Harriot (or Harriet) was launched at Broadstairs in 1803. She made four voyages between 1804 and 1807 as a Guineaman (slave ship) in the triangular trade in enslaved people. Following the prohibition in 1807 on British vessels participating in the trans-Atlantic slave trade Harriet became a West Indiaman. A French privateer captured Harriet in April 1809 as Harriet was returning to England from Port au Prince.

History
United Kingdom
NameHarriot, later Harriet
BuilderBroadstairs
Launched1803
CapturedApril 1809
General characteristics
Tons burthen248,[1] or 249[2] (bm)
Complement
Armament
  • 1804: 14 × 9-pounder guns[1]
  • 1806: 14 × 9-pounder guns[1]

Career

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Harriot first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1804.[2]

1st voyage transporting enslaved people (1804): Captain James Clark acquired a letter of marque on 21 January 1804.[1] He sailed from London on 2 February. Harriot acquired captives on the Gold Coast. She arrived at Suriname on 27 June 1804, with 260 captives. She sailed from Suriname on 13 August, and arrived back in London on 29 September.[3]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1804 J.Clark
Sutherland
Parry&Co. London–Africa LR

2nd voyage transporting enslaved people (1804–1805): Captain Stewart Sutherland sailed from London on 3 December 1804. She acquired captives at Accra and arrived at Demerara on 20 June 1805, with 273. She left Demerara on 24 July.[4] At Demerara she had taken on part of the cargo of Rose, Mansfield, master. Rose had run aground and been condemned. Harriet brought her portion of the cargo to England.[5] Harriot arrived back in London on 30 September.[4]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1806 Sutherland
J.Clark
Parr & Co.
Lumley
London–West Indies LR

3rd voyage transporting enslaved people (1806–1807): Captain James Clark acquired a letter of marque on 11 January 1806.[1] He sailed from London on 22 January. Harriot acquired captives at Accra and Wiamba and arrived at Demerara on 9 July, with 275 captives.[6] As Harriet was on her way back to England from Demerara, she ran onshore at Grenada and had to unload her cargo.[7] Harriot arrived back in London on 27 January 1807.[6]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1807 J.Clark
Mitchelson
Lumley London
London–West Indies
LR

4th voyage transporting enslaved people (1807–1808): The Act for the abolition of the slave trade had passed Parliament in March 1807, and took effect on 1 May 1807. However, Captain Mitchelson Harriot sailed from London on 23 March 1807, well before the deadline. Harriot acquired captives at Accra. She arrived at Barbados on 24 December, with 255 captives; there she landed 63. At some point Captain Jacob Williamson replaced Mitchelson. Harriot sailed on to Demerara with the remaining captives. She arrived back in London on 24 June 1808.[8]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1808 Mitchelson Lumley London–West Indies LR; damages repaired 1807
1809 P.Clark Lumley London–Barbados LR; damages repaired 1807

Fate

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Friendship, Williams, arrived in London on 21 April 1809 from Hayti. She had sailed from Port-au-Prince on 4 March in company with Harriet, Clarke, master. They had parted on 20 April.[9]

As Harriet was returning from Port-au-Prince in April, the French privateer Rodeur captured her and took her into Bayonne.[a] The "English ship, of 280 tons, Coppered and Armed with 14 guns (14-pounders)," was carrying a valuable cargo of coffee and other goods. Rodeur took Harriet into Bayonne.[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ At the time several French privateers were named Rôdeur. The actual captor remains to be identified.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Letter of Marque, p.66 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b LR (1804), Supple. pages "H", Seq.No.H7.
  3. ^ Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Harriot voyage #81735.
  4. ^ a b Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Harriot voyage #81736.
  5. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4256. 24 September 1805. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735022.
  6. ^ a b Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Harriot voyage #81737.
  7. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. 30 December 1806. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735022.
  8. ^ Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Harriot voyage #81738.
  9. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4346. 21 April 1809. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735024.
  10. ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 4351. 9 May 1809. hdl:2027/uc1.c2735024.