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Note: His Will was sealed in black wax with the following crest: "a lion rampant, holding between the forefeet a catherine wheel". Burke's General Armory identifies this as being the crest of a family named Streete or Strete. His Tombstone reads: "Sacred to the beloved memory of Captain Benjamin Street, Royal Navy, who departed this life on the 20th of June, 1838, aged 64 years. This token of respect is erected by his grateful and sorrowing children. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed by the name of the Lord."
He was given the Freedom of the City of Liverpool and the Freedom of the City of Plymouth for his exploits during the Napoleonic Wars.
Freeman's Committee Book, City of Liverpool "Benjamin Street, Lieut. in ye Navy, son of John Street, Cooper, born 21 Feby. 1774 was sworn and enrolled as a Freeman on 5th May, 1803."
According to the Minutes of Council, City of Liverpool, January 3, 1816, he was awarded thanks by the council "for his gallant Conduct and Services during the late war."
Janet Aubé (nee Heney) has the parchment attesting to his grant of the Freedom of the City of Plymouth.
His ship's desk and epaulet are in the possession of John Bower Lewis Heney. Inscribed on the desk is the following memorandum:
"Monday, April 3rd, 1820, sailed from the Downs for Montreal on board the ship Eweretta of London, Joseph L. Stoddard, Commander and arrived at Montreal on Monday, May 22nd, following, all well."
"John George Street, born 11 Feb. 1820 at 17 minutes past 12 at night and baptised at Great Missenden in the County of Bucks on the 24th of February 1820 by the Rev. Thomas William, Curate."
The following memorandums are inscribed in the family bible:
"Tuesday, Sept. 19th, arrived with my family at Helensville from Montreal and took possession of the cottage I had built on the 19th lot of the 7th Concession of the Township of March in Upper Canada. All in good health and spirits. God Bless the King for providing for his old servants. Benjn Street, Capt. R.N."
"Lots in the 2nd Con. Goulbourn, subject to the inquiries of (ilegible)
Lot 19 in 7th Con, Lot 19 in 6th Con, Lot 14 in 4th Con, Lot 15 in 4th Con. 24th August 1820."
"January 10, 1825 Memo - In consequence of the lands allotted to me in the Township of Goulbourn, Lots 18 and 19 in the 2nd Concession being overflowed by the mill dam erected on the river Jock, I have been allowed to relinquish them and have been located to lots 21 in the 3rd and 14 in the 4th Concession of Torbolton."
"Helensville, Township of March, Upper Canada, October 21, 1820 - The two memorandums pasted on the opposite leaf relate to the lands located to me as a Commander in the Royal Navy for Nos. 18 and 19 in the 2nd Concession of the Township of Goulbourn, U.C., near the Village of Richmond on (containing together in 400 acres) the river Goodwood (formerly Jock) and Nos. 19 in the 7th and 6th Concessions of the Township of March containing about 300 acres - and at Nos. 14 and 15 in the 4th Concession of the same township of march and containing 400 acres. Benjn Street."
Street erected a home for his family and called it Helensville after his wife. It still stands (as of the year 2000) and is occupied. Street was the first magistrate in this area. The Heney family is in possession of his copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica which had been willed to his son, Benjamin, but never claimed. He has inscribed notes in the margin - correcting or commenting on entries based on his personal experience.
Marshall's Naval Biography, Vol IV, Part I, pp. 16 - 18 has an interesting passage regarding the capture of the Africaine, and Street's participation in it. Vol IV, part II contains a summary of his naval career.
Other articles on him are found in Carleton Saga, by Harry and Olive Walker and in the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Carleton, H. Belden & Col, 1879, pp. 285-286.
Some of his correpondence survives and can be found in the British Miliary Records in England, B879 co 28413 p. 436 regarding his request for land grants and detailing his actions at the capture of the Isle de France (the actual land grant was donated to the Public Archives of Canada by Gail Martin (nee Heney)) and in the Public Archives of Canada, Hill Collection, PAC MG24 19, Vols 1 and 9. An interesting synopsis, called "Captain Street's Affair" is located at MG 24 19, Vol. 9, pp. 2615-2619 and concerns some money that went missing from a letter meant for Robert Stephens.
Following is a memorandum of his naval service, taken from PRO ADM 9/4 28303
Rank Ship Commander Station Entry Discharge
SB Revolution Capt. Jas. Cummings Channel 5.11.1793 Apr 1794
SB Royal William Adm. Sir Peter Parker Spithead Apr 1794 1.9.1794
Midshipman Perdison Capt. Jas. Almi(?) North Sea 1.9.1794 Feb.1795
Midshipman ? Lt. Wm. Elliott St. Marcois & Feb 1795 Paid off
Jersey Midshipman Amethyst Capt. Afflleck Channel Oct 1795 wrecked 28.10.1795
Supery Diamond Capt. Sir Lionel Smith Isles St. Marcois Dec 1795 Mar 1796
Supery Royal William Adm. Sir P. Parker & Spithead Mar 1796 Sept 1796
Capt. Francis Pickmore Midshipman L'Oiseau Capt. G.H. Stevens Cape of Good Hope Sept. 1796 promoted
Actg. Lt. L'Oiseau Capt. Chas. Brisbane Rio de la Plata Jan 1797 May 1797
Actg Lt. Tremendous Adm. Thos. Pringle & Cape of Good Hope May 1797 13.12.1797
Capt. G.H. Stevens Actg Lt. Star (Sloop) Capt. Jno. Gardiner Cape of Good Hope 13.12.1797 11.6.1801
Isle of France & Rio de la Plata Lt. Lancaster Adm. Sir Roger Curtis Cape of Good Hope 11.6.1801 1.9.1802
& Capt. Thos. Larson Lt. Emma (see note) (see note) 1.9.1802 Mar 1803
Note: during this time Street was a Lt. and agent of transport, responsible for transporting troops and stores from the Cape of Good Hope to Europe and the colony being restored to the Dutch.
Lt. Impl. Service Capt. Robt. Forbes Liverpool Mar 1803 May 1803
Lt. ? self Channel May 1803 16.10.1804
Lt. Staunch self Channel, West Indies, 17.10.1804 14.9.1810
Rio de Janiero, Rio de la Plata,
Cape of Good Hope, Isles of
France, Bourbon & Madagascar
Actg Post Capt. Africaine Adm. Bertie & self S. France & Bourbon 14.9.1810 18.12.1810
Actg Commdr. Emma (sloop) self South France 18.12.1810 4.10.1811
Command ship Commdr. Carp (sloop) Sir Rourke 4.3.1812
The parish register of his baptism says he was born February 21, 1774 but based on his wife's letters, wherein she talks about birthday celebrations for her husband, his birthdate would fall sometime in September, 1773.
On a final note, we are left with a tantalizing glimpse of a possible scandal. Certainly Street performed well in the Navy and received many honours. A note in the Public Archives of Canada PAC MG24 19, Vol 12, p. 3663 contains a letter to Hamnett Hill from Francis J. Audet, Admiralty Archives, dated in 1920, which refers to an Admiralty document dated 7th April, 1820, B302 Series 365 (Series Q, vol 328-2, p. 310) and contains the quote "Mr. Croker presents his compliments to Mr. Goulbourn and begs to acquaint him that it being doubtful when the prosecution against Captain Street will be put in force, he has received their Lordship's permission to reside in Upper Canada."
We are left wondering what prosecution they are referring to and what events led up to this. Certainly his wife Helen, in correspondence to A.J. Christie, bitterly refers to "so called friends" and hints at conspiracy, though no overt references are ever given. Similarly, in the course of a disagreement between A.J. Christie and Street, Christie warns Street that he "has certain information in his possession" which would embarass Street.
Bytown Gazette - Wednesday, July 4, 1838 OBIT - "At March Township, Upper Canada, aged 61, beloved and lamented, CAPTAIN BENJAMIN STREET, R.N., a brave and talented Officer, he was the only surviving son of John Street, Esq., of Babington, Cheshire, England, and was justly proud of having commenced his Naval Service in LORD HOWE'S glorious battle and victory on the 1st of June, 1792."
From: SHIPS OF THE OLD NAVY, A history of the sailing ships of the Royal Navy
by Michael Phillips
STAUNCH,14. Gunbrig. (1804 Dartmouth. Lost 1811) 1805 Lieut. Benjamin STREET, Channel. On 31 July 1805 Mr John LEWIS, second master and pilot of STAUNCH was tried by court martial for drunkeness and neglect of duty in that he assisted Sub Lieut. John WOOD to desert while a prisoner. He was sentenced to be dismissed from his office and to be never employed as an officer again. He was also sentenced to six months in the Marshalsea Prison. 1807 Lieut. STREET sailed for Cape of Good Hope on 30 August 1806. When it was learnt that the Spanish colonists had recaptured Buenos Ayres which had been garrisoned by Col. Beresford, vessels from the Cape were sent with Col. Crauford's transports to the Argentine. STAUNCH took part in the attack on Monte Video in January 1807 when about 80O seamen and Royal Marines were landed from the ships of the squadron under Rear-Ad. STIRLING to act with the troops. Because of the shallow water in the Plate the ships had to lay a great distance from the shore and everything had to be dragged through heavy surf and up a sandy road. On most days there were up to 1400 men ashore. The enemy put up such a strong resistance that the squadron had only two days powder and shot left when a breach was made in on 3 February and the town and citadel were taken by storm. STAUNCH lost two killed, landman Thomas START, alias Joseph DICKINS, and ordinary seaman Richard WALKER. There were eight wounded, Sub-Lieut. George STEWART; capt. of foretop John FRYAR; landman John MOONEY; able seaman Thomas OLDEN; capt. of forecastle Peter REES; midshipman John MORRISON; ordinary seaman David MILLER; landman John MOORE. Shortly after the surrender of Reunion in July 1810 NEREIDE, SIRIUS and Staunch sailed for Mauritius with some grenadiers of the 33rd and 69th regiments to attack the Isle de la Passe about 4 miles from Port Sud-Est. On the night of 10 August the boats of the two frigates with 40O seamen, marines and seamen, were taken in tow by STAUNCH but, in the darkness and bad weather, several of them ran foul of each other and the black pilot declared that it was impossible to enter the channel so the enterprise was abandoned for the time being. In a second attempt on the 13th, 71 officers and men from SIRIUS under Lieut. Henry CHADS occupied the batteries on the island. On the 17th Capt. WILLOUGHBY embarked 50 men from the 33rd and 69th regiments, 40 men from STAUNCH and 100 marines and seamen from NEREIDE, and landed at the Canaille de Bois on Mauritius. After a march of six miles, attended by three of the NEREIDE's and STAUNCH's boats with guns mounted covering the road, they carried the fort at Point du Diable which commanded the N.E. passage into Grand Port. At nightfall they returned to their own ships but landed again on three successive days to destroy the guns in the fort and the signal house at Grande Riviere Meanwhile STAUNCH had been sent to join the squadron off Port Louis.
On the 20th five sail were seen approaching Grande Port and Capt. WILLOUGHBY, using the French signal books was able to entice the BELLONE and MINERVE frigates, the VICTOR sloop, and the WINDHAM and CEYLON, prizes, within range. The French ships however, managed to enter Grand Port except for the WINDHAM which was captured by eleven unarmed British seamen. On the 23rd NEREIDE, SIRIUS, IPHIGENIA and MAGICIENNE stood down the channel into Grand Port. NERIEDE lost 230 killed at wounded out of 281 on board before she surrendered, MAGICIENNE ran aground and was blown up and the same fate befell SIRIUS. IPHIGENIA was warped out and anchored off the Isle de la Passe and surrendered on the 28th.
On the morning of 12 September 1810 Capt. ROWLEY in BOADICEA with OTTER and STAUNCH weighed anchor from the Bay of St. Paul's in the Isle of Bourbon (now Reunion) in order to attack two enemy frigates, ASTREA and IPHIGENIA, which were in the offing to windward. As they stood out from the Bay they were joined in the chase by AFRICAINE which, having the wind, closed with the enemy during the night before the others came up and was captured by them. Capt. ROWLEY brought up OTTER and STAUNCH and led them towards the enemy who abandoned AFRICAINE with an officer and nine Frenchmen plus about 83 wounded of her crew.
When three sail were seen in the offing on the morning of 18 September BOADICEA, OTTER and STAUNCH weighed but, because of light airs, they were unable to clear St. Paul's Bay for some hours. When they did close with the enemy one, which had a crippled frigate in tow, made off. The third, which had lost her top-masts, bore up to protect the frigate but after a short action she struck to BOADICEA. She was the French national frigate VENUS,44, Commodore Hamelin, which, together with the VICTOR corvette, had taken his Majesty's ship CEYLON, the frigate under tow. OTTER took possession of CEYLON and BOADICEA took VENUS under tow. (she was taken into the Royal Navy as NEREIDE) In October Vice-Ad. BERTIE in AFRICAINE detached CEYLON and STAUNCH, now under Lieut. Henry CRAIG, acting, to convoy troops from Bourbon to Rodriguez while he proceeded to that anchorage to join Rear-Ad. DRURY's squadron. The convoy arrived on 12 November, more troops from Bengal on the 21st and, on 29th, the whole fleet of nearly 70 sail anchored in Grand Bay, about 12 miles to windward of Port Louis and marines and seamen disembarked. On 2 December the French Governor proposed terms of capitulation and these were ratified the following day. 1811 Lieut. Henry CRAIG. During June 1811 STAUNCH was wrecked off Madagascar. All lost.
THE AFRICAINE: In 0ctober 1810 Vice Ad. BERTIE arrived at St. Paul's and shifted his flag from the NISUS frigate to the totally dismasted AFRICAINE and directed Lieut. Edward LL0YD of B0ADICEA to get her ready for sea. This was accomplished using the lower masts, yards and sails from a recaptured East Indiaman and on 14 December she sailed again with a crew of 30 sailors, a company of the 87th regiment and about 120 blacks from the plantations. Thus miserably manned she cruised off Port Louis with B0ADICEA, NISUS, CEYL0N, NEREIDE and STAUNCH until other ships arrived from India to take part in the assault on Mauritius. Capt. Philip BEAVER removed from NISSUS to command AFRICAINE. The masters of AFRICAINE and B0ADICEA, together with Lieut. STREET of STAUNCH, examined and sounded the whole leeward side of the island and discovered a fleet anchorage at the north end between Gunners' Quoin and the mainland with passages for boats through the reef. The 50 or 60 transports and warships anchored there on the morning of 29 November and in the afternoon the first divisions of the army were landed. The disembarkation was completed in the evening and the force moved off towards Port Louis. The naval brigade drawn from the ships of the squadron was commanded by Capt. M0NTAGUE of C0RNWALLIS and included Lieut. LL0YD with men from AFRICAINE. At Fort Tortue, which had been captured by a landing party from NISSUS, they established contact with the fleet and obtained new supplies then, as the army positioned itself for a general attack on the eneny positions, the French governor offered to capitulate.
STAR: STAR,18. (1795 Blackwall. Sold 1802) 1799- John GARDNER, Cape of Good Hope. 1801 Portsmouth. On the 3 November 1801 Capt. GARDNER appeared before a court martial on board GLADIATOR in Portsmouth Harbour charged by surgeon William LIND with tyrannical behaviour towards his officers, having traded in slaves off Madagascar and having plundered a French prisoner. After examining the officers and crew of STAR, the court decided that the charges were ill founded and malicious and the captain was honourably acquitted.
DIAMOND: When, on 17 March 1796, a convoy consisting of a corvette, three luggers, four brigs and two sloops was chased into Erquy, some 6 miles west of Cape Frehel, by armed vessels detached by the Prince of Bouillon, Capt. SMITH dertermined to attack them when LIBERTY and ARISTOCRAT offered their assistance. DIAMOND silenced a gun that the enemy had mounted to cover the entrance but battery of three 24-pounders was still firing on them so marines and seamen were landed to take them. Troops had been drawn up to oppose them so Lieut. PINE and his party had to climb a precipice in front of the guns to reach the battery. When the guns were silenced the armed vessels were attacked. They kept up firing while hauling themselves on shore but Lieut. M'KINLEY in LIBERTY and Lieut. GOSSETT of ARISTOCRAT were able to get in close to the corvette and when the enemy crew were observed leaving their vessel Capt. SMITH gave the order to board. The enemy troops were keeping up a heavy fire so the corvette, the ETOURDIE of 16 guns, and one of the merchant brigs were burnt. On the next high tide Lieut. PEARSON was detached with the boats to burn the remainder under cover of ARISTOCRAT and Mr KNIGHT in DIAMOND's launch. Lieut. PINE was struck in the chest by a musket ball but was still able to present their Lordships with the colours which had been struck on the battery. Lieut. Carter of the marines was dangerously wounded.
AMETHYST,36. (1793. The French PERLE taken at Toulon. Wrecked 1795) Capt. F.T. AFFLECK. After striking on rocks in the Channel Islands AMETHYST had to be beached at Alderney to save the crew. She was wrecked there on 29 December 1795. At a court martial on 8 March following Capt. AFFLECK was found to be responsible for the loss.
An interesting entry - the same man? a relative? Benj Street of Liverpool, Lancs., mariner (bach) and Sarah Garford of Deal (sp) (aff wid) at D. 29.12.1903 (Kent, Surrey, London, Canterbury Marriage License)
1822 Census, March Twsp., Carleton Co. (6 in family)
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