Rachael was launched in 1810 at Hilton (possibly South Hylton) or Sunderland, and apparently was initially registered and based at Greenock. In 1812 an American privateer captured her in a notable single-ship action, but the British Royal Navy recaptured her almost immediately. She then continued as a general trader and was last listed in 1833.
Rachel first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) with C.R.Lyon, master, M'Gowan, owner, and trade Greenock–Newfoundland.[1]
War between the United Kingdom and the United States having broken out, Captain Ninian Dalmahoy acquired a letter of marque against the United States for Rachel, of Greenock.[2] It is not clear when he assumed command of her. On 27 October 1812 Rachel, Dalmahoy, master, was in the Bay of Biscay, bound to La Guaira.[3] Dalmahoy died on the voyage and as she arrived at La Guaira her first mate, named Alexander, was captain.[4]
When she arrived off La Guaira she had been at sea for 57 days.[5] At La Guaira on 11 December she had the misfortune to encounter the American privateer schooner Saratoga, of 16 guns and 140 men.[6]
After an engagement of about half an hour, Rachelstruck. The British had two men killed, including Alexander, and two men wounded, one of whom died shortly thereafter; only two men from Saratoga were wounded.[5] The next day, being short of water, the Americans released twenty-seven of the prisoners and sent them into La Guaira in a longboat. They kept four of the prisoners on Rachel and two on Saratoga.[5]
On 12 (or 15) December HMSFawn encountered Rachel and recaptured her,[7][8] together with the 12-man prize crew of Americans. The British took the Americans on board Fawn and put a six-man prize crew on board Rachel, which they sent into Jamaica, where the Vice admiralty court condemned her as a prize. Fawn went into La Guaira and picked up Rachel's crew, all of whom agreed to serve on Fawn, though some apparently deserted shortly thereafter.[9]
Rachel arrived back in the Clyde on 27 January 1814,[10] and again, with M'Call, master, on 8 July 1814.[11]
Year
Master
Owner
Trade
Source & notes
1815
D.Hogg
Watson & Co.
Greenock–Newfoundland
LR
1820
J.Davies Mustard
Duff & Company
Plymouth–Jamaica
LR
1825
J.Cooper
Armstrong
Hull-Petersburg
LR; large repair 1820 & repairs 1821
1830
D.Irving
Armstrong
Exmouth–Quebec
LR; good repair 1828 & keel and damage repair 1829
1833
D.Irving
Armstrong
Cork–Montreal
LR; good repair 1828 & keel and damage repair 1829
Dudley, William S., ed. (1985). The Naval War of 1812: a documentary history. U.S. N Naval Historical Center; Government Printing Office.
Maclay, Edgar Stanton (1900). A History of American Privateers. New York: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co.
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