HMS Forester

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Forester, 1832
Type: Brigantine ; late Brig ; Armament 10, later reduced to 3.
Launched : 1832 ; Disposal date or year : 1843
BM: 235 tons
Notes:

23 Sep 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 building, Chatham

13 Oct 1832 it is understood that the Griffon and Forester are fitting for the African Station.

4 Jan 1833 arrived Portsmouth from Chatham, last from the Downs, and departed the 5th for Plymouth, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Coast of Africa.

5 Jan 1833 arrived Plymouth.

29 Jan 1833 arrived Falmouth from Plymouth, for the coast of Africa.

17 Feb 1833 went ashore in the gale on St Martin's Island in the Scilly Isles.

28 Feb 1833 has been got off, and towed into Plymouth.

4 Mar 1833 to be paid off into ordinary at Plymouth.

19 Jun 1833 hauled up on the slip to repair the damage received when she went ashore.

7 Sep 1833 To be commissioned for service on the coast of Africa.

12 Oct 1833 In Hamoaze.

29 Oct 1833 departed Plymouth for the coast of Africa.

21 Nov 1833 refitting at Sierra Leone.

24 Dec 1833 arrived Ascension from Sierra Leone.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1834 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death by Accident, total No of Deaths: 3.

10 Jan 1834 arrived at Cape of Good Hope from England.

15 May 1834 departed from Cape of Good Hope for Ascension.

6 Jun 1834 Reported to be in the Bight of Benin.

12 Oct 1834 Cruising in the Bight of Biafra for slave vessels.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1835 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 4 Deaths.

23 Feb 1835 detained in lat. 2� 20' 0" N. long. 3� 56' 0" E. the slave brigantine El Manuel, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

20 Mar 1835 detained in lat. 5� 34' 0" N. long. 0� 45' 0" E., the slave schooner Legitimo Africans, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

21 Jun 1835 detained in lat. 4� 20' 0" N. long. 7� 0' 0" E., the slave schooner Numero Dos, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

15 Nov 1835 the Romney departed Simon's Bay for England, arriving 23 Jan 1835 at Spithead, having stopped at Ascension to land stores. The Lynx and Forrester remained at Ascension when she departed.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1836 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 3 Deaths.

9 Feb 1836 detained in lat. 4� 39' S. long. 11� 42' E., in Loango Bay, the Spanish slave brig Luisa, Jean Victor Jastram (French), master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 10 Aug 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

9 Feb 1836 detained in lat. 4� 39' S. long. 11� 42' E., Loango Bay, on an ostensibly voyage of lawful trade from Havana to Saint Thomas. the Spanish slave brigantine Golondrina, Juan Domingo Zavala, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 10 Aug 1836 sentenced to be condemned.

28 Mar 1836 refitting at Sierra Leone.

20 Oct 1836 detained in lat. 4� 5' N. long. 7� 49' E. the Portuguese slave Victoria, Carlos Estevao Sasseth, master, with 380 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 21 Nov 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 7 Deaths.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1838 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death by Accident, total No of Deaths: 23.

2 Apr 1838 detained in lat. 4� 13' N. long. 7� 20' E. the Portuguese slave schooner Dous Irmaos, with 305 slaves on board which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 19 May 1838 sentenced to be condemned.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1839 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 15 Deaths.

4 Jan 1839 detained in the American slave schooner Hazard, Russell Barber, master, which resulted in the following letter being sent by Lord Palmerston to the Mr. Fox at the Foreign Officer :
Viscount Palmerston to Mr. Fox, Foreign Office, August 14, 1839.
Sir, I transmit to you herewith a Copy of a Despatch, and of its Enclosure, from Her Majesty's Commissioners at Sierra Leone, containing an Abstract of Papers found on board the schooner "Hazard,� Russell Barber, master, which was fallen in with, under American colours, on the 4th of January, 1839, by Her Majesty's brigantine "Forester," and was detained on the ground that she was equipped for Slave Trade, and that there were reasons for supposing her to be a Spanish vessel.
These reasons were, that her apparent owner, who accompanied her as supercargo, was a Spaniard ; her master, and every single man of her crew, were Spaniards, excepting her "Captain of the Flag;" she was despatched from the Spanish port of the Havana for a Slave-trading voyage to Lagos ; and there was nothing to connect her with America but her register, which she had obtained at Baltimore, a day previous to her departure thence for Cuba.
You will, in a Note to the United States' Government, give the substance of the information contained in the enclosed Papers ; and you will urge that government to take measures for putting an end to that abuse of its Flag for purposes of Slave Trade, of which the case of the schooner "Hazard" furnishes so flagrant an instance.
I am, &c. (Signed) Palmerston
H.S. Fox, Esq.

11 Mar 1839 detained in lat. 5� 13' 0" N. long. 9� 22' 0" W. the Spanish slave schooner Serea, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

12 Mar 1839 boarded the American slave schooner Euphrates, Charles A. Molan, master, to check her papers regarding her nationality.

13 Mar 1839 boarded the American slave schooner Traveller to examine her papers.

22 Mar 1839 detained the slave vessel Serea.

22 Mar 1839 detained at Gallinas the Spanish slave schooner Rebecca, 140 tons, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and sentenced to be condemned.

6 Apr 1839 boarded the American slave schooner Euphrates, Charles A. Molan, master, again, for the same purpose.

Circa Apr 1839 is reported to have arrested a slaving vessel wearing American colours, which were probably provided by the American Consul at Havana who had attested the sale and granted American papers, as he did for the Eagle, arrested by the Lily. The Mixed Commission Court at Sierra Leone refused to take any action in view of her American papers, and the vessel was released accordingly, but other similar cases had been reported by the Brisk, Lily, Saracen, Termagent, and Forester, and steps were taken to inform the Admiralty before the matter got out of hand and all slave ships flew the American flag and Her Majesty's cruisers off the Coast of West Africa were made redundant.

12 May 1839 detained in lat. 38� 0' S. long. 9� 2' E. by the ship's boats, the Spanish slave schooner Maria Francisca, alias Raynha, Jos� Gomez Bandeira, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 15 Jun 1839 sentenced to be condemned. 15 Apr 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

18 May 1839 Captured slaver Raynha Dos Angos, Tonnage Bounty, and Produce of Hull, &c. Prize money due for payment 15 Apr. 44

22 May 1839 detained in the Bay of Magumba, about 3 degrees south of the line the Portuguese slave schooner Carolina, P. F. da Costa, Dec'd, late master, which was sent for adjudication, but the prosecution was withdrawn.

15 Jun 1839 Portsmouth Lieutenant Rowlett, late of the Dolphin, recently arrived from the West Coast of Africa reports that the Forester was on station and all well.

18-21 Aug 1839 stopped the US vessel Mary, Captain David Tomlinson, some 25-30 miles from Gallinas, and having searched the vessel she was detained and sent to Sierra Leone for adjudication, where the Court refused to exercise jurisdiction in view of the vessel's flag. Eventually the vessel was released and departed for Gallinas where her Captain died from fever.

21 Nov 1839 detained off Cape Palmas the Brazilian slave brigantine Sociedade Feliz, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 24 Dec 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1840 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 3 Deaths.

28 Jan 1840 reported to be at Ascension.

25 Aug 1840 is reported to have called at Cape Coast Castle.

19 Sep 1840 Lieutenant Norcock, Mate of the Wolverine, appointed to be acting Lieutenant and Commander of the Forester.

15 Oct 1840 following a complaint regarding the conduct of the ship's officers when employed off the Rivers Nun, and Brass the following statement was made by Lieut Norcock, and whilst not precisely as written the general gist of the story is maintained: At 8.30 a.m. a barque having been observed working out of the R Brass, gave chase, the boats following me, and at about noon observed the boats board the stranger, who had now hoisted American colours, but she did not heave to for them, although well clear of the bar, and the boats had their colours flying. The barque eventually anchored at about 1.30 p.m., and about half an hour later I anchored close by. Our boat, under the charge of the gunner, was sent for me to report that the master of the barque refused to allow the officers of the boats to board the vessel to examine their papers, on hearing which I returned in the same boat. On the 2nd Master, Mr May, arriving alongside the barque the usual civility of dropping a ladder was not given him ; that reaching the deck he heard the master order his crew to prevent the Englishmen from coming in, and if necessary to keep them out with Standpikes. That on asking for his papers the master held them up, but would not allow him to examine them, and that his manner had been most insulting the whole time. Under the circumstances Mr May ordered 4 of his boat's crew to watch the master's proceedings and prevent him from throwing anything over board ; a very common thing on the Coast of Africa ; and that considering the barque very suspicious he had brought her to anchor to await me. On receiving this report I immediately went on board and remonstrated with the master for his want of civility to an English officer and asked for his papers, which he immediately gave me ; and having seen they were correct returned them. The hold being open and empty no search was required, and was on the point of leaving when her crew came aft and begged to be taken off the vessel as the master was in the habit of firing at them from aloft with a musket, and ill treating them in other ways. On this account I ordered them to be mustered, and then found that the master and first mate were the only Americans on board. The crew openly on deck stated that the vessel was trading illegally and had brought over a cargo of rum and specie, consigned to a noted slave dealer in the R Brass ; in payment for which 3 schooners were to come over from Havannah, and take slaves in return, and that the first would arrive in a few days. But being unable to find anything incriminating it would appear that Lieut Norcock had to allow the vessel to proceed and departed the vessel at 3.30 p.m. and retired with the ship's boats. Per the above, whilst the statement reads that the 1st schooner mentioned arrived supposedly arrived on the 21 Nov., but from the following item it looks as though she was actually detained on the 23 Nov. The 2nd schooner is noted as arriving on 2 Dec., but beat of the ship's boats. P. 234 in FO 84-439 Admy Letters 1842 Feb-April, per National Archives for free.

23 Nov 1840 detained in lat. 4� 4' N. long. 6� 6' E. the Spanish slave schooner Recurso, R. Trillo, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 11 Jan 1841 sentenced to be condemned. 15 Apr 1844 the proceeds arising due for payment.

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1841 was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death by Accident.

20 Mar 1841 Mate G. L. Norcock (1836), of the Wolverine, appointed to command the Forester, promoted to lieutenant.

2 Apr 1841 detained the British vessel Queen Victoria, for being engaged in the slave trade. 12 Aug 1841 the Admiralty has directed their solicitors to take the necessary steps to prosecute the parties concerned.

19 Apr 1841 detained the Queen Victoria for being engaged in the slave trade. Source FO 84-384 Admiralty 1841 May-Aug p 586.

27 Apr 1841 proceeded up the River Pongos with the ship's boats to ascertain the state of the slave trade in the river. Early next morning the boats of the Termagant joined the party, and as soon as the flood tide commenced at 7.00 am, they boarded several boats while proceeding up the river to Mrs Lightbourne's slave barracoons, which were burnt. However following an explosion, as they were departing a number of men were killed and wounded, and several went missing, in particular one man who would appear to have found alcohol in the barracoon, which he consumed to excess, and was awaiting punishment.

28 Apr 1841 arrived at Accra, from Whydah, and departed on the 29th on a cruise.

17 Sep 1841 arrived Plymouth Sound from the coast of Africa.

29 Sep 1841 Plymouth, paid off.

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