His Majesty's Hired Transport Amphitrite 1801-1833

[steverob]

I am researching life aboard a convict ship for a TV programme. The ship was the ill-fated Amphitrite that was wrecked at Boulogne in 1833.
This was a ship originally built as two masted brig in Devon and then converted to a bark in 1824. She was built small - around 75' long, then extended when her third mast was added to 92'.

Can anyone help answer some questions please?

Brig to bark conversion: seems like it was thing in the early 1800s? I discovered that HMS Beagle had the same operation around the same time. Was this just a matter of getting extra horsepower from the sail area? Did it affect the stability or strength of the ship? Any thoughts on that?

The ship had no poop when it was built but having one was mandatory for transportation contracts, so one was hastily added just a few weeks before she sailed. (And there were no sea trials) Any thoughts on how that might have affected the ship - presumably this affected its windage and ability to tack?

Deck layout. On the voyage in question there were approximately 102 prisoners, 12 children and 14 crew. Does anyone have any ideas about the deck layout? Where were the crew's quarters, and the convicts' quarters? Was there a traditional place for the heads and the sick bay? Where would the ship's master and surgeon be quartered. (Not in the poop).

Thanks for reading!

[AvM]

I suggest firstly
Charles Bateson
"The Convict Ships 1787-1868"
Glasgow 1959

1) most of the convict transports were female or male transport.
So Amphitrite was a female transport

2) I have never found that the convict ship used title "HM Hired Transport"
She could be used as a transport during the napoleonic wars.
In that time transport service was organised by Board of Trade, not by Navy.

3) At her final voyage she was owned by Mr Lyall, MP for the City of London.
as I have found in Morning Advertiser of Tuesday 10 September 1833, but
according to Bateson she was owned by her master 33 years old John Hunter,
who also commanded her in last 8 years and was chartered as a convict ship Joseph Lauchlan.

4) Lloyd'S Register of Shipping 1832 lsited her as a ssnow, ie not brig nor barque.
Last survey was 1830, so the rigging shpould be correct.
The owner is given as G.Lyal., master R.Murray
According to Lloyd that ship was lengthened in 1824

5) Interesting who built that ship
LLoyd's registers gives Bideford (?)
Underwiters register 1821 "Apldre"

[AvM]

Grahame Farr
"Shipbuilding in Nort Devon"
gives her built 1801 or 1802 (sic)
as brig of 159bm lengethened 1824 an re-rigged as snow
built at Applendore not Biedford.

[AvM]

A maritime history of the ports of Bideford and Barnstaple, 1786-1841
Nix, Michael
1991 University of Leicester

Mentioned Amphitrite
snow of 156t registered 5/1802 at Bideford

It seems that Amphitrite was firstly registered at London after being lenghtened
#335 on 25 Jun 1824 master J.Abbot, then J.Murray 208 73/94bm
and registered de novo
#248 on 16 Aug 1831 master J.Murray
and registered de novo
#251 in 1833, master John Hunter

I have not found she was used as hired transport !!

[AvM]

It seems she was really built as a snow

Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Wednesday 25 June 1806

THE good Snow AMPHITRITE, W. Osborn master, about 165 tons register, now lying in tins harbour, about five years old, was built at Biddeford under particular inspection, being then intended for family ship ; she is well adapted for purpose where vessel of her size is requisite, being of easy draft of water, awl will shift without ballast; and as she is remarkably well found in all kind of stores raav sent to sea with a very trifling expence.

For further narliculars apply to
W. BURRIDGE and SON, Merchants, Portsmouth

[AvM]

She was repaired and rebuilt at Deptford in March 1833
under the inspection of the King's officers,

Lloyd's List - Tuesday 19 March 1833
17 March 1833 arrived at Plymouth from Deptford, master Murray

There is a new trace.

Amphitrite served from 1830 as transport,
ie in that time could be namer HM hired transport

London Evening Standard - Monday 15 February 1830
The Amphitrite transport. Lieutenant Cooley, agent, sailed this morning to Cork to convey the depot of the 73d regiment to Plymouth.

She was rebuilt at Deptford to be used in Portugal expedition

The Amphitrite transport, Lieut. Cooley, agent, sailed on Sunday with stores for the squadron at Lisboa.

26 may 1833 arrived from Lisbon and Oporto at Portsmouth
Lieut Cooley, agent.

Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service - Saturday 22 June 1833
The Amphitrite, transport, Lieut. Cooley, agent, has been paid off at Deptford.

Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service - Saturday 29 June 1833
Amphitrite, late transport, has been taken up for the conveyance of female convicts to New South Wales.

[AvM]

Most of the data were published at

"Horrible Shipwreck!"
by Andrew Jampoler

It looks the author revised BT107 &108 registers of her.

There is also
Orders and Communications relating to Inquiry of Loss of Amphitrite Convict Ship
House of Commons Papers

[AvM]

There is a small group on facebook interested in the topic
Convicts Ships To Australia ( 1788 To 1860 )

[AvM]

One convict ship to Australia still exist

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Fox