Mercury's origins are obscure. She may have been launched in New York in 1774, possibly under another name. In 1793 she made one voyage as a slave ship in the Atlantic triangular slave trade. A French privateer captured Mercury, but the Royal Navy recaptured her.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Mercury |
| Acquired | 1793 |
| Captured | 1794 |
| Fate | Recaptured, but leaves records in 1794 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 126[1][2] (bm) |
Career
editA Mercury of 126 ton (bm) first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR), in 1793.[2]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1793 | Lockhart | J.Taylor | London–Antigua | LR |
Capture (1793): Captain George Hauit sailed from Liverpool on 1 January 1793. Mercury gathered slaves at Bance Island. She sailed from Africa on 7 August.[1]
The French privateer Liberty, of Bordeaux, captured seven slave ships before July 1793: Mercury, Hewitt, master, Echo, Union, Little Joe, Prosperity, Hazard, and Swift, Roper, master. Mercury was captured off Cape Mount.[3][a]
The cutter HMS Seaflower recaptured Mercury.[5] In December 1793 Lloyd's List reported that Mercury, Hewitt, master, had arrived at Barbados.[6][b]
Captain Hewitt purchased the recaptured Mercury.[5]
Notes
edit- ^ There was a Liberté, privateer from Bordeaux, that was commissioned in February 1793 under Jacques Laventy with 16 to 20 guns. She was sold in Guadeloupe in June 1793 by a Mister Mehy, and operated under a Captain Le Bas until 1794.[4]
- ^ The Transatlantic Slave Trade database reports that after her capture: "Slaves embarked, transhipped or no further record". It does not note the arrival in Barbados.[1]
Citations
edit- ^ a b c Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Mercury voyage #82689.
- ^ a b LR (173), Seq.No.M594494.
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 5228. 26 July 1793. hdl:2027/hvd.32044050633098.
- ^ Demerliac (1999), p. 266, n°2341.
- ^ a b Williams (1897), p. 313.
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 2572. 27 December 1793. hdl:2027/hvd.32044050633098.
References
edit- Demerliac, Alain (1999). La Marine de la Révolution: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1792 à 1799 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 9782906381247. OCLC 492783890.
- Williams, Gomer (1897). History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque: With an Account of the Liverpool Slave Trade. W. Heinemann.