Union (1799 ship)

Union first appeared in online records in 1799. she made one voyage as a slave ship before she foundered on her way home.

For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named Union.

History
United Kingdom
Name: Union
Acquired: 1799
Fate: Foundered c.February 1801
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 447[1] (bm)
Complement: 25[1]
Armament: 16 × 12-pounder guns[1]

Captain Thomas Moffat acquired a letter of marque on 9 December 1799.[1] He sailed Union from London on 26 December 1788. Union acquired her slaves at Accra and arrived at Demerara on 30 October 1800 with 384 slaves.[2]

On 15 January 1801, Union sailed from Demerara in company with Bolton, Watson, master,[3] and Dart, Hensley, master.[4] Both were slave ships with letters of marque. All were carrying sugar, coffee, indigo, and cotton. During the voyage Union started to take on water so her crew transferred to Bolton. Then Bolton and Dart parted company in a gale.[5] (Dart arrived back at Liverpool on 11 March.)

On 5 March 1801 Bolton encountered the French privateer Gironde. Gironde was armed with 26 guns and had a complement of 260 men; reportedly, Bolton had 70 people (including passengers - presumably most of them the crew from Union), aboard her. Small arms fire from Gironde helped her overwhelm Bolton's defences; Gironde then ran into Bolton and captured her. The engagement, which lasted about an hour, caused considerable damage to both ships. Two passengers on Bolton were killed, and six of her crew, including Captain Watson, were wounded; Gironde had no casualties.[6]

On 12 March HMS Leda recaptured Bolton,[7] as Bolton was on her way to Bordeaux. Leda sent Bolton into Plymouth.[6] Bolton arrived at Plymouth on 14 March.[8]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. "Letter of Marque, p.90 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Union voyage #83897.
  3. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Union voyage #80239.
  4. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Dart voyage #80967.
  5. Naval Chronicle, Vol. 5, p.275.
  6. Williams (2011), pp. 383–384.
  7. "No. 15362". The London Gazette. 5 May 1801. p. 498.
  8. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (41364, ship arrival and departure (SAD) data). 14 March 1801. Retrieved 11 April 2020.

References

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