Budgen family, Sailing the High Seas

When I was a kid I remember watching those old Errol Flynn movies on TV with the buccaneers, those massive ships, and all the guns firing on the enemy prior to boarding and capturing the ship.  It was exciting to watch.

Well I can now say that I have cousins who sailed aboard some of those massive ships.  I have managed to find three cousins on my fathers side of the family who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).

They were all brothers, from the village of Frant, Sussex,  located just three miles south of Royal Tunbridge Wells.  They were, William, Richard, and John Budgen.  William was the oldest, born in 1790, then Richard born in 1792 and finally the youngest, John, born in 1794.

When they joined the navy they were listed as 1st class volunteers.  Richard and John would move up through the ranks, first as midshipmen and then lieutenants.  Eventually being referred to as commodores in their later years.  John also became secretary to the late Queen Caroline.

William was unfortunately mortally wounded while attempting to cut out ships.

Richard and John served together aboard the Centaur during the capture and destruction of the Russian ship Sewolod with Captain Hood.

The following is a description of the event.
On the 26th of August HMS Centaur, in conjunction with the HMS Implacable, captured the Russian 74-gun ship Sewolod in sight of the whole Russian fleet near Rogerswick. During a spirited attempt by the Russians to retake and row the Sewolod back into port, Sir S. Hood laid her on board and lashed her bowspit to the mizzen rigging of the Centaur under a heavy fire of musketry. The bow of the enemy grazed the muzzles of Centaur’s guns, which at the same moment were discharged, and the raking broadside tore her to pieces. The Russians made several attempts to board, but were repelled by the fire of the marines and the stern chase guns of the Centaur, and after a hot action of half an hour the Sewolod again struck her colours. In this furious conflict the Centaur lost 3 killed and 27 wounded, and the enemy 180 killed and wounded.

The medal and clasp (below) was awarded to 39 men aboard the H.M.S Centaur for their capture and destruction of the Russian ship Sewolod which included Richard and John.