Oswin was launched in 1810. In 1818 she sailed for India. She foundered at sea in January 1819. All aboard survived despite having had to sail in a longboat for almost two weeks over 1400 miles to Saint Helena.

History
United Kingdom
NameOswin
NamesakeOswine of Deira
Owner
  • 1810:Atkinson
  • 1811:T. Brown
BuilderTemple shipbuilders,[1] South Shields
Launched25 August 1810[1]
FateFoundered 31 January 1819
General characteristics
Tons burthen441[2] (bm)
Armament8 guns[2]

Career

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Oswin first appeared in Lloyd's List in 1811 with Atkinson, master, changing to Perkins, Templer, owner, changing to T. Brown, and trade London, changing to London transport.[2]

In 1813 the EIC lost its monopoly on the trade between India and Britain. British ships were then free to sail to India or the Indian Ocean under a license from the EIC.[3] Oswin was one of the many vessels that came to take advantage of the opportunity.

Lloyd's Register for 1819 showed Oswin with J. Kay, master, T.&R. Brown, owners, and London–Fort William, India.[4] On 18 April 1818 Oswin sailed for India.

Fate

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Oswin was homeward bound from India when on 27 January 1819 she sprang a leak in a gale off Cape Agulhas. Eventually the water came into her faster than the pumps could manage. Captain Kay, the crew, and the one passenger, Lt. Nicholson of the 71st Foot, took to her longboat after provisioning it. They abandoned Oswin on the 31st at 31°18′S 11°51′E / 31.300°S 11.850°E / -31.300; 11.850. The longboat arrived at Saint Helena on 12 February after a voyage of over 1400 miles. An East Indiaman then took the survivors on to England.[5][6][7]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Hackman (2001), p. 303.
  2. ^ a b c Lloyd's Register (1811), Seq.O№166.
  3. ^ Hackman (2001), p. 247.
  4. ^ Lloyd's Register (1819), Seq.№O234.
  5. ^ Lloyd's List №5380.
  6. ^ de St. M. Watson (1912), p. 256, fn.1.
  7. ^ Asiatic Journal and Monthly Miscellany ..., Volume 9 (April 1820), pp.388-9.

References

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  • de St. M. Watson, George Leo (1912). A Polish Exile with Napoleon: Embodying the Letters of Captain Piontkowski to General Sir Robert Wilson and Many Documents from the Lowe Papers, the Colonial Office Records, the Wilson Manuscripts, the Capel Lofft Correspondence, and the French and Genevese Archives. Little, Brown.
  • Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.