HMS Devastation

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Devastation, 1841
Type: 1st class sloop ; Armament 6
Launched : 3 Jul 1841 ; Disposal date or year : 1867
BM: 1059 tons ; Displacement: 1380 tons
Propulsion: Paddle
Machinery notes: 400
Notes:

29 May 1840 is ordered to he laid down in HM dockyard Woolwich

7 Aug 1840 Woolwich, The keel has been laid, and a number of hands are employed upon her.

4 Dec 1840 Woolwich, at present building in the Woolwich dock-yard has been ordered to be completed by task work, and it is expected she will be ready for sea by the 31st of March next. This vessel is 174 feet in length of keel, and will be upwards of 200 feet in length of deck. Were it not that the capabilities of British workmen are well known, it would appear incredible that a vessel of this size could be completed in so short a time as specified in the engagement. At present the whole of her ribs have not been fixed to the keel, a space of about 30 feet in the centre being still vacant of that portion of the skeleton of a vessel, and were is not a single cross-timber laid.

3 Jul 1841 Woolwich, Launched ; she is about 180 feet long, and about 1,050 tons burden old measurement, or about 1,000 tons burden according to the new mode of calculation.

16 Sep 1841 Woolwich, the following, officers have been appointed to her : Commander Hastings Reginald Henry (from the Styx) ; Lieutenant Percy Parkhurst ; Master J. H. Ashton ; and Purser J. Millingham.

17 Sep 1841 has been commissioned this week at Woolwich.

18 Sep 1841 Woolwich, the following officers from the Vixen have been appointed to her:- Lieutenants F. Lowe and C. G. Rigge, vice Parkhurst to the Vixen ; Master J. G. Mugford, vice Ashton to the Vixen ; Surgeon J. Elliott; Purser J. Grant, vice Millingham to the Vixen; Assistant-Surgeon J. H. Paterson,.

25 Sep 1841 Lieutenants P. Lowe and C. G. Rigge ; Master J G. Mugford ; Purser J. Grant ; Surgeon J. Elliott ; Assistant Surgeon J. H. Paterson ; Mates F. L. A. Selwyn and H. D. Blanckley, appointed to the Devastation.

2 Oct 1841 is fitting out at Woolwich.

9 Oct 1841 Mate B. G. Rowles, appointed to the Devastation.

18 Oct 1841 Woolwich, was taken out of the basin on Saturday. She is fitted with Maudslay and Field's patent double cylinder engines of 400 horse power.

19 Oct 1841 Woolwich, whilst leaving for trials the tiller broke and she nearly ran aground upon the Essex shore. However, a replacement tiller was fitted within a few minutes and she continued with her trial down river. A new innovation, a vacuum pressure indicator is now fitted. The engine made 18 strokes per minute against the tide and 19 strokes with the tide. The average speed obtained was 11� miles per hour. The engine uses 20% less fuel than other engines used in the Service. Her armament will consist of two 10-inch and four 32-pounder guns, which are reported to have a wide field of fire.

29 Oct 1841 Woolwich, in harbour.

31 Oct 1841 carried out her final trials in the River at Long Reach, to the measured ground, where the speed of steam vessels can be measured.

1 Nov 1841 one of Porter's new anchors, of 28 cwt., is to be fitted and trialled.

1 Nov 1841 Mates H. B. Blanckley and Mr. B. G. Rowles, are appointed from the Devastation to the Heroine.

10 Nov 1841 Woolwich, is fitting out for service in the Mediterranean.

20 Nov 1841 Woolwich, will be ready for sea this afternoon.

29 Nov 1841 Woolwich, departed for the Mediterranean without her commanding officer, Commander Henry, who was ill.

2 Dec 1841 arrived Portsmouth, from Woolwich.

8 Dec 1841 departed Portsmouth, for the Mediterranean with the Bishop of Jerusalem.

11 Dec 1841 Commander G. T. Gordon appointed to the Devastation, vice Henry, sick.

25 Dec 1841 arrived Malta late in the day ; one of the passengers giving birth shortly after the arrival.

13 Jan 1842 plans to depart today for Sudia, in Candia, Beyrout, and Jaffa, to land the Protestant Bishop of Jerusalem.

25 Dec 1841 arrived Malta with the Bishop of Jerusalem, from England.

4 Jan 1842 at Malta.

6 Jan 1842 is due to depart Malta for Suda, in Candia, and thence to Beyrout and Jaffa, to land the protestant bishop of Jerusalem.

11 Feb 1842 arrived Malta from Beyrout and Alexandria.

1 Mar 1842 in harbour at Valetta.

31 Mar 1842 reports having been to Tunis, but could find no trace of the French vessels reported as being in the area by the Prometheus, and it was thought that they were probably returning to Toulon from Smyrna.

2 Apr 1842 to be made available to the King of Prussia when he visits the Mediterranean in the near future.

20 Apr 1842 towed the Weazle out of Valetta harbour.

26 Apr 1842 departs Malta in the morning for Tripoli and return.

2 May 1842 departed Malta for Tripoli, and returned to Malta on the 4th inst.

19 May 1842 it is reported that the Queen, Impregnable, Calcutta, Vanguard, Cambridge, and Devastation had been provisioned and were ready for sea, but that the destination remained a secret.

20 May 1842 departed Valetta with the squadron, including the Queen (flag V.-Adm. Owen) Howe (flag R.-Adm Mason), Vanguard, Calcutta, Thunderer, Cambridge, Impregnable, Devastation and Vesuvius, on a cruize.

4 Jun 1842 returned to Malta from cruise.

2 Jul 1842 arrived Malta from Tripoli.

3 Jul 1842 departed Malta for Tripoli, and as this note was written on 5 Jul was signalled as just returning from Tripoli.

05 Jul 1842 arrived Malta from Tripoli.

11 Jul 1842 departed Malta for Tripoli.

13 Jul 1842 returned to Malta from Tripoli.

15 Jul 1842 the squadron, including the Queen, Powerful, Impregnable, Rodney, Indus, and Devastation departed Valetta, destination unknown, but thought to be queering the French pitch, wherever that may have been ?.

C 16 Aug 1842 departed Malta for Tunis and returned.

15 Sep 1842 in port at Valetta.

22 Sep 1842 departed Malta for a circuit around the Island with the Geyser, and exercises.

13 Oct 1842 departed Malta for Tunis.

29 Oct 1842 departed Malta for Tunis with dispatches for the Consul.

8 Nov 1842 arrived Malta from Tripoli.

1846 The Experimental Squadron Portsmouth, Thursday. April 23 Devastation, steamer, Commodore Crouch, Sir W. Symonds constructor, 6 guns, 1058 tons, 400 horse power,

July 1846 The Squadron of Evolution at Cove. Summer Cruise. With respect to the movements of the squadron we are informed, that they are under orders to proceed again to sea after a delay of three days to water - that they will cruise towards Bantry, and anchor for some time in that splendid bay, where, as we are informed, it is intended that the crews and marines shall be landed and exercised in warlike tactics, landing at night, and such like evolutions, the object of the present trials being to exercise the crews and manoeuvre them in naval operations. See St. Vincent for the full extract from the Cork Southern Reporter.

14 Jul 1846 evolutions for the Squadron of Evolutions See St. Vincent for the full extract from the Cork Examiner

19 Mar 1847 detained a slave vessel, Name Unknown, supposed or Tres Amigos. 14 March 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

25 Mar 1847 detained the slave vessel Rey de Aquiton, which was sent to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone for adjudication and condemned. 14 March 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

19 Jun 1847 Albatros and Devastation detained a slave felucca, Name Unknown, supposed to be Rosetta, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 15 June 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

9 Jul 1847 detained a slave brig, Name Unknown, 207 tons, supposed to be the Voadora or Flying Fish, which was sent to the Vice-Admiralty Court, St. Helena. 18 Jul 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

6 Nov 1847 detained the Brazilian brig Eolo, 77 tons, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 18 Jul 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

29 Nov 1847 detained a slave schooner Name Unknown, 70 ft. long ; 16 ft. broad ; 6 ft. deep, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 2 Jan 1850 proceeds arising due for payment.

1 Dec 1847 detained a slave brig, Name Unknown, 125 ft. long ; 28 ft. broad ; 14 ft. deep, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 2 Jan 1850 proceeds arising due for payment.

1 Dec 1847 detained a slave schooner, Name Unknown, 49� tons, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 2 Jan 1850 proceeds arising due for payment.

24 Dec 1847 detained a slave vessel Agronogro. 11 Jan 1850 proceeds arising due for payment. Apart from the London Gazette the only source I can find for this is the Navy List and the New Navy Lists for 1850. 24 Jan 1850 proceeds arising due for payment.

25 Jan 1848 detained the Brazilian slave vessel Adelaide, 140 tons, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. Purchased into the Service as the Adelaide for �263 9s. 0d., which would presumably been received by the officers and men, less expenses.

9 Mar 1848 Captured slave vessel Voladora or Flying Fish. 18 July 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

9 Mar 1848 detained the slave vessel Eolo. 18 July 1849 the proceeds arising due for payment

20 Dec 1848 Portsmouth

3 Jan 1851 Tonnage bounties on 3 unnamed slavers payable.

17 May 1851 Commander John Yorke Campbell, Mate John Jenkins, Chief Engineer G.M. Burt, Assistant Eng. (A.E.) 1st Class Richard Gray, A.E. Thomas Lee, A.E. W.E. Campion, A.E. H.D. Gardner, and A.E. Owen Jones apptd. Devastation.

18 May 1851 docked to have her bottom overhauled.

19 May 1851 At Portsmouth. Brought down for Commissioning.

21 May 1851 went out of harbour to try her engines.

24 May 1851 Lieuts. Thomas Tickell, and John W. Newport ; Master John Way ; Surgeon W.T. Rogers ; Paymaster and Purser W.B. Pearce ; Mates John Jenkins and W.B. Alexander ; Clark Isaac Hearnden ; Midshipmen G.H. Broadhead, A.R. Blore, and M.H. Trevilian ; Assist. Surgn. Wm.B. Christy apptd. Devastation.

26 May 1851 Mate Thomas C. Smith, Gunner William Parker, Boatswain Thomas Van Studer, and Carpenter Benjamin Bennett, apptd.

3 Jun 1851 adjusted her compasses.

5 Jun 1851 went out to Spithead.

9 Jun 1851 departed Spithead at 0500 for Bermuda.

10 Jun 1851 arrived Plymouth from Portsmouth. The article states that she takes the Devonport hoy to Bermuda, and then proceeds to North America, and is expected to sail Friday. Which I take to mean that she's accompanying the hoy with the name of Devonport as far as Bermuda, following which she goes about her own business.

13 June 1851 departed Devonport for the West Indies with despatches for the Commander-in-Chief on that station.

20 Aug 1851 the steamship Medway arrived Southampton from the Windies and reports that when she departed at Kingston, Jamaica on 29 Jul., the Devastation (D.) had not long been on the station, it was later reported that she departed the same day for Port au Prince.

25 Aug 1851 arrived Port au Prince, from Cape Haytien, with the Consul, Mr. Thomas Usher. A brig belonging to the Haytien Navy went ashore in a recent gale, and the Devastation, after a couple of days, managed to get the vessel off.

21 Oct 1851 arrived Jamaica from Port au Prince.

15 Nov 1851 when the Royal Mail Steamship Dee visited Jamaica the D. had already departed for Bermuda.

17 Dec 1851 Commander Campbell arrived England in the US mail ship Atlantic, on Admiralty leave, to attend to pressing private affairs, command of the Devastation having been passed over to Lieut. Kynaston, of the Cumberland.

20 Dec 1851 at St Thomas' with the Cumberland.

14 Jan 1852 at Havannah with the Cumberland and inflexible.

31 Jan 1852 at Port Royal, Jamaica.

3 Feb 1852 at Port Royal, Jamaica when the Arrogant departed for Spithead. The Devastation was shortly due to follow the Admiral and depart Port Royal for Havannah as soon as the mail arrived.

4 Feb 1852 departed Jamaica for Havannah with the Cumberland and Bermuda.

29 May 1852 when the Royal Mail Steam Ship Magdalena arrived Kingston, Jamaica, the D. had been sent to Rio de Janeiro, with the Express.

7 Aug 1852 The Hampshire Telegraph (HT) reports that the Halifax Courier lists the Devastation amongst several vessels on the North America Station ordered to cruise to protect British fishermen and the fisheries against encroachment by foreigners.

21 Aug 1852 per HT Devastation (D), in company with the schooner, Bermuda, are in the Bay of Fundy......interesting navigationwise as I gather that the Bay has one of the highest tidal ranges in the World.

4 Sep 1852 the HT reports that papers in St John's, NB, state that the Bay of Fundy has been completely cleared of American fishermen, and that there is a rumour doing the rounds that the Devastation has taken 4 prizes into Charlottetown. So I think you can probably say that the problem of fishing rights in this area was high on the list of diplomatic problems between the US and the UK, along with the slave trade ! And as we now know the Grand Banks, once one of the easiest places to catch fish was completely fished out, so I think even then they knew that they knew problems were afoot.

18 Sep 1852 HT reports D now in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and that the revenue cutter Telegraph had taken 2 US fishing boats into Charlottetown for having violated the Convention of 1818.

Nov 1852 ? the D and the Columbia remain in the fishing grounds off Halifax. At this date the rest of the squadron has usually departed to the South, in order to spend the winter in the West Indies, leaving just one or two vessels based on Halifax.

27 Nov 1852 a letter from the West Indies confirms the sad news regarding the loss of Lieutenant St. George Rathbone, and 14 men from the Devastation, from the upsetting of the pinnace at Prince Edward's Island.

27 Nov 1852 the D. towed the flag ship Cumberland out of Bermuda harbour : they parted company the following day, the Cumberland heading for Barbadoes, and the D. for St. Thomas' to await the flag ship's despatches, which didn't arrive until 8 Dec. ; departed to join the Cumberland at Trinidad.

13 Dec 1852 departed Trinidad for Antigua.

25 Dec 1852 news now gets a little confusing, depending on the source: the HT of this date reports that on 3 Dec the D was waiting at St. Thomas, (WI), waiting for the mail for the Flag Officer from England. Once that arrives she will join the Highflyer, to become the flag ship, and Calypso en route to La Guayra.

14 Dec 1852 departed Trinidad for Antigua for coals. It was reported in the same paper that the 2nd Lieutenant of the survey vessel Scorpion had died at St Thomas' from Yellow Fever.

4 Feb 1852 correspondence received at Portsmouth from the West Indies reporting that the Devastation and Daring have been with the Admiral at Granada and Margarita, and that the Daring was then sent to La Guayra and the Devastation to the Barbadoes and from thence to Jamaica. The Highflyer departed the station for England on 3 Feb and reported that the Devastation was reported to be at Belize i.e. on what I think was then termed the Mosquito Coast.

11 Sep 1852 about 10 miles north of Prince Edward's Island detained the fishing vessel Caroline Knight, from Newburyport, Massachusetts, Benjamin Small, master, which was seized within the three-mile limit while proceeding for Cascumpeque Harbor, although (as alleged) no fishing had taken place within the said limit. 8 Dec 1853 Prize Money due for the detention of the Caroline Knight, due to be paid.

13 Mar 1853 had returned to Port Royal, Jamaica.

2 Apr 1853 letters of 19 Feb received by the HT confirm stories regarding accounts of trouble on the "Mosquito Coast," at a town called Truxillo, but its a little difficult to work out precisely what the problems were, except that it seems to involve territorial rights and that the party being asked to give up the land they were supposed to have taken weren't best pleased, but would give up to a superior force. The New York Herald was including letters about the matter at the time.

15 Apr 1853 having been cruising off Cuba for the last fortnight, looking out for vessels involved in the slave trade, and has now departed to join the Admiral at Bermuda.

24 Apr 1853 joined the Admiral off Bermuda.

8 May 1853 towed the Cumberland out of harbour at Bermuda and accompanied the flag ship to Halifax, towing her through calms for much of the passage, arriving Halifax on the 16th.

16 May 1853 departed from off Halifax for Sydney, Cape Breton, to coal, prior to departing for Newfoundland with the bishop of that diocese.

5 Jul 1853 cruising in the Bay of Fundy.

6 Aug 1853 following the death of Commodore M'Quhae, Commander Campbell was promoted to Captain and the Admiral's flag lieutenant, Lt. Algernon F. R. de Horsey, being promoted to Commander and replacing Cdr Campbell in the Devastation.

Rumours in the American press that the Devastation had been in collision with the US vessel are just that. the Devastation, on the day in question was 100 miles distant from where the incident is supposed to have taken place.

17 Nov 1853 arrived Bermuda in 4 days from Halifax with His Excellency Governor Elliott.

26 Nov 1853 the flag ship Cumberland was shortly due to depart Halifax for the West Indies and the D., at Halifax on 10 Nov., was expected to accompany the flag ship.

26 Dec 1854 has arrived in the West Indies and was presumably at Barbadoes since he was about to take Lieutenant General Wood, CinC of the forces at Barbadoes, to Trinidad, calling on his way at La Guayra.

11 Jan 1854 arrived Port Royal from Bermuda.

26 Jan 1854 departed Port Royal for Turk's Island.

27 Feb 1854 remained at Port Royal with the Imaum and Buzzard.

16 Jun 1854 departed St. Thomas' on a cruise, following reports having been received re the presence of 2 Russian privateers having been sighted.

2 Aug 1854 at St. Thomas'.

16 Aug 1854 remained at St Thomas' with the French war steamer Ardente.

17 Sep 1854 departed St Thomas' for Bermuda.

17 Oct 1854 would appear to be the hurricane season, the D. having to go out of harbour, which I take to be St Thomas', to go to the assistance of an American vessel which had been blown ashore.

1 Dec 1854 at St Thomas' with the Harrier and Scorpion.

22 Mar 1855 at Greytown, the former port of San Juan, on the Mosquito Coast, so I would guess we are in the region of Nicaragua and Honduras. In 1859 the British Government returned the land to these 2 countries and were said to be glad to be rid of a miserable stretch of malarial coast, which wasn't worth making enemies over.

25 Apr 1855 departed Port Royal for England, but fell in with the French brig of war Oreste, which had been dismasted, and towed her back to Port Royal, and shortly afterwards departed again for England.

26 Jun 1855 was paid off at Woolwich, the crew having been granted 6 weeks leave of absence.

2 Jan 1856 Asst. Clerk Foster to Sloop at Woolwich.

26 Mar 1856 Portsmouth. Notified by the Postmaster-General to sail for the Cape of Good Hope with mail, will not be ready to do so till to-morrow, having some defects made good.

3 Jun 1858 arrived Havana from Bermuda to coal.

6 Jun 1858 departed Havana for a cruise and thence back to Bermuda.

27 Jun 1858 arrived Havana from Port Royal to coal.

1 Jul 1858 departed Havana for a cruise.

7 Jul 1858 off Havana.

1860 Woolwich

12 Dec 1861 Woolwich. Commissioned.

1864 on the Pacific station. Report of broncho-pneumonia and rheumatism onboard : number of Cases of Disease and Injury.


The Devastation.-Notice is given to the officers and crew of her Majesty's ship Devastation, R. C. Michell, Esq., Commander, who were actually on board at the capture of the Brazilian slave vessel Adelaide on the 25th January, 1848, that the first payment of 2s. 6d. in the pound on the net amount of the to e, bounty mono , and sale of proceeds of the said vessel be paid at No. ?, Lyon's Inn, Strand, on Friday, the 11th day of April, 1861, were the unclaimed shares will be recalled every Tuesday and Friday for three months.

Flag �5 5 s. 11� d.
Second class �18 6 s. 0 d.
Third �2 8 s. 9 d.
Fourth �1 4 s. 4� d.
Fifth �1 1 s. 11� d.
Sixth �0 14 s. 7� d.
Seventh �0 12 s. 2 d.
Eighth �0 9 s. 9 d.
Ninth �0 7 s. 3� d.
Tenth �0 4 s. 10� d.
Eleventh �0 3 s. 7� d.
Twelfth : �0 2 s. 5 d.
Thirteenth �0 1 s. 10 d.
HOLMES AND Folkard, Agents.