Rachel (1810 ship)

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History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameRachel
BuilderHilton
Launched1810
FateLast listed 1833
General characteristics
Tons burthen237, [1] or 2379394, [2] or 238 (bm)
Sail plan Brig
Complement36 [2]
Armament12 × 9-pounder guns [2]

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.

Contents

Career

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, Rachel struck. 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 HMS Fawn 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]

YearMasterOwnerTradeSource & notes
1815D.HoggWatson & Co.Greenock–NewfoundlandLR
1820J.Davies
Mustard
Duff & CompanyPlymouth–JamaicaLR
1825J.CooperArmstrongHull-PetersburgLR; large repair 1820 & repairs 1821
1830D.IrvingArmstrongExmouth–QuebecLR; good repair 1828 & keel and damage repair 1829
1833D.IrvingArmstrongCork–MontrealLR; good repair 1828 & keel and damage repair 1829

Fate

Rachel was last listed in 1833.

Citations

  1. 1 2 LR (1812), Supple. pages "R", Seq.№58.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Letter of Marque against America
  3. Lloyd's List (LL) 4 December 1812, №4725.
  4. Maclay (1900), pp. 446–447.
  5. 1 2 3 Dudley (1985), pp. 623–4.
  6. LL 26 February 18114, №4759.
  7. "No. 16713". The London Gazette . 20 March 1813. p. 581.
  8. LL 12 March 1813, №4554.
  9. 1812 Privateers Archived 7 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine - accessed 19 December 2013.
  10. LL 1 February 1814, №4842, Ship arrival and departure (SAD) data.
  11. LL 12 July 1814, SAD data.

References