In the church of St James in Poole, Dorset, is a memorial to Captain Peter Jolliffe (1658-1730) who died on 12 November 1730 in his 72nd year. The inscription on the memorial celebrates Peter Jolliffe’s life and in particular his heroics during the Nine Years’ War (1688-1697) with France, for which William III ‘in justice to the merit of so brave a man rewarded his services with a commission and a medal of gold.’
The medal was so important to Peter Jolliffe that it received a special mention in the will he made on 31 July 1730. Having bequeathed two properties and garden ground to his wife and children, his last bequest was of the gold medal: ‘And my will is that my Gold Chaine and medal shall goe to the first of my Grandsons who shall be of my owne name and so remaine and be from time to time forever in that name so long as there shall be any one of my family remaining.’
But what had Peter Jolliffe done to deserve this medal? The answer can be found in Hutchins’ History of Dorset Vol.1 (3rd ed., 1861-70), pp.14-15:
‘In 1694, Capt. Peter Jolliffe, of Poole, who was cruising in a small hoy, called the “Sea Adventure,” perceiving a French privateer off the Isle of Purbeck make a prize of a fishing boat belonging to Weymouth, boldly attacked the privateer, though of three times his strength, and having first obliged him to quit his prize, afterwards forced him on shore, near the village of Lulworth, the people of which made themselves masters of the vessel, and took the crew prisoners. For this brave exploit, Captain Jolliffe was honoured with a magnificent gold chain and medal, presented to him by the king. (London, Gaz.3.3089) The medal is now in the possession of the Rev. Peter William Jolliffe, incumbent of the parish, who is the great-grandson of the gallant captain; it weights 2 oz. 17 dwts., and has on the obverse the heads of the king and queen in high relief, with the legend “GVL : ET. MAR : D : G : M : B : F : ET H : REX ET REGINA.” And on the reverse, “His maties gift as a reward to Peter Jollif of Poole for his good service agt the enemy in retaking a ketch of Weymouth from a French privateer, and chaceing the said privateer on shoar near Lulworth in ye Isle of Purbeck, where shee was broken in peeces 1684.” ‘
Peter Jolliffe’s medal was handed down through generations of his family and is now in the collections of Poole Museums.
In March 1893 SDNQ published an article by C.H. Mayo, the Editor for Dorset, concerning a ballad written about Peter Jolliffe’s exploits that was then in the possession of Lieutenant-Colonel William Long (1843-1926) of Newton House, Congresbury, Somerset. The full text of the ballad was printed in the journal, with a note that it was sung to the tune of ‘Captain Hastins’ or ‘The Zealous Lover’. Unfortunately, no recording of either tune could be found by the English Folk Dance and Song Society, but perhaps you can guess the tune as you read the ballad.
With thanks to Gary Edwards, Collections Officer for Poole Museums, and Alexandra Burton, Librarian at The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, English Folk Dance and Song Society.
This article about Captain Peter Jolliffe was first published in SDNQ (Vol.3) in March 1893, pp.172-173:
The following copy of a contemporary street ballad, for which we are indebted to the kindness of Lieut.-Col. William Long of Congresbury, Somerset, narrates the valiant exploits of Peter Jolliffe in 1694, against French Privateers, of which a brief outline may be read in Hutchins’ History of Dorset, I, p.14-15 (3rd ed.). The gold medal granted him by William and Mary, which formerly belonged to Rev. Peter William Jolliffe, his descendant, and Incumbent of Poole, 1791, and many years subsequently, is now in the possession of another member of the family. This Dorset worthy died 12 Nov., 1730, in his 72nd year. The ballad is printed literatim as it stands in Colonel Long’s manuscript.
C.H. Mayo, Editor for Dorset.
‘The Couragious Captain, or A brief account of the several nobele attempts and valliant exploits perform’d by the honoured captain Peter Jolliff over the French Privateers to his unspeakable praise, and the honor of the Kingdom, in general tune of Captain Hastins, or, the Zealous Lover.
Right valliant Thomson, brave and bold,
A medel had and chain of gold
For taking a French privateer;
But now anither captain hear
Hath sins receiv’d the same reword,
For nobel actions don one bord,
Deserving more than common fame,
Stout Peter Jolleff col’d by name.
He more than one or twice did fight,
And put French priviteers to flight,
As by the sequel you shall find,
Wich show his bold undanted mind.
The first thing I shall menshon hear
Sailing from Poole a privateer
Command Jolliff to strick sail,
Yet they could not with him prevail.
The French, they shot and shot in vain;
With swelling sails, and bold disdain,
Brave Jolliffe he stear’d on his way,
As scorning to bcome their pray.
The daring French he did defie,
Though he had then on borde his hye
But one poor single man and boy,
Yet clear he got with plesent joy.
Take notes now of one thing more
In the leate year of ninty four,
Upon the twentieth day of May
A royal ship at anchor Laye
In Waymouth rode, whear did advans
To roving privateers of frans
Who having cut her cable then
And saild her of with might and main.
When valliant Jolliff this behold,
His soul was straight with courage fill’d;
Quoth he, ill man my bot with speed,
And soon retake that prize, or bled.
Six men he had, and boys but four,
His hole bots crue contain no more,
One mounted gun, and that was all,
Except som arms of musket ball.
He crav’d a blessing from above,
That god would of his gracious Love
Vouch safe to gide and guard him still,
Then forth he saild with right good will.
Now while he plow’d the ocean wide,
The privateers at length he spyd,
Whome he did charge with might and main
Till he retooke that ship again.
One of the privateers he chast,
Who for to save their lives in haste
Did to the nearest shore repair,
But Peter catched them napping there.
Then without any more ado,
The monsieur captain and his crue,
Stout Peter Jolliff toock that day,
And brought them close confined away.
For this brave valliant act, behold,
He has receiv’d a chain of gold,
A medel and commission too,
That he the French may still pursue.
Another privateer he found
Which gafe a man a mortal wound,
And did maliciously destroy
A poor and harmles fisher boy.
This privateer he put to flight,
And had near taken them out right,
Had not the gloomy night draw near
Which caused them to disappear.
What e’er he took in hand did thrive;
Behold, this year of ninty five,
Full twenty sail of fishermen
He fred from cruel Rovers then.
He had but one great gun abord
And two young lads, wich did afford
But slender help, yet ne’er the less
They flew befor him in destress.
This privateer which he forsook,
It was the same that Thomson took
Next day, therefore it will appear,
Fue men like those of dosset-shire.
Let their renowed actions be
Recorded to posterity,
That others, hearing of their fame,
May strive to imitate the same.’
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