Molly (1770 ship)

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

History
Great Britain
NameMolly
Launched1770, Liverpool
FateLast listed 1783
General characteristics
Tons burthen200, or 254, or 280 (bm)
Complement26
Armament1779: 18 × 6-pounder gun

Molly was launched at Liverpool in 1770. Between 1777 and 1779 she made three voyages to the British northern whale fishery. Afterwards, she sailed as a West Indiaman. From 1779 she sailed under a letter of marque, and captured one prize. Around the end of 1781 she engaged in a single ship action in which her captain was killed. She was captured but her captor gave her up. She was last listed in 1783.

Career

Molly was first listed in an online volume of Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1776.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1776 Jn.Bell
J.Brocklbank 		M.Dobson Virginia–Bristol
Liverpool–Greenland 		LR

Molly became a whaler in the British northern whale fishery. She made two voyages to Greenland and one to Davis Strait.

Year Master Whales Tons of oil Seals
1777 2 30 20
1778 5 65 400
1780 8 120 1,800
Year Master Owner Trade Source
1779 Brocklebank
J.Jordan 		M.Dobson Liverpool
Davis Strait 		LR
1780 J.Jordan J.Myton Liverpool–Antigua LR

New owners returned Molly to merchant trade. Captain John Jordan acquired a letter of marque on 7 August 1779. In March 1780 Lloyd's List reported that Molly, Jordan, master, had arrived at Antigua with a prize.[1] From Jamaica Molly sailed to Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Lloyd's List reported in January 1782 that Molly, Jordain (or Jordan), master had been on her way to Liverpool from Jamaica when she encountered the privateer Terror of England, of 22 guns, Captain Kelly, off the Tuskar Rock, Ireland. After an engagement of three hours Molly struck. Captain Jordain and four of his crew had been killed, and several men had been wounded. However, a gale came up and the prize crew, whom Kelly had put on board Molly, not knowing what to do with her, delivered her up to her own crew, who had been left on board. They then took her into Greenock.[2][3][a] From Greenock her crew took her to Liverpool.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1782 J.Jordan
M'Koon 		J.Myton Liverpool–Antigua LR; good repairs 1779, & 1782

Fate

Molly was last listed in 1783.

Notes

  1. ^ Terror of England was also known as Anti-Briton. HMS Stag captured Anti-Briton on 4 January 1782. The Royal Navy took her into service as HMS Trimmer.

Citations

  1. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1142. 3 March 1780. hdl:2027/hvd.32044010099042.
  2. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1324. 4 January 1782. hdl:2027/uc1.c3049061.
  3. ^ Williams (1897), p. 295.

References

  • Williams, Gomer (1897). History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque: With an Account of the Liverpool Slave Trade. W. Heinemann.