British naval officers in Latin America

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Chile, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay

This page is being used to collate information for a number of Wikitree profiles.

The end of the Napoleonic war and the decommissioning of the fleet hit all Royal Navy commissioned officers particularly hard: in 1818 almost 90 per cent of them were unemployed (‘on half-pay’), many in deep debt and desperate enough to seek any kind of work – although service in foreign navies, which required leaving the British half-pay, was rarely pursued.

When military conflict and economic disruption in the river Plate region led to a British naval occupation of the river Paraná in 1845–46, traders from many nations followed the warships upstream hoping to conduct business in the Argentine interior and with Paraguay. Since the 1920s historians have uniformly disparaged this Paraná expedition as a commercial failure, insisting that the foreign intruders found neither trade nor welcome among the local populations. In Argentine historiography, the episode is consistently presented as a successful assertion of national identity in the face of European imperial assault. Research here, however, demonstrates not only the expedition's economic success but, again contrary to established opinion, its military and strategic achievements, before the British government abandoned its policy of armed intervention. The Paraná was eventually opened to foreign navigation by international treaties in 1853.^[1]

Contents 1 Interesting People 2 Searches for Grenfell, Parker, Masini Corbella and Rowley (1829-1888) 2.1 Guía de información Genealógica: Busca tus ancestros en Latinoamérica - Uruguay 2.2 Family Search 3 Sources

Interesting People

Thomas Cochrane, Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, Marquess of Maranhão https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cochrane,_10th_Earl_of_Dundonald

• Chilean War of Independence - (During 1818-1820) In the middle of 1818, Bernardo O'Higgins, through his agent in London, had recruited Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, a daring and successful captain of the Napoleonic Wars with well-known radical views to take command of the recently created Chilean Navy. Cochrane arrived in Valparaiso in December 1818, became a Chilean citizen of unrecognized state, was appointed vice admiral, and took command with pay and allowances of £1200: 38  a year. O'Higgins founded the first Squadron of Chile on November 20, 1817. Indeed, one of the characteristics of the first squad was the heterogeneity of its crew, consisting mainly of two large groups: those who spoke English and those who spoke Spanish.[26] It was stipulated that each ship should be governed by the language of its commander.[27]
  • As of November 1818, being commanded by Lord Thomas Cochrane, which meant that approximately 500 British, including sailors and officers, were integrated with him.
• Freedom Expedition of Peru https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberating_Expedition_of_Peru (1820-1822) a naval and land military force created in 1820 by the government of Chile in continuation of the plan of the Argentine General José de San Martín to achieve the independence of Peru, and thus consolidate the independence of all former Spanish-American colonies.
  • Bernardo O'Higgins, as Supreme Director of Chile, appointed José de San Martín chief of the United Liberation Army of Chile and the former British Naval officer, the Scot, Thomas, Lord Cochrane, commander of the naval fleet.
  • First Chilean Naval Squadron
  • On 20 August 1820 the expedition sailed from Valparaíso for Paracas, near Pisco in Perú. The escort was provided by the squadron and consisted of the
    • flagship O'Higgins (under Captain Thomas Sackville Crosbie),
    • frigate San Martín (Captain William Wilkinson),
    • frigate Lautaro (Captain Martin Guise),
    • the corvette Independencia (Captain Robert Forster),
    • the brigs Galvarino (Captain John Tooker Spry),
    • Araucano (Captain Thomas Carter), and
    • Pueyrredón (Lieutenant William Prunier) and the schooner Moctezuma (Lieutenant George Young).
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Independence_of_Brazil was waged between the newly independent Brazilian Empire and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, which had just undergone the Liberal Revolution of 1820. It lasted from February 1822, when the first skirmishes took place, to March 1824, with the surrender of the Portuguese garrison in Montevideo.
  • The Brazilian Navy was led by British officer Thomas Cochrane. The newly renovated navy experienced a number of early setbacks due to sabotage by Portuguese-born men in the naval crews. But by 1823 the navy had been reformed and the Portuguese members were replaced by native Brazilians, freed slaves, pardoned prisoners as well as more experienced British and American mercenaries.
  • A campanha do Maranhão. Também na Província do Maranhão, as elites agrícolas e pecuaristas eram muito ligadas à Metrópole. À época, o Maranhão era uma das mais ricas províncias da América Portuguesa. São Luís, permanecia controlada pelos portugueses. Enviada do Rio de Janeiro, uma frota comandada por Lord Cochrane aproximou-se de São Luís fingindo ser reforços portugueses. Cochrane conseguiu desembarcar seus homens e aprisionou alguns chefes militares portugueses. Usando-os comoSão Luís, a capital provincial e tradicional reduto português, finalmente bloqueada pelo mar e ameaçada de bombardeio pela esquadra de Thomas Cochrane, foi obrigada a se render, aderindo à Independência em 28 de julho de 1823.
  • A campanha do Pará. O Grão-Pará, localizado na região amazônica, foi a última província a aderir à Independência do Brasil. Em agosto de 1823, D. Pedro I enviou para Belém um navio comandado por John Pascoe Grenfell. Usando de astúcia anunciou que uma grande esquadra estaria chegando a Belém e que qualquer resistência por parte dos lusitanos seria inútil. Com medo da ameaça, os portugueses não reagiram, e a província de Grão-Pará se incorporou ao Império do Brasil no dia 15 daquele mês.
• The eventful and controversial life of a bold, brave and radical leader has inspired many characters in fiction; Horatio Hornblower, in C.S.Forester’s novels was modelled on his character and Sharpe’s Devil by Bernard Cornwell features an experience from Cochrane’s time in Chile. Perhaps the most famous fictional figure would be Captain Jack Aubrey, created by Patrick O’Brian and the inspiration for the 2003 film, ‘Master and Commander’.

John Pascoe Grenfell (1800-1869)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pascoe_Grenfell

• John Pascoe Grenfell (20 September 1800 – 20 March 1869) was a British officer of the Empire of Brazil. He spent most of his service in South America campaigns, initially under the leadership of Lord Cochrane and then Commodore Norton.
  • Vale, Brian A War Betwixt Englishmen: Brazil against Argentina in the River Plate 1825-30, I B Tauris, 2000
• In 1823, he followed Lord Cochrane to Brazil, to fight in the Brazilian War of Independence. In August 1823, Grenfell now a Commander in the small brig Dom Miguel sailed to Belem do Pará and using a similar tactic used by Lord Cochrane at Maranham, persuaded the Portuguese forces to surrender by making them think a larger fleet was in the offing.
• During the war with Argentina in 1826, he commanded the brig Caboclo as part of the squadron blockading Buenos Aires under (British) Commodore James Norton. On 29 July, while engaged in a naval battle against the Argentine fleet, whose commander was admiral William Brown, he lost his right arm. He then returned to England to recuperate.
  • The naval Battle of Quilmes took place between a fleet of the Imperial Brazilian Navy, commanded by British admiral James Norton and a fleet of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata under the command of William Brown.
• In 1828 Grenfell returned to Brazil, and during 1835–36 he commanded as Commodore a squadron of ships on the lakes of Rio Grande do Sul against the Farrapos rebels.
• In 1841 he was promoted to rear-admiral and in 1846 was appointed Brazilian consul general in Liverpool.
• In 1851, when war broke out between Brazil and Argentine dictator Rosas, Grenfell was posted back to Brazil to take command of their naval forces in the Río de la Plata. In December of that year at the Battle of Tonelero, with the Dom Afonso as his flagship, he successfully forced the passage of the Paraná River carrying a Brazilian army which combined with local forces to defeat Rosas.
  • The Battle of the Tonelero Pass, also known as Passage of the Tonelero, was a battle fought near the cliff of Acevedo, in the west bank of the Paraná River, Argentina, on 17 December 1851, between the Argentine Confederation Army commanded by Lucio Norberto Mansilla and warships of the Brazilian Imperial Navy led by John Pascoe Grenfell.
  • The Brazilian squad was formed by the ships:
    • steam frigate Dom Afonso , commanded by frigate captain Jesuíno Lamego Costa (later Baron of Laguna), 2 pieces of 68 and 4 of 32
    • steam corvette Dom Pedro II commanded by Captain Joaquim Raimundo de Lamara , 2 pieces of 68 and 4 of 32
    • steam corvette Recife commanded by Captain Antônio Francisco da Paixão , 2 culverins of 30 and 2 carronades of 30
    • steamer Dom Pedro commanded by Captain Vitório José Barbosa de Lomba
    • corvette Dona Francisca commanded by the captain of Sea and War William Parker, of 640 tons
    • corvette União commanded by Captain Francisco Vieira da Rocha
    • brigantine Calliope commanded by Lieutenant Francisco Cordeiro Torres e Alvim

William Parker married Maria Engracia Masini Corbella, 13 Feb 1829 in Montevideo, Uruguay
Maria Engracia's father was Andrés Antonio MASINI RUBERTI 1765 Livorno, Tuscany, Italy Jan 19 1813 (at age ‎~48‏) Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay Son of Nicolas Masini and Maria Gracia Ruberti
Her mother was Maria Bertina CORBELLA Y DE VIDEGARAY 1770 Ferrol, Corunna, Galicia, Spain 1850 (at age ‎~80‏) Daughter of Antonio Corbella and Ramona de Videgaray
Note: John Grenfell married one of Maria Engacia's sisters one month later on 13th March 1829.

William's Children:

• Flora Parker Birth Jan 1 1830 Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Death Nov 8 1904 Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
• William Parker Birth July 2 1831 Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Death Dec 21 1864 Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay Burial Dec 22 1864 Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
• Maria Engracia Carassale (born Parker) Birth Sep 3 1832 Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay Marriage Marriage to: Justo R. CARASSALE Circa 1879 Death May 9 1901 Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
• Augusto Patricio Parker Birth Mar 17 1836 Christening Dec 1836 Marriage Marriage to: Adelaida LARRAIN Oct 30 1878 Catedral San Antonio de Padua, Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina Residence Florida 134, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina 1880 Death Apr 28 1902 Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

Burial of William 1873 Cementerio Central, Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

Robert Hibbert Bartholemew Rowley (1817 - 1860)

Robert Hibbert Bartholomew Rowley was born in December 1817. He was the son of Admiral Sir Charles Rowley, 1st Bt. and Elizabeth King. He married Doña Juanita de Solsona in 1845 at Montevideo, Uruguay. He died on 2 July 1860 at age 42 at Montevideo, Uruguay. He was buried at English Cemetery, Buceo, Montevideo, Uruguay.

On 7 Feb. 1842 was advanced to the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy. From 3 Dec. 1843 until paid off at the close of 1847, he commanded the Satellite 18 in the East Indies and on the south-east coast of America. Agents – Messrs. Chard.

Children of Robert Hibbert Bartholomew Rowley and Doña Juanita de Solsona

• Elizabeth Rowley Solsona
• Maria Rowley
• Roberto Rowley2 d. b 27 May 1903
• Carlos A. Rowley Solsona

Searches for Grenfell, Parker, Masini Corbella and Rowley (1829-1888)

• Handbooks for Foreign Genealogical Research: Latin America, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, - Guide to other guides
• 'Cómo encontrar información genealógica en las iglesias latinoamericanas', - Useful guide to church practice in Latin America e.g. no central church records. Must go to individual churches.
• Hispanic Internet Resources in The British Library - Guide to Library resources
• Guía de información Genealógica: Busca tus ancestros en Latinoamérica [en línea] - WONDERFUL GUIDE TO RESOURCES
• Cyndi's List - Central & South America, - Mexico, not South America
• Hispagen: Asociación de Genealogía Hispana - Broad coverage of Hispanic world
• Hispanic Local History and Genealogy in the United States - Guide to library resources
• Latin Roots Toolkit - seems useful for Mexico
• Diccionario para Genealogistas - worthwhile dictionary
• Institute of Genealogy and History for Latin America - Advice for research
• Historical Maps of Latin America - some useful information if you dig for it - one small example is "Boundary Disputes in Latin America" https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/resources/pwks50.pdf
• 'Mexico and the Southwest USA - Native Y-DNA' - Mexico, not South America
• 'WikiTree and DNA' - General discussion of value of DNA
• 'Sephardic Genealogy in South America'
• 'The Irish in Latin America and Iberia'
• 'Records of the Spanish Governors of Puerto Rico, 1767 - 1880'.
• Latin American Flags
• Guide to Puerto Rican Records in the National Archives New York City
• The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Genealogical Society Inc.
• Directorio de Genealogía Hispana - Seems very useful for people with family roots in Spain.

Guía de información Genealógica: Busca tus ancestros en Latinoamérica - Uruguay

Civil Registrations of B,D,M began in 1879.

https://forebears.io/uruguay/montevideo-department

Artículos de apoyo a la investigación

• Fuentes uruguayas para la historia de la inmigración italiana de Juan A. Oddone - Abstract for a book about immigration from Italy
• Publicaciones médicas uruguayas de los siglos XIX y XX de Fernando Mañé Garzón y Sandra Burgues Roca. Incluye listado de médicos uruguayos y extranjeros que presentaron su Tesis de doctorado, en Uruguay y otros países - Summary of medical books and journals from 1834
• La ruta del esclavo en el Río de la Plata: su historia y sus consecuencias, Memorias del Simposio (varios artículos de interés) - Slave routes in River Plate
• Preservación digital de registros parroquiales. La experiencia de la Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción de Minas, Uruguay, por Romano - Tute - Link not working
• Asociacionismo e Inmigración española en Uruguay, de Carlos Zubillaga - URL not working
• Algunos personajes uruguayos oriundos de Betanzos, Galicia, de José María Monterroso Devesa - URL not working
• Bibliografía sobre la prensa histórica en Uruguay, varios autores para descargar en PDF -Newspapers; could be interesting
• La Ruta del esclavo en el Río de la Plata -
• Crónica de la esclavitud en América presentado por Silvia Mendoza - Slave trade
• El padrón del Buceo 1772/1773 por Enrique Yarza Rovira - Reference for one family

Family Search

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03086530701523356

A Social History of British Naval Officers, 1775-1815 by Evan Wilson 9781783271740 February 2017

• This book explores the world of British naval officers at the height of the Royal Navy's power in the age of sail. It describes the full spectrum of officers, from commissioned officers to the unheralded but essential members of every ship's company, the warrant officers. The book focusses on naval officers' social status and its implications for their careers.