Amelia, 1796
Type: 5th rate ; Armament 38
Taken from the French : 1796 (see below)
Disposal date or year : 1816
B.M. 1059 tons
Notes:

13 Jun 1796 Cape Clear bearing west by north distant 12 leagues, the capture of the French frigate Proserpine by the frigate Dryad, Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk, following a relatively brief chase. The Proserpine was taken into the RN as the Amelia the name Proserpine being in use.

18 Sep 1798 Joined the Ethalion and Sylph watching the French Squadron from Brest, sailing for Ireland with troops.

7 Oct 1798 lost contact in bad weather with her consorts and the French squadron. Rejoined her consorts on the 11th, and later that day joined up with a squadron under Commodore Sir John Borlase Warren.

11-12 Oct 1798 signal for a general chase made by the Commodore. Commodore Warren's action with French squadron, and capture of the Hoche, 74, and frigates: Embuscade, Coquille, Bellone. And taking of the R�solue by the Melampus. See also p. 71-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1928-1.pdf.

1 Jan 1799 refitting at Plymouth.

1 Feb 1799 in the gale of last night in Hamoaze, the Formidable, 98, broke from her moorings, ran foul of the Amelia, and tailed on the west mud ; but the tide flowing she was got off without any other damage except carrying away her bumpkin.

4 Feb 1799 Plymouth, departed on a cruise.

12 Mar 1799 Plymouth, went into the Sound.

6 Apr 1799 departed from Cawsand Bay to join the Channel fleet.

9 Apr 1799 frigates San Fiorenzo and Amelia in an inconclusive action with the French frigates Corn�lie, Vengeance, and S�millante.

7 May 1799 in Hamoaze.

20 May 1799 Plymouth, departed the San Fiorenzo, Amelia, Fishguard, on a cruize to the westward.

29 May 1799 Plymouth, went down into the Sound.

19 Jun 1799 in the Sound.

21 Jun 1799 Plymouth, departed Saturn, Amelia, Magnanime, and the sloops of war Telegraph and Spy with a lugger and a cutter, on a cruise off Brest.

30 Jun 1799 Plymouth, John brig, Day, master, was brought in yesterday under very suspicious circumstances. She was bound and cleared out from Limerick to London, with provisions, and was fallen in with by the Amelia, in the rear of a French convoy steering for Brest. The Amelia succeeded in cutting her off, supposing her to be a French vessel, and has the master in custody on board. The master says he mistook the coast of France for the coast of Wales ! During the late war the American and French privateers were victualled in the above way ; and the present Earl St. Vincent, then captain of the Foudroyant 84 guns, fell in on the coast of France with several vessels of the above description, and always made a point to put some trusty person on board them, and convoy them to the destined ports for which they were cleared out.

3 Jul 1799 Plymouth, sent in the Thuriston Wortze, from Havre to Mogadore, with sundries.

18 Jul 1799 Plymouth, arrived having sprung her fore-top-mast in a gale of wind.

22 Jul 1799 Plymouth, came in from a cruise.

8 Sep 1799 Plymouth, arrived the Black Joke lugger, Lt. Nicholson, from Lord Bridport's fleet, which she left all well off Brest on the 6th. The Boadicea and Amelia frigates fell in with a convoy of 18 sail from Rochfort, for Brest, near the Passage du Raz, all of which they burnt and destroyed, except a brig of 6 guns, which was brought off. A French squadron stood out to protect them, but on the approach of Rear Admiral Sir J. B. Warren and his squadron, they retired into Brest. Sir J. B. Warren was on the look-out for the 5 sail of Spanish men of war which convoyed the above store-ships, but the Spaniards were to windward when the Black Joke left the fleet.

9 Sep 1799 Plymouth, arrived the Amelia, 48, with a French armed brig, with naval stores, one of the French fleet, presumably the one mentioned on 8 Sep.

16 Oct 1799 Plymouth, arrived from a cruise. She spoke last night with the Sylph, 18, said to have been captured by the Ferol squadron, all well.

26 Dec 1799 Plymouth, hard frost, went into the Sound, the Revolutionaire, 44, and Amelia, 44,.

27 Mar 1800 Plymouth, arrived from a cruise, the Amelia, 44, the Honourable Captain Herbert.

24 Apr 1800 Torbay, departed with the Channel Fleet.

15 May 1800 Plymouth, arrived from the coast of France.

2 Jun 1800 Plymouth, departed the Neptune, 98, Amelia 44, Amethyst, 36, Shannon 32, and Bourdelais, on a cruise.

3 Jun 1800 joined the Impetueux, at Quiberon bay and the Morbihan to aid the royalists.

29-30 Aug 1800 ship's boats of the London, Renown, Imp�tueux, Courageux, Amethyst, Stag, Amelia, Brilliant, and Cynthia capture the French ship-privateer Gu�pe. See also p. 238, of Vol 4 of Naval Chronicle (N.C.).

29 Nov 1800 Plymouth, arrived from off the coast of France having sprung her fore and main masts in the gale on the 9th inst.

19 Dec 1800 Plymouth, departed with the Uranie, 44, on a cruise.

17 Jan 1801 recaptured the Hawke, of Poole, laden with fish, from Newfoundland, originally taken by French privateer Heureux of 16 guns.

19 Jan 1801 sent into Plymouth Hawke, of Poole.

5 Feb 1801 captured the French brig privateer La Juste, of St. Maloes, but last from L'Orient, armed with 14 guns and 78 men, commanded by Jean Pierre Charlet, had been out 30 days, and captured nothing ; the night being very dark, and the weather being very thick, we did not see her till she was close to us, and she did not discover us till she was on board of us, by which she carried away her fore-mast and bowsprit. N.C.

10 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound La Juste, a most beautiful French privateer, of St. Maloes, of sixteen guns, and 120 men. In a fog chase in with the coast of France, she fell in with and ran foul of the Amelia, of 44 guns, Hon. Captain Herbert, and carried away her fore-top-mast and bowsprit, and struck directly. She is supposed to be the fastest sailer out of France.

21 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound from a cruise.

8 Mar 1801 departed Plymouth Sound on a cruise.

18 Mar 1801 is reported to have chased the French frigate Guerrier, bound from L'Orient to Rochefort, but by superior sailing she escaped into Rochefort.

6 Apr 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound the same day as the Amelia, the Danish ship Samuel, Swenson, master, in ballast from Nantes, and the galliot Jonge Conrad, of Pappenburgh, Johannes, master, from Bordeaux to Dublin, detained by the Amelia and the Doris.

4 May 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound a French chasse mar�e, laden with brandy and wine, taken by the Amelia.

10 May 1801 having just anchored close to the mouth of the Loire, perceived a man of war brig standing in, who, upon making us out, tacked with all sail from us ; as night was just setting in, and no time could be lost if she was to be taken, I slipped and made sail after her, and, after a chase of about four hours, captured her. She proved to be the Heureux privateer brig, of St. Maloes, of 14 guns and 78 men, out from that port forty-one days, and had taken nothing ; the want of copper at St. Maloes, when she was fitting out, probably put her into our hands so soon.

16 May 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound this morning L'Heureux French privateer, of 14 guns and 80 men, prize to the Amelia, captured off the Loire in trying to beat up for that river. She had been out six weeks, and had not taken anything.

3 Jun 1801 came into Plymouth Sound this morning a French chasse mar�e laden with wine and brandy &c., captured in the Bay by the Amelia.

11 Jun 1801 came into Plymouth Sound from a long cruise off the coast of France.

23 Jun 1801 departed Plymouth Sound with bullocks for the fleet and H. Mcllraith, Esq. Secretary to the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis, arrived Plymouth with dispatches for the Channel Fleet, who departed in the Amelia.

4 Aug 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound a Spanish schooner Carolina, Nichola de Stano, 6 guns, and 50 men, from the Havannah, with sugar, coffee, hides, &c. prize to the Amelia, for Corunna, taken on the 26th ult, and another schooner, name unknown.

5 Aug 1801 arrived Plymouth the brig Jenny, J. McCartney, master, laden with provisions for Lisbon, captured some time since by a French privateer, retaken by the Amelia.

14 Sep 1801 by letters received at Plymouth from off Rochefort, dated 26 Aug., it appears, that the Amelia, 44, Hon. Capt. Herbert, stood in to reconnoitre the enemy : La Medusa, of 50 guns, a 44, and an armed schooner, came out to oppose them, when a smart action ensued, and though the Ambuscade, of 32 guns, (ci-devant British), was standing out of Rochefort Roads to assist them, after an hour's cannonading the whole squadron retired under the batteries, and Captain H. lay too with his colours flying to wait for them, but they declined, and Captain H. made sail. The shores and hills were lined with spectators to see the action.

27 Sep 1801 arrived in Plymouth Sound the French brig, La Cheodore, with sardines, captured the 10th inst. in the Bay, by the Amelia ; she was one of a fleet of coasters, four others of which were captured by the Amelia, and two brigs in ballast : one of which is arrived.

3 Oct 1801 arrived Plymouth 2 French merchant brigs in ballast detained on the 19th ult., in the Bay, by the Amelia.

13 Oct 1801 came into Plymouth Sound from a long cruise, the Amelia.

19 Oct 1801 Mr. Whitford, Coroner for Devon, took an inquest on the body of a seaman of the Amelia, who was desperately wounded by an accident of a loaded musket going off, while the armourer was cleaning it ; two more were wounded but recovered, one other seaman, was killed on the spot, and was buried at sea. Verdict on the above seaman, who died at the Royal Hospital, Accidental death.

7 Nov 1801 departed Plymouth for Torbay.

19 Nov 1801 remained in Torbay the Ville de Paris, Royal Sovereign, Prince of Wales, Neptune, Prince, Royal George, San Joseph, London, Magnificent, Bellerophon, Hercule, Donegal, Robust, Edgar, Belleisle, Courageux, Fisgard, Amelia, Indefatigable, Childers, Atlanta, Nimrod. The Nile cutter departing for Plymouth to be paid off.

18 Dec 1801 came into Plymouth Sound, from Torbay.

6 Jan 1802 at Plymouth, the Amelia, 44, Hon. Captain Herbert, is ordered to be victualled for four months, supposed for the West Indies.

26 Jan 1802 at Plymouth leave for the Immortalite, Fisgard, Amelia, Amethyst, Cambrian, Imogene has been stopped and their women sent ashore, while the ships are victualled, watered and stored for 3 months in preparation for a major effort, it is said, for the frigates to reduce the amount of smuggling on the coast, which, since the peace has increased considerably, and the vessels are to cruise off the Start Point, the Praule, Ram Head, the Deadman's Point, the Lizard, and off Mount's Bay. Lighters are now alongside discharging their provisions, beer and water.

27 Jan 1802 departed Plymouth, the Amelia, Hon Capt Herbert, to cruise against the smugglers. It is reported that the smugglers have taken to using larger vessels, lately used as privateers until the peace, which are larger and better armed than the revenue cruisers, a large lugger having recently fired into 2 revenue cruisers, and hence the use of frigates and sloops, waiting to be paid off, to deal with the problem that has now arisen.

13 Feb 1802 departed Plymouth Sound the Oiseau, 44, and Amelia, 44, on a cruise against smugglers.

23 Feb 1802 arrived Plymouth from a cruise to the westward.

2 Mar 1802 last night a most terrible affray happened on the Pier Head, Barbican ; some words had passed between the boat's crew of the Amelia, 44, and several Portuguese sailors ; the Amelia's men being a little on, could not bear being thwarted, and a violent scuffle ensued, which came to a regular battle, and it soon became general ; during the conflict one of the Portuguese sailors drew a long knife, and stabbed one of the Amelia's men deeply in the groin, he bled profusely, but by the exertions of the surgeon, who attended, it was stopped. The Portuguese made off in the hurry and scuffle, but this morning, were, by the vigilance of the Police Officers, taken into custody, to answer to so dastardly an attack on British seamen.

21 Mar 1802 Capt Herbert, of the Amelia, lying in the Sound, retired though ill-health.

26 Apr 1802 arrived Spithead the Amelia, 44, Captain Lord Proby, from Plymouth.

28 Apr 1802 departed Spithead, for Plymouth.

6 May 1802 departed Plymouth for Cork, Waterford. and Dublin, with 150 discharged seamen.

28 May 1802 arrived Plymouth Sound from the coast of Ireland, where she had been with discharged seamen.

11 Jun 1802 is ordered to embark victuals for two months and to cruise with other vessels between Berry Head to Mount's Bay to deal with the smugglers said to be infesting that area.

23 Jul 1802 the frigates Fortun�e, Oiseau, Glenmore, Galatea, and Amelia, departed Plymouth for Jersey and Guernsey, to take Dutch troops away.

24 Jul 1802 departed Plymouth Sound on a cruise.

24 Aug 1802 departed the Downs for the Texel, the Glenmore, Amelia, Oiseau, and Galatea frigates ; Sophie, and Racoon, sloops, with the Prince of Orange's troops on board.

1 Sep 1802 passed by the Downs at the back of the Goodwin Sands this morning : the Glenmore, Amelia, Galatea, and Oiseau, frigates ; and the sloops Sophie and Racoon, bound from the Texel to the westward.

3 Sep 1802 came into Plymouth Sound from the Helder Point, where they had been with returned Dutch Emigrant troops, disbanded from our service, the Galatea, 36, Amelia, 44, L'Oiseau, 36, Glenmore, 36.

5 Sep 1802 remains in Plymouth Sound, the Glenmore, 36, Oiseau, 36, Amelia, 44, Galatea, 36, Southampton, 32, Circe, 24, Petterell, 18, and a gun brig.

9 Oct 1802 departed Plymouth for the Channel Isles.

9 Oct 1802 arrived in the Downs from the Westward and remains. A strong NW gale was blowing, which might explain how the Amelia covered the distance from Plymouth to the Downs so quickly. This wind was also preventing vessels in the French channel ports leaving harbour.

10 Oct 1802 departed the Downs for Sheerness.

14 Oct 1802 passed through the Nore (Sheerness), to the River.

15 Mar 1803 arrived in the Nore from the River Thames, Lord Proby in command.

28 Mar 1803 arrived Spithead from the Downs.

1 Apr 1803 has departed Spithead with troops from the 83rd Regt for Jersey.

8 Apr 1803 arrived Spithead from Jersey.

20 Apr 1803 remains in the Downs : the Romney, Amelia, Pique, frigates ; Jalouse, sloop ; Snipe, Locust, Censor, and Archer, gun brigs ; Milbrook, schooner ; and several revenue cutters.

15 Apr 1803 departed Spithead for the Eastward.

27 Apr 1803 remain in the Downs : the Amelia, Caroline, and Minerva, frigates ; and sloop Jalouse.

8 Jun 1803 the revenue cutter Swallow, just arrived in the Downs from the squadron off Goree, where she left the Gelykheid, Amelia, Raisonable, Penelope, and Locust.

29 Jun 1803 arrived N Yarmouth Roads from a cruise.

30 Jun 1803 departed N Yarmouth for Scotland.

21 Jul 1803 arrived in the Downs from a cruise the Amelia, Capt Rt Hon Lord Proby, and remained a short while, before departing for Dover Roads.

29 Jul 1803 arrived in the Downs.

1 Aug 1803 departed the Downs on a cruise.

11 Aug 1803 arrived Spithead the French privateer Alert, prize to the Amelia.

16 Aug 1803 arrived Spithead from a cruise.

18 Aug 1803 departed Spithead on a cruise.

22 Aug 1803 arrived in the Downs from a cruise.

3 Oct 1803 arrived in the Downs from Sheerness.

5 Oct 1803 departed the Downs on a cruise of the French Coast.

30 Nov 1803 yesterday the hired cutter Lord Nelson arrived Dover having experienced very bad weather and lost her boat, in which were the Lieutenant and 5 men, in endeavouring to cut off a ship bound into Flushing ; a similar problem arose for the Amelia, having also sent a boat and 13 men on the same service, but an American brig arriving Dover from Flushing with passengers reported that she had saved the men out of their boats and had transferred them to the Antelope, but that the boats had been lost.

16 Dec 1803 arrived N Yarmouth from off the Dutch Coast.

30 Apr 1804 arrived Spithead from the Downs.

7 May 1804 departed Spithead with a convoy for the West Indies, the Amelia, Capt Lord Proby.

Circa 15 Sep 1804 letters received from Barbadoes report the arrival of the Amelia, Lord Proby ; Beaulieu, Capt Ekins ; Bacchante, Capt Dashwood ; King Fisher, Capt Cribb ; Diana, Capt Maling ; Fly, Capt Pellew, from England with convoys.

Circa 29 Dec 1804 Capt Woolcombe apptd to the the Amelia, Capt Rt Hon Lord Proby deceased.

May 1805 Leeward Island Station.

24 Feb 1809 Amelia and Dotterel in chase of a French frigate squadron, who on sighting Rear-admiral Stopford's squadron steered for the Sable d'Olonne where they came to anchor. Following a heavy bombardment the French ships were driven on shore and were subsequently wrecked.

1 Apr 1809 with Admiral Lord Gambier at the blockade of Basque Roads : directed to dislodge the French who were endeavouring to strengthen their position in Aix road ; a day or two afterwards Amelia was detached to another part of the French coast.

17-18 May 1809 Goldfinch chased and engaged the French corvette Mouche, which broke-off the engagement : 21st Mouche engaged the British hired armed lugger Black-Joke and then stood away for the harbour of San-Andero. 10 Jun., Mouche, with a French gun-brig and schooner were captured by the British 38-gun frigates Amelia and Statira.

8 Nov 1810 captured the French privateer Charles at sea.

circa 15 Jan 1811 departed Lisbon for England with a convoy.

5 Feb 1811 arrived Falmouth with a convoy of transports from Lisbon.

5 Mar 1811 departed Spithead for off Cherbourg.

6 Mar 1811 put back to Spithead, the wind having changed.

24 Mar 1811 Berwick, Amelia, Niobe, Goshawk and Hawk, off Barfleur lighthouse, involved in the destruction of the French 40-gun frigate Amazone.

11 Apr 1811 departed Lymington for Quebec with a convoy.

27 Jul 1811 arrived Deal from Quebec.

31 Jul 1811 departed Deal with a convoy for Spithead.

18 Aug 1811 departed Deal with a convoy for Spithead.

29 Sep 1811 departed Plymouth Sound for Spithead

30 Sep 1811 arrived Spithead from Plymouth

15 Oct 1811 departed Spithead for the coast of Africa, to form a new squadron on the West Coast of Africa, with the Ganymede, Capt. Robert Preston (but doesn't appear to have ever left UK waters) ; 2 sloops, the Trinculo, 18, Capt. Alex Renny, and the Kangaroo, Capt. John Lloyd.

Edwards, Bernard (2008-03-24). Royal Navy Versus the Slave Traders : Enforcing Abolition at Sea 1808-1898 (Kindle Locations 885-886). Pen and Sword. Kindle Edition. .

29 Jan 1813 was joined by a part of the crew of the late gun-brig Daring at Freetown, Sierra-Leone, with news that French frigates were in the area.

3 Feb 1813 having gathered some intelligence regards the French frigates departed for the Isles de Los and sighted them at anchor off the north end of Tamara on the 5th.

7-8 Feb 1813 discovered the French frigate Ar�thuse, then becalmed, and eventually manoeuvred to engage. The subsequent bloody engagement resulted in a draw, both vessels having fought to a stand-still, the Amelia suffering 51 killed and died of their wounds, and 90 wounded..

22 Mar 1813 arrived at Spithead.

17 May 1815 arrived Spithead from a cruise

21 May 1815 arrived Spithead from the Downs.

30 May 1815 has received orders at Spithead to prepare to depart for the Mediterranean.