Union Island (1794 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Union Island |
| Namesake | Union Island |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Bristol |
| Launched | 1794 |
| Fate | Sank 27 June 1821 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 318, or 324[2] (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 35[3] |
| Armament | 10 × 9-pounder guns[3] |
Union Island was a merchant vessel launched at Bristol in 1794. In 1801 she was attacked by a Spanish privateer, an attack that she repelled. In a later attack that year a French privateer captured her. She returned to English ownership in 1802. She then sailed as a West Indiaman until about 1818 when she started sailing between Liverpool and Africa. She was wrecked on 27 June 1821 on the coast of Africa.
Career
Union Island was launched at Bristol in 1794.[2] She first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) that same year.[4]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1794 | W.Pocock | S.&J.Span | Bristol–St Vincent | LR |
Captain William James Pocock acquired a letter of marque for Union Island on 6 December 1794.[3]
In November 1795 Pocock was still her master; she was described at the time as "half frigate built".[2] Pocock remained her master until 1801.[1]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1799 | Pocock | S&J Span | Bristol-St. Vincent | LR |
| 1800 | Pocock R. Dormer |
S&J Span | Bristol-St. Vincent | LR |
| 1801 | R. Dormer | S&J Span | Bristol-St. Vincent | LR |
In April 1801 Union Island, Dormer, master was sailing from St Vincent when a Spanish privateer attacked her. Union Island was able to repulse the attack, but with the loss of one man killed and Dormer and her mate wounded. She then put into Tortola, which she left on 1 May.[5] Shortly thereafter she encountered a French privateer and after a severe engagement, Dormer was forced to strike. The privateer sent Union Island and another prize, Sally, into Puerto Rico.[2][6]
Her entry in Lloyd's Register for 1802 carried the annotation, "Captured". That information continued to the volume for 1803/
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1802 | R.Dormer | S.&J.Span | Bristol–St Vincent | LR |
Still, in April 1802, i.e., shortly after the Treaty of Amiens, Union Island was advertised for sale in London and described as sailing well and carrying "a remarkable large cargo for her tonnage."[2]
Union Island re-entered Lloyd's Register in 1804.[7]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1804 | Rd.Sibson | Fletcher | Liverpool–Jamaica | LR |
| 1805 | R. Sibson | Fletcher | Liverpool-Jamaica | LR |
| 1806 | R. Sibson J. Simms |
Fletcher | Liverpool-Jamaica | LR |
| 1807 | R. Sibson | Lawrence | Liverpool–Jamaica | LR |
| 1808 | R. Sibson | Lawrence | Liverpool-Jamaica | LR |
| 1809 | R. Sibson | Lawrence | Liverpool-Maryland | LR |
| 1810 | R. Sibson | Lawrence | Liverpool-St Croix Liverpool-Jamaica |
LR |
| 1813 | R. Sibson Christopher (or Christopherson) |
Lawrence | Liverpool-Jamaica | LR |
| 1816 | Christopher Clark |
Lawrence | Cork—Jamaica | LR |
| 1817 | Not published or not available online | |||
| 1818 | R. Conner R. Taylor |
Lawrence Tobin & Co. |
Liverpool-Jamaica Liverpool-Africa |
LR |
| 1821 | G. Howard Muse |
Tobin & Co. | Liverpool-Africa | LR |
| 1822 | G. Howard Muse |
Tobin & Co. | Liverpool-Africa | LR |
Fate
Lloyd's List for 29 September 1821 reported that Union Island, Muir, master, had sunk in the Dure River, with the loss of three crewmen drowned. Apparently she was sailing from Liverpool to Calabar when she struck on a sunken rock near the "Dure River" (possibly the river by Duke Town, Calabar), on the coast of Africa on 27 June and was totally lost.[8]
Citations and references
Citations
- ^ a b Farr (1950), p. 253.
- ^ a b c d e Powell (1930), p. 335.
- ^ a b c "Letter of Marque, p.91 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ LR (1794), "U" supple page.
- ^ Lloyd's List, №4156, 2 June 1801.
- ^ Lloyd's List, № 4166, 7 July 1801.
- ^ LR (1804), "VU" supple. pages, Seq.No.VU8.
- ^ Lloyd's List№5630.
References
- Powell, J. W. Damer (1930). Bristol privateers and ships of war. J.W. Arrowsmith: Bristol.
- Farr, Grahame E., ed. (1950). Records of Bristol Ships, 1800-1838 (vessels over 150 tons). Vol. 15. Bristol Record Society.
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