Difference between revisions of "Neptune"

Revision as of 06:58, 22 February 2016

809 tons. 116’5”x36’2”x15’2”. The EIC accepted her measured tonnage for this voyage as 750 tons. (IOR/L/MAR/C/325)

7 February 1780 – Launched by Dudman, Deptford for Andrew Moffatt. Captain Robert Scott. (Hackman, p.161)

2 voyages to India, 1780-82 & 1784-85. Sold to Thomas Loughnan. 2 voyages to China, 1786-87, 1788-89. The 5th voyage was to Botany Bay. (Hackman, p.161)

Thomas Kemp (quartermaster) and Edward Hoare (carpenter) understood that the Neptune had done four voyages to India, and had been sold by the East India Company as unfit for further service. Hoare understood that she had been purchased by Timothy Curtis, Anthony Calvert, Thomas King and William Camden. He understood that they had bought her with rigging and stores for £1600. Kemp said she had been put into a dock, but was taken out the next day. (Kemp Examination, TS11/381, 18; Hoare Examination, TS11/381, 23)

14 February 1786 – Navigation Licence. No.2336. 758 tons. No guns. George Scott. Crew numbers not provided. To East Indies. (ADM7/104)

Can’t see it in the Lloyd’s Register of 1786 or 1789. It is in 1791.

29 February 1788 – Registered. No.95 of 1788. Owners: William Todd of Dean St., Soho, merchant; James Dewar of Clapham in Surry, Gent; Thomas Loughnan of Russell Street, Bloomsbury, merchant; sub’g owners with James Kew of Manchester Square, spinster; John Kengsington of Lombard St., banker; executors of John Wilkinson, deceased, late of Lombard Street, banker; Mary Oswald of George St., Westminster, widow, John & Alexander Anderson, of Philpot Lane, merchants and Charleton Palmer of that same place, all executors of the late Richard Oswald of Philpot Lane, merchant; Jacob Franco of Wallbrook; Francis Franco & Elias Lindo Jr of the Minories, merchants, executors to the late Raphael Franco of America Square, merchant; Samuel Pole of Bedford Square & Robert Scott of Wimpole St., Cavendish Square, Gents; John Pringle of Haining in North Britain, Gent; William Moffatt of Queens Square, merchant and James Moffatt of Charlotte Street, Rathbone Place, Gent; and the above Thomas Loughnan as trustee to John Pringle and Thomas Cheap, late of Queen St., Cheapside, merchants; and John Scott of Bengal in the East Indies, Gent. Master: George Scott. Built in the River Thames in 1780. 3 decks, 3 masts. 156’3” x 36’ x 5’8”. 799 tons. Square sterned ship with a round house and pierced for 36 guns. Stern and quarter gallery. Figurehead of a man. (BT107/8)

5 March 1788 – Navigation Licence. No.5575. 799 tons, 26 guns. George Scott. 75/25. To the East Indies. (ADM7/106)

There are details of the £38,184.8.1 paid for the 4th voyage by the East India Company at IOR/L/AG/1/1/26, p.301.

21 October 1789 – Registered. No.269 of 1790. Owners: Timothy Curtis of Homerton; Anthony Calvert and Thomas King of the Crescent, Minories, merchants; William Camden of the Crescent, Minories. Master: Thomas Gilbert. Built in the River Thames in 1780. 3 decks, 3 masts. 156’3” x 36’ x 5’8”. 799 tons. Square sterned ship with a round house and pierced for 36 guns. Stern and quarter gallery. Figurehead of a man. (BT107/8)

23 October 1789 – Navigation Licence. No.8304. 799 tons, 6 guns. Thomas Gilbert. 27/9 crew. To Botany Bay. (ADM7/108)

The Argus described her as an East Indiaman. (22 October 1789, p.3; 2 December 1789, p.4)

1790 – Lloyds Register lists her as 809 tons, built and surveyed in the Thames. London to Botany Bay. Owner: Calvert. Master: T. Gilbert.

17 January 1791 – Sailed from Portsmouth for Botany Bay. (Lloyds List, 19 January 1790) She was not coppered on this voyage. (IOR/G/12/100, p.81)

1791 – Lloyds Register lists her as a ship of 809 tons. Built in the River in 1779. Sheathed. Owners: Calvert & Co. Master: T. Gilbert. Crew of 21. London to Botany Bay.

22 February 1791 – Greenwich Hospital tax paid for the outward voyage of the Neptune, Donald Trail. 800 tons, 48 men. Reported as a new ship. (ADM68/206)

28 October 1791 – The Neptune, Trail, arrived at Gravesend. (LL, 28.10.91)

28 October 1791 – Greenwich Hospital tax paid for the homeward voyage of the Neptune, Donald Trail. 800 tons, 65 men. Reported as a new ship. (ADM68/206)

There is a note on the ship register in a later hand which reads:

Cancelled Regd de Novo. Ship Broken Up. (BT107/8, No.269 of 1790)

There are two possible ships that might account for the Neptune’s next voyage:

Neptune, Stewart, to Jamaica

22 January 1792 – Sailed the Neptune, Stewart, from Gravesend for Jamaica. (Whitehall Evening Post, 20-23 January 1792)

24 January 1792 – The Neptune, Stewart, was detained at Deal. (Evening Mail, 23-25 January 1792)

It is unclear when she sailed.

12 September 1792 – The Neptune, Stewart, was at Deal from Jamaica. (General Evening Post, 13-15 September 1792)

Neptune, Martin, to Dominica and Jamaica

24 January 1792 – Neptune, Martin, sailed from Gravesend for Dominica and Jamaica. (Lloyds List, 27 January 1792)

28 January 1792 – The Neptune, Martin, remained at Deal for Madeira. (Public Advertiser, 30 January 1792)

31 January 1792 – The Neptune, Martin, was at Dover for Madeira. (Lloyds List, 31 January 1792)

2 August 1792 – The Neptune of London was still at anchor at Dominica. (Morning Chronicle, 14 September 1792)

10 November 1792 – The Neptune, Martin, from St Eustatia, was off the Isle of Wight. (Lloyds List, 13 November 1792)

26 November 1792 – The Neptune, Martin, was at Amsterdam with damage. (Public Advertiser, 28 November 1792)

22 February 1793 – The Neptune, Martin, passed by Gravesend from Amsterdam. (Lloyds Evening Post, 22-22 February 1793)

It is possible that this was Thomas Morton. He had been described as ‘Martin’ in the newspaper reports of the voyage of the Surprize, which sailed for Ostend in December 1791 and struck the pier. Calvert may have immediately given him charge of the Neptune in her place.

Another possibility thereafter is the Neptune, Wilson, taken by a French privateer on her way back from Dominica and retaken by two English vessels on 7 July 1793. (Morning Herald, 20 July 1793) No other ships named the Neptune have been found with captains bearing the names of Calvert’s masters.

According to Hackman, on 6 March 1796, this is the same ship which sailed from Portsmouth to India to be used in coastal trade. Destroyed by fire & explosion at Cape Town. (Hackman, p.162)

If so, then this is yet another Camden, Calvert & King ship which was taken up under the contracts organised by Robert Charnock for David Scott. The 1796 Neptune was contracted by government to carry troops for the British invasion of the Cape and she was meant to proceed on to India on account of the East India Company, but was destroyed at the Cape. However, at present we have a gap between her return from China in October 1791 and her being taken up by the government to carry troops, and Hackman does make mistakes.

3 March 1796 – Correspondence from Portsmouth:

His Majesty’s ships Sceptre, of 64 guns, Captain Essington, and Crescent frigate, are ordered immediately for the Cape of Good Hope. Troops are embarking on board the following transports to sail with them, viz. Constantia, Highland Lass, Orpheus, Latona, Echo, Earl of Wycombe, Friendship, Neptune, Queen. The 78th regiment of foot, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery, embarked this day.

Captain Burdon goes out Agent for those transports; his pendant is on board the Friendship. (Evening Mail, 4-7 March 1796)

6 March 1796 – The convoy of seven transports under the Sceptre and the Crescent sailed from Portsmouth. (General Evening Post & Whitehall Evening Post, 5-8 March 1796)

These ships were carrying the troops that were employed in the capture of the Cape of Good Hope from the Dutch in August and September of 1796.

Interestingly, there is no mention of the loss of the Neptune in government correspondence from the Cape, but she is mentioned in correspondence from the naval commander to the East India Company.

20 August 1796 – Admiral Pringle to the Court of Directors. He referred to the further delay of the corn ships due to the capture of an entire Dutch fleet. One of the ships delayed was the Neptune ‘which I am sorry to say was burnt in this road on the night of the 14th inst, the particulars of which with the examination I took of the crew shall be sent to you by the first opportunity. . .’ (IOR/G/9/6, p.45)

1 September 1796 – Admiral Pringle to William Ramsay the Secretary to the Company, transmitting an examination of the Chief Mate, petty officers and crew of the Neptune, destroyed by fire on the night of the 14th August whilst laying at anchor in the Bay. (IOR/G/9/6, p.49) [This same letter dealt with the Lady Shore.]

Early November 1796 – Report in London papers:

The Neptune (a transport) is blown up at the Cape of Good Hope, and totally lost. (Evening Mail, 4-7 November 1796)

A ship by the name of the Neptune, owned by Mr Edward Watts, was captured in 1796. (ADM108/41/632)

A ship by the name of the Neptune (owned by John Burstall and captained by John Green) was in the Transport Service in 1797 (or thereabouts) and taken as a prize. (ADM108/50/58)