Falmouth (1806 ship)

Falmouth was launched in 1806 at Liverpool as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. After the British slave trade ended in 1807, she became a West Indiaman until a privateer captured her in 1812.

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

History
United Kingdom
NameFalmouth
NamesakeFalmouth
BuilderLiverpool
Launched1806
Capturedc.September 1812
General characteristics
Tons burthen426,[1] or 434,[2] or 435[3] (bm)
Complement
Armament
  • 1806:20 × 24&8-pounder cannons[2]
  • 1806:2 × 6–pounder + 4 × 9-pounder guns + 18 × 24–pounder carronades[1]

Slave ship

Falmouth first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1806 with Sherwood, master, Lett & Co., owners, and trade Liverpool–Africa.[1] Captain William Sherwood acquired a letter of marque on 5 June 1806.[2]

Captain William Sherwood sailed from Liverpool on 28 June 1806.[4] Between 1 January 1806 and 1 May 1807, 185 vessels cleared Liverpool outward bound in the slave trade. Thirty of these vessels made two voyages during this period. Of the 155 vessels, 114 were regular slave ships, having made two voyages during the period, or voyages before 1806.[5]

Falmouth acquired captives at Bonny Island. She arrived at Montego Bay on 14 January 1807. There she landed 395 captives. She left on 22 April and arrived back at Liverpool on 14 June. She had left Liverpool with 63 crew members and she suffered three crew deaths on the voyage.[4]

West Indiaman

LR for 1807 showed her master changing to R.Watson. LR for 1808 showed him sailing Falmouth between Liverpool and Jamaica. He sailed from Cork on 11 November 1807 as part of the Jamaica fleet. In 1812 her master changed from R. Watson to M. Hill. Her trade was still London–Jamaica.

Fate

Falmouth reached Portland, Maine in mid-September 1812.[6] The American privateer Thomas had captured Falmouth as she was sailing from London to Jamaica.[7] United States sources gave the value of Falmouth's cargo as $200,000.[8]

The Register of Shipping (RS) for 1813 showed her master as W.Hill, her owners as Litt & Co., and her trade as Liverpool–West Indies. The entry carried the notation "Captured".[3]

LR continued to carry Falmouth, Hill, master, Jerwarris, owner, for a number of years. However the ship arrivals and departures data in Lloyd's List had no mention of a "Falmouth, Hill".

Citations
  1. LR (1806), Supple.pages "F", Seq.№F41.
  2. "Letter of Marque, p.62 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  3. RS (1813), Seq.№F36.
  4. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Falmouth voyage #81361.
  5. Williams (1973), p. 4.
  6. Good (2012), p. 124.
  7. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4702. 20 October 1812. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735025.
  8. Good (2012), p. 97.

References
  • Good, Timothy S., ed. (2012). American privateers in the war of 1812: the vessels and their prizes as recorded in Niles' weekly register. McFarland. ISBN 978-0786466955.
  • Williams, David M. (1973). "Abolition and the re-deployment of the slave fleet, 1807-1811". Journal of Transport History. Sage. 2 (2): 103–113.
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