Friendship

Specifications

10 November 1786 – Deptford Officers to Navy Board.

Friendship, Francis Walton, 278 1/94, 2 years, 5’7” 5’5” 6’1”, Brig (TNA ADM 106/3321/96; TNA ADM 106/3364/80)

29 November 1786 – Navigation Act Pass. No.3560. Friendship, snow. 262 tons. 4 guns. F. Walton. 13 British and 4 foreign crew. For Botany Bay. (TNA ADM7/104)

21 or 22 July 1789 – A return was lodged for the Greenwich sixpences, but with a date of 28 October 1788 as the time when the last man was discharged. She is described as destroyed. 279 tons. Usual crew of 17. This was her first return. (TNA ADM68/206)

We do not have the dimensions of the Friendship.

Owner at First Fleet

The charter party with William Richards declared Thomas Hopper to be the owner. However, the memorial submitted to the government named the owners as Thomas, George and John Hopper and George Moorson, all of Scarborough. (TNA T1/695)

The Hoppers were shipowners from Scarborough. George died at Buxton Wells in September 1792. Thomas died at Scarborough in January 1799, aged 55.

History of the Ship

1784 – Built at Scarborough.

1784-1786 – The Friendship was employed in the ‘Coal East Country’ trade and the West India trade. (Hopper Memorial, TNA T1/695)

25 March 1786 – Sailed from Hull, the Friendship, Walton, for London. (Leeds Intelligencer, 28 March 1786, p.3)

1 June 1786 – The Friendship, Walton, arrived at Cowes from Whitby for Bordeaux. (Hampshire Chronicle, 5 June 1786, p.2; Newcastle Courant, 10 June 1786, p.4)

10 November 1786 – Deptford Officers to Navy Board.

Friendship, Francis Walton, 278 1/94, 2 years, 5’7” 5’5” 6’1”, Brig (TNA ADM 106/3321/96; TNA ADM 106/3364/80)

29 November 1786 – Navigation Act Pass. No.3560. Friendship, snow. 262 tons. 4 guns. F. Walton. 13 British and 4 foreign crew. For Botany Bay. (TNA ADM7/104)

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

1788 – Lloyd’s Register. Brig. Built in 1784 at Scarborough. 300 tons. Sheathed in 1785. Owned by G. Hopper. Master: F. Walton. (Lloyd’s Register, 1789)

14 July 1788 – Sailed from Sydney Cove in company with the Prince of Wales, Borrowdale and Friendship. (Journal of the Friendship, TNA ADM51/4376)

27 October 1788 – She was deliberately sunk in the Macassar Strait as she was making her way back to England with the Alexander. This was done because of the scurvy on both vessels, and the need to concentrate the crew so they could make their way to Batavia.