Difference between revisions of "Alexander"

Latest revision as of 06:10, 14 March 2016

Specifications at First Fleet

20 October 1786 – Deptford officers reported on their survey of the tonnage of the Alexander. Master – Charles Limeburner. 3 years old, 45285/94 tons. 7’3”, 6’11”, 6’11” between decks. (Deptford Yard Letterbooks, Series 2, 1786-1790, TNA ADM106/3364/77b; TNA ADM 106/3321/96; Series 4, TNA ADM108/3407/10)

10 December 1789 – Registered. No.314 of 1789. 2 decks, 3 masts. 114’3” x 31 x 7. 445 tons. Barque built ship with quarter deck. No gallery. No figurehead. (TNA BT107/8)

Owner for First Fleet

William Walton & Co were listed as the owners of the Alexander.

William appears to have moved to London from Hull. In 1772, the Waltons’ Yard at Hull was listed in Hadley’s Survey as 100 feet wide at the street front and 96 feet wide next to the river. Thomas Walton is listed as a shipbuilder there in 1784 and Nicholas Walton in 1790 and 1791.

History of the Ship

1783 – Built by Walton & Co., Hull for own account. (Lloyd’s Register, 1786; Deptford Yard Letterbooks, Series 2, 1786-1790, TNA ADM106/3364/77b; TNA ADM 106/3321/96; Series 4, TNA ADM108/3407/10)

8 May 1784 – The Alexander, Metcalf, for Elsinore and St Petersburg was ‘laid on’ at Hull. (Leeds Intelligencer, 11 May 1784, p.3)

14 June 1784 – A ship under the command of Robert Metcalf, from Hull to St Petersburg, clearly the Alexander, was registered at the Sound Toll, laden with sundries. (Sound Toll Database #114277)

27 July 1784 – The Alexander, Metcalf, was reported as having sailed from Hull for St Petersburg with woollen drapery, etc. (Leeds Intelligencer, 27 July 1784, p.3)

30 July 1784 – A ship under the command of Robert Metcalf was reported at the Sound Toll from St Petersburg to Hull , clearly the Alexander, with cloth, baize and woollen stuffs. (Sound Toll Database, #119346)

1 June 1785 – The Alexander, Metcalf sailed from Gravesend for Petersburg. (Public Advertiser, 3 June 1785)

30 July 1785 – A ship under the command of Robert Metcalf, from St Petersburg to London, registered at the Sound Toll. She was laden with linseed, planks, deals and canvas. (Sound Toll Database, #129155)

24 September 1785 – A ship under the command of John White was registered at the Sound Toll, from London to St Petersburg, laden with ballast. (Sound Toll database, #83403)

15 November 1785 – A ship under the command of John White was registered at the Sound Toll, from St Petersburg to London, laden with iron, hemp and duck, deals and planks. (Sound Toll database, #66495)

10 December 1785 – The Alexander, White, passed by Gravesend from Petersburg. (Public Advertiser, 13 December 1785)

1786 – Lloyd’s Register. Constructed at Hull in 1784. 650 tons. Owned by Walton & Co. Master: R. Metcalf replaced by J. White, replaced by W. Hunter. Petersburg to London. (Lloyd’s Register, 1786)

16 May 1786 – The Alexander, Hunter, sailed from Gravesend for Petersburg. (Public Advertiser, 18 May 1786)24 May 1786 – A ship under the command of William Hunter was registered at the Sound Toll, from London to St Petersburg. She was loaded with beaver skins, otter skins, dog skins, marten furs, and sundries. (Sound Toll database, #79633)

24 May 1786 – The Alexander, Hunter, was reported at Elsinore. (Newcastle Courant, 17 June 1786, p.4)

21 July 1786 – The Alexander, Hunter, was included in the Sound List at Newcastle from Petersburg, for London, with a cargo of sundries. (Newcastle Courant, 12 August 1786, p.4)

The sound toll database reports a ship under William Hunter, from St Petersburg to London, laden with iron, hemp, deals and planks. (Sound Toll database, #65512)

10 October 1786 – The Alexander had been offered by this date. Navy Board minute: Orders to Deptford Officers to survey and report on such of the following ships as they have not already done: Scarborough, Lady Penrhyn, Britannia, Alexander in lieu of the Friendship, Golden Grove in lieu of the Three Brothers, Borrowdale in lieu of the Young William. (ADM106/2622)

13 May 1787 – Sailed from the Mother Bank with the First Fleet.

14 July 1788 – Sailed from Sydney Cove in company with the Prince of Wales, Borrowdale and Friendship. (Journal of the Alexander, TNA ADM51/4375)

3 June 1789 – Moored at Deptford. (Journal)

7 June 1789 – The ship was discharged from His Majesty’s service and the log ends. (Journal)

27 June 1789 – Date of the return of the Greenwich sixpences for the Alexander. From Port Jackson. 452 tons. Crew of 27. (TNA ADM68/206)

10 December 1789 – Registered. No.314 of 1789. Owners: William Walton of the Borough, Southwark, mariner; sub’g owner with Nicholas Walton and Thomas Walton, shipwrights; and Samuel Spynce(?), ropemaker, all of Hull in the County of York, all of whom were not resident. Master: Lawrence Dundas Bruce. Built at Hull 1783. 2 decks, 3 masts. 114’3” x 31 x 7. 445 tons. Barque built ship with quarter deck. No gallery. No figurehead. (TNA BT107/8)

10 December 1789 – Navigation Licence. No.8576. 445 tons, 2 guns. L. Dundas Bruce. 14/4 crew. To West Indies. (TNA ADM7/108)

11 December 1789 – Navigation Licence. No.8576. 445 tons, 2 guns. L. Dundas Bruce. 14/4 crew. To West Indies. (TNA ADM7/108)

21 June 1790 – Thomas Urquhardt endorsed as Master at Roseau. (TNA BT107/8, 10.12.89)

22 December 1790 – Lawrence Dundas Bruce endorsed at London as Master. (TNA BT107/8, 10.12.89)

9 August 1791 – John Marwin (?) endorsed as Master. (BT107/8, 10.12.89)

1792 – Registered at Hull.

5 December 1794 – Navigation Licence. No.6085. Of Hull. 445 tons, 6 guns. Magnus Tait. 27 British crew. To ‘Foreign Voyage’. (TNA ADM7/112)

Late 1795 or early 1796, - The Alexander, 452 tons, was one of a large number of ships in the West India fleet under Admiral Christian that put back or were lost. She returned to Portsmouth having shifted her troops into some of the war ships. (TNA ADM1/3731)

20 April 1796 – Registered. No.123/1796. Owners: William Leighton of Charlton, in Kent, merchant. Master: Lancelo(?) Bourne. Built at Hull in 1783. 1.5 decks, 3 masts. 114’3” x 31’ x 4’4”. 445 tons. Square sterned ship with quarter deck. No gallery. No figurehead. (TNA BT107/10)

23 June 1798 – James Frazer endorsed as Master. (TNA BT107/10, 20.4.96)

24 June 1800 – Alexander, 420 tons, was listed among the ships taken up to convey troops to Jamaica. (TNA ADM108/20/55) (Not sure it is the same.)

5 June 1801 – Registered. No.190/1801. Owner: Sir William Leighton, Knight, of Chislehurst in Kent. Master: James Frazer. Built at Hull in 1783. 1.5 decks, 3 masts. 115’3” x 31’4” x 5’ in cabin. 471 tons. Squared sterned ship with quarter deck. No gallery. No figurehead. (TNA BT107/14)

1 June 1803 – Stephen Dryden endorsed as Master. (TNA BT107/14, 5.6.01)