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SEVERN (48) 4th rate Built in 1739, Plymouth.
Broken up in 1747.

  • 1739 Capt. Hon. John FORBES, on 10th. August removed from the PORT MAHON whose men were turned over to SEVERN. Employed as a cruiser in the Channel capturing a Spanish privateer of 14 guns. On 19th. July 1740 he removed to TYGER.
  • 1740 Capt. Hon. Edward LEGGE. With the squadron which sailed in September 1740 under Commodore George ANSON on an expedition to the South Seas. In April 1741 off Tierra del Fuego, SEVERN and PEARL, Capt. MURRAY, were separated from the rest of the ships during a great gale and were obliged to put back to Brazil.
  • Capt. Legge's Account. Rio de Janeiro, 4th. July 1741.
  • "The Squadron left St. Julian's the 27th. February, and on the 7th. March passed the Straights of La Maire with great success and fair weather; but the next day met with fresh gales, which from that time increased to such very hard gales from N. N.W. to W. N.W, with such prodigious seas as exceeded any they had ever seen before, it tore over their shrouds and sails, and sprung their yards and masts. On the 10th. April they were in the latitude of 55 deg 55 min and longitude 91 deg 54 min. That night they lost sight of the commodore and and all of the squadron, except the Pearl. On the 13th., in the morning, they saw the land at day break from the W. N.W. to the S. E. very high, and not above 5 leagues distant; upon sight of which they endeavoured to wear, which they were more than an hour before they could perform, and then stood to westward as much as the winds would permit them; but the wind coming to N. W. and by W. and W. N.W. and blowing almost a continuous storm for forty days together, with exceeding great seas, they beat most of the time under reefed courses. On the 1st. June they spoke with with a Portuguese vessel bound to Bahia, who told them Cape Frio bore W. S.W. 30 leagues; and on the 30th. June, by the great mercy of God, they arrived safe in this port, where they were received with exceeding great friendship and humanity, after having lost a great number of men by fatigue and sickness, among which last were the captain, lieutenant and ensign of the invalids."
  • The transports WILLIAM, William Laws, master, and the ASHTEAD, Alexander Lowden, master were loaded with stores and provisions at Woolwich for the SEVERN and PEARL. Wen it was found that they could not carry men as well, the DUKE OF CUMBERLAND, WILLIAM h ARDING, master, was hired to take out 200 men.
  • Capt. LEGGE returned to England after his invalids had sufficiently recovered, he removed to the STRAFFORD. SEVERN was "in ordinary" at Portmouth during 1742-43.
  • 1744? Capt William LISLE, West Indies. In September 1746 SEVERN and SHEERNESS were escorting a convoy of merchant ships back to England when they fell in with a French squadron of four ships under the Marquis de Conflans. SEVERN maintained a running fight for more than two hours before she was compelled to surrender to superior force. On his return he was promoted to command VIGILANT.
  • SEVERN was recaptured on 14th. October 1747 in an action off Cape Finisterre by Rear Adm. HAWKE.


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