List of vessels of the Bengal Pilot Service to 1834

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The Bengal Pilot Service (BPS) was an arm of the British East India Company (EIC). Its pilot boats were responsible for guiding East Indiamen, and other vessels, up and down the Hooghly River between Calcutta and the sea. The BPS vessels and their role were transferred to the Indian Navy in 1834.

The information in the tables below comes primarily from Phipps (designated with a "†"),[1] or Hackman (designated with a "‡").[2] The vessels listed are those one source or the other identified as serving the Bengal Pilot Service. Where the two sources disagree with respect to some datum such as year of launch, or burthen, the first datum mentioned is from Phipps and the second is from Hackman.

A & B[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
Abercromby† 147 1794 Fort William (Calcutta)[3] Converted to a buoy vessel;[3] condemned and sold out of the service 1807
Amazon† Cruiser 138 1769 Calcutta Stationed at Chittagong; dispatched to Cochin China April 1778
Apollo† Yacht Sold 4 January 1769
Arrival‡ Sloop 1676
Asseergurh† 197 1819 Kidderpore Sold 1839, or still in BPS in 1851[4]
Balasore‡ Sloop 1689
Beacon† Light vessel 180 1831 Howrah Stationed at the Sand Heads; still in BPS in 1851[4]
Blessing‡ Sloop 80 1670 London
Bombay‡ Sloop 1742 Not in the BPS in 1766†
Bonetto† or Bonetta‡ Sloop 107 1748 or 1746 Bombay Sold November 1786
Brilliant‡ Brigantine July 1743 Bombay Dockyard Madras Pilot Service

C[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
Caranga† (equally Caranja) Schooner 130 1775 Bombay Destroyed by a fire April 1779[5]
Calcutta‡ Sloop 1746 Pegu Authorized 14 April 1755 to be sunk to end white ant infestation; sold 1756 for breaking up
Calcutta‡ Snow 1757 Calcutta Not in the BPS in 1766†
Carnac†‡ Schooner 1762, or 1761, or 1763 Bombay, or Chittagong Sold 3 March 1767
Carolina‡ Sloop 1739 Pegu
Cartier†‡ Brig 150,[6] or 170†‡ 1787 Bombay Captured 21 January 1796 in Balasore Roads; recaptured February and taken into Madras[7]
Cassimbazar (equally Cossimbazar Fitted out October 1712 Out of service c.1731, but rebuilt c.August 1733
Cavery†, or Cauvery‡ Brig 200 1838 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851[4]
Cecilia Ship 191 1813 Bombay Sold at Calcutta into country service 1828; Lengthened at Moulmain 1838
Chandernagore† Schooner 85 Chandernagore French pilot vessel seized at Calcutta on 5 July 1793; Condemned and sold at Calcutta on 27 June 1795
Change† Schooner 144 1799 Fort William Transferred to the Residency at Ambonya September 1810. Participated in the 1810-11 British invasion of Java and the Moluccas.
Charles‡ Sloop 1683 London
Charles† River transport 115 1796 Calcutta Sold 1808
Charlotte† Yacht 174 1794 Calcutta Converted to an agent vessel 1802; condemned and sold 1808
Chaser† 160 1778 Batavia
Chittagong† Sloop 1755 Mauritius Sold 22 April 1767
Colleron†‡ (or Coleroon) Brig 200 1838 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851[4]
Comet† Floating light vessel 139 1777 Calcutta Sold 1788
Conimere‡ Sloop 1682 India Purchased April 1683 at Madras for the BPS
Cornwallis†‡ Brig 170 1787 Bombay Dockyard 10 or 19 December 1796 the French privateer Enterprise captured her and she arrived at Mauritius in January 1797.[a]
Cudbert Thornhill† 160 1804 Calcutta Sold 8 April 1818 into country service
Cuddalore†‡ Sloop, or schooner 1752 Bombay Dockyard Lost 1775

D — G[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
Diamond Harbour[3] Anchor boat 1796 Fort William
Diana‡ Ketch The EIC purchased her on 4 July 1704 for the BPS
Diligence† Schooner 101 Bombay
Dolphin‡ Sloop 1748 Bombay
Eliza†‡ Schooner 189; 251 after lengthening 1813 Bombay Dockyard Condemned and sold September 1831 out of the service at Calcutta; local buyers renamed her Will Watch. Lengthened and registry transferred to London. Last listed 1844.[9]
Expedition Sloop 1703 Fort St. George, India (Madras)
Fanny‡ Snow 1757
Fly Sloop Sold February 1772
Flora†‡ Brig 189 1814 Bombay Sold into the country service 1836
Fort St George‡ Sloop 1739 Pegu Grounded 20 April 1751 and possibly wrecked
Ford† Sloop 1750 Java Sold 1 October 1770
Friendship Ketch 1705
Ganges‡ Sloop 1676
Ganges‡ Sloop 1703
Ganges‡ Brig 130 1794 Bombay Dockyard Destroyed by fire in the Saugor Roads 11 January 1797. An explosion in the magazine killed eight crew members; six hours later Laurel rescued the survivors.[10][11]
George† River transport 115 1796 Calcutta Sold 1807
George† River transport 109 1807 Kidderpore Sold into the country service 13 May 1819
Gillett† Schooner 140 1793 Calcutta Captured by a gang of French parole violators at Kedgeree 29 October 1795[12]
Gingali Sloop or brigantine Also Gingalle; destroyed by pirates at Anjengo June 1696
Grampus†‡ Sloop 105 1748 Bombay Dockyard Sold September 1775 to local buyers
Guide† 150 1799 Fort William Sold 23 July 1814
Guide† Brig 189 1817 Bombay Dockyard In 1822 she rescued the passengers and crew of Matilda. Guide was sold 1837 to local buyers and renamed Sir William Wallace

H & I[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
Haldane† Schooner 163 1797 Fort William Sold 28 June 1816; possibly sold at Port Jackson 1821
Harland† 132 1772 Bombay Dockyard Dispatched to sea October 1776 and lost
Harriett† Agent vessel 70 1795 Calcutta Sold into the country service
Harrington† 150 1796 Calcutta The French privateer Apollon, Captain Jean-François Hodoul, captured her on 9 November 1797 off Sand Heads (equally, Balasore Roads). Harrington arrived at Mauritius on 21 December.[13] The same privateer also captured Trial that same day.[14]
Hastings†‡ Schooner 170 1787, or 1785 Bombay Dockyard Converted to a buoy vessel May 1818; sold to local buyers 11 October 1820. A fire destroyed her in the night on 17 April 1823 while she was at Pulau Pasang, off Padang.
Hattrass† (or Hatras) 197 1819 Kidderpore Still in BPS in 1851[4]
Hawk† 180 1778 Batavia Sold March 1783
Hawke‡ Sloop 1749 Bombay Dockyard
Hawke‡ Gallivat 1773 Bombay Dockyard
Hay† 150 1796 Calcutta On 21 December 1796 the French privateer Enterprise captured her in Balasore Roads.[b]
Henry Meriton†‡ Brig 190 1817 Bombay Dockyard Sold 1838 to local buyers and renamed William
Hertford†‡ Sloop 1752 Pegu Sold 1 July 1767
Hope† Light vessel 180 1834 Howrah Stationed at the Sand Heads. In 1842 she caught fire whilst at Saugor, but was saved. There was suspicion against some of the crew.[16] Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Hooghly†‡ (or Hooghli, or Houghley) Schooner 130, or 147, or 150 1794 Bombay Dockyard Captain Humphrys, rescued, with John Bebb, the passengers and crew of Asia, Captain Tremenheere 1 June 1809; condemned and sold out of the service at Calcutta. Lost.
Hughley Anna‡ Ketch 1705
Hunter‡ Schooner 1758
Indus (later Industry†‡ Schooner 140 1776 Bombay Dockyard Taken by the French 1782
Intelligence† Schooner 160 1780 Calcutta Transferred to the Fort Marlborough Residency 1782

J — M[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
Jane†‡ Brig 170 1819 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Jessey (or Jessy) Schooner 163 1797 Fort William Lost on the Reef Head 25 May 1815
Johanna‡ (also referred to as Juno†) Snow 170 1787 Bombay Dockyard Lost on the Andaman Islands expedition 1788
John Bebb† 155 1800 Calcutta Captain Nash. Rescued, with Hooghli, the passengers and crew of Asia, Captain Tremenheere, 1 June 1809; participated in the 1810-11 British invasion of Java and the Moluccas.
John Shore† 167 1807 Calcutta Sold 2 July 1818 to the country trade
Josiah‡ Ketch 1703
Juno† Yacht
Juno† (see Johanna)
Krishna†‡ Brig 200 4 April 1837 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Lady William Bentinck† Brig[17] 200 1833, or 1834[17] Howrah Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Lilly‡ Sloop 1679
London Sloop Fitted out October 1712
Louisa‡ (also referred to as Princess Louisa) Sloop 21 December 1741 Bombay Dockyard Sold to local buyers 1755
Lovely Sophia† Snow 106 1775 Mauritius Sold July 1786
L'Orient† 80 1771 Chandernagore Pilot boat of the French Bengal Pilot Service; captured at Balasore 1778; sold 1785
Mary‡ Sloop 70 1695 Surat Sold to local buyers 27 March 1705
Megna†‡ Brig 201 1836 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Mercury† Schooner 1667 Bardarmarghanka Sold 24 February 1773
Mergee Frigate‡ Ship 1689 Sold almost immediately to French buyers
Mermaid‡ Sloop 1758 Wrecked at Calingapatam February 1759
Mermaid† Dutch pilot vessel captured at Chinsurah 1796; sold and afterwards burnt at Penang
Mermaid† 1767 Surat Sold 24 February 1773
Mermaid 1778 Sold
Mermaid†‡ Brig 18819⁄94 1825 Bombay Dockyard Round stern. In the Pilot Service 1839; lost 1847; However, a Mermaid was still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Minerva† Cruizer 180 1770 Calcutta Sold February 1774

N — R[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
Nerbuddah†, or Nerbuda‡ Schooner 106 1776 Bombay Dockyard Captured by the French 1782
Nereide† Yacht 237 1821 Kidderpore Sold 1824; sent to England
Nymphe† Sloop 180 1778 Batavia
Patna† Sloop 108 1778 Java Buoy vessel 1793; sold 1796
Phillip Dundas†‡ Brig 176 / 187 1797, or 1798 Bombay Dockyard Sold. Conflicting reports exist concerning her subsequent career and fate.
Phoenix‡ Schooner 1667† Sold for breaking up 30 April 1759
Phoenix†‡ Schooner 113 1770‡ Bombay Dockyard Sold to local buyers June 1788, or in 1778
Phoenix† Agent vessel 181 1808 Kidderpore Sold 18 October 1820
Pilot† 90 1835 Howrah Employed in river duties; still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Planet†‡ Brig 174 1816 Bombay Dockyard Acted as a light vessel. Sold to local buyers December 1832 (or 1838) and renamed Bright Planet
Plassey†‡ 1762 Bombay Sold to local buyers 24 February 1773
Porto Bello‡ Sloop July 1741 Bombay
Prudent‡ Sloop 1683
Queen Anne‡‡ Sloop 1702
Queensborough† Sloop 1752 Bombay Sold 1 October 1770
Ranger†‡ Schooner 160 1780 Bombay A French privateer captured Ranger on 21 December 1796 in Balasore Roads. The privateer took off the pilot and the European crew members, and put on board a five-man prize crew. The next day the serang (boatswain) and the lascars overpowered the prize crew, killing one. They then took Ranger into Balasore.[8] The EIC in 1805 sold Ranger to local buyers.
Ring† Schooner Sold 24 February 1772
Rising Sun‡ Ketch 1703
Rochester‡ Sloop 1684 River Thames
Royal James‡ Sloop 1683 River Thames
Russell Captured September 1712
Russell†‡ Schooner 111 or 110 1770 Bombay Dockyard Taken by the French in Balasore Roads 14 January 1796

S — W[edit]

Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks
St David‡ Ketch 1742
Saugor†‡ Brig 200 1836 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Sea Horse†‡ Sloop 108 1749 or 1759 Bombay 1785 or July 1786 transferred to the French at Chandernagore
Sea Horse†‡ Brig 188, or 18819⁄94 4 February 1825 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Sophia†‡ Brig 189 1814 Bombay Lost on the Long Sand 1818
Speedwell†‡ Schooner 107 1765 Bombay Dockyard Sold to local buyers 1785
Sumatra‡ Sloop 1742 Bombay
Swallow† Ship 200 1779 Bombay March 1780 dispatched to England; afterwards transferred to the Bombay Establishment; lost near Fultah c.1824
Swift‡ Schooner 1763 Bombay Dockyard Converted into a State yacht, or foundered in Balasore Roads 1766
Syren†‡ Schooner or snow 1753 Bombay Dockyard Sold to local buyers 1769
Syren† Sloop 105 1783 Calcutta Condemned and sold 15 July 1796
Tannah† Schooner 142 1775 Bombay The French captured her in February 1781; she was lost in 1782
Tartar‡ Sloop 1758
Thomas‡ Sloop 1684
Thomas‡ Sloop 1689 River Thames
Torch†‡ Brig 167 or 174 1815 Bombay Dockyard Built as a floating light vessel; converted into Harbour Master’s depot at Calcutta 1835; still in BPS in 1851.[4]
Trial†‡ (also Tryal) EIC packet 160 or 1603⁄94 1780 Calcutta Made at least two voyages for the EIC;[18] She returned to India 1786 and served the BPS; rebuilt 1796; the French privateer Apollon, Captain Jean-François Hodoul, captured Trial and Harrington in Balasore Roads on 9 November 1797.[14]
Triton† Schooner 102 1770 Bombay Condemned and sold 19 January 1798
Tweed†‡ Schooner 170 1788 Bombay Dockyard Sold 2 September 1815
Udny† Brig 169 1802 Calcutta Sold to local buyers 14 November 1814. In 1821 she was listed with W. Humble, master, and C. Taylor, owner;[19] condemned and broken up at Calcutta 1821
William‡ Smack 1705
William‡ Sloop 1739 Pegue

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Enterprise also captured the BPS schooners Hay and Ranger at the same time.[8]
  2. ^ Enterprise also captured the BPS schooners Cornwallis and Ranger at the same time.[8] Phipps states that the French privateer captured Hay on 9 November 1797.[15] The two pilot schooners the French captured on 9 November 1797 were Trial and Harrington.[14] Enterprise, Legere, master, armed Hay and put a crew on board so that she could also serve as a privateer. She captured the English brig Castor, which arrived at Mauritius on 17 February 1797. Hay herself, Perroud, master, arrived at Mauritius on 5 March.[13]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Phipps (1840).
  2. ^ Hackman (2001).
  3. ^ a b c New Oriental... (1802), p.64.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Clark (1851), p.204.
  5. ^ Fort William... (1981), Vol. 8, pp. 60 & 488.
  6. ^ Demerliac (1996), p. 309, No.2915.
  7. ^ Austen (1935), p.79.
  8. ^ a b c Selections... (1865), Vol. 2, pp. 459-61.
  9. ^ Lloyd's Register Seq.№ W199.
  10. ^ Allen (1823), pp. 142–144.
  11. ^ Grocott (1997), pp. 67–8.
  12. ^ Selections... (1865), Vol. 2, pp. 429-30.
  13. ^ a b Piat (2007), p.135.
  14. ^ a b c EIC (1959), p.330.
  15. ^ Phipps (1840), 133.
  16. ^ "Ships burnt and destroyed" (November 1847) Nautical Magazine: A Journal of Papers on Subjects Connected with Maritime Affairs. Vol.16, p.589.
  17. ^ a b Falconer (1852), p.123.
  18. ^ British Library: Trial (2).
  19. ^ India Office and Burma Office List (1821), p.149.

References[edit]

  • Allen, William (1823). Accounts of shipwreck and of other disasters at sea: designed to be interesting and useful to mariners, with an appendix, containing Dr. Payson's address to seamen and a few prayers for their use. p. 30.
  • Austen, H.C.M. (1935) Sea Fights and Corsairs of the Indian Ocean: Being the Naval History of Mauritius from 1715 to 1810. (Port Louis, Mauritius: R.W. Brooks).
  • Clark, F. Compiler (1851) The East-India Register and Army List for 1851. (London:Wm. H. Allen).
  • Demerliac, Alain (1996). La Marine de Louis XVI: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1774 À 1792 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-906381-23-3.
  • East India Company (1959) Fort William: India House Correspondence and Other Contemporary Papers Relating Thereto (foreign, Political, and Secret). (National Archives of India).
  • Falconer, Hugh (1852) Report on the Teak Forests of the Tenasserim Provinces: With Other Papers on the Teak Forests of India
  • Fort William-India House Correspondence and Other Contemporary Papers Relating Thereto (1981) (Manager of Publications).
  • Grocott, Terence (1997). Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic Eras. London: Chatham. ISBN 1861760302.
  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
  • New Oriental Register and East-India directory for 1802 (1802). (Black's & Parry).
  • Phipps, John (1840). A Collection of Papers Relative to Ship Building in India ...: Also a Register Comprehending All the Ships ... Built in India to the Present Time ... Scott.
  • Piat, Denis (2007). Pirates and Corsairs in Mauritius. Translated by North-Coombes, Mervyn. Christian le Comte. ISBN 978-99949-905-3-5.
  • Selections from the Calcutta Gazettes of the Years 1874 'to 1932, Inclusive' Showing the Political and Social Condition of the English in India Eighty Years Ago. (1865).
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