Buzzard, 1834
Type: Planned as sloop, brigantine as built ; Armament 10, reduced to 3
Launched at Portsmouth : 1834 ; Disposal date or year : 1843
BM: 233 tons
Complement :37 officers and men ; 10 boys ; 8 marines
Notes:

27 Nov 1837 a 10 gun brig altered to Brigantine with a reduced armament, and what weight of bulwarks, top-sides, and top-hamper, is taken off by such alteration is estimated at 6� tons. N. Symonds.

1830 Portsmouth building

10 Nov 1832 the Buzzard, Termagant, and Lynx are to be cut down to the same degree as the Brisk and Charybdis, for service on the Coast of Africa, amongst other things it would appear that this reduces the cost of operating the vessel by reducing the complement needed to man the vessel.

12 Jul 1834 preparing for service on the West Coast of Africa at Portsmouth.

30 Aug 1834 departs Spithead for the Gambia, with despatches.

4 Sep 1834 departed for the coast of Africa.

17 Dec 1834 herewith what appears to be the same event from 3 different sources: detained in lat. 4� 21' 0" N. long. 8� 30' 0" E., the slave brig Formidable, 300 tons and 8 guns, with 712 slaves on board, off the Old Calabar River, following a severe action in which the Buzzard was much cut up and had 6 men wounded, 2 severely, whilst the Formidable suffered 4 men killed and 11 wounded, the latter including their captain, which case was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 6 Feb 1835 sentenced to be condemned.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1835 the Brig Buzzard, 10 guns, Complement: 50, was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 2 deaths....see next item.

Early 1835 captured, after a forty-five minutes' action, a large Spanish slave brig, the Formidable, losing 2 men, but, on the other hand, killing 7. The horrors of the middle passage are well illustrated by the fact that ere the prize could be carried into Sierra Leone, 307 slaves, out of 707 originally in her, perished from disease and misery. See p. 275 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

Statement of the chase and action between His Majesty's brig Buzzard, and the Spanish slave-brig, Formidable:
About 8h. 30m. A. M. on the 17th of December, 1834, whilst cruising off Old Calabar River, observed a brig bearing E. N. E. ; made all sail, and our sweeps in chase ; at 9h. 45m. saw the brig make sail, steering south ; 11h. 20m. saw the long-boat of chase going astern, she having been cut adrift ; at noon very light winds, brig bearing S. E. � S. 3� miles ; gaining on her fast ; distinctly made her out to be throwing overboard quantities of stores, casks, spars, &c. and to be an armed vessel ; at 4 o'clock observed her cut down her sternboat, run out her stern-guns, hoist a large Spanish flag, and immediately after take in her studding-sails ; 4h. 15m. commenced firing with small arms at pistol-shot distance, which she immediately returned by firing her stern-guns ; gave her our great guns as they could be brought to bear, using every effort to run her on board ; 4h. 40m. his colours came down ; ceased firing at him, and hailed to know if he had struck ; was answered by a discharge from his stern-guns, which shot away our flying jib-boom ; continued to pour a heavy fire into him, and at 5 o'clock succeeded in boarding him from our larboard bow on his starboard quarter, when after a trifling resistance she surrendered : found her to be the 'Formidable,' Spanish slave-brig, mounting six 18-pounders, Gover's guns, and two long 16-Pounders ; pierced for eighteen guns, with a crew of sixty-six men ; and having on board upwards of 700 slaves, from Old Calabar, bound to Havana ; commanded by Don Manuel Mateu. On taking possession of the 'Formidable,' we found six of the crew killed, including the mate and carpenter ; five severely, and eleven slightly wounded : amongst the former was the captain, who received four musket-ball wounds. The ship's company of the "Buzzard' were constantly employed at the sweeps from 9h. A.M. until the action commenced.
(Signed) A. M. Milward, Lieutenant and Commander.

2 Feb 1835 detained off the River Bonny the slave schooner Iberia, with 313 slaves onboard, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

28 Feb 1835 is reported to be at Sierra Leone.

28 Mar 1835 detained in lat. 0� 44' N., long. 1� 0' W., the Spanish slave schooner Bien Venida, for illicitly trafficking 430 slaves, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone and sentenced to be condemned.

2 Sep 1835 detained on the bar of the outside the River Bonny, the Spanish slave schooner Semiramis which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

4 Sep 1835 arrived Fernando Po and has landed the crew of a Spanish slaver taken a few days previously with 170 slaves on board.

27 Nov 1835 detained in lat. 4� 17' N. long., 7� 10' E., en route from the River Bonny to Havana, the slave schooner Norma, Tomas Echeverria, master, with 234 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 6 Jan 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

24 Dec 1835 detained in lat. 4� 0' 0" N. long. 6� 15' 0" E., whilst en route from the River Nun to St Jago de Cuba, the Spanish slave schooner Ligera, Angel Josh Canessa, master, with 198 slaves on board, was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned. 5 Jul 1838 the proceeds arising due for payment.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1836 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade.

28 Mar 1836 refitting at Sierra Leone.

4 May 1836 detained in lat. 3� 18' 0" N. long. 8� 55' 0" E., the Portuguese slave brigantine Mindello, Jos� de Freitas Chaves, master, with 268 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 2 Jun 1836 sentenced to be condemned, the 7th vessel she has taken since Dec 1834, making a total of 2,637 slaves recovered.

Circa 30 Jun 1836 it is reported that the assistant surgeon and 10 men have died as a result of the fever raging along the West Coast of Africa.

2 Jul 1836 detained off the River Bonny, the Spanish slave brigantine Felicia, Jos� Martinez Viademonte, master, with 395 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 2 Aug 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

6 Jul 1836 detained off the River St. Bartolom� in the Bight of Biafra, the Spanish slave vessel Famosa Primeira, alias Terceira, Mateo Moya, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 11 Oct 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

22 Jul 1836 detained in lat. 4� 33' 0" N. long. 8� 20' 0" E., off the Old Calabar, bound for Havana, the Portuguese slave brigantine Joven Carolina, Joaquim Telles de Menezes, master, with 421 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 23 Aug 1836 sentenced to be condemned. See p. 276-7 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow.

18 and 19 Sep 1836 detained in lat. 4� 0' N. long. 8� 19' E., the Portuguese slave brigantine Felix, late Recluta, Joao Antonio Ribero, master, with 591 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 25 Oct 1836 sentenced to be condemned. 487 slaves were landed, of whom a further 24 died pending adjudication.

19 Sep 1836 Buzzard and Thalia detained in lat. 4� 0' 3" N. Long. 8� 0' 4" E., en route for Cuba, the Spanish slave schooner Atalaya, Augustin Sabat, master, with 121 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 25 Oct 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1837 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 8 Deaths.

28 Oct 1836 detained in lat. 2� 49' N. long. 9� 46' E., off the Cameroons, en route from Bimbia, the Portuguese slave vessel Olimpia, Joao Antonio Andraca, master, with 284 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 16 Dec 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

12 Nov 1836 detained off Fernando Po the Portuguese slave schooner Serea, Venancio Antonio, master, with 22 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 19 Dec 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

24 Apr 1837 reported to be at Ascension.

17 Nov 1838 seized the Spanish slave vessel Sirse, aka Circe, Serafin Antonio Spencer, master, in lat. 7� 6' N., long. 14� 0' W., which was sent to be condemned by the Mixed Court at Sierra Leone for the transgression of the 10th Article of the Treaty with Spain, in having on board illegal slave trading equipment which was carried out on 21 Dec 1838.

27 Nov 1838 captured the Portuguese slave brig Emprendedor, Francisco Viega, master, lat. 7� 4' N., long. 12� 17' W., with 467 slaves on board, which were sent to Sierra Leone for adjudication by the British and Portuguese Mixed Court who dealt with the matter on 11 Dec 1838, where she was condemned for being engaged in the illicit traffic in slaves and the surviving 458 negroes emancipated, 11 having died before adjudication, the brig and stores in charge of the Commissioner of Appraisement and Sale, being ordered to carry out the sale at public auction, and the proceeds paid into the Registry.

15 Jan 1839 boarded the American slave schooner Traveller to examine her papers.

12 Mar 1839 has detained the slave-brigantine Eagle in Clarence Cove, Fernando Po, her American Master, Joshua Wells Littig, admitting that the vessel was Spanish owned and that he had no interest in the her, the commanding officer is now in the process of putting together a case where it is now admitted that she merely wore American colours, with a view to deceiving her captor, and to make a subsequent prosecution more difficult, if not impossible, and the Mixed Court at Sierra Leone not having anything to do with the vessel. Her documentation as an American ship has been compared with the real thing, thanks to a helpful U.S. Master, and the false papers apparently look nothing like the real thing, and the American Master has suggested that the vessel should be taken to the seat of U.S. Government to be condemned, which also appears to be the consensus amongst the Senior British Naval and Commanding Officers on the Station.

18 Mar 1839 the ship's boats were sent up the River Nun to detain a Spanish schooner Clara, Samuel B. Hooker, master, equipped for the Slave Trade. The American Master of this vessel, on hearing the situation regarding the Master of the Eagle, surrendered the vessel which was taken down the River and sent to Princes Island to join the Eagle, both being taken to New York, but then sent to the Vice Admiralty Court at Bermuda, and from thence to Sierra Leone, apparently being lost in a storm en route, along with the Eagle, as the vessel never arrived at Sierra Leone, but was subsequently condemned in absentia.

28 Mar 1839 at West Bay, Princes [Island ?], with the Clara, and Eagle, which were carrying Spanish colours, and had been detained by the Buzzard, when they had been sailing under the American flag, and were clearly involved in the Slave Trade.

5 Apr 1839 at West Bay, Princes, instructed to take the Clara, and Eagle to New York by the Senior Naval Officer, Commander William Tucker of the Wolverine.

12 Jun 1839 as reported by the Ambassador in Washington the Buzzard has arrived at New York with the Clara, and Eagle. On 4 Jul he adds that the Wyoming, detained by the Harlequin, had also been brought to New York by her Prize Crew, arriving on the 28 Jun, having been detained on 17 May, in similar circumstances to the other 2 vessel.

1 Aug 1839 was at New York having brought in 3 slave-vessels, the Wyoming, Clara, and Eagle, for condemnation, which she captured on the coast of Africa, under American colours. It was presumed that one must be condemned, but that the other two must retrace their way across the Atlantic for adjudication at Sierra Leone.

16 Aug 1839 a letter from the British Ambassador at Washington states that the US legal system had decreed that both the Clara, and Eagle were Spanish and not American owned, and should be dealt with by the British accordingly. 15 Aug 1839 the US District Attorney's office communicated a similar decision for the Wyoming.

21 Sep 1839 ordered to go to Bermuda to place the Clara, and Eagle in the Court of the Vice Admiralty at that Island. Also, prior to departure for Bermuda, required to give evidence at New York in the case of U.S. Government Vs. Mr. Liggit, the American who purported to be the Captain of the Eagle, the Captain of the Clara having died following his return to the USA, and Captain John C. Edwards of the Wyoming having died shortly after she was detained, both the latter two also being U.S. Citizens. Although it is reported that the Eagle has gone ashore in the late gales and remains bilged.

28 Oct 1839 the Eagle is reported to have been recovered and repaired at a cost of 1,200 dollars, but the commanding officer, Lieutenant Fitzgerald is having problems finding the money and has had to retain a lawyer to defend himself, and the British Embassy at Washington has been approached for advice who suggest that he contacts the frigate Andromache, which is reported to have just arrived at New York.

23 Nov 1839 was reported to be at Bermuda and to have departed for Sierra Leone during the latter part of this month with the Clara and Eagle for their cases to be adjudicated. The Eagle was apparently seen to be lost by the Buzzard, and it would appear that since the Clara was also posted missing in February 1840, that she may well have been lost in the same storm. �242 16s. 9d. paid by the Crown to or on behalf of captors, in satisfaction of expenses etc., arising from the seizure of a vessel alleged to be engaged in the Slave Trade divided between the Clare and the Eagle - �22 8s. 11d. also paid by the Crown to or on behalf of captors, in satisfaction of expenses etc., arising from the seizure of a vessel alleged to be engaged in the Slave Trade and �324 12s. 10d. paid by the Crown to or on behalf of captors, in satisfaction of expenses etc., arising from the seizure of a vessel alleged to be engaged in the Slave Trade divided between the Clare and the Eagle.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1840 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 9 Deaths.

28 Jan 1840 at Sierra Leone.

10 Feb 1840 is reported to have called at Cape Coast Castle with the Viper and Melville.

1 Apr 1840 detained the slave vessel Adelaide, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

16 Jul 1840 detained in lat. 4� 10' 0" N. long. 5� 45' 0" E., at the entrance to the River Nun, the Spanish slave schooner Carolina, Pedro Salas, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 1 Sep 1840 sentenced to be condemned. 2 July 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

21 Aug 1840 Mr. C. A. T. Lloyd, mate, appointed to the Rodney. Mr. Lloyd is from the Buzzard, and has been for some time in the William and Mary, waiting a passage to join his ship.

29 Aug 1840 Lieutenant R. T. J. Levinge appointed in command of the Buzzard, vice Fitzgerald, invalided.

31 Oct 1840, Lieutenant Charles Fitzgerald, of Buzzard, promoted to the rank of Commander. ;

3 Oct 1840 was spoken with near the line, by the Bombay packet.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1841 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced the following casualties : 3 Deaths by Accident: Total No of Deaths: 5.

9 Feb 1841 detained the slave vessel Liberal, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, and on 14 Apr 1841 sentenced to be condemned. 8 July 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

11 Feb 1841 at anchor in Whydah Roads.

12 Feb 1841 detained in lat. 5� 41 N. Long. 2� 36' E., off Whydah, the Brazilian slave schooner Juliana, D. F. Coelho, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 6 Apr 1841 sentenced to be condemned. 8 July 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

9 May 1842 arrived Plymouth from the West Coast of Africa.

19 May 1842 paid off at Plymouth.

26 Nov 1842 after having been examined and condemned has been offered for sale by the Admiralty office, but not disposed of until 1843.

29 Oct 1842 advertised for sale at Plymouth.