A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Moyses, Choyce William
MOYSES. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 11; h-p., 33.)
Choyce William Moyses entered the Navy, in March, 1803, as A.B., on board the Utrecht 64, Capt. Thos. Rogers, employed in the North Sea; and in the course of the same year successively joined the Grampus and Diomede 50’s, flag-ships of Sir Jas. Saumarez off Guernsey. Becoming Midshipman, in Jan. 1804, of the Alcmène 32, Capt. John Stiles, he saw much service in the boats of that frigate off the coast of France; and on removing to the Pomone 38, Capts. Wm. Grenville Lobb and Robt. Barrie, he was employed in a similar manner off the coast of Spain, where he assisted at the boarding and capture of several of the enemy’s privateers and other vessels. In the early part of 1807, having brought a prize under very perilous circumstances into Portsmouth, he took a passage on board the Blanche 38, Capt. Sir Thos. Lavie, for the purpose of rejoining his own ship. Before he could reach the Pomone, however, it was his misfortune to be wrecked, during a stormy night in the month of March, off the island of Ushant; on which occasion 45 of the Blanche’s crew lost their lives. Being in consequence taken prisoner, he was doomed, notwithstanding several attempts at escape, to continue in captivity at Verdun, Givet, and Bitche, part of the time in a dungeon, until the conclusion of the war. His promotion to the rank of Lieutenant took place 11 March, 1815, but he has not been since able to procure employment.