A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Jeayes, John
JEAYES. (Lieut., 1825. f-p., 25; h-p., 9)
John Jeayes, born 25 Dec. 1799, at Coventry, is son of the late Henry Jeayes, Esq., of that city; step-son of the late, and step-brother of the present Capt. John Mascal, R.M.; and brother-in-law of Rich. Rodney Bligh Hopley, Esq., Surgeon R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, in April, 1813, as Sec.-cl. Boy, on board the Asia 74, Capts. Geo. Scott, John Wainwright, and Alex. Skene; in which ship we find him present, as Fst.-cl. Vol., in the attacks on Washington, Alexandria, Fort Bowyer, Baltimore, and New Orleans. Having attained the rating of Midshipman 1 Sept. 1815, he joined, in Feb. 1816, the Ramillies 74, Capt. Thos. Boys, with whom he served for two years and seven months on the Home station; after which he appears to have been employed on the coast of Africa from 28 May, 1819, until 10 Aug. 1823, nearly the whole time as Master’s Mate, in the Snapper brig, commanded in succession by various Lieutenants. During that period Mr. Jeayes was twice in action with pirates. He assisted also at the destruction of several slave-factories in the river Pongo; and, in Aug. 1821, having volunteered his services, he succeeded, in a boat with only 14 hands, in cutting out from Duke’s Town the Portuguese schooner Conceicao of 6 guns and 36 men, with 256 slaves on board – for his skill in navigating which vessel to Sierra Leone, although making three feet water per hour, he received the thanks of his Commander, Lieut. Christopher Knight. In Sept. 1822 Mr. Jeayes (who had passed his examination in the previous Feb.) was again sent in charge of a prize to Sierra Leone, during the last nine days of his passage whither he suffered great privations, being reduced to half a pint of water and a pint of Indian corn a-day. On the return to England of the Snapper in Aug. 1823, he voluntarily joined the Prince Regent colonial brig, for the purpose of co-operating with the troops in the Ashantee war. Succeeding soon to the command of that vessel, Mr. Jeayes, among other important and particular services, effectually covered the retreat of Lieut. Erskine and 149 of his men, after the death of Sir Chas. McCarthy at the battle of Assamacow, and, by his exertions in procuring fresh provisions, had the good fortune of preventing the garrison of Cape Coast Castle from delivering themselves into the hands of their ferocious enemy. He likewise on one occasion, in 1824, proceeded with the boats from Sierra Leone off the Iles de Los, a distance of about 70 miles, and captured Les Deux Soeurs with 136 slaves on board. In consequence, however, of the great fatigue endured by him in the performance of that service, having been exposed in an open boat for eight days and nights, he was for two months laid up with an attack of African fever. On being sent home with despatches for the benefit of his health, he was at length, through the strong recommendation of Major-General Chas. Stuart, Governor of Sierra Leone, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by commission dated 17 Oct. 1825. Returning again to his former station, as second in command of the African steamer, he there assumed the successive Captaincy, 3 April and 16 May, 1826, of the colonial vessels Susan and Revenge. In the following Aug. Mr. Jeayes was once more compelled to invalid. His subsequent appointments were – 23 Feb. 1830, to the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Talavera 74, Capts. Hugh Pigot and David Colby – 18 April, 1831, to the Coast Guard – 1 Aug. 1836, to the Victory 104, flag-ship at Portsmouth of Sir Fred. Lewis Maitland – 18 May, 1839, again to the Coast Guard – and, 4 Feb. 1840, and between Feb. 1843 and 14 Aug. 1844, to the successive command of the African, Alban, Pluto, and Alban steam-vessels, on the West India and Home stations. He then again invalided; but, since 29 Sept. 1846, has held a second appointment in the Coast Guard.
Lieut. Jeayes married, 8 Feb. 1826, Josephina, eldest daughter of the late John Wm. Alston, Esq., of Edinburgh, by whom he has issue a son and five daughters.