Antelope, 1846
Type: Sloop, iron hulled ; Armament 1 x 68 pdr; 3 x 32 pdr later reduced to 3by 1860
Launched : 25 Jul 1846 ; Disposal date or year : 20 Sep 1883
BM: 650 tons ; Displacement: 1015 tons
Propulsion: Paddle
Machinery notes: 260 hp
Notes:

Jan, 1846, Antelope, 4, iron steamer, Sir W. Symonds, half built, at Blackwall.

Summer 1848 Piraeus.

20 Dec 1848 Mediterranean

10 Oct 1853 arrived on the West Coast of Africa Station.

22 Oct 1853 erroneously boarded, for inspection, the French schooner Sylphide, being in ignorance of the Treaty of 1845, a copy not being supplied to the Sloop by the Admiralty when sailing for the West Coast of Africa, nor was the Commanding Officer briefed accordingly when he arrived on the station. On this being explained by the Flag Officer on station the French were willing to accept it as a genuine error and didn't intend to make too much of a song and dance over the issue.

4 Jun 1854 off Whydah, the Arab has departed for Ascension, en route to Cuba, which leaves 2 anti-slavery vessels to watch 1,000 miles of coastline, and a number of islands, including Fernando Po, and Prince's, etc., the Antelope and the Crane, although for the next month the former is reported to be replacing the contract mail steamer Faith, which has broken down.

19 Jan 1855 Old Calabar, having received requests from the Acting Consul, Supercargoes and Missionaries etc. following the recent murders and breach of the Treaty of 15 Feb 1851, and following adequate notice to put an end to the crimes it has been concluded that the destruction of the town will be the only solution.

24 Jan 1855 it is reported from Fernando Po that having driven the armed inhabitants out of the Old Town, which took some 45 minutes of firing shot and shell a party was landed which set fire to all parts of the town and returned to the ship without any casualties.

14 Jan 1857 departed England for the West Coast of Africa for anti-slavery duties.

29 Jun 1857 detained in Lat. 6� 15' N. Long. 2� 0' E., whilst at anchor between Whydah and Great Popoe, the slave schooner Jupiter, J. Gilbert, master - see below for details. 22 Apr 1859 announced that the tonnage bounty and proceeds will be distributed shortly.

3 Sep 1857 in the evening, detained in Lat. 6� 5' N. Long. 1� 20' E., the slave schooner Joseph H. Record, H. P. Williams, master, with 191 slaves on board, and was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, and on 22 Oct 1857 was sentenced to be forfeited - see below for more detail. 4 Jul 1859 proceeds and tonnage bounty due to be paid.

31 Dec 1857 - 1 Jan 1858 some difficulty experienced when attempting to board the Spanish merchant brig Don Juan, which refused to show her colours, and prevented a boarding party from visiting the vessel off Great Popoe, and it wasn't until the following day, at Whydah, that a boarding officer was allowed on board. All of which blew up into a minor diplomatic incident through the apparent bloody mindedness of the master....and looking at the date one wonders if maybe some New Year celebrations may not have been involved ?

3 Aug 1858 proceeded up the Congo and anchored at Punta da Lenha in company with the Portuguese schooner of war Cabo Verde, and also gathered a great deal of intelligence regarding the slave trade in the river.

8 Aug 1858 observed a barque enter the Congo, by the 9th she was at anchor off Moanda, but no colours hoisted, so one of the ship's boats was sent over to enquire what vessel, and noted on the boat arriving she showed her U.S. colours, and the ship's name Venus was flown from the main. This being made clear the ship's boat was re-called to the ship. It was then discovered that the Venus was included in a list of vessels which was noted as being at Havana and was preparing for a slave trading mission to the Congo, but her papers were suspected of not being genuine. Assistant Paymaster Pengelley and Mate Dennistoun then visited the vessel with regards to this matter as directed in Section 5 of the Instructions for the Suppression of the Slave Trade, following which her cargo was examined and found to be the usual equipment carried by vessels expecting to carry slaves. But in the absence of a U.S. vessel to confirm the findings was unable to detain the vessel, since she continued to disgrace the American flag.

12 Aug 1858 off Moanda.

13 Aug 1858 in the River Congo.

24 Aug 1858 still up the Congo when responding to a letter regarding the boarding of the Don Juan on 31 Dec 1857 - 1 Jan 1858.

20 Dec 1858 arrived from the Bights and was sent to cruise off the Gallinas and was later reported to be anchored off Sherbro, protecting Mr. Hanson, H.M. Consular Agent from an attack by natives.

Year ending 31 Dec 1858 suffered 140 cases of sickness during the year ; in addition, 1 officer, Mr. Pearce, Second Master, died and 2 officers were invalided back to England.

8 Feb 1859 sighted by the RMS Ethiope in lat. 5� 57' N. long. 3� 41' E. Circa 23 Mar 1859 reported to be in Simon's Bay by the mail steamer Celt.

15 Jun 1859 chased a strange sail off Loango and 10 miles north of Killongo, with no colours or papers, and fully equipped to take on board 800 slaves. The slave barque, name unknown, of 250 tons was therefore detained and sent to Sierra Leone for adjudication, and is supposed to be the Amanda and Maria, formerly the Antelope, Antonio Huerta, master, the property of Ximenes Martinez and Lafitte, which was sentenced to be condemned on 14 Jul 1859. 8 Sep 1860 the proceeds arising from this capture will shortly be due for payment.

20 Jun 1859 off Loango.

28 Aug 1859 departed Sierra Leone for England. Commander John W. Pike in command.

17 Sep 1859 departed Teneriffe.

27 Sep 1859 evening, arrived Plymouth Sound and reports that the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Mr. Smyth had died at Sierra Leone on 22 Aug.

1 Oct 1859 arrived Woolwich for repairs, having reportedly been sent home by the Admiralty, one of her plates requiring replacement.

3 Oct 1859 taken into the basin to be paid off on 12 Oct.

12 Oct 1859 paid off. During the year, to date, the ship's company are reported to have suffered 100 cases of sickness, in addition, 2 ratings died and 1 officer and 1 rating were invalided back to England.

19 Dec 1859 moved from the basin into the River.

10 Apr 1860 Woolwich, undocked.

31 Aug 1861 departed England for the West Coast of Africa.

Year ending 31 Dec 1861 suffered 60 cases of sickness during the part year.

3 Jun 1862 detained off Cabenda a slave brigantine, Name Unknown, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and sentenced to be condemned.

4 Aug 1862 detained in Cabenda Bay a slave cutter, Name Unknown, which was destroyed as being unseaworthy and was subsequently condemned.

25 Nov 1862 detained off Cabenda a slave brigantine Name Unknown, supposed Lola Montez, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and condemned.

Year ending 31 Dec 1862 suffered 149 cases of sickness during the year, in addition, 1 officer and 2 ratings died and 1 officer and 5 ratings were invalided back to England.

29 Jan 1863 detained off Cabenda the Portuguese slave brigantine Venus, which was sent for adjudication to Commission Court at Mixed Commission Court at St. Paul's de Loanda, and was sentenced to be restored to her master.

Year ending 31 Dec 1863 suffered 94 cases of sickness during the year, in addition, 3 officers and 4 ratings were invalided back to England.

1864 West Coast of Africa station. Overview and medical report of fever onboard : number of Cases of Disease and Injury.

Year ending 31 Dec 1864 suffered 158 cases of sickness during the year, in addition, 1 officer and 2 ratings were invalided back to England.

12 Jun 1865 returned to England from the West Coast of Africa.

Year ending 31 Dec 1864 suffered 247 cases of sickness during the year, in addition, 1 officer died and 2 ratings were invalided back to England.

9 Aug 1866 departed England for the West Coast of Africa for anti-slavery duties.

Year ending 31 Dec 1866 suffered 142 cases of sickness during the year, in addition, 1 ratings died and 2 officers and 2 ratings were invalided back to England.

23 Feb 1867 the second whaler, sent ashore to buy provisions, capsized off Mangue Grande, and was subsequently robbed by the natives and the officers and ratings only got away with great difficulty, Sub Lt. Elves being wounded.

24 Feb 1867 the two armed paddle box boats and cutter were sent towards the shore with a view firing into the villages which appeared to be the source of the trouble on the previous day, 2 whalers accompanying the expedition with small arms men. The boat guns were fired for about 2 hours before landing from 1030-1230, by which time most of the natives had retreated a mile or two inland and the small arms men were landed and burnt the several villages surrounding the bay and returned on board before dark. The following formed one of the boat's crews : Thos. Lyons, Gunner's Mate ; Wm. Hall, A.B. ; A. Dalgleish, Stoker ; Chas. Webb, Boy, 1st Class ; Ed. Dollimore, Boy, 1st Class ; Wm. Ruffin, Stoker ; Francis Houghton, Boy, 1st Class ; John Mullins, Private, R.M. ; John Conway, Krooman ; Tom Walker, Krooman.

25 Feb 1867 3 p.m. the ship's boats were sent ashore again to destroy any buildings that remained standing, and whilst there it was noted that the Portuguese had removed everything from their factory, pulled down most of the buildings, filled in the well and moved away. The boats returned on board at about 8 p.m.

26 Feb 1867 looked for other villages along the coast, but all were deserted the natives having departed into the bush.

27 Feb 1867 0800 landed a party of men at Margate Head and spoke to some Portuguese at their factory. Moved down the coast in search of an English factory owned by a Mr. Adams. The boats returned on board at 2145.

28 Feb 1867 at Cabeca de Cobra.

Year ending 31 Dec 1867 suffered 108 cases of sickness during the year, in addition, 1 officer died and 5 officers and 1 rating were invalided back to England.

17 Mar 1868 Coast of West Africa. To be transferred to the Mediterranean Station. Commanding Officer Lieut. James Buchanan.

25 Mar 1868 West Coast of Africa, Southern Division, reported to be cruising,

27 Jun 1868 arrived at Gibraltar, 57 days from the River Congo, 41 from Ascension, 30 from Sierra Leone, 18 from Bathurst, and 5 from Teneriffe.

Gibraltar 3 Jul 1868 departed for the Eastward

14 Jul 1868 arrived Valetta.

11 Aug 1868 departed with despatches and mail, for the CinC and fleet, then at Corfu.

25 Aug 1868 Returned Malta from Corfu.

Malta 1 Sep 1868 departed for Corfu and coast of Dalmatia with mail for CinC and fleet.

1870 Mediterranean

27 Jan 1871 at Malta.

9 Feb 1871, Malta, is expected to go out of harbour to test her machinery following a refit, during which some additions were made.

8 Mar 1871 returns from Malta to Constantinople.

2 Apr 1871, for census, at Constantinople.

17 Mar 1877 Recommissioned at Malta

1879 Mediterranean

Antelope, at Sea, July 2, 1857.
Sir, I have the honour to report the circumstances under which I took possession of the schooner "Jupiter" on the evening of the 29th June. On the evening of the 13th June, being at anchor off Whydah, in company with Her Majesty's ship Firefly, a very suspicious schooner was observed to come to an anchor off Praya Nova, about five miles to the westward of Whydah.
The following day she weighed, and ran through the anchorage at Whydah with American colours hoisted, carefully reconnoitring every vessel at anchor, then worked to windward, and again anchored off Prays Nova. At 4 A.M. of the 15th, I weighed under steam to close the schooner, which I found under weigh. On hailing her she shortened sail and hove to, with American colours hoisted, and Mr. Pearse (second master) went on board her.
He reported her to be a vessel under American colours and papers, and the latter being apparently correct, he lost no time in quitting her; and though he reported her a very suspicious vessel, I did not feel justified in detaining her further.
On 29th June, while steaming from Lagos to Aghwey, endeavouring, in pursuance of order from Commander Burgess, to gain further information about the schooner, she was observed again at anchor off Praya Nova. By boarding the vessels at Whydah, information was obtained that all trade had been stopped there for some days, that canoes had been removed to the westward, and a shipment of slaves was evidently intended. This determined me to visit the schooner a second time. On anchoring alongside the schooner at Praya Nova, Mr. Dennistoun (mate) went on board, accompanied by Mr. Pearse (second master), with orders from me, a copy of which I have the honour to inclose, as well as a copy of their report.
On receiving the report of the visiting officer, I went on board the vessel myself, and told the master that, in consequence of the report I had received, I should order the vessel and cargo to be searched. On opening the hatches, the vessel was found fully equipped for the Slave Trade, and with 70 slaves shipped that morning on board. I demanded of the master what papers he had; he replied that he had none, and did not claim the flag of any nation or State. I desired him to state that in writing, which he did. As he refused to answer any further inquiries, I took possession of the vessel, and sent her to Sierra Leone for adjudication.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. W. Pike.

Antelope, Little Popoe, September 5, 1857. I have the honour to report that I obtained information on the 26th of August that canoes had been moved from Porta Segura to Porourah, a place about twenty miles to the eastward of Cape St. Paul, and that a vessel was cruizing in the offing, intending to embark slaves at that place. On examining the place above named, I observed canoes covered with bushes, and quite sufficient to make me believe the information to be correct.
At 4 p.m. of the 5th instant, being in the offing, about thirty-five miles south-east of Porourah, I observed a schooner standing out from the land on the starboard tack. She tacked on observing us, and steam was at once got up in chase. Upon coming up with her, I found her the American schooner Joseph H. Record, of Newport; Rhode Island, with 191 slaves on board, embarked that morning at Porourah.
No colours or papers were found on board; I therefore at once sent her to was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, where the vessel was sentenced to be forfeited on 24 Jul 1857.
Her crew consisted of five Americans and eighteen Spaniards, but I have been unable to obtain any information from any one of them.
I have, &c. (Signed) J. W. Pike.