Backhouse (1785 ship)

Backhouse was launched in 1785 at Chester. She initially sailed as a West Indiaman. In 1792–1793 she made one voyage as a slave ship. In 1796 and again in 1797 she repelled an attack by a French privateer in single-ship actions. Backhouse made four more slave trading voyages and then returned tothe West Indies trade. After about 1809 she became a London coaster and was last listed in 1813.

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

History
Great Britain
Name: Backhouse
Namesake: Daniel Backhouse[Note 1]
Owner:
  • 1792:Tarleton & Backhouse
  • 1797:Tarleton & Rigg
Builder: Chester
Launched: 1785
Fate: Last listed 1813
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 174, or 177,[1] or 180,[2] or 190,[3] or 195,[3][1][4] or 215[4] (bm)
Beam: –
Sail plan: Brig
Complement:
  • 1794:20[3]
  • 1795: 20[3]
  • 1796: 15
Armament:
  • 1794: 10 × 6-pounder guns[3]
  • 1795: 12 × 6-pounder guns[3]
  • 1796: 12 × 6-pounder guns
  • 1804: 8 × 4-pounder guns[4]
  • 1809: 2 × 4-pounder guns

Career

Backhouse first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1787.[2] On 20 December 1786 Backhouse, Collinson, master, sailed from Liverpool for Grenada.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1787 J.Collinson Tarleton Liverpool–Dominica LR
1790 J.Collinson Tarleton Liverpool–New York LR
1791 J.Collinson Tarleton Liverpool–Genada LR
1792 J.Collinson
J.Harrocks		 Tarleton Liverpool–Grenada LR

1st slave trading voyage (1792–1793): Captain James Harrocks sailed from Liverpool on 27 October 1792 bound for West Africa. Backhouse started gathering her slaves at Bonny on 12 January 1793. She departed from Africa on 6 May with 296 slaves. She was at Grenada and then arrived at Montego Bay, Jamaica on 5 July with 281 slaves. Harrocks died on 19 July. The mention in Lloyd's List on Backhouse{{'}s arrival at Jamaica referred to "late Harrocks". Captain Michael Pele replaced Harrocks. Backhouse sailed for home on 11 October and arrived at Liverpool on 21 December. She had left Liverpool with 33 crew members and lost 17 on her voyage.[1]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1794 Harrocks
M.Pill		 Tarleton Liverpool–Grenada LR
1796 M.Pill
J.Flanagan		 Tarleton London–St Vincent
Liverpool–Africa		 LR

In 1794 and 1795 two captains received letters of marque, John Marr on 28 March 1794 and James Thomson on 9 December 1795.[3] There is a record in Lloyd's List's ship arrival and departure data of Captain Marr sailing to Dominica, but no mention of Captain Thomson.

On 8 October 1796, as Captain James Flanagan was sailing Backhouse from Liverpool to Martinique, a French cutter brig privateer of 16 guns shadowed them from 8am to 9pm, before engaging them. After firing some shots the French vessel stood off, but continued to the chase through the night. Next morning the French vessel renewed the engagement. Backhouse was down to her last two cartridges when the privateer sheared off; Flanagan immediately set off in pursuit, till the privateer escaped. Flanagan resumed his voyage. The privateer came up the next day again, but when Flanagan demonstrated his intention to engage, sheared off, with Backhouse in pursuit for a time. The engagement took place at 28°30′N 24°00′W.[5]

In July 1797 as Backhouse was sailing from Saint Vincent back to Liverpool, a French privateer schooner of sixteen 6-pounder guns came up. Captain Flanagan had a crew of only 15 men, includng himself, but with the assistance of three gentleman passengers, was able to exchange fire for two-and-a-half hours before te French vessel withdrew. There were no British casualties.[6]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1797 Flanagan
J.Hunter		 Tarleton
W.Rigg		 Liverpool–Martinique
Liverpool–Africa		 LR; repairs 1795

In 1797 Backhouse returned to the slave trade.

2nd slave trading voyage (1797–1798): Captain James Hunter sailed from Liverpool on 26 September 1797. Backhouse gathered her slaves at Bonny and arrived at Kingston, Jamaica in April 1798 with 303 slaves.[7] She brought with her a Spanish prize.[8]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1800 J.Hunter
A.Harding		 W.Rigg Liverpool–Africa
London–Africa		 LR; repairs 1795

3rd slave trading voyage (1800–1801): Captain A. Harding sailed from London on 13 April 1800. Backhouse gathered her slaves on the Gold Coast and arrived at Demerara on 30 May 1801 with 200 slaves.[9] On 5 September 1801 she had parted from the homeward-bound convoy from Tortola to London in a very heavy gale, and then had to put into Lisbon for repairs. The crew had had to ut away her mizzen mast and throw overboard five hogsheads of sugar to right Backhouse. She also lost her anchors and eight guns.[10] Backhouse arrived back in London on 31 December 1801.[9]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1802 A.Harding
Jenkins		 Mills London–Africa LR; repairs 1795 & good repair 1800

4th slave trading voyage (1802–1803): Captain M.Jenkins sailed from London on 5 March 1802. Backhouse started gathering slaves on the Gold Coast on 11 May. She arrived at St Vincent on 29 December with 198 slaves. At some point Captain Lawson replaced Jenkins as she had arrived at St Vincent as Backhoue, "late Jenkins". Backhhouse, Lawson, master, arrived back in London on 3 April 1803.[11]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1802 Jenkins
J.Smith		 Mills London–Africa LR; repairs 1795 & good repair 1800

On 4 November 1803 Backhouse, Smith, master, left Gravesend for Africa. On 13 December she and a number of other Arica-bound vessels were reported "all well" at 48°N 9°W after a heavy gale had dispersed the fleet. On 13 August 1804 she was back at Gravesend, from Africa. Absent original research it is not clear whether this was a simple trading voyage or an aborted slave-trading voyage.

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1804 Jenkins
A.Ramsey		 Mills London–Africa LR; repairs 1795 & good repair 1800[4]

5th slave trading voyage (1804–1805): Captain Thomas Ramsay sailed from London on 29 October 1804,[12] and by 16 December was at Madeira. Backhouse arrived at St Lucia on 16 July 1805 with 153 slaves.[12] She was sold there.[13] She arrived back at London on 12 December 1805.[12]

Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes
1807 A.Ramsey Cox & Co. London–Tobago LR; good repair 1800 & small repairs 1805
1809 C.Hogg W.Pannett London coasterr Register of Shipping (RS); thorough repair 1800 & damages repaired 1801

Fate

Backhouse was last listed in 1813 with data unchanged from 1809.

Notes, citations, and references

Notes

  1. Daniel Backhouse was a partner in the ownership of the vessel with John and Thomas Tarleton.[1]

Citations

  1. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Backhouse voyage #80416.
  2. LR (1787), Seq.No.437.
  3. "Letter of Marque, p.51 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. LR (1804), Seq.No.B12.
  5. Williams (1897), pp. 343–345.
  6. Williams (1897), pp. 345–346.
  7. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Backhouse voyage #80417.
  8. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (3015). 29 June 1798. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Backhouse voyage #80418.
  10. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (4191). 2 October 1801. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  11. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Backhouse voyage #80419.
  12. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Backhouse voyage #80420.
  13. "The Marine List". Lloyd's List (4252). 10 September 1805. Retrieved 21 December 2020.

References

  • Williams, Gomer (1897). History of the Liverpool Privateers and Letters of Marque: With an Account of the Liverpool Slave Trade. W. Heinemann.
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