Roselle was launched in 1781 in Amsterdam, probably under another name. She entered British records in 1786. She spent much of her career as a West Indiaman, sailing between Leith and Jamaica. A Spanish warship captured her in 1798.
Career.
"Roselle" first appeared in "Lloyd's Register" ("LR") in 1786.
On 21 October 1786, an advertisement appeared in the "Edinburgh Evening Courant" announcing that "Roselle" was planning to sail to Jamaica. The Scottish poet Robert Burns had been offered a position as a bookkeeper on a slave plantation in Jamaica that he was considering accepting. "Roselle" was one of three vessels on which he booked passage, though in the end he did not accept the position. The artist Graham Fagen used the sketch in the advertisement as inspiration of his own print of "Roselle" for the National Galleries of Scotland.
War with France had broken out in early 1793. Captain Robert Liddell acquired a letter of marque on 15 November 1793.
Captain John Stables acquired a letter of marque on 11 February 1796.
On 13 June 1797, "Lloyd's List" ("LL") reported that "Roselle", Liddle, master, had arrived at Jamaica from Leith with an American brig that she had recaptured. The brig had been sailing from Martinique to Boston. The brig was "Neptune", of 138 tons burthen, of Boston, William Blanchard, master. The French privateer schooner "Trippone" had captured her on 7 April, and had put a prize crew aboard. "Neptune" delivered Blanchard and his crew to St Thomas. She then proceeded on her way to Curacao, on which journey "Roselle" recaptured her. The Vice admiralty court at St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica, awarded "Roselle", John Staples, master, one-sixth of the value of the brig, plus costs and expenses to the captors.
Fate.
On 8 January 1798, a Spanish warship of 64-guns, captured "Roselle" and took her into Havana. "Roselle" had been on her way from Jamaica to Norfolk. The Spanish warship was "Juno", of twenty-six 12-pounder guns, eight 6-pounder guns, and four "pedreros" of 3-pounds. She had a crew of 294 men. Lieutenant of frigates Vicente Lago sailed her to Havana, on the way outsailing two large British vessels that tried to recapture "Roselle". "Roselle" and another British vessel, "Henry", also taken in prize, were worth 100,000 pesos.
The Spanish took "Roselle" into service under the command of Vicente Lago. Later, while captain of the schooner "Aragonesa", he beat another English schooner of much superior force on the coast of Cartagena de Indias.
"Roselle" was last listed in "LR" in 1798. In 1798 Sibbald &amp; Co., acquired a second .
Citations.
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