HMS Roebuck was built by Anthony Deane during his tenure as the Master Shipwright at Harwich Dockyard under the 1665 Programme.

Roebuck was the fifth named vessel since it was used for a flyboat bought from the Dutch in January 1585, and was with Sir Walter Raleigh in North America.

[2] Her armament was listed as fourteen to sixteen 6-pounder muzzle-loading smoothbore guns mounted on trucks.

[2] She was commissioned on 10 July 1666 (prior to her launch date) under Captain George Liddle, RN.

On 9 February 1673[Note 1] Captain Richard Country, RN took command until his death on 22 January 1676.