Arms: Erminois on a chevron Azure between two moorcocks in chief proper and a galley in base Sable, three estoiles Or; on a canton Azure pendant from a riband Argent fimbriated Azure a representation of the Gold Medal presented to the said Sir Robert Moorsom by His Majesty in testimony of His Royal Approbation of his services as Captain of His Majesty’s Ship Revenge in the ever memorable action with the combined fleet of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar on the twenty-first day of October 1805.
Crest: On a mount of heath a moorcock wings elevated supporting with the dexter claw a flag staf erect therefrom flowing a pendant Gules.
Motto: Ad Astra
Note: the emblazonment of the galley is as a man of war, presumably the Revenge.
SOURCES, NOTES & CREDITS: “The Double Tressure”, 2005, No. 28, The article “Nelson’s Captains” by the late Peter Drummond-Murray of Mastrick on pages 58-59 for background and the Wikipedia article on Robert Moorsom.
Admiral Sir Robert Moorsom, KCB ( 8 June 1760 – 14 April 1835 ) born in Whitby, Yorkshire was an officer of the Royal Navy. In 1805 He was captain of the brand new H.M.S Revenge, 74 in the weather column led by Collingwood. He cleared the deck of the portside Spanish three-decker, Principe de Asturias with small arms fire and with canister shot from his carronades, then dismasted the French Achille left helpless and sunk by following ships. Revenge showed particular galantry in rescuing the survivors of the Achille which included a woman. Moorsom however, was severly wonded in the engagment from shot or splinters from shot from the Asturias.
Moorsom recovered enough to carry the great banner at Nelson’s funeral. However, his days at sea were ended and he served in shore jobs for the rest of his career ending as an Admiral of the Blue and as a Knight Commander of the Bath. He died peacefully in 1835, age 74, and has descendants yet living today.
The artwork is an interpretation of Mark D. Dennis done for the 2005 “Double Tressure” article and used with his permission.
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