Introduction
Francis Denty left the village as a boy to join the Royal Navy. Unfortunately, after three years, he fell seriously ill, which probably ended his naval career.
Childhood
Frances was born on 12 April 1853 at Hardington, the first of ten children born to Charles and Elizabeth Ann Denty.[1] His father worked as a farm labourer while his mother was a weaver. The family lived at Hardington Marsh.
Start of Naval career
During the summer of 1870, Francis and his friend, Esau Eastment, decided to join the Royal Navy. On 30 September, Francis’s mother and Esau’s father travelled to Haselbury to sign the necessary forms granting their permission.[2] Both boys enlisted on 5 October 1870 and claimed to be 16, although Francis was 17 and Esau was 18.
By April 1871, both boys were serving as boy sailors in the training ship HMS Impregnable, stationed at Devonport. Francis began his ten-year period of continuous service on 12 April 1872, when the Navy believed he was 18. Naval records describe him as 5 feet 2 and a half inches tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a ruddy complexion. He weighed 121 pounds and had no visible markings.[3] Esau began his ten-year period of continuous service one month later, on 15 May 1872, aboard HMS Northumberland.[4]
On 24 December 1872, Francis was assigned to HMS Royal Adelaide.[5]
Illness
The following year, Francis and Esau faced difficulties. Esau deserted on 7 August 1873 and subsequently served a two-year prison sentence for disobeying orders. Meanwhile, on 4 September 1873, Francis was invalided out of service for an extended period. The last entry on his service record reads “W. G. Feby 74”, which may indicate that he was cleared and returned to the General List (general service pool).[6] However, details of his later life remain unknown.
References
[1] ADM 139/936/13568 (date of birth recorded as 12 April 1854); Civil Registration Birth Index (birth registered Yeovil Q1 1853); family reconstitution.
[2] ADM 139/936/13568; ADM 139/936/13571
[3] ADM 139/936/13568.
[4] ADM 188/39/60628
[5] ADM 139/936/13568.
[6] ADM 139/936/13568.