Career
Adventure first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1800 with G.Bernard, master, Gibb, owner, and trade London–Africa. She had undergone repairs in 1799. [2] Captain George Bernard acquired a letter of marque on 3 December 1799. [1]
1st enslaving voyage (1800–1801): Captain Bernard sailed from Liverpool on 16 January 1800, bound for Bonny. Adventure delivered 337 captives to Kingston, Jamaica on 31 August. She returned to Liverpool on 28 January 1801. [3]
West Indiaman: On her return from this voyage, new owners sailed her as a West Indiaman.
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|
| 1801 | G.Bernard
W.Findlay | Gibbs
Hughan & Co. | Liverpool–Africa
London–Africa | LR |
|
The French privateer Mouche captured Adventure, Finlay, master, as she was near the Western Islands while sailing from London to Martinique. Mouche also captured Aurora, Redman, master, which was sailing from London to Barbados. HMS Bordelais recaptured them both. [4] Bordelaise encountered Adventure, which only struck on 8 January 1801 after a long chase. From her the British found out that Mouche had captured Aurora too, and had sent her to Teneriffe. Bordelais sailed there and intercepted Aurora on 10 January as she arrived. [5]
Adventure arrived at Barbados on 3 February and from there sailed on to Martinique.
2nd enslaving voyage (1801–1802): Captain William Findlay acquired a letter of marque on 24 August 1801. [1] Captain Findlay sailed from London on 5 September 1801, bound for New Calabar. Adventure delivered 358 captives to Kingston on 1 March 1802, having passed Demerara on 15 February. She sailed from Kingston on 15 May and arrived back at London on 19 July. [6]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source & notes |
|---|
| 1804 | W.Findlay
R.Corner | Hughan & Co.
T.Benson | London–Africa
London–Baltic | LR; repairs 1799 |
| 1810 | Walker | T.Benson | London–Baltic | LR; repairs 1799 |
|
In the issue for 8 February 1811, Lloyd's List (LL) reported that Adventure, Walker, master, had probably been lost or taken while sailing from Siloe to London. In the next issue it reported that she had arrived at the Downs on 8 February.
Brooks was a British slave ship launched at Liverpool in 1781. She became infamous after prints of her were published in 1788. Between 1782 and 1804, she made 11 voyages in the triangular slave trade in enslaved people. During this period she spent some years as a West Indiaman. She also recaptured a British merchantman and captured a French merchantman. She was condemned as unseaworthy in November 1804.
Royal Edward was launched in 1782 in France as Alexandre. The British captured her c.1796, and new owners changed her name. She then sailed for a few years as a West Indiaman before completing four voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She returned to the West India trade after leaving the slave trade, and then traded more generally. She was condemned as unseaworthy and broken up in Bengal in 1815.
Allison was launched in France in 1776, almost certainly under another name. The British captured her in 1795. Between 1796 and 1799 she made two whaling voyages to the Southern Whale Fishery. Then between 1799 and 1807 she made three voyages as a slave ship. Between the first and the second a French privateer captured her, but British letters of marque recaptured her. The British slave trade was abolished in 1807 and thereafter Allison traded primarily as a coaster. After about 1840 she began to trade to America and Africa. She was lost c.1846.
Otter was launched at Liverpool in 1797, initially as a West Indiaman. She made seven voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. During her career she captured one merchantman and recaptured another. She was lost in 1807 on her way back to Britain from her seventh enslaving voyage.
Aurora was launched at Chester in 1793 as a West Indiaman. During her career first the French (twice) and then the United States captured her, but she returned to British hands. Between 1801 and 1808 she made four voyages as a slave ship. She continued to trade widely until 1831.
Aurora was launched at Philadelphia in 1779. She did not appear in British registers until 1800. She then made five voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She was damaged and condemned at Jamaica in 1807 after having landed her slaves from her fifth voyage.
Defiance was launched in Hamburg in 1790, probably under another name. She started sailing as a slave ship out of London in 1795. Between 1795 and 1800 she made three voyages in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She then left that trade but a French privateer captured her late in 1800.
Leander was launched on the Thames in 1799. She was captured in 1801 after she had delivered the captives she had gathered on her first voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people.
Caroline was a ship launched in France in 1792, possibly under another name. She was taken in prize in 1794 and sailed first as a West Indiaman, then as a whaler, and finally as a slave ship. She was lost in 1801 on her second slave-trading voyage after she had delivered her slaves to Kingston, Jamaica.
Tartar was launched in France in 1802, or Spain in 1805, almost certainly under another name. In 1806 she sailed under the flag of the United Kingdom on a voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. On her return she started trading between Liverpool and Brazil and Africa. A French frigate captured her in 1813, but then released her. She was wrecked early in 1815.
Westmoreland was launched in Yarmouth in 1783. Between 1800 and 1804 she made two voyages as a slave ship. A French privateer captured her during her second voyage but the Royal Navy recaptured her and she completed her voyage. The registers continued to carry her for a few years but with stale data; she actually made a voyage in 1805 to Demerara. On her way a privateer captured her.
Harriot (or Harriott}was launched in Liverpool in 1786. For many years she was a West Indiaman, sailing between Liverpool and Barbados. In 1796 a French frigate captured her, but the British Royal Navy quickly recaptured her. She became a slave ship. At the beginning of her of her first slave trading voyage a French privateer captured her, and again the Royal Navy quickly recaptured her. She made five slave trading voyages in all. Thereafter she traded with South America. She was last listed in 1814 with stale data.
Agreeable was launched at Bermuda in 1786, probably under a different name. French owners acquired her at some point and sailed her as Agréable. In 1793 the British captured her. Subsequently, between 1793 and 1808, she made six voyages as a slave ship, alternating between the triangular trade in enslaved people, and sailing as a regular West Indiaman. French privateers captured her between the second and third voyages, and the third and fourth voyages, but each time the British Royal Navy recaptured her. In the case of the second capture she was in French hands long enough for them to send her out as a privateer. She herself captured an American vessel in 1808 as she was returning to Liverpool from her last slave voyage. After the end of British participation in the slave trade Agreeable traded more widely, particularly to South America. She was condemned at Buenos Aires in 1814 after running aground in the River Plate. She was repaired and continue to sail to Brazil until she returned to Liverpool in June 1819.
Backhouse was launched in 1798 at Dartmouth. In all, she made four voyages as a slave ship. Between the second and the third, and after the fourth, she was a West Indiaman. A French privateer captured her early in 1810 as she was returning to Britain from Brazil.
Nimble was built in Folkestone in 1781, possibly under another name. In 1786 Nimble was almost rebuilt and lengthened. Between 1786 and 1798 she made nine voyages as a whaler in the British Southern Whale Fishery. Between 1799 and 1804 she made four voyages from Liverpool as a slave ship. On her first voyage as to gather captives she detained a neutral vessel, an action that resulted in a court case. On her second voyage to gather captives, a French privateer captured her, but the Royal Navy recaptured her. She was sold in 1804 at St Thomas after she had delivered her captives.
Roebuck was a ship built on the Thames in 1784, almost certainly under another name. She first appeared as Roebuck in 1799 sailing as a West Indiaman. Between 1800 and 1802 she made three voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. After the three voyages she became a West Indiaman. She was condemned in 1806.
Dick was a French vessel built in Spain, almost certainly sailing under another name, that the British captured circa 1798. She made a voyage to the West Indies during which she repelled two attacks, and captured three prizes. She then became a slave ship that made three slave-trading voyages. Her first voyage was cut short when a French privateer captured her and the Royal Navy recaptured her. She then made two complete voyages. After her return in 1803 from her third voyage she became a West Indiaman. She grounded in 1804 after another vessel had run into her. She was last listed in 1809.
Atalanta was built in Bermuda in 1799. She sailed to London and then between 1800 and 1802 she made two complete voyages as a slave ship. New owners sailed her as a West Indiaman. She suffered a minor maritime incident in 1803. A French privateer captured her in 1804.
Lottery was launched at Liverpool in 1796. Between 1796 and 1807 she made eight complete voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. After the end of British participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Lottery became a West Indiaman. She was wrecked on 30 January 1810 outbound from Liverpool.
Nelly was launched at Liverpool in 1798. She initially sailed as a West Indiaman. From 1803 she made two complete voyages as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. Spanish privateers captured her in 1805 while she was on her third slave voyage after she had embarked slaves.
Great Britain