UK merchant and slave ship (1802-1806)
Laurel's origins are ambiguous. She first appeared in online British sources in 1802. She made three voyages from Liverpool to Africa. On the first she apparently was on a trading voyage. The second was a complete voyage as a slave ship in the triangular trade in enslaved people. During this voyage she was involved in two sanguinary engagements with French vessels, the second of which resulted in the death of her master. She set out in 1805 on a second voyage to transport enslaved people, but a French squadron captured her before she had embarked any captives.
Career.
"Laurel" first appeared in "Lloyd's Register" ("LR") and the "Register of Shipping" ("RS") in 1802. Both agree on her burthen, master, and trade. They disagree on ownership and origins.
"Lloyd's Register" gave "Laurel"'s origins as Dutch, launched in 1786. The "Register of Shipping" described her as having been built in India, of teak, and having been launched in 1797. In later years it amended her listing to show her as a Dutch prize.
Captain Gould sailed to Africa. "Lloyd's List" reported in March 1803 that "Laurel", Gould, master, had arrived in Africa from Liverpool. She returned to Liverpool from Africa on 10 August 1803. Her rapid and direct return suggests that this voyage did not involve enslaved people.
Captain Thomas Phillips acquired a letter of marque on 5 January 1804. He sailed from Liverpool on 13 February, in company with and . In 1804, 147 vessels sailed from English ports bound for Africa to acquire and transport enslaved people; 126 of these vessels sailed from Liverpool.
"Laurel", "Kitty's Amelia", and "Urania" were out only three days when they encountered a French warship. They were able to escape though "Laurel" had one man killed and two wounded, and "Urania" had two men wounded. She acquired captives at Angola, as did "Urania", and they then sailed in company for Demerara.
"Lloyd's List" reported in January 1805 that "Laurel", Phillips, master, and "Urania", Melling, master, had encountered a French vessel while they were off Surinam. Phillips and his chief mate were killed and "Urania" had suffered so much damage it was feared that she would be condemned.
"Laurel" arrived at Demerara on 21 November 1804 with 206 captives. Captain Phillips died on 30 November. Captain Henry Corren replaced Phillips. "Laurel" sailed from Demerara on 26 January 1805 and arrived back at Liverpool on 13 April. She had left Liverpool with 30 crew members and had suffered five crew deaths on her voyage.
Captain Robert Hume acquired a letter of marque on 8 October 1805. He sailed for Africa on 22 October.
Fate.
"Lloyd's List" reported in April 1806 that a French squadron consisting of an 84-gun ship-of-the-line and three frigates had captured , , and the sloop-of-war off the coast of Africa.
"Lloyd's List" reported that prior to 26 January L'Hermite's squadron of the French Navy captured off the coast of Africa , Darnault, master, "Laurel", Hume, master, , Brown, master, , Brassey, master, "Wells", Hughes, master, and , of London, Wiley, master. The French put all the captured crews on "Active" and sent her back to England. The squadron burnt the other vessels that they had captured. The captains arrived at Waterford on 12 May.
The same squadron also captured , , "Mary", Adams, master, and "Nelson", Meath, master.
In 1806, 33 British vessels in the triangular trade were lost; 23 of these loses occurred off the coast of Africa. During the period 1793 to 1807, war, rather than maritime hazards or resistance by the captives, was the greatest cause of vessel losses among British enslaving vessels.
Citations.
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