The Sea Fencibles (1798-1802 and 1803-1810), are reputed to be the idea of Admiral Sir Home Popham. They were created by an Order in Council dated 14 May, 1798 - For the protection of the coast, either on shore or afloat ; comprising all fishermen and other persons occupied in the ports, and on the coast, who, from their occupations are to be unpressed.

The coast of England, Scotland and Wales was divided into about 36 sections, each supervised by up to 3 Captains, R.N. A section was sub-divided into areas of the coastline which were the responsibility of a Lieutenant, R.N. The coast of Ireland was similarly divided into about 21 sections.

The Sea Fencibles were formed in 1798, when the threat of invasion from across the Channel was becoming a reality. Mostly made up from fishermen and other water born trades, their initial duties included guarding the Martello towers, and patrolling the beaches adjacent to where it was thought the French might launch their invasion. In addition they were trained regularly in the use of the cannon and pike, and handling armed coastal craft, provided by local owners hiring them out to the Admiralty, see below. The Royal Navy hoped to tackle any invasion as soon as it departed the French coast and the Sea Fencibles were expected to attack the French barges and hoys &c. before they reached the beaches.

In addition to preparing to defend the coastline the Sea Fencibles also appear to have been involved in other activities, e.g. the London Gazette of 12 Jan 1799 reports that on the 9 Jan., the brig Susannah sailed from Dartmouth only to be taken later the same day by the French privateer L�Heureux Speculator. This was observed by the Brixham Sea Fencibles who went off in a boat armed with pikes and muskets and recaptured the Susannah and the French crew who were attempting to make their escape. On their return to port two boats were prepared with a view to capturing the privateer, but this was unsuccessful. Similarly on the 8 Jan a small cutter was observed taking 2 brigs off the North Foreland, whereupon the local Sea Fencibles pushed off in 3 boats and re-captured the 2 brigs.

In addition to the regular training ceremonial duties also took their place on the agenda and the Sea Fencibles were given a relatively high profile in the newspapers of the day e.g. they note that when the Royal Family arrived in Portland Roads, from Weymouth, on board HM ship Cambrian on 12 Aug 1800, Portland Castle and local militias etc. including the Portland Sea Fencibles joined in by firing the appropriate salutes and a further salute to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Wales.

Circa Jun 1801, the Naval Chronicle observed that as a result of the preparations being made along the French coast for the long-talked-of invasion of England, the Government ordered the Sea Fencibles into active service ; and there has not only been a very severe press upon the River, but the Lord Mayor, in consequence of application made to him for that purpose, has granted press-warrants in the City, by which means a number of useful hands have been procured.

In addition, in August 1801, with a view to making the Sea Fencibles more useful, following discussions with Lord Nelson it was agreed with the owners of the fishing smacks in the Harwich area that one member of the crew of each of the smacks was allowed to volunteer to serve on board the ships of war stationed off Harwich for the defence of the Thames.

And I notice in a London newspaper of 30 Aug 1801, that 19 hired gun barges, commanded by Lieutenants and manned by Sea Fencibles, arrived Sheerness, from the River, armed with an 18-pdr long gun in the bows and an 18-pdr carronade amidships and were to be allocated to salient points around the East Coast : ie ideal shallow draught vessels to assist with dealing with the continuing threat of a French invasion using similar vessels. Rif Winfield advises in British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1796-1817, that these barges were hired in Jul 1801, for the period of 3 months.

With the signing of the Peace of Amiens in March 1802 the Sea Fencibles were disbanded, but the peace didn�t last for much more than a year before the war started again and the Sea Fencibles were re-introduced.

According to an Admiralty circular dated 6 Aug 1803, one of their first tasks the Sea Fencibles were required to undertake after the end of the Peace was to survey the coastline within each district and to inform Their Lordships regarding which situations "may appear to you to be most exposed to the landing of the enemy � the difficulty or easiness of access thereto �" along with remarks about how the winds, surf and tide might affect a landing made by boats, with the tides most suitable for that purpose. In addition parts of the coast which were rendered by nature to make a landing difficult, along with notes regarding creeks and rivers within their districts.

The Sea Fencibles were recruited from volunteers in coastal areas and each man was eligible to receive a 1s. per day when required for service, but the main incentive appears to have been the immunity acquired from service in both the militia and from the press gang, so, unsurprisingly, few problems were experienced recruiting volunteers. Similarly there was no shortage of officers to supervise the Sea Fencibles since RN officers received full pay whilst attached to the Sea Fencibles, rather than the half-pay they would have otherwise received when unemployed.

Opinion was generally split over the usefulness of the Sea Fencibles : some thought them to be little more than smugglers and wreckers, whereas there were those like Lord Nelson, who thought they could play an important role in say an invasion.

The Naval Chronicle, Vol 6 notes that on 31 Jul 1801 the Brixham Sea Fencibles, commanded by Captain Kinneer, have liberally subscribed �59. 11s. to the fund at Lloyd's, for the relief of the widows and orphans of those brave men, who fell in the battle off Copenhagen ; they have volunteered their service to any part of the coast, in case of invasion ; the Brixham trawl boat owners have handsomely offered their boats for the same laudable purpose.

When recruiting for the sea fencibles recommenced circa 18 Jul 1803, adverts were placed in local newspaper asking those willing to serve to attend a meeting to enrol. The following instructions were published with the adverts in some districts :

1. That all who shall voluntarily enrol themselves as Sea Fencibles, for the defence of the coast, will be exercised one day in every week, and be paid on such days, and at all times, when called out to perform any service, one shilling each man, but none shall be enrolled who are not settled inhabitants of the District e.g. sojourners.
2. As the situation of the country requires the service of every person on the sea coast, no seafaring man, fisherman, or other person, whose occupation or calling may be, or has been, to work in vessels, or boats, or otherwise, nor any of those who have received regular protections, such as pilots, fishermen, masters of barges, or who are protected, by being in the service of the Excise, Customs, or Post Office, will be exempted from the Impress, unless enrolled to serve in the Sea Fencibles.
3. And those who shall enrol themselves, and perform properly, the services required, will be protected from being impressed.

By Order &c.

After the above an attempt was made by Lord Hobart to give the sea fencibles a more important role to play and he wrote in August 1803 to the Lord Lieutenants of the maritime counties along the following lines :

1. That they were requested to co-operate with the Board of Admiralty in obtaining the enrollment of all the seafaring men upon their respective coasts, under the general denomination of Sea Fencibles
2. It is recommended to the principal sea-port towns to equip, at their own expense, a number of armed vessels and hulks, to be stationed for the better protection and security of such ports, and to be appropriated to, and manned by Sea Fencibles, who are to take charge of them, and to be exercised on board at the guns as often as may be required.
3. In cases where the proportion of Sea Fencibles which any place can furnish, is greater than such place can find shipping to employ, and likewise where any place is capable of providing men, but unable to procure vessels ; in both cases the vessels shall be furnished by Government.
4. A place for assembling ships in cases of alarm, to be fixed upon, in the first instance, by the respective commanders of Sea Fencibles, and a general rendez-vous to be appointed by the Admiralty for the whole fleet to repair to when required for action.
5. That as colliers and coasting vessels about 150 tons, would make the best sort of gun-vessels, the principal merchants and owners in every port of the kingdom, be called upon to fit all their vessels of that description, with slides between decks, and loop holes in the combings of their hatchways, for close quarters, to carry two guns forward, and two aft, to fight on either side, as well as fore and aft.
6. That when the vessels are reported ready, guns and ammunition shall be put on board by Government, free of expense to the owners, the masters giving a receipt and voucher to return them when demanded, and to keep a regular account of the expenditure and remains.
7. That all vessels be fitted with ring and eye bolts for guns, and that all small vessels be prepared to receive large oars to act against the enemy in a calm if necessary.
8. That all the vessels and boats employed in this service shall receive a letter of marque, in order to entitle their crews to benefit of the prizes they may make.
9. That the said vessels shall be under orders to attend you, and obey the signals and directions that may be made to them, and when ordered to anchor, and detained, that they shall be paid demurrage at the same rate, according to their regular tonnage, as common transports. The time of detention to be certified by the officer who may order it.
10. That they shall be visited on arriving at, and sailing from port, by the Commanding Officer of the Sea Fencibles of the district.

Following the brief period of the Peace and the re-introduction of the various volunteer organisations, the government called for volunteers eg

• "24 Jul 1803 at Portsmouth. The Sea Fencibles who have been enrolled here under the command of Capt E. O'Brien, received their pikes on Wednesday, and were mustered in St. George's Square, Portsea. In a short time their number, it is expected, will be increased to between 7 and 800, who, as their brave Commander says "are fine fellows and all willing." Captain R. Barton is appointed to command the Sea Fencibles at Brading, Isle of Wight. Several superannuated gunners have offered their superintendence on any station. Morning Post"

But by this time it had also become clear that the original reason for creating the Sea Fencibles no longer existed, and with the cost of maintaining the organisation at about �200,000 a year, which was badly needed elsewhere, they were disbanded prior to the start of the financial year 1810-11.

A few Miscellaneous notes in connection with the above :

Admiralty Office, 12 Jan 1799.
Copy of a Letter from Capt. Edward Buller, commanding the Sea Fencibles along the Coast of Devon. Dartmouth, 10th Jan 1799
Sir,
I beg leave to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the brig Susannah left this port yesterday morning, seven o'clock, for Torbay, and was captured while at anchor off West Down Head, five miles from this place, at half past one P. M. by the French privateer L'Heureux Speculateur, mounting 14 guns. The Brixham Sea Fencibles, perceiving an armed vessel, concluded her to be an enemy ; and, from her boarding the above brig, supposed she had captured her ; in consequence of which went off in a boat, armed with pikes and muskets, succeeded in recapturing the brig, which on their appearance was deserted by the Frenchmen, whom they also pursued and took.
Lieutenant Nicholas, with his usual zeal, with Collector Brooking's assistance of small arms and boat, went also from this port with part of the Sea Fencibles, accompanied by a boat from his Majesty's cutter Nimble, in hopes of capturing the privateer, but was not fortunate enough to succeed in the attempt. The recaptured brig he towed into this harbour. I am, Sir, &c.
Ed. Buller.

Following the introduction of the Sea Fencibles in 1798 the Signal Stations came under the jurisdiction of the Captain in charge of the Sea Fencibles in that district, and again in 1803 on the re-activation of the Fencibles, until the demise of the Sea Fencibles in early 1810.

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