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.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Tartar |
| Launched | 1779, France[1] |
| Renamed | Friends (1782) |
| Captured | 1782, and recaptured |
| Fate | Last listed 1793 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 60,[1] or 80[2] (bm) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
| Complement | 50 (1781) |
| Armament | 14 × 6-pounder guns + 4 swivel guns (1781) |
Career
editTartar 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
editFriends was last listed in 1793.
Notes
edit- ^ 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
edit- ^ a b c LR (1781), Seq.No.T315.
- ^ a b LR (1782), Seq.No.F390.
- ^ Powell (1930), p. 287.
- ^ "The Marine List". Lloyd's List. No. 1254. 30 March 1781. hdl:2027/hvd.32044105233001.
- ^ a b Powell (1930), pp. 287–288.
- ^ Rogers (1931), p. 243.
- ^ Rogers (1931), pp. 236–243.
- ^ Powell (1930), p. 288.
References
edit- 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.