Upton Castle (1793 ship)

Upton Castle was launched at Bombay in 1793. She spent her career as a "country ship", that is trading in the Far East. She made some voyages to England, including at least one, in 1809, under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). She also participated in two military campaigns as a transport. The French Navy captured her in 1804, but she returned to British hands before 1809. A fire in 1817 destroyed her.

For other ships with the same name, see Upton Castle (ship).

Great Britain
Name: Upton Castle
Namesake: Upton Castle
Owner:
  • 1793:Thomas & H.Bomanjee
  • 1802:Smith, Forbes, &Co. and Homanjee Bomanjee[1]
Builder: Bombay Dockyard
Launched: 21 August 1793
Fate: Burnt 1817
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 627,[2] or 675,[2] ​679 27⁄94,[1] or 765[3] (bm)
Length: 130 ft 5 in (39.8 m)[1]
Beam: 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m)[1]

Career

One of Upton Castle's owner, Thomas, was also her master in her early years.[4] However, by 1801 her captain was John Pavin.[5]

Around 1800-01 Upton Castle's history becomes a little ambiguous. One report has her in the Red Sea as one of the many transports supporting General Baird's expedition to help General Ralph Abercromby expel the French from Egypt.[2] However, between 13 April and 1800 and 10 April 1801 she had traveled from Bombay to England,[1] having arrived at Portsmouth on 10 April. She sailed from Gravesend for India on 12 June.

Main article: Transport vessels for the British expedition to the Red Sea (1801)

In December 1801, Upton Castle sailed, together with Marquis Cornwallis, Betsey (an armed HEIC brig), some other vessels, and 1000 troops to Daman and Diu to persuade the Portuguese governor to resist any French incursion. The expedition was under the command of Captain John Mackellar, of the Royal Navy, whose own vessel, Terpsichore, was not ready for sea.[6] The governor accepted the British reinforcements, which, as it turned out, were not needed.

In August 1804 Admiral Linois was cruising in the Indian Ocean in Marengo, together with the frigates Atalante and Sémillante. On the 18th, near the des Neoufs Channel they encountered and captured two British merchant men, Charlotte and Upton Castle. They were on their way to Bombay when Linois's squadron captured them.[7]

Linois described Charlotte as being copper-sheathed, of 650 tons and 16 guns. She was carrying a cargo of rice. Upton Castle he described as being copper-sheathed, of 627 tons, and 14 guns. She was carrying a cargo of wheat and other products from Bengal. He sent both his prizes into Isle de France (Mauritius).[7] She arrived at Ile de France in November, a few days prior to the 14th[8][9]

How Charlotte and Upton Castle returned to British hands is currently obscure. Still, Charlotte was again in British hands by 1807, and Upton Castle by 1809.

On 23 July 1809 Master Hugh Adams sailed her from Bombay for England. She was at the Cape of Good Hope on 15 September, reached Saint Helena on 7 October, and arrived at The Downs pm 22 December.[10]

View from the Deck of the Upton Castle Transport, of the British Army Landing at Île de France; R. Temple, National Maritime Museum, Greewich

The British attacked Île de France and captured it on 3 December 1810. Upton Castle was one of almost 30 transports that delivered troops and supplies for the invasion.[2]

Main article: Transport vessels for the British invasions of Île Bourbon and Île de France (1810)

The British then chartered some nine vessels, Upton Castle among them, as cartels to carry back to France the French troops that they had captured. Upton Castle arrived at Morlaix on 19 March 1812.[11]

Between 1814 and 1817 Upton Castle's master was Henry W. Beyts. In 1816 and 1817 he sailed her to China.[12]

Fate

A fire destroyed Upton Castle on 16 February 1817 at Saugor, near the mouth of the Ganges.[3][1]

Citations and references

Citations

  1. Hackman (2001), p. 208.
  2. House of Commons (1814), pp. 655-6.
  3. Phipps (1840), p. 188.
  4. The Bombay Almanack, and Register, for ... 1798, p.109.
  5. Mathison & Mason (1802), pp. 270 & 276.
  6. Marshall (1824), Vol. 2, Part 1, p.219.
  7. Mercure de France (1804), Vol. 20, p.380.
  8. Lloyd's List №4204.
  9. Lloyd's List №4196.
  10. British Library: Upton Castle.
  11. Lloyd's List 22 March 1811, №4547.
  12. Bulley (2000), p.201.

References

  • Bulley, Anne (2000). The Bombay Country Ships, 1790–1833. Routledge. ISBN 978-0700712366.
  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
  • House of Commons, Parliament, Great Britain (1814). Minutes of the Evidence Taken Before the Select Committee on Petitions Relating to East-India-Built Shipping. H.M. Stationery Office.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Marshall, John (1823–1835). Royal naval biography, or, Memoirs of the services of all the flag-officers, superannuated rear-admirals, retired-captains, post-captains, and commanders, whose names appeared on the Admiralty list of sea officers at the commencement of the present year 1823, or who have since been promoted ... London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown.
  • Mathison, John; Mason, Alexander W., eds. (1802). A new oriental register and East-India directory for 1802: Containing complete lists of the company's servants, civil, military and marine ... together with lists of the Europeans mariners ... London: Black & Perry.
  • Phipps, John (1840). A Collection of Papers Relative to Ship Building in India ...: Also a Register Comprehending All the Ships ... Built in India to the Present Time ... Scott.
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