Tartar (1781 ship)

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

History
Great Britain
NameTartar
Launched1779, France[1]
RenamedFriends (1782)
Captured1782, and recaptured
FateLast listed 1793
General characteristics
Tons burthen60,[1] or 80[2] (bm)
Sail planSchooner
Complement50 (1781)
Armament14 × 6-pounder guns + 4 swivel guns (1781)

Tartar was built in France in 1779, probably under another name, and taken in prize. She was in 1781 briefly a Bristol-based privateer. A French privateer captured her, but a British privateer recaptured her. She then became the merchantman Friends, and traded between Bristol and North America, primarily Newfoundland. Friends was last listed in 1793.

Career

Tartar first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR), in 1781.[1] She underwent fitting at Hilhouse, where she was fitted with sails to be able to sail as a lugger or schooner. Her first master was Aaron Floyd, who had been master on an earlier Bristol privateer named Tartar.[3] Captain Aaron Floyd acquired a letter of marque on 10 February 1781.

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1781 A. Floyd Easton & Co Bristol cruise LR

Lloyd's List reported in March 1781 that the privateer Phoenix, of Dartmouth, Captain Pidgely, had captured a brig from Mauritius and recaptured the Bristol privateer Tartar, and brought them both into Penzance.[4] Phoenix and Tartar had sailed from Bristol together on 19 March. The French privateer was Black Princess.[5][a]

Tartar was offered for sale at Falmouth in September.[8]

Tartar then came under new ownership. Captain Doyle purchased her, renamed her Friends, and started sailing her between Bristol and Newfoundland.[2]

Year Vessel Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1782 Tartar A.Floyd
Doyle 		T.Easton & Co. Bristol privateer LR; now Friends
1782 Friends Doyle Captain & Co. Bristol–Newfoundland LR; former Tartar

By 1786 Friends was sailing between Bristol and Philadelphia, as well as Newfoundland. She underwent repairs in 1788.

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1791 J.Doyle
J.Roche 		Captain & Co. Bristol–Newfoundland LR; repairs 1788

Fate

Friends was last listed in 1793.

Notes

  1. ^ Damer Powell assigns this capture and recapture to Tartar (1775 ship).[5][6] However, a record of Tarter's privateering voyages does not mention the incident.[7] This is not surprising as this capture/recapture took place after Tartar (1775 ship) had ceased privateering.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c LR (1781), Seq.No.T315.
  2. ^ a b LR (1782), Seq.No.F390.
  3. ^ Powell (1930), p. 287.
  4. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1254. 30 March 1781. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105233001.
  5. ^ a b Powell (1930), pp. 287–288.
  6. ^ Rogers (1931), p. 243.
  7. ^ Rogers (1931), pp. 236–243.
  8. ^ Powell (1930), p. 288.

References

  • Rogers, Bertram M.H. (1931). "The privateering voyage of the "Tartar" of Bristol". Mariner's Mirror. 7 (3): 236–243. doi:10.1080/00253359.1931.10655609.
  • Powell, J. W. Damer (1930). Bristol privateers and ships of war. J.W. Arrowsmith: Bristol.