Potton (1814 ship)

History
United Kingdom civil ensignUnited Kingdom
NamePotton
NamesakePotton, or possibly Potton Island
Owner
  • 1814:John Barkworth
  • 1825:Thomas Barkworth
BuilderBarkworth & Hawkes, Hessle, Hull[1]
Launched6 December 1814[1]
FateFoundered 1829
General characteristics
Tons burthen39161⁄94,[1] or 396[2] (bm)
Length111 ft 0 in (33.8 m)[1]
Beam28 ft 10 in (8.8 m)[1]
PropulsionSail
Armament10 × 6-pounder guns

Potton was launched in 1814 and shortly thereafter made one of two voyages under charter to the British East India Company (EIC). Between voyages for the EIC and after she was a general trader until she foundered in 1829.

Career

Potton enters the Register of Shipping in 1815 with Fairburn, master, changing to Welbank. Her trade was Hull—London, changing to Hull—Bengal.[3]

EIC voyage #1 (1815-1816): Captain Thomas Wellbank sailed from the Downs on 22 May 1815, bound for Bengal. Potton left Calcutta on 8 May 1816 and on 25 May was at Saugor. She reached the Cape of Good Hope on 11 August and St Helena on 8 September. She arrived at the Downs on 17 November.[2]

In 1817 Welbank sailed Potton to India under a license from the EIC. The information in the tables below is from the Register of Shipping.

Year Master Owner Trade
1818 Welbank
Scott 		Barkworth London—India
1819 Scott Barkworth London—India
1820 Sughrue Barkworth London—Jamaica
1821 Sughrue
Richter 		Barkworth London—Jamaica
1822 Richeter
Bacon 		Barkworth London—Jamaica
London—Quebec
1823 Bacon Barkworth London—Quebec

Wellbank had left Potton to sail Regret for the Barricks. He sailed to the East Indies and made one voyage for the EIC in 1820-21. A fire destroyed Regret in September 1822 at Batavia Roads and Wellbank returned to England and again became master of Potton.

EIC voyage #2 (1823-1824): Captain Wellbank sailed from the Downs on 25 May 1823,[2] bound for Bengal. On 21 September she and Atlas, Clifton, master, ran onshore in Hog River Creek,[4] which is a point on the Hooghli River between Kidderpore and Kedgeree. It was feared both would be lost.[5] However, Potton was got off with little damage,[4] though she was still there on 25 September.[2] She had part of the EIC's mint on board.[4]

Potton arrived at Calcutta on 17 October. Homeward bound, she was at Kedgeree on 14 February and Saugor on 27 February. She reached the Cape on 10 May.[2] On 23 May officers and men from HMS Tamar came to her assistance after a gale the previous night damaged her anchor and almost drove her onshore. Potton, Neptune, and Lady Campbell sailed for England on 28 May.[6] Potton reached St Helena on 13 June,[a] and arrived at the Downs on 16 August.[1]

Year Master Owner Trade
1825 Wellbank Barkworth London—Calcutta
1826 Wellbank
Higton 		Barkworth London—Calcutta
London-Sierra Leone[7]
1827 Higton Barkworth London-Sierra Leone
1828 Higton Barkworth London-Sierra Leone
1829 Higton Barkworth London-Sierra Leone

Fate

Potton foundered on 20 March 1829 off the Isle of Flores, Azores, as she was sailing from Sierra Leone to London.[1] Potton had left Sierra Leone on 2 February but heavy gales around the middle of March left her waterlogged and sinking near the Western Islands (Azores). Passengers and crew took to her boats as she foundered and were able to reach land on the 20th. On the 29th Falcon, Littleworth, master, took the survivors and arrived at Dover on 18 June.[8][b]

Notes

  1. ^ The British Library's summary of her records gives her arrival at St Helena as 13 "Jan 1825",[2] but this is clearly a mis-transcription for June.
  2. ^ Falcon, of 82 tons (bm), Littleworth, master and owner, was a former prize.[9]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hackman (2001), p. 172.
  2. ^ a b c d e f British Library: Potton
  3. ^ Register of Shipping (1815), Seq.№P746.
  4. ^ a b c Oriental Herald and Colonial Review, Vol. 1, p.712.
  5. ^ Lloyd's List №5887.
  6. ^ Monthly Magazine (1 August 1825, Vol. 60, №413, p.2.
  7. ^ Register of Shipping (1826), Seq. №P453.
  8. ^ Missionary Register (1829), Vol. 17, p.285.
  9. ^ Lloyd's Register (1829), Seq.№F34.

References

  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.