John (1804 ship)

For other ships with the same name, see John (ship).

History
United Kingdom
Name	John
Builder	Chepstow
Launched	1804
Fate	Wrecked 30 June 1827
General characteristics
Tons burthen	433 [1] (bm)

John was launched at Chepstow in 1804. She then became a West Indiaman, sailing between Bristol and Jamaica. In 1826 she started sailing to Bengal under a license from the British East India Company (EIC). She was wrecked on 30 June 1827 on such a voyage.

Career

John was built for J. Maxse & Co., of Bristol. John first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1806. ^[2]

Year	Master	Owner	Trade	Source
1806	[Samuel] Pritchard	Maxse & Co.	Bristol–Jamaica	LR
1812	Pritchard J[ohn] Hoddrell (Hoddell)	J.Maxse	Bristol–Jamaica	LR
1818	J.Hoddell	Vaughn & Co.	Bristol–Jamaica	LR

John, Hoddell, master, arrived in Jamaica in February 1818 from Bristol. While off the coast of Ireland she had lost her rudder, which had left her in great distress for some days. The crew succeeded eventually in hanging a rudder that was twice lost. Eventually they were able to mount a third rudder and reach Jamaica. ^[3] On 8 March John, Hoddell, master, was lying in Great River, by Montego Bay, when a storm drove her and other vessels ashore. She was gotten off without any damage. ^[4]

Year	Master	Owner	Trade	Source
1820	J.Hoddell J.Wheeler	Vaughn & Co.	Bristol–Jamaica	LR
1826	J[ohn] Wheeler Dowson	J.Drew	Plymouth London–Isle of 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 license from the EIC. ^[5] John, W.Dawson, master, sailed for Bengal on 26 June 1826. She was sailing under such a license. ^[6]

Fate

John was wrecked on 30 June 1827 on Western Sea Reef in the Bay of Bengal with the loss of four lives. Windsor and Woodford rescued 17 survivors. ^{[7] [8]} John had been on a voyage from London to Calcutta.

Citations

1. Farr (1950), p. 238.
2. LR (1806), Seq.№J617.
3. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 5273. 21 April 1818. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735028.
4. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 5277. 5 May 1818. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735028.
5. Hackman (2001), p. 247.
6. LR (1827), "Ships Trading to India".
7. "East India Shipping". The Standard. No. 166. 29 November 1827.
8. "Ship News". The Morning Post. No. 17772. 1 December 1827.

References

• Farr, Grahame E., ed. (1950). Records of Bristol Ships, 1800-1838 (vessels over 150 tons). Vol. 15. Bristol Record Society.
• Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN   0-905617-96-7.