Benjamin Rosewell (c.1665–1737) was a master shipwright at Harwich, Plymouth, Chatham and Sheerness Naval Dockyards, and Governor of Hawkins Hospital, Chatham.
Benjamin was the son of John Rosewell (1643-1692), Gentleman of Chatham, Kent and grandson of Reverend Walter Rosewell (c. 1610-1658), Presbyterian minister of Chatham. Benjamin married Elizabeth Wyborne on 11 September 1684 at Saint Katherine's by the Tower, London. Their children included: John (1689-1711); Jeremiah (1697-1741); Benjamin (d. 1727); William (d. 1726); Edward (1698-1727); Elizabeth (1700-1775); and Sarah (d. 1743).
John died at the age of 22 and was buried at Chatham on 8 November 1711.
Jeremiah married Rebecca Ford on 19 September 1724 at Deptford, Kent. He was Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard (1732-1741); Beadle of the Manor at Chatham in 1738; and launched Rupert, a 60 gun Ship of the Line, on 27 Oct 1740. He died at Sheerness and was buried at Chatham on 19 January 1741. He named Curtis Barnett and George Musgrave as executors in his 1739 will which was proved 11 August 1742. On 9 November 1749 administration of the estate was granted to Richard Rosewell, son of Jeremiah, as Curtis Barnett was deceased.
Benjamin was purser on HMS Lyon(Lion) when he wrote his will in 1726. His executor was Curtis Barnett and his will was proved 16 Nov 1727.
William married Elizabeth Lake on 23 January 1711 at Chatham. He was appointed Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard in December 1722 but died in November 1726 and was buried at Devonport, Devon. He was survived by his wife and six children:
Benjamin Rosewell, William’s father, made detailed provisions for the children of his deceased son in his will of 1731.
Edward was sent to Madras, India as a Factor (agent) for the British East India Company and died there on 12 April 1727.
Elizabeth married Commodore Curtis Barnett (1696-1746) on 13 May 1725 at St Pauls Cathedral, London.
Sarah (name recorded as Rosell) married (1) Lieutenant Young and (2) George Musgrave, storekeeper of the ordinance at Chatham and sixth son of Sir Christopher Musgrave, fourth Baronet, by his second wife Elizabeth Franklyn.
Nothing has been found of Benjamin Rosewell’s career as a ship builder until 1696 when he would have been about 30 years old. It is presumed that he was apprenticed to one of the Medway ship yards between the age of 14 and 21.
The following is a summary of his known career:
1696 Assistant to Master Shipwright at Chatham Dockyard
1699 Refitted HMS Stirling Castle
1702 Appointed Master Shipwright at Harwich Dockyard
1702 Appointed Master Shipwright at Plymouth Dockyard
1703 Refitted HMS Rupert
1705 Refitted HMS Plymouth
1705 Appointed Master Shipwright at Chatham Dockyard
1705 Launched HMS Stirling Castle
1706 Refitted HMS London
1707 Launched HMS Salisbury
1707 Refitted HMS Mermaid
1708 Launched HMS Chester
1709 Launched HMS Lion
1710 Refitted HMS Vanguard
1711 Refitted HMS Bonaventure
1712 Launched HMS Rose
1712 Refitted HMS Sandwich
1715 Refitted HMS Defiance
1716 Refitted HMS Rupert
1717 Refitted HMS Newark
1718 Refitted HMS Norwich
1718 Refitted HMS Suffolk
1719 Refitted HMS Swallow
1721 Launched HMS Edinburgh
1721 Refitted HMS London
1721 Refitted HMS Colchester
1721 Launched HMS Hawke
1722 Refitted HMS Plymouth
1723 Refitted HMS Lenox
1724 Launched HMS Sunderland
1725 Launched Supply
1725 Refitted HMS Anglesea
1726 Refitted HMS Union
1727 Refitted HMS Biddeford
1727 Launched HMS Rye
1729 Launched HMS Royal Sovereign
1732 Designed Spy
1732 Launched Spy
1732 Appointed Master Shipwright at Sheerness Dockyard
1737 Refitted HMS Gloucester
Governor of Hawkins Hospital
Benjamin Rosewell is recorded as a Governor of Hawkins Hospital at Chatham in 1726 and 1734.
Benjamin Rosewell died and was buried at St Marys, Chatham on 4 December 1737, presumably in the family vault. His will, written on 8 September 1731, with codicil written 5 October 1731, was proved 10 January 1738. The executors were Jeremiah Rosewell and George Musgrave. His wife, Elizabeth, was buried at Chatham on 14 February 1730.
