Doncaster was launched on the River Thames in 1825. Early in her career she carried emigrants to Australia. She made other voyages to Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales, but also traded as a West Indiaman. She was wrecked on 17 July 1836, on the coast of South Africa while sailing from Île de France (Mauritius) to London.

History
United Kingdom
NameDoncaster
NamesakeDoncaster
BuilderWigram's & Green, Blackwall[1]
Launched9 February 1825[1]
FateWrecked 17 July 1836
General characteristics [1]
Tons burthen234[2] (bm)
Length94 ft 7 in (28.8 m)
Beam23 ft 8 in (7.2 m)
Sail planBarque

Career edit

Doncaster was built at Blackwall Yard by Wigram and Green. She first appeared in the volume of the Register of Shipping (RS), in 1825.[3]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1825 Brown Marshall London–Demerara
London–New South Wales
RS

Doncaster, Brown, master, sailed to Cork, and then on to Demerara, where she arrived on 19 April 1825. She arrived back at Gravesend on 15 August. She first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR), in 1826.[4]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1826 Church J. Marshall London–Van Diemen's Land LR

Doncaster, S.Brown, master was listed in Lloyd's Register as sailing for Van Diemen's Land (VDL) or New South Wales (NSW) on 5 December 1825. Lloyd's List's ship arrival and departure (SAD) data showed Doncaster, Church, master, at Deal on 20 November, bound for New South Wales. Doncaster, Church, master, on her way to Van Diemen's Land, arrived at Cowes on 30 November with a broken rudder. She sailed for VDL on 5 December, or NSW on 6 December. On 28 December she sailed for VDL from Plymouth.[a]

Doncaster, John Foster Church, master, arrived at Hobart on 5 May 1826, with merchandise and 20 passengers. On 23 May, Doncaster, Church, master, sailed from Hobart; she arrived at Port Jackson/Sydney on 29 May. One of her passengers was a distressed British subject that the British Consul at Santiago, Cape Verde had put on board when Doncaster had stopped there in January.

On 12 July, Doncaster, Church, master, sailed for London, stopping at Hobart to take on cargo. She left Hobart on 10 October, Mrs. Church having given birth to a son while at Hobart. Doncaster arrived back at Gravesend. Captain Church then took command of Jessie Lawson, another vessel owned by John Marshall.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1827 Church
Muller
J. Marshall London–Van Diemen's Land LR
1828 Muller
Ireland
J. Marshall London–Jamaica LR; small repairs 1826
1829 Ireland J. Marshall London–New South Wales LR; small repairs 1826
1830 Ireland
Surflen
J. Marshall London–New South Wales LR; repairs 1830
1831 E.Surflen J. Marshall London–Île de France LR

In 1813 the EIC had lost its monopoly on the trade between India and Britain. British ships were then free to sail to India or the Indian Ocean under a licence from the EIC.[6] Doncaster, Surflen, master, sailed from London on 3 February 1831, bound for Île de France and Ceylon.[7]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1834 E.Surflen
G.Pritchard
Blythe & Co. London–Mauritius LR

Fate edit

Doncaster, Pritchard, master, was wrecked on 17 July 1836 at the mouth of the Kleine River, South Africa. Another report stated that bodies and part of the wreckage had drifted ashore at Cape Agulhas. All 64 people on board were lost. She was on a voyage from Mauritius to London.[8][9][10]

A later report had a casualty list. Passengers included civilians and troops being invalided home.[11]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Her owner, John Marshall, of 26 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, was the most active colonial emigration agent before the formation in 1840 of the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission. He arranged for passengers and emigrants to travel on vessels he owned, such as Doncaster or Boddingtons, or had chartered, such as Bussorah Merchant.[5]

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Historic Shipping: Wigram's & Green - June 1819 to Aug 1827 – Doncaster.
  2. ^ Hackman (2001), p. 268.
  3. ^ '"RS (1825), "D" supple. pages.
  4. ^ LR (1826), Seq.No.D390.
  5. ^ Rushen, Liz (20 January 2020). "Bounty Emigration Ships to Australia". Liz Rushen Historian. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ Hackman (2001), p. 247.
  7. ^ LR (1832), "Ships trading to India – 1831".
  8. ^ "Wreck of the Doncaster". The Times. No. 16237. London. 18 October 1836. col D, p. 1.
  9. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". Caledonian Mercury. No. 18011. Edinburgh. 21 November 1836.
  10. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". Liverpool Mercury etc. No. 1344. Liverpool. 3 February 1837.
  11. ^ "SHIP NEWS", 23 January 1837, Morning Post (London, England), issue 20631.

References edit

  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.