It was stated in this Petition that the town had then increased its shipping to the number of 60 vessels—a rapid advance on the 25 ships possessed 9 years before. As we are told by Gillingwater that the number of boats employed at Lowestoft in the herring fishery during the years 1722–1781, averaged about 33, there could have been no further advance in the fishing business until quite recent years. It is evident that our old townspeople had been bestirring themselves, and were making good use of the opportunity which the absence of Dutch busses from this side of the North Sea now offered.
With such evidence of a revival of life and energy in our old Town, and the promise of further growth and commercial development in the future, (a promise since so happily realised), we may close our sketch of Lowestoft in olden times.
It has given us glimpses of our old townspeople during four centuries of a chequered career during which they established and maintained their position with very little help from natural advantages or local circumstances. Without a harbour they were unable to make any material advance in either wealth or population. But small as the old town was it was able to contribute largely to the manning of the fleets which fought for England against the Dutch and other powers during the latter part of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century, and to claim as her own sons many of the brave seamen who added to the glory of the national flag during those wars. A short notice of these Lowestoft heroes will be a fitting conclusion to our sketch. A full account of their exploits is to be found in Gillingwater.
You are already acquainted with Mr. Thomas Allen, one of Cromwell’s prisoners in 1643. He belonged to an old Lowestoft family. In the navy of Charles II. he held many high commands, and as an Admiral, took a prominent part in some of the fierce conflicts of the First Dutch War. In 1669 he retired from active service and was created a Baronet. Having acquired a handsome fortune, by opportunities not given to our sea warriors of the present day, he bought the Somerleyton Estate and resided in the old Hall for several years.
Admiral Utber and his son, Captain Utber, were also Lowestoft men who served with Admiral Allen in the Dutch Wars, and performed many distinguished services.
Sir John Ashby was another gallant seaman belonging to an old Lowestoft family. He was much distinguished for his services both as Captain and Admiral in the wars against France, in the time of William III. He was in command as Admiral of the Blue at the celebrated battle of La Hogue.
Another Lowestoft man, Sir Andrew Leake, was distinguished for his services in the war against France and Spain, in the early part of the reign of Queen Ann. He took part in the Capture of Gibraltar in 1704, and afterwards in the great battle off Malaga in the same year, in which he lost his life. (He must not be confused with his namesake, Sir John Leake, the hero of the siege.)
Another distinguished seaman was Admiral Mighells. He belonged to a well-known Lowestoft family, which had held a leading position in the town for more than a hundred years. The name has been mentioned more than once in these lectures. He was distinguished for his services in the war against Spain in 1719.
The last of our naval heroes, whose early career associated him with those already mentioned, was Captain Thomas Arnold. He earned great distinction in an action against the Spanish Fleet when serving under Admiral George Byng in 1718. He belonged to a family which had held a high position in the town for more than century, and which still holds the same position amongst us. The prestige of this family has been since enhanced by the celebrity of others of its members—the great educational Reformer, Dr. Arnold, Head Master of Rugby School, and his son, Matthew Arnold, one of the most distinguished of the poets and essayists of the Victorian Era.