ROYAL NAVY ARCHIVE OF CAPTAIN T.M KELSALL MOULTRIE (1831-1910)

ROYAL NAVY ARCHIVE OF CAPTAIN THEOPHILUS KELSALL MOULTRIE (1831-1910)
A comprehensive collection of over 270 period letters and documents spanning the period circa 1849-1872 pertaining to the naval career of Captain Theophilus Kelsall Moultrie.

The majority of the correspondence is from the 1850s and is addressed to his familial connections, primarily his sisters and stepmother. It chronicles his naval service aboard various vessels stationed across strategic locations such as the Mediterranean and Malta, notably during the Crimean War aboard HMS Trafalgar. Further included are commissions, orders, memoranda, receipts, and reply letters from diverse correspondents, including fellow shipmates and his Napoleonic veteran father.

This compilation represents a rare and invaluable documentary assemblage of the trials and tribulations of naval life, tracing Kelsall's journey from his tenure as a Naval cadet to his appointment as a Lieutenant on HMS Phoebe stationed in Malta during the 1860s, culminating in his role as Coastal Commander at Ramsgate in 1872. The letters, often extensive (4pp+) in nature and occasionally cross-written, offer a multifaceted insight into various aspects of Kelsall's life, including his promotions, troop movements, and daily naval routines, alongside informal reflections on naval and political events of the era.

The letters are written from diverse geographical locales worldwide, including Malta, Piraeus, Simon’s Bay (South Africa), the Bosphorus (Crimean War), Gallipoli, and beyond; the correspondence captures the breadth of Kelsall's naval engagements and explorations. Noteworthy among the archival contents are over 17 Captain’s certificates of good conduct and service, in addition to over 30 bills documenting transactions with Maltese tradesmen for various requisites such as photographs, uniforms, and passing certificates.

The archive is enriched by its inclusion of significant historical documentation, featuring firsthand accounts and descriptions of engagements in the Crimean War. Commission documents bear the signatures of distinguished Royal Navy officers, such as Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Eden and Rear Admiral Sir Alexander Milne.

Arranged chronologically across two meticulously curated ring binders, the archive is complemented by visual aids, including a print and a photograph of HMS Trafalgar and HMS Phoebe. Furthermore, a selection of supplementary paperwork, including a portrait photograph of Kelsall, his will, service records obtained from the National Archive, and genealogical research into the family, enhances the comprehensiveness and contextualization of the collection. Inspection recommended, with much to see.

Theophilus Kelsall Moultrie's lineage boasts early American and Bahaman connections, with ancestral ties to significant land holdings, including an estate in South Carolina. The English loyalist Kelsall family merged with the Moultrie line when Theophilius’ grandfather, John, married Lucretia, the daughter of a South Carolina doctor who became Royal Lieutenant Governor of Florida. Theophilius served as Lieut. of HMS Trafalgar in the bombardment of Sebastopol in October 1854 and ashore with the Naval brigade. He received the Crimea medal and Turkish Crimea medal and was commended by Commander Raby (“Alecto”) for the “great assistance” he rendered during the attack on Porto Novo, West Africa, 1861

Theophilius’ naval service:
HMS President - 2nd December 1846 - 6th February 1849 (As Naval Cadet and Midshipman)
HMS Rattler - 18th February 1849 - 15th April 1851
HMS Trafalgar - 9th December 1852 - 14th April 1955 (Mediterranean and Black Sea Fleet, including Crimea Service)

HMS Spiteful - 15th May 1855 - 2nd September 1855 (Made Lieutenant in August 1855, Mediterranean)
HMS Arachne - 23rd October 1855 - 27th November 1855 (North America and West Indies)
HMS Horatio - 10th January 1856 - 12th May 1856 (Sheerness)
HMS Cressy - 13th May 1856 - 14th May 1856 (Mediterranean and St. Petersburg)
HMS Cumberland - 17th September 1858 - 17th August 1859 (South-Eastern Coast of America)
HMS Weser - 18th October 1859 - 26th January 1860 (Mediterranean)
HMS Alecto - 27th January 1860 - 25th June 1862 (West Africa)
HMS Phoebe - 26th September 1862 - 29th June 1866 (Made Commander 11th April 1866, Mediterranean)
Coast Guard Commander - 29th June 1870 - 13th October 1873 (Ramsgate)