Woolton (1774 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Woolton |
| Namesake | Woolton, or Woolton Hall |
| Launched | 1773, Lynn[1] |
| Renamed | From Narr by 1774 |
| Fate | Wrecked 1785 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 180,[1] 196, or 200 (bm) |
| Sail plan | Brig |
| Complement | 30 |
| Armament |
|
Woolton (or Wooltown), was launched at King's Lynn in 1773 as Narr. By 1775 she was sailing between London and Liverpool as Woolton. A French privateer captured and ransomed her in September 1779. In 1781 she sailed briefly as a privateer and made one notable capture that involved a single ship action. After the war Woolton continued to trade primarily between London and Liverpool until she was wrecked in 1785.
Career
Wooltown first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR), in 1776.[1] Although she was launched as Narr,[2] Already by 1774 she was sailing as Woolton.
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1776 | S.Blackhouse | Nic[holas] Ashton[3] | Liverpool–London Liverpool–Petersburg |
LR |
| 1778 | T.Phillips | N.Ashton | Liverpool–London | LR |
In September 1779, Lloyd's List reported that off Land's End a privateer of 18 guns had taken Ashton, coming from the Baltic, and Woolton, Phillips, master, sailing from London to Leverpool. The privateer ransomed its captures for 1600 guineas each.[4][a]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1781 | T.Phillips S.Backhouse |
N.Ashton | Cork–Liverpool Liverpool privateer |
LR |
On 22 December 1780 Captain John Powell acquired a letter of marque for Woolton, but then Ashton switched him to another vessel.[b] Captain Stephen Backhouse acquired a letter of marque for Woolton on 28 December.
In February 1781 Lloyd's List reported that the Liverpool privateer Woolton, Backhouse, master, had put into Cork. She had lost her mainmast and had had to throw her guns overboard.[7]
On 7 March 1781, Woolton, Backhouse, master, captured Sartine, of 350 tons (bm), 16 guns, and 58 men. The two vessels exchanged fire for three-and-a-half hours. Sartine had eight men wounded, three of whom died later; Woolton had one man wounded. Sartine had come from Saint-Domingue via Havana and Woolton took her into Limerick on 17 March. Sartine entered the Mersey on 10 April. Her cargo of coffee, sugar, cotton, and indigo was worth £15,000. She had despatches from Cape Francois and Havana that she threw overboard before striking.[8][9]
After the capture of Sartine, Woolton, Anderson, master, started trading with the Baltic.
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1782 | S.Backhouse S.Anderson |
N.Ashton | Liverpool privateer | LR |
| 1784 | S.Anderson J.Turner |
N.Ashton | Liverpool–London | LR; good repair 1782 |
Lloyd's List reported in December 1784 that Woolton, Turner, master, had to put into Ramsgate. She had six feet of water in her hold after having grounded.[10]
Fate
In early February 1785 Woolton, Turner, master was driven ashore in Barnstaple Bay. She was on a voyage from Liverpool to London.[11]
N.Ashton acquired a new Wool Town, of 196 tons (bm), launched at Liverpool in 1786.
Notes, citations, and references
Notes
- ^ Ashton, S.Burgess, master, N.Ashton, owner, of 300 tons (bm), was built of fir and had been launched in Sweden in 1774.[5]
- ^ Powell became master of Carpenter, a ship of 550–600 tons (bm), built of fir in Sweden in 1772.[6] Ashton had just purchased her. Carpenter was totally lost in February 1781 in the Swin; the crew was saved.
Citations
- ^ a b c LR (1776), Seq.no.W192.
- ^ LR (1778), Seq.no.W157.
- ^ "Landed families of Britain and Ireland: (210) Ashton of Woolton Hall and Hefferston Grange".
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1095. 21 September 1779. hdl:2027/mdp.39015004281542.
- ^ LR (1779), Seq.no.A336.
- ^ LR (1781), Seq.no.C44.
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1242. 16 February 1781. hdl:2027/uc1.c3049061.
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1253. 27 March 1781. hdl:2027/uc1.c3049061.
- ^ Williams (1897), p. 285.
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1626. 3 December 1784. hdl:2027/mdp.39015004281567.
- ^ "The Marine List". New Lloyd's List (1647). 15 February 1785.
References
- Williams, Gomer (1897). History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque: With an Account of the Liverpool Slave Trade. W. Heinemann.