A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Rootes, John
ROOTES. (Lieut., 1810. f-p., 17; h-p., 34.)
John Rootes, born 23 Feb. 1780, at Elham, co. Kent, is eldest son of the late Chas. Rootes, Esq., Surgeon, of that place.
This officer entered the Navy, 7 Jan. 1796, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Formidable 98, Capts. Geo. Murray, Hon. Geo. Cranfield Berkeley, Robt. Williams, John Irwin, Jas. Hawkins Whitshed, Edw. Thornbrough, and Rich. Grindall: in which ship, bearing for some time the flags of Sir Roger Curtis and Sir Chas. Thompson, he continued employed as Midshipman, in the Channel, North Sea, Mediterranean, and West Indies, until Sept. 1802. In the course of 1803 he became attached in succession to the Minerve and Helder frigates, Capts. Jahleel Brenton and Edw. Hawkins, and, as Master’s Mate, to the Prince 98, Capt. Rich. Grindall. In Jan. 1805, he removed to the Weymouth 42, Capt. John Draper, attached to the force in the East Indies; and, on 4 Sept. 1805, he was ordered to act as a Lieutenant in that ship. Between July, 1806, and Dec. 1803 he served, on the Home station, as Lieutenant, in the Ardent 64, Capt. Geo. Eyre, Inconstant 36, Capt. Edw. Stirling Dickson, and Peruvian 18, Capt. Fras. Douglas. While Senior of the latter vessel he was employed in watching the Boulogne flotilla and in landing secret papers on the coast of France. On 30 Dec. 1809 he was dismissed the service by sentence of court-martial for a breach of discipline in having, upon complaint from the officers, punished the gnn-room cook. Being however strongly recommended to the court by his Captain, who on the occasion produced a letter of thanks highly laudatory of the conduct he had displayed on the secret service above alluded to, he was restored by the Admiralty 3 Feb. 1810, and appointed to the Monmouth 64, Capt. Michael Dodd, stationed in the Downs. He afterwards, from May, 1812, until March, 1814, served in the Channel on board the Tigre 80, Capt. John Halliday. He has since been on half-pay.
The Lieutenant married, 10 May, 1815, Miss Eleanor Rose, a lady by whom he has had issue 20 children, 15 of whom are yet living.