capture of Martinique, St Lucia and Guadaloupe under the command of Gen Sir Charles Grey.

The paper tells the holder that they may apply for a prize of £4.18.6 etc.

I believe that John may have been the brother of my ggggrandmother Sarah Payne (nee Northcroft)who lived in Thatcham, Berks. I am surprised that no-one applied for this money which I assume is some sort of death in service benefit.
Is he likely to have been in the Navy, how can I trce when and where he signed up and the ship that he served on? Can anyone shed a bit more light on this flimsy faded piece of paper please?

[km1971]

I assume is some sort of death in service benefit.

No, its for the prize money for the capture of these islands from the French. You will need to research the ships involved and then see if the crew lists survive. This is before continous service existed in the navy, so there are no service records for individuals.

Ken

[neil1821]

I have a piece of paper dated 1801 from 'No 31 Minories London'. It relates to John Northcroft a bricklayer in the Artificers Department and goes on to say that he died on or around 24 May 1794 at the capture of Martinique, St Lucia and Guadaloupe under the command of Gen Sir Charles Grey.

The highlighted bit would suggest to me he was Army rather than RN.
The fleet was commanded by Admiral Sir John Jervis. The fleet landed troops commanded by General Grey. Several regiments involved.

[crimea1854]

At the start of this campaign the Royal Corps of Military Articifers raised a company of articifers at Spithead, Hampshire, for service in the West Indies under the command of Lt Col. C Shipley. This company was known as the West India Company, and they suffered a high level of casualties due to Yellow Fever. The Corps of Military Articifers were to eventually become part of the Royal Engineers.

The National Archives at Kew, hold documents relating to the payment of this Prize Money, which was made in two installments, so it could be worth checking  these to see if your man is there. For the Articifiers the Catalogue Ref. is WO 164/38, and the Royal Engineers WO 164/39. There are different references for the second installment, again prefixed WO 164.

Martin

[PATc2]

Thanks for the advice and information everyone, that has given me a bit more flesh on the bone about this flimsy paper and John too, I can't find him in the archives at the moment but will persist in case his name is spelt wrong as I assume that each person who is listed had a similiar document and vice versa.
Pat