Swallow's origins are obscure in terms of her launch year and place. She first appeared in 1798 as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1798 with R.White as master, R.Abram as owner, and trade Liverpool–Africa.[3]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Swallow |
| Namesake | Swallow |
| In service | 1798 |
| Captured | 1799 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 207[1] (bm) |
| Complement | 25,[1] or 37[2] |
| Armament | 14 × 6&9-pounder guns[1] |
Captain Robert White acquired a letter of marque on 14 March 1798.[1] He sailed from Liverpool on 4 May.[2] In 1798, 160 vessels sailed from English ports, bound for the trade in enslaved people; 149 of these vessels sailed from Liverpool.[4]
Swallow acquired captives in West Africa. She escaped the French privateer Republican, of 32 guns, in a squall after an hour-long running fight.[5] After Swallow had acquired her captives she sailed towards the West Indies. On her way she captured a French privateer. However, the privateer's crew were able seize their captors. They then sailed Swallow and the privateer into Cayenne.[6][5]
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d "Letter of Marque, p.88 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ a b Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Swallow voyage #83670.
- ^ LR (1798), Seq.№S462.
- ^ Williams (1897), p. 680.
- ^ a b Williams (1897), p. 367.
- ^ Lloyd's List 12 April 1799, №3063.
References edit
- Williams, Gomer (1897). History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque: With an Account of the Liverpool Slave Trade. W. Heinemann.