The Pett Dynasty
Some confusion may arise between the identities of Peter Pett and his many relatives; even the Navy Board had difficulty in keeping its records straight on this matter.
From probably before the time that John Pett, (son of Thomas) was 'paid' for 'Caulking' (making watertight) the Regent in 1499, the Petts have been variously mistaken, one for the other. Often this was the case with Peter Pett. The first of that name was a Master Shipwright at Deptford in the late 16th century, who built a number of English warships (and other vessels) in the 1570s onwards. The next Peter Pett, two generations later on, was also a Master Shipwright at Deptford, who died in 1652. That Peter had two sons, Sir Peter, the Advocate General for Ireland and Sir Phineas Pett, Master Shipwright at Chatham, who was knighted in 1680, and who was the Comptroller of Stores, and resident Commissioner at Chatham, and who is further to be distinguished from the Commissioner Peter Pett's brother Phineas, a clerk of the check at Chatham.
Three other Petts named Phineas were at the same time in the Naval Service at Chatham or in the Thames, one of whom was killed in action in 1666 whilst in command of the Tiger, this being a brother of the 2nd Commissioner at Chatham.
The Roll and index of the domestic State Papers have so confused the numerous Petts as to have been described as useless.
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