SAMUEL BROOKING, Esq
[Superannuated Rear-Admiral.]
We have not been able to trace with any degree of accuracy the descent of the family of Brooking, though from their arms, some documents in their possession, and the names of several estates in Devonshire and Cornwall, such as Palestine, Judea, &c., once belonging to them, we have reason to believe that their ancestors were not idle during the Holy Wars. The officer of whom we are about to speak was born at Newton Ferrers, in the former county, about 1753; went first to sea with the Hon. Captain John Leveson Gower, in 1765; and subsequently served as a Midshipman, under the late Sir Roger Curtis, Lord Howe, and Sir Richard Onslow; by the latter of whom he was placed in command of a gunboat belonging to the St. Albans, during the expedition up Hudson’s River, to relieve General Burgoyne. On this occasion, forts Montgomery and Clinton were carried by storm; the enemy, on their retreat, setting fire to two new frigates and several other vessels, which were totally destroyed. They also abandoned and burnt fort Constitution, and Continental village. In the last were barracks for 1500 men; a large boom or chain, of a curious construction, was either carried away or sunk; its value was estimated at 70,000l. sterling.
Previous to his quitting the gunboat, Mr. Brooking, when making a diversion to favor the landing of some troops at the mouth of a river, and with a view of cutting off an American galley, narrowly escaped destruction, by a shot passing through the corner of his powder chest; and his gun being at the same time disabled, he was obliged to withdraw.
In 1778, Lord Howe made him a Lieutenant; in which capacity we find him serving on board the Strombolo fire-vessel, Galatea of 20 guns, and Prudent 64, at the relief of Rhode Island[1]; Fort M‘Lean[2], and St. Kitts’; an account
- ↑ See Retired Captain, Sir A. S. Hamond.
- ↑ About the middle of June, 1779, Colonel M‘Lean sailed from Halifax with 600 troops, escorted by three sloops of war, to the Penobscot river, where on his arrival he established a strong post extremely well chosen for annoying the enemy; who, greatly alarmed at this transaction, immediately equipped a formidable armament at Boston, appointing Commodore Saltenstall to the command.
