AZ of Postal Packets

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=185 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="040b9c00dduajq.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="70" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="66"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="76" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="66" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Falmouth Packet Archives 1688-1850</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Packet Archives 16881850"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Project Mission "><U>Project Mission </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Main Index"><U>Main Index</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chronology (Timeline)"><U>Chronology  (Timeline)</U></A>   |   <B>AZ of Postal Packets</B>   |   <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Penryns Timeline "><U>Penryn's Timeline </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flushing "><U>Flushing </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wars Battles"><U>Wars & Battles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Actions, Damage Losses"><U>Actions, Damage & Losses</U></A></div> <div> AZ of Postal Packets</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> <A NAME="acheron__1838___hm_steam_packet___"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></FONT><I><B>Acheron</B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (1838?)</FONT> </div> <div> Type:           HM Steam (Branch) packet (Med.)</div> <div> Owner(s)         Admiralty</div> <div> Built:               1838?</div> <div> FP 23/5/1840: Two cases of plague which arrived at Malta from Alexandria, </div> <div>                           Passengers had to perform a very long quarantine. (at Malta)</div> <div> ------------</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> <A NAME="active___1795___temporary_packet_______"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></FONT><I><B>Active</B></I> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (1795) </FONT></div> <div> Type:               (Temporary Packet)                                   </div> <div> Commanders:William Clements, 26/1/1795 (W. Indies, America Etc)</div> <div> Type:               Brigantine</div> <div> GRT:               187 tons</div> <div> Owner(s):       Captain Clements</div> <div> Built:               1795</div> <div> In packet service:     1795 - 1796 (captured)</div> <div> Phil A/2/1:  Capt William Clements appointed to <I>Active</I> on 19/6/1795 </div> <div> Valued in 1795 by J B Bennett @ £2,609 </div> <div> Hired Quarterly from Capt. Clements for £459</div> <div> Post-Office paid Capt Clements compensation of £1,983 net (Philbrick qf. TLB/9/p.93)</div> <bR> <div> ?/7/1795 - Jamaica, Returned 29/12/1795</div> <div> 23/2/1796 - Leeward Islands, returned 15/5/1796  (in 27 days)</div> <div> 8 & 20/6/1796 - Jamaica, (put back & sailed 20/6/1796) </div> <div> TAKEN 30/9/1796, on homeward her voyage, Captain Clements paid £1,983 (Net)</div> <bR> <div> 1/8/1797, Captain Clements appointed to <I>Princess Charlotte</I> - Died of yellow fever in 1798. (<I>Sherborne Mercury</I>)</div> <bR> <div> <I>Sources:  Commanders Appointed By The General Post Office</I></div> <div>                   Philbrick A/2/1 Courtney Library, R I C , Truro </div> <div> <I>                  The Falmouth Packets</I>, David Mudd. (p.12)</div> <div> ----------------</div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="adder__1805__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Adder </B></I></FONT>(1805?)</div> <div> Moloneux Shouldrane, ( Master Or Captain ?) </div> <div> Topsham Davy/ayles  1805/1813??</div> <div> 1805? </div> <div> ???? - 1806 - Crew Imprisoned</div> <div> Crew of <I>Adder</I>, including George Webber, imprisoned from 1806-1814, Commander, Moloneux Shouldrane.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Commanders Appointed By The General Post Office</B></div> <div> --------------</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> <A NAME="adelphi___1798___temporary_packet_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></FONT><I><B>Adelphi</B></I> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (1798) (Temporary Packet)</FONT></div> <div> John Rattray, 4/10/1798  (W. Indies, America Etc)</div> <div> 156 tons</div> <div> Owner(s):           Deake?</div> <div> Built:               1798</div> <div> In packet service:     1798 - 1799 (Post Office hired.  Taken 2/1800)</div> <div> John Rattray, sailing for Deake, <I>Princess of Wales</I> (taken May 1798)</div> <div> 28 Crew.</div> <div> Valued by J B Bennett 1/11/1798 @ £2,620 gross.</div> <div> Hired by the Post-Office, quarterly from the proprietors</div> <div> Post-Office paid  £2,068 (compensation) (Philbrick qf. T.L.B-10/p.216)</div> <bR> <div> ?/?/1799 - Jamaica,  Returned 17/4/1799 (letter)</div> <div> 7/5/1799 - Jamaica,  Returned 31/8/1799 - returned in 47 days</div> <div> Ran in the rocks a mile from Falmouth on night prior to sailing - got off two hours later with no injury (to the vessel) [Philbrick qf. <I>Sherborne Mercury</I>]</div> <bR> <div> 1/10/1799 - sailed for Jamaica, TAKEN 22/2/1800 by French privateer <I>Grand Buonaparte</I>  22-guns & 200 men, sent to Bordeaux</div> <bR> <div> LL 25/2/1800: <I>Adelphi</I> from Leewards, and <I>Westmoreland</I> from Jamaica, captured & taken to Bordeaux</div> <div> Sources:     <I>Commanders Appointed By The General Post Office</I></div> <div> Philbrick A/2/1, & A/4/2, Courtney Library, R I C, Truro </div> <div> -------------------</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> <A NAME="adventure__1810___"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></FONT><I><B>Adventure</B></I> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(1810)  </FONT></div> <div> Temporary Packet</div> <div> Commanders:  John Tilley, 22/10/1810      (Surinam)</div> <div>                           Thomas Sampson, 25/1/1812 (W. Indies & America, Etc)</div> <div> Built:                  France (date?)</div> <div> Owner(s):          Mr Slade (1811)</div> <div> In packet service:     1810 - 1814</div> <bR> <div> RCG 6/2/1802: refers to Captain Tilly of the brig <I>Edward & Mary </I>[previous command?]</div> <bR> <div> Falmouth Register:     Births, Deaths & Marriages</div> <div> John Tilley, son of John & Hanora Tilley, Born 16/12/1800,Baptised 26/12/1800.</div> <div> Tobias Harry Tilley, "      "      "        "       "         23/8/1808,     "         10/12/1808</div> <div> John Richard Rusdon Tilly,  " "      "        "          31/3/1810,      "         4/11/1810          </div> <bR> <div> <I>PHIL A/ : Adventure</I>, fast sailer, Temporary packet under John Tilley, removed by owners in Jan 1812.</div> <div>                  (Mr Slade, “owner of <I>Adventure</I> in 1811”)</div> <bR> <div> Sources:<I>    West Briton</I> (lists <I>Adventure</I>, Tilley, sailing to Malta.)</div> <div> <I>                    Commanders Appointed By The General Post Office</I></div> <div>                     M E Philbrick, R. I. C., Courtney Museum, Truro</div> <div> --------------------</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="alban__1807________"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><I><B>Alban</B></I> (1807)       </div> <div> Type:               Navy Cutter, 14-guns</div> <div> Owner(s)          Admiralty</div> <div> Built:               1807</div> <bR> <div> RCG: Sat. 12/12/1807: Dispatches received yesterday at Falmouth, by express from Plymouth, to Sir Sidney Smith in the Tagus, consigned to Lieut. Weir of the <I>Alban </I>Cutter, who it is certain has taken letters from Falmouth for Lisbon.  <I>Alban</I> was getting under weigh last night when our messenger left Falmouth. [ ID 5361 ]</div> <bR> <div> See also, Hired Schooner <I>Gatecombe</I> [ ID 5362 ], Chartered by Mr Chamberlain in Lisbon..</div> <bR> <div> RCG 19/12/1807: Sailed 12th Dec, <I>Alban </I>Cutter, Lt. Weir, with dispatches, supposed for Lisbon.</div> <bR> <div> RCG 19/12/1807: Great news from Plymouth, the Prince  Regent of Portugal with his government and troops has embarked on board his fleet of 10 sail of the line and actually sailed from the Tagus; joined by our Sir Sidney Smith,  The combined squadrons, with their transports (troop transports) amount to 80 sail.  By the armed brig <I>Ann</I> from Gibraltar, spoke Portuguese squadron 1st December - 40,000 French troops reported to have entered Lisbon.</div> <div> Saturday morning 3 a.m., the <I>Townshend</I> packet has just arrived and confirms the above facts, the Prince is off for the Brazils and the [HMS] <I>Hibernia</I> has joined Sir Sidney.  The Russian fleet are in the Tagus and French are at Lisbon.  </div> <div> RCG 7/5/1808: Prince Regent arrived Rio 6th January 1808</div> <bR> <div> Sources:     <I>Royal Cornwall Gazette</I> (RCG)</div> <div> -----------------</div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="alert___1836__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Alert </B></I> (1836) </div> <div> Type:          HM Packet Brig 6-guns  (1 Of 11 New Packets )</div> <div> Commanders     Lt. Charles H. Norrington,  R N., 30/12/1835-39 </div> <div> Lt. Edward Jennings, R N.,  28/2/1839-42</div> <div> GRT:               358 bm</div> <div> LOA               95ft x 30 ft</div> <div> Builder:          Rotherhythe - Mr Bottomley 24/9/1835</div> <div> Owner(s)          Admiralty</div> <div> In packet service:     1836 -</div> <div> Broken Up (BU)      1851</div> <bR> <div> Alert, Pandora, Ranger all to new plan by Capt Symonds, Navy Surveyor.</div> <div> Capt Norrington fatally injured at sea* (date ?)</div> <bR> <div> FP 14/1/1832 : <I>Alert</I>, (HM Sloop) sailed for England from Rio $900,000 ( this appears to be a Navy vessel <U>not</U> in Packet service)</div> <bR> <div> FP 13/2/36: New Packet <I>Alert</I>, Lt. Norrington arrived from Woolwich</div> <div> FP 6/7/36: Born Falmouth 21/7/36 a son to the Lady of Mr Stephenson, surgeon on <I>Alert</I> Packet.</div> <div> FP 31/12/1836: Appointed, Mr. Pascoe to be Master of <I>Alert</I> packet, vice Boxer appointed to <I>Scyllu</I> corvette.</div> <bR> <div> FP 10/2/1838: We regret to say <I>Alert</I> from Halifax lost one of her crew (Williams) overboard in a heavy gale. [among her passengers was a Mr. J <B>Cunard</B>.  Was he the same, from NS, who built transatlantic iron mail liners? If so, one can understand, after this trip, his intention of building larger & powered vessels!) </div> <div> (see also, Mr Sam <B>Cunard </B>sailed as passenger on <I><B>Star</B></I><B>,</B> Lt. Christopher Smith, with a large party of 28 from Halifax, to loud cheers when sailing  on 8/12/38 and made safe passage to Falmouth in only 16 days.  A dinner and presentation was made for the Capt in X.....(check)........... Hotel at Falmouth), </div> <bR> <div> FP 23/2/1839: from a Liverpool newspaper - a reference to sailing packets from Falmouth, "an allowance of £40,000 per year is made for the 'tardy packets' upon this important line to Brazils" .. an article proposing use of Steamers.. (see:  <I>Tyrian</I>)</div> <bR> <div> FP 2/3/1839: Appointments; Lt Jennings from <I>Tyrian</I> to <I>Alert,</I> vice Norrington (invalided)</div> <bR> <div> [In the same issue of FP 10/2/1838: " <I>Lapwing</I> experienced severe weather on her voyage from the West Indies, the consequence of which was the loss of one of her crew who was washed overboard, and all of her boats"]</div> <bR> <div> FP 21/7/1838: <I>Alert </I>left Tampico 7/6/38, saw (on 18 May, 1738) a brig in Portuguese colours with 600 slaves, and reported the French Blockade of Mexico at Vera Cruz and Tampico.</div> <bR> <div> FP 12/1/1839: <I>Alert</I>, Lt  Norrington, dep. Falmouth 7/9/1838 for Madeira & Brazils, Left Rio 18/11/1838, return due Falmouth 25/1/39, arrived. 5/1/1839, on freight £8,000.</div> <bR> <div> FP 2/3/1839: It is a matter of unfeigned regret to us that Captain W. Symons has felt himself obliged to leave the contract Steam-Packet <I>Tagus</I>, to seek his better future under a foreign flag and in distant climes.  We are sure the <I>Peninsular Steam Company</I> has experienced a loss they cannot easily repair.</div> <div> Captain Symons proceeds by <I>Alert</I> to Brazil, (Under Jennings 8/3/39) to the command of a Portuguese vessel destined to the East Indies.[ID 1459]</div> <bR> <div> FP 9/3/1839: Letter from J. Tony Nicholas, HMS <I>Hercules</I>, thanking  for a tow out by [a] steamer through straits of Gibraltar .. and, (FP Editor) </div> <div> "We understand the contract for carrying the mails to Halifax every fortnight, has been taken by the Mining Association at £50,000 per annum, for 7 years .. but from what port the mails are to be embarked we are not informed.. </div> <bR> <div> FP 23/3/1839:( Ex. <I>Glasgow Courier</I>) Steam Navigation to America, Liverpool to Halifax thence by branch Steamers to Boston and in the summer to Quebec, to be despatched 1st & 15th monthly.  The "enterprising contractor" (Cunard) has engaged Messrs Wood at Port Glasgow to build 3 ships of 1000 tons in which Robert Napier Esq., is to place engines of 400 HP.  From the past success of Messrs Wood & Napier, we doubt but when these vessels are in their station, in April 1840, they will be quite unrivalled and that the route via Halifax is the shortest way to New York.</div> <bR> <div> FP 25/5/1839: Mr. CUNARD of Nova Scotia intends to sail twice monthly from Liverpool to Halifax, with a Government contract @ £50,000 p.a., several vessels of 1100 tons, 450 HP, to be ready by mid-1840, calling at Boston in 12 days on their way to Halifax.  £8,000 has been subscribed to build an hotel in Halifax and the merchants in Boston have agreed to build wharves (suitable for such vessels)</div> <bR> <div> FP 21/11/1840: <I>Braganza</I> steamer, Lewis, from Lisbon, left Vigo for Falmouth & experienced a severe gale - in imminent danger,... bulwarks & skylight stove in and damage to the wheel (paddle)</div> <div> also:  <I>Alert</I> from Rio 22/9/40 for Falmouth caught in same very heavy weather during the week prior to arrival, lost her quarter boat and carried away three of her davits. </div> <div> Last Tuesday morning [6 Nov. 18/40], she passed four vessels with all spars gone in the hurricane, and several others she could give no assistance. </div> <div> Despite the last 10 days heavy gales, Falmouth suffered no damage, unlike the loss of life at Eastern ports.</div> <bR> <div> FP 9/10.1841: Lt Dawson of <I>Astraea</I>, acting commander on <I>Alert</I>, died of yellow fever before reaching Havannah, where his remains were deposited.</div> <div> [ID 2110]. <I>Alert</I> sailed 17/6/1841 for Mexico & Hayti and returned in 20 days, arriving Falmouth 9/10/1841)</div> <bR> <div> FP 26/3/1842: <I>Alert,</I> Lt Jennings to Plymouth to be paid off.   ….NO longer on packet service................................... last voyage was to the West Indies, sailing from Falmouth on 31/12/1841, returning 20/2/1842 (80 days). She left St Thomas 27/1/1842 for Falmouth.  </div> <bR> <div> The sailing packets were replaced by <B>steamers</B> on all but the Brazil route, leaving only six sailing vessels as packets, [<I>Peterel, Express</I>, <I>Crane, Swift, Penguin, Linnet, </I>although Lt. Dicken took<I> Seagull </I>7/6/1845, in lieu of<I> Linnet.</I>   When steamers commenced the service to West Indies & Mexico, there were 10 sailing packet brigs made redundant, kept at Devonport for over a year in case the service had to revert to the Admiralty and sailing vessels again.  Gradually the former sailing packet brigs dispersed on navy duties. <I>Pandora</I> 6-gun to SW America on survey, <I>Star</I> 10-gun, for Africa coast service (chasing slavers & Privateers, <I>Partridge</I> to be a receiving ship at Southampton, <I>Magnet,</I> ….<I>Lyra</I>, unfit for service, failed to reach reserve of £700 at Admiralty auction May 1844, <I>Delight</I> unsold, but eventually for breaking up, (having been reported as bought-in for Customs duty on the river Tee)</div> <bR> <div> FP 10/6/1843: Plymouth 8/6/43, It is expected that Commander Morell and the crew of the <I>Espoir</I> will be turned over to the <I>Alert</I></div> <bR> <div> FP 9/8/1843: <I>Star</I> intended for coast of Africa duties.  The <I>Alert</I> has been commissioned by Lt. Bosanquet, (ex <I>Leveret</I>, on African duties), she has a compliment of 80 men. (like <I>Espoir</I>-10, to the Coast of Africa)</div> <bR> <div> FP 16/9/1843: Mr. Gibson, acting Master of <I>Alert</I> is appointed for promotion.  He was recently tried by commander Robilliard, when the Court Martial determined the charges to be frivolous and vexatious.</div> <bR> <div> FP 21/3/1846: £9-0-0d Annuity to Sarah Williams (68) [see under Skylark] - was Sarah the widow of Williams who fell overboard and died on <I>Alert</I>? (see FP 10/2/1838)</div> <bR> <div> Sources:     <I>Commanders Appointed By The Admiralty</I></div> <div> <I>Postal History Intl</I>. 4/1979 - J N T Howat</div> <div> <I>Falmouth Packet & Cornish Herald</I>,(FP) Falmouth Library (microfilm)</div> <div> -----------------</div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="algerine___1834__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Algerine</B></I>  (1834) </div> <div> Type:               HM Packet</div> <div> Commanders:          Lt. W G Stovin (6/1834)</div> <div> Built:               1834</div> <bR> <div> FP 21/6/1834: Portsmouth appointments, Lt, W G Stovin to <I>Algerine</I>, for a Packet.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>