Caerwent was built at Rotherhithe and launched in 1799. She was a West Indiaman that the French captured in 1803 and the British Royal Navy recaptured shortly thereafter. She made one voyage as a whaler, but then returned to the West Indies trade. She was lost at Jackmel, Hayti, in May 1810.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Caerwent |
| Namesake | Caerwent |
| Builder | Rotherhithe |
| Launched | 1799 |
| Fate | Lost 1810 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 269,[1] or 270,[2] or 273,[3] or 276 (bm) |
| Complement | 36[3] |
| Armament | 16 × 6-pounder guns + 4 swivel guns[3] |
Career edit
Caerwent entered Lloyd's Register in 1799 with Robinson, master, J. Thompson, owner, and trade London–Jamaica.[1]
On 4 July 1803, shortly after the resumption of war with France, HMS Acasta recaptured Caerwent.[4] Caerwent, Robinson, master, was sent into Portsmouth.[5]
Whaling voyage (1804–1807): Captain Job Anthony acquired a letter of marque on 30 January 1804.[3] At the start of the voyage Caerwent's owner, or part owner, was Lord Camelford, a particularly violent former naval officer. When Camelford died three days after being wounded in a duel on 7 March 1804, his whalers, Caerwent, Wilding (or Willding), and Cambridge passed to Lord Grenville, a relative by marriage, who sold them when they returned from their voyages.[6]
Anthony sailed from London in February, bound for the Galápagos Islands. On 29 May Caerwent and Cambridge were at Rio de Janeiro.[7] They were later reported to have arrived at Hood Island.[8]
On 5 December 1806 Lloyd's List reported that Caerwent, Anthony, master, and Cambridge, Thompson, late master, were at the Cape of Good Hope,[9] Both returned to London on 12 May 1805.[7]
The Register of Shipping for 1809 showed Caerwent with J.Stafford, master, Annen, owner, and trade London–Curacoa.[2]
Fate edit
Caerwent, Browmer, master, was lost on 31 May 1810 as she was coming out of the harbour at Jacmel in 1810.[10] She was on her way to London.[11]
The Register of Shipping for 1810 showed Caerwent with Massingham, master, Annen, owner, and trade London–Curacoa. However, it has the annotation "LOST".[12]
Citations edit
- ^ a b Lloyd's Register (1799), Seq.№596-599.
- ^ a b Register of Shipping (1809), Seq.№C9.
- ^ a b c d "Letter of Marque, p.54 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "No. 15658". The London Gazette. 17 December 1803. p. 1788.
- ^ Lloyd's List №4366.
- ^ Jackson (1978), p. 89.
- ^ a b British Southern Whale Fishery – Voyages: Caerwent.
- ^ Lloyd's List №4206.
- ^ Lloyd's List №4105, Ship arrivals and departures (SAD) data.
- ^ Lloyd's List №4475.
- ^ Marx (1987), p. 374.
- ^ Register of Shipping (1810), Seq.№C7.
References edit
- Clayton, Jane M. (2014). Ships employed in the South Sea Whale Fishery from Britain: 1775-1815: An alphabetical list of ships. Jane M Clayton. ISBN 978-1-908616-52-4.
- Jackson, Gordon (1978). The British whaling trade. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books. ISBN 978-0713618402.
- Marx, Robert F. (1987). Shipwrecks in the Americas. New York: Dover. ISBN 978-0-486-25514-9.