Harriot (1784 ship)

Harriot was launched in 1784 on the Thames as a West Indiaman. Her owners may have intended to send her to the South Seas as a whaler in 1786, but there is no evidence that she actually made such a voyage. A new owner renamed her Dominica Packet around 1787. She then spent her career primarily sailing between Britain and the West Indies. During her career she, together with two other Liverpool letters of marque, captured a valuable Spanish merchantman. Later, Harriot captured a Dutch East Indiaman. A Baltimore privateer captured Dominica Packet in 1813, but the British Royal Navy quickly recaptured her. She foundered circa January 1821.

For other ships with the same name, see Harriet (ship) and Harriot (ship).

History
Great Britain
NameHarriet
BuilderThames
RenamedDominica Packet (circa 1787)
FateFoundered circa January 1821
General characteristics
Tons burthen231,[1] or 232,[1] or 250[2] (bm)
Complement
Armament
  • 1798: 18 × 6-pounder guns[1]
  • 1808:2 × 6-pounder guns + 10 × 12-pounder carronades[1]
  • 1812:10 × 6-pounder guns

Career

Harriot first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1786.[2]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1786 A.Walton I.Rigg & Co. London–South Seas LR
1787 A.Walton
J.Banks		 I.Rigg & Co. London–South Seas LR; "Now the Dominica Packet, Banks"

Although Lloyd's Register showed Harriet sailing to the South Seas Fishery, and two sources on the trade, probably drawing on Llody's Register, says the same thing,[3][4] there is no evidence in Lloyd's List's ship arrival and departure data, or in any other newspaper of the period available online, of any such voyages for Harriot, or Harriet.

Captain John Banks purchased Harriot and renamed her Dominica Packet. He then sailed her between England and Dominica.[lower-alpha 1]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1787 John Banks Captain & Co. London–Dominica LR
1789 Boutfloor Banks & Co. London–Dominica LR
1793 G.Gray Lubbock London–Leghorn LR
1797 G.Gray
W.A.Meriton		 Lubbock
J.Lee		 London–Straits
London–Barbados		 LR
1798 W.A.Meriton
J.Ferguson		 J.Lee London–Barbados
Liverpool–Barbados		 LR

Captain John Ferguson acquired a letter of marque on 16 July 1798.[1] On 13 November 1798 Dominica Packet came upon the hulk of a schooner at 24°N 63°W. She had lost her masts and her crew had abandoned her. On her stern she bore the legend "Sam, Trackle, of Baltimore".[5]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1799 J.Ferguson J.Bennett Liverpool–Barbados LR
1801 J.Ferguson J.Bennett Liverpool–Barbados LR

Capture of Galga: Alfred, Dominica Packet, and Intrepid, all Liverpool letters of marque, were sailing in company with Captain John Pettigrew of Intrepid serving as commodore of the squadron, when on 22 June 1801 they encountered the Spanish frigate-built ship Galgo at 18°25′N 40°10′W. Galgo had visited several ports but was most recently from Rio de Plate. The British gave chase and after an engagement of almost two hours succeeded in capturing Galgo. Galgo, of 600 tons (bm), was armed with twenty-four six-pounder guns and had a crew of 78 men under the command of Francisco de Pascadeilo. Intrepid had one man killed and sustained some damage. Alfred and Dominica Packet had no damage or casualties. The three British ships and their prize arrived at Barbados on 4 July. Galgo was carrying a cargo of hides, cocoa, indigo, and bar copper. She had been carrying her cargo to Cadiz or any other Spanish port.[6][7][8][lower-alpha 2] One report put the value of Galgo at £60,000.[lower-alpha 3]

On 28 November Dominica Packet was at Cork when a storm capsized Dumfries, which had her master and four men aboard. Boats from Dominica Packet and four other vessels rescued the men, but at great risk to themselves and not without great difficulty. Dominica Packet's boat overturned but the men were able to right her and bail her out.[12]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1804 Ferguson
R.H.Caitcheon		 J.Bennett
J.G.Foderingham		 Bristol–Barbados LR

Captain Caitcheon in May 1804 delivered to Liverpool 29 tons of dyewood, 157 hogsheads and 22 barrels of sugar, 238 bales of cotton, 145 pieces of lignum vitae, 27 casks and 189 bags of coffee, three bags of ginger, seven casks of tamarind, 2 casks cocoa corder.[13][lower-alpha 4]

On 12 May 1805 as Dominica Packet was sailing from Liverpool to Barbados, she sighted a French fleet near Martinique. One frigate briefly gave chase but then returned to the fleet.[14]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1805 R.H.Caitcheon
Gillespie		 J.G.Foderingham Liverpool–Barbados LR; repairs 1804 & damages repaired 1805
1807 Gillespie
J.Cowell		 J.G.Foderingham Liverpool–Barbados LR; repairs 1804, damages repaired 1805, large repair 1807

In 1807, Dominica Packet, Cowall, master, captured a Dutch East Indiaman sailing under American colours and brought her into Trinidad.[15]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1808 J.Cowell
T.Rising		 Taylor & Co. London–Trinidad LR; large repair 1807

Captain J.Rising acquired a letter of marque on 24 October 1808.[1] In 1809 Dominica Packet sailed up the Pará River to the port of Parra. She was the first British vessel ever to call there. Her captain fired a salute and the inhabitants greeted her with great hospitality.[16] When Dominica Packet, Rising, master, returned to Liverpool from Para she fell over in the dock and proceeded to fill with water at every tide.[17]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1810 T.Rising
T.Hea		 Taylor & Co. London–Trinidad
Liverpool–Brazils		 LR; large repair 1807
1811 T.Hea Gladstone Liverpool–Newfoundland LR; large repair 1807
1813 T.Hea Gladstone Liverpool–Newfoundland LR; large repair 1807 & repair 1813

Capture and recapture: on 6 March 1813 Dominica Packet, of Liverpool, was sailing from Demerara bound for St. Thomas with rum, sugar, cotton, and coffee when she encountered the Baltimore privateer Comet. Comet captured Dominica Packet in sight of St Thomas.[18][lower-alpha 5] HMS Variable recaptured Dominica Packet on 13 March.[20] Dominica Packet, Hex, master, arrived at Nassau on 28 March.[21]

Dominica Packet sailed from New Providence on 18 May together with some other merchantmen, all under convoy by HMS Variable. Dominica Packet arrived at Liverpool on 3 July.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1818 J.Davis Gladstones Liverpool–Madeira
Liverpool–Brazils		 LR; repair 1807, repair 1813, large repair 1817
1819 J.Davis
White		 Gladstones Liverpool–Brazils LR; large repair 1807 & 1817
1820 White Gladstones Liverpool–Derry LR; large repair 1807 & 1817

As Dominica Packet was sailing from Londonderry to New York she had to put into Strangford leaky. She then moved about a mile to Portaferry where she was to unload her cargo and repair.[22]

Fate

Dominica Packet foundered in the Atlantic Ocean in January 1821. Midas, of the United States, rescued her crew and passengers, and delivered them to Lisbon on 27 January. Dominica Packet was on a voyage from Londonderry to New York.[23]

Notes
  1. One source misnames the vessel as Dunning Packet.[4]
  2. The British vessels had a combined heavier broadside and larger crew than Galga. Intrepid's letter of marque showed her with twenty 9&18-pounder cannons and 50 men.[9] Alfred's letter of marque showed her with eighteen 9&24-pounder cannons and 16 men.[10]
  3. Prize money was paid to Alfred on January 1812.[11]
  4. Robert Hunter Caitcheon had earlier been captain of Harriot and Cam's Delight.
  5. For Captain Thomas Boyle's account of the cruise in which he captured Dominica Packet, among numerous other vessels, see the extract from Comet's log book.[19]

Citations
  1. "Letter of Marque, p.59 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. LR (1886), Seq.No.H422.
  3. British Southern Whale Fishery – Voyages: Harriot.
  4. Clayton (2014), p. 137.
  5. Naval Chronicle, Vol.1, p.256.
  6. "No. 15404". The London Gazette. 5 September 1801. p. 1091.
  7. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4183. 4 September 1801. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735020.
  8. Williams (1897), pp. 397–398.
  9. "Letter of Marque, p.69 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  10. "Letter of Marque, p.49 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. "Multiple Advertisements and Notices". Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c. (Lancaster, England), 11 January 1812; pg. [1]; Issue 552.
  12. "Multiple News Items". Lancaster Gazetteer: and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c. (Lancaster, England), 28 November 1801; Issue 24
  13. "SHIP NEWS." Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser, for Lancashire, Westmorland, &c. [Lancaster, England] 2 June 1804; Issue 155.
  14. "WEST INDIES". Morning Chronicle (London, England), 3 July 1805; Issue 11271.
  15. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4188. 18 September 1807. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735023.
  16. "Multiple News Items". The Supporter (Chillicothe, Ohio), c. 13 October 1809; Issue 54.
  17. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4374. 28 July 1809. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735024.
  18. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4771. 18 May 1813. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735026.
  19. "American Gallantry. Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, District Of Columbia), 26 March 1813; Issue 73.
  20. "No. 16771". The London Gazette. 7 September 1813. p. 1767.
  21. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4774. 1 June 1813. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735026.
  22. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 5440. 7 November 1820. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735030.
  23. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (5568). 13 February 1821.

References
  • Clayton, Jane M (2014). Ships employed in the South Sea Whale Fishery from Britain: 1775–1815: An alphabetical list of ships. Berforts Group. ISBN 9781908616524.
  • Williams, Gomer (1897). History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque: With an Account of the Liverpool Slave Trade. W. Heinemann.
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