Northampton (1801 ship)

History


Name:	Northampton
Owner:	EIC Voyages 1-2:Moses Agar EIC Voyages 3-7: John Crosthwaite EIC Voyages 8-9: George Palmer
Builder:	Peter Everitt Mestaer, King and Queen Dock, Rotherhithe
Launched:	11 July 1801
Fate:	Sold for breakup in 1819 but listed through 1822
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	523, 542, 542 ⁴⁷⁄₉₄, 548, or 573 (bm)
Length:	123 ft 6 in (37.6 m) (overall) 99 ft 1 in (30.2 m) (keel)
Beam:	32 ft 1 in (9.8 m)
Depth of hold:	12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)
Propulsion:	Sail
Complement:	1801: 50 1803: 55 1807: 60 1811: 55
Armament:	1801: 14 x 12 & 9-pounder guns 1803: 14 x 12 & 9-pounder guns 1807: 16 x 12 & 24-pounder guns 1811: 16 x 12-pounder guns

Northampton, was a three-decker merchant ship launched in 1801 upon the River Thames, England. She made eight voyages to India as an extra (chartered) ship for the British East India Company (EIC) between 1801 and 1819. During the same period she made one separate trip transporting convicts from Britain to New South Wales, followed by a voyage for the EIC from China back to England. She is last listed in Lloyd's Register in 1822.

Northampton was launched gradually at the top of the tide and at the turn of the tide went into the dock to finish coppering. Many boats observed the launch, as did many visitors at a gallery that Captain Robert Barker had erected. On the evening of 29 July 1801, Barker provided a dinner for 300 guests at the London Tavern. The dinner was set out in the workshop and 180 ladies took their seats. Afterwards, the tables were removed and the evening concluded with a ball.

Captain Robert Barker received a letter of marque on 11 August 1801.Northampton was sailing during the French Revolutionary Wars and the letter authorized Barker to engage in offensive, not just defensive, action against the French and their allies should the opportunity arise.

Northampton left Portsmouth on 9 September 1801, bound for Bengal. She was part of a convoy, which reached Madeira on 23 September, and left the next day. The convoy consisted of the East Indiamen Northampton, Manship, Sarah Christiana, Comet, General Stewart, Sovereign, Caledonia, Ann, Princess Mary, Verunna, Carron, Elizabeth, Monarch, and Friendship. Their escort was the frigate HMS Seahorse.

Northampton reached Bombay on 11 February 1802. From there she sailed up to Surat, which she reached on 2 April. She returned to Bombay five days later. She arrived at Calcutta on 14 May. For her homeward bound trip she passed Saugor on 19 October and reached St Helena on 14 January 1803. She arrived at the Downs on 23 March.

...
Wikipedia