Letter from Benjamin Slade to Anson concerning the re-fitting and modelling of ships, 21 July 1747.

Benjamin Slade, master shipwright of Plymouth yard, played an important part in the development of new ship designs, providing Anson with draughts of ships based on the designs of French prizes. In this letter Slade refers to a Mr. Slade, probably Benjamin Slade's nephew who was Sir Thomas Slade, who he has asked to deliver draughts of the French privateer Tiger and the French man of war Subtle, to Anson. Sir Thomas Slade worked as assistant master shipwright at Woolwich from c.1744 until he replaced his uncle at Plymouth after Benjamin Slade’s death in 1750. Anson went on to appoint Sir Thomas Slade as a surveyor of the navy (1755-1771).

(© Staffordshire Record Office: D615/P(S)/1/9/22)