Armed Ship 1779/80

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thewatkins
Ships Boy
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 4:54 pm

Armed Ship 1779/80

Post by thewatkins »

Hello to all the knowledgeable people out there.

This is my first post, as cabin boy rather than post-captain.

I came across this entry in “The Parochial History and antiquities of Stockton on Tees 1796” by John Brewster.

‘1779- The Bellona, a fine frigate, was this year built at Stockton for Government, Francis Tinsley, commander. She was ordered to Hull, and in her first voyage from hence was unfortunately wrecked in the Texel.’

My research thus far would indicate it was built by Mark Pye at Stockton North Shore Shipyard.The Bellona' frigate, built for government was launched in Dec 1778; she mounted 20 guns (6 pounders), and 12 swivels; left the Tees in October 1779 for Hull, and was wrecked in the Texel in December following (1780?) whilst on convoy escort duties. Tinsley went on to another command, presumably after the customary Court Martial .

I can find no mention in Naval records. I surmise the ship was unrated, perhaps a hired vessel. Maybe, that having such a short life or not being on the books so to speak, nobody bothered to keep records. There has been several ships with the name Bellona.

Could anyone help with information or pointers to where to look?

Thewatkins, Cabin Boy(80 years old).
Cy
Admiral of the Fleet
Posts: 151
Joined: Tue May 23, 2017 1:10 pm

Re: Armed Ship 1779/80

Post by Cy »

Looks like this one.
Hired armed ship

https://threedecks.org/index.php?displa ... p&id=15154
OK, it was me, probably!
thewatkins
Ships Boy
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 4:54 pm

Re: Armed Ship 1779/80

Post by thewatkins »

Thanks Admiral, looks spot on. Much obliged and very timely Sir.

Looks as though it had a very short life. Wonder if any other ships had shorter lives?

The Builder was certainly Mark Pye at North Shore Yard, Stockton-on-Tees.
The Tees at that time was very tortuous with many sandbanks, it took 4 tides to get from the yard to the sea. Somewhat ironic that the ship should be lost on a sandbank off Texel on the first deployment.



Thanks again

Thewatkins, Ships Boy (Retired)
Grammont
Lieutenant
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 10:58 am

Re: Armed Ship 1779/80

Post by Grammont »

From the London Gazette of 4 April 1789 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... 3/page/223

Whereas a Commission of Bankrupt is awarded and issued forth against Mark Pye and Thomas Haw, both of Stockton, in the County of Durham, Ship-builders, Dealers, Chapmen and Copartners, and they being declared Bankrupts are hereby required to surrender themselves to the Commissioners in the said Commission named, or the major Part of them, on the 27th and 28th Days of April instant, and on the 19th Day of May next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon on each Day, at the House of John Peverall, being the Black Lion, in Stockton aforesaid, and make a full Discovery and Disclosure of their Estate and Effects; when and where the Creditors are to come prepared to prove their Debts, and at the Second Sitting to chufe Assignees, and at the last Sitting the said Bankrupts are required to finish their Examination, and the Creditors axe to assent to or dissent from the Allowance of their
Certificate. All Persons indebted to the said Bankrupts, or that have any of their Effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to whom the Commissioners shall appoint, but give Notice to John Russell Rowntree, of Stockton.

This raises the number of interesting questions:

1) At what date did Mark Pye and Thomas Haw become co-partners
2) A Thomas Haw was responsible for the building and launch at Stockton in 1800 of the East India Company ship Cato. Could a former bankrupt in 11 years recovered sufficiently to be able to build a ship for the EIC and would the EIC have taken the risk? Could it be possibly a son?
Cy
Admiral of the Fleet
Posts: 151
Joined: Tue May 23, 2017 1:10 pm

Re: Armed Ship 1779/80

Post by Cy »

There are two Thomas Haws, father and son. The son died in 1836. Don't have a birth date or any dates for the father.
OK, it was me, probably!
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