Albion was launched at Topsham, Devon, in 1800. She spent most of her career sailing between London and Jamaica. After 1814 she held a license from the British East India Company to trade with India, but she does not appear to have availed herself of the option. In 1814 the American privateer Brutus captured Albion, but the British recaptured her within a few days. She was condemned at Charleston, South Carolina, and broken up in 1816.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Albion |
| Namesake | Albion |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Obadiah Ayles, Topsham, Devon[1] |
| Launched | 18 January 1800[1] |
| Fate | Condemned 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 367,[2] or 36762⁄94,[1] or 369[3] (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Armament |
|
Career edit
Albion first appears in Lloyd's Register in 1800.[3]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | G.Potbury | J. Hayman | Exeter—London |
| 1801 | Postbury J. Hayman |
Hayman | London transport London—Jamaica |
| 1802 | J.Hayman C. Warden |
Hayman | London—Cape of Good Hope |
| 1803 | J.Hayman C. Warden |
Hayman | London—Cape of Good Hope London—Jamaica |
| 1804 | C. Warden J. Antrobus |
Haman | Cork—Jamaica London—Jamaica |
| 1805 | J.Antrobus Butler |
Hayman | London—Jamaica |
| 1806 | J.Antrbus Butler |
Hayman | London—Jamaica |
| 1807 | Butler | Hayman | London—Jamaica |
| 1808 | Butler | Hayman | London—Jamaica |
| 1809 | Butler | Hayman | London—Jamaica |
| 1810 | Butler Deanham |
Hayman Higgins |
London—Jamaica |
| 1811 | Denham A. Smith |
Higgins | London—Jamaica |
| 1812 | A. Smith A. M'Neil |
Higgins | London—Jamaica |
| 1813 | A. M'Neil L. Hall |
Higgins | London—Jamaica |
| 1814 | L.Hall Skolding |
Higgins | London—Jamaica |
Capture and recapture edit
On 25 December 1814, towards the end of the War of 1812, the American privateer schooner Brutus captured Albion, "Skoulding", master, off the coast of Ireland as Albion was sailing to Bermuda from England. Brutus was armed with 12 guns and had a crew of 120 men. Even so, Albion resisted for some two hours.[4]
Brutus, of Boston, was under the command of Captain William Austin.[5] American records indicate that at the time of capture Albion, of 350 tons, was armed with eight guns and had a crew of 15 men. Her captors estimated the value of Albion's cargo at $200,000. Austin put a prize crew on board her and sent her to America.[6][7]
However, on 7 January 1815 Harlequin, Allen, master, recaptured Albion, "Scolding", master, at 50°20′N 14°50′W / 50.333°N 14.833°W and sent her into Liverpool.[8]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1815 | J.Skelding | Higgins | London—Jamaica | |
| 1816 | J.Skelding W.Curry |
Higgins | London—Jamaica |
Fate edit
As Albion was sailing from Jamaica to London, Curry had to put into Havana on 18 October, having sprung a leak. She landed and sold 70 hogsheads of sugar. She was expected to sail again on 18 November.[9]
Curry did not get far. Albion put into Charleston in some distress. At Charleston the surveyors condemned her as unseaworthy. She was sold on 11 January 1816 for breaking up. Her cargo was put on Commerce, Wilson, master.[10]
Citations edit
- ^ a b c Hackman (2001), p. 246.
- ^ Lloyd's Register 1818), Seq. №345.
- ^ a b Lloyd's Register (1800), Seq.№703.
- ^ Lloyd's List №4935.
- ^ Emmons (1853), p. 172.
- ^ Coggeshall (1856), p. 365.
- ^ Good (2012), p. 174.
- ^ Lloyd's List №4939.
- ^ Lloyd's List №5037.
- ^ Lloyd's List №5052.
References edit
- Coggeshall, George (1856). History of the American Privateers, and Letters-Of-Marque. New York.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Emmons, George Foster (1853). The navy of the United States, from the commencement, 1775 to 1853; with a brief history of each vessel's service and fate ... Comp. by Lieut. George F. Emmons ... under the authority of the Navy Dept. To which is added a list of private armed vessels, fitted out under the American flag ... also a list of the revenue and coast survey vessels, and principal ocean steamers, belonging to citizens of the United States in 1850. Washington: Gideon & Co.
- Good, Timothy S., ed. (2012). American privateers in the war of 1812: the vessels and their prizes as recorded in Niles' weekly register. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786466955.
- Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.