HMS Penelope

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Penelope, 1829
Type: 5th rate ; Frigate ; Armament originally 46 x 32 pdr ; replaced in 1843 by 12 x 42 pdr., 2 x 84 cwt. pivots, 10 x 68 pdr.
Launched : 13 Aug 1829 ; Disposal date or year : 1864
BM: 1091 tons
Propulsion: built for sail, paddle added 1842-3.
Machinery notes: 625 n.h.p. ; 700 h.p.
Notes:

1 Jan 1820 building or ordered to be built, with a circular stern.

Jul 1830 Chatham

Jun 1842 There are more than 30 vessels of the Penelope's type, which are now out of date and out-classed by modern steamers. As an experiment, therefore, she has been taken into dock and cut in half in order to be extended by some 63 feet to have 2 steam engines fitted.

25 Jun 1842 it has been reported that work was commenced last week at Chatham to cut the Penelope in half and fit a steam engine, and bunkers etc.

2 Jul 1842 it is noted in the Hampshire Telegraph that her standing rigging and block stroppings are to be replaced by Andrew Smith's patent wire rope ; the weight being half that of the hemp, and only two thirds the price.

Jun 1843 she has completed her extension at Chatham Yard, and has had her engines installed by Messrs. Seaward & Capel of London. She will now be re-armed with 22 heavier guns : her funnel is reported to be telescopic and can be lowered out of sight.

28 Jun 1843 carried out a satisfactory first trial down the Thames, from Blackwall to Greenhithe.

1 Jul 1843 carried out a second trial and run over the measured mile before returning to Blackwall.

3 Apr 1844 the Penelope, with the Spy in company, detained in Lat. 7� 7' N Long. 4� 48 E., the Spanish slave vessel Maria Louisa, J. B. de Cortina, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 15 Apr 1844 sentenced to be condemned.

Jun 1844 on the Coast of Africa.

6 Sep 1844 at Princes Island.

20 Sep 1844 at Cape Coast Castle collecting information regarding the slave trade etc.

22 Sep 1844 at Acra, for information.

25 Sep 1844 Bight of Benin, where the Cygnet was found and completed her provisions etc., and then cruised off Lagos and Whydah for some days having heard rumours that the slave trade was up and running again in that region, but found nothing to substantiate them.

2 Oct 1844 at Fernando Po.

3 Oct 1844 arrived Princes Island, where the ship received 126 tons of coal from the English schooner Justitia. The Wasp then joined the Penelope at the anchorage for a supply water.

15 Oct 1844 joined by the Rapid at Princes Island, from Sierra Leone with provisions for the Penelope, and the cruisers in the Bight of Benin ; also brought the returns from the various vessels on the Gallinas station for the Senior Officer to make his observations and pass the reports on to the Admiralty, and other interested parties.

16 Oct 1844 departed Princes Island for the south, and on the 19th fell in with the steamer Prometheus, to hear that she'd recently captured 2 slavers and that the Ferret and Albatross had also been busy.

20 Oct 1844 detained in lat. 5� 20' S. long 11� 49� E., a Brazilian slave schooner, Name Unknown. The vessel was run on shore by her crew, in the River Kacongo, and set on fire and destroyed by the following day, and the case sent for adjudication to the British and Brazilian Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 20 Nov 1845 sentenced to be condemned.

20 Oct 1844 a second vessel, also detained that day in lat. 5� 20' S. long 11� 49� E., a Brazilian slave schooner, Name Unknown, supposed Virginia, alias Alerto appears to have been handed over to the Portuguese authorities, Portuguese deserters having been found on board ; all a bit peculiar.

23 Oct 1844 arrived St Paul de Loanda and went ashore to have useful discussions with the Captain General of Angola, and later communicated with the commanding officer of the Ferret, Commander Oake, Senior Officer of the Congo Division.

24 Oct 1844 in the evening departed St Paul de Loanda.

26 Oct 1844 off Benguela, fell in with the Larne, and leaving instructions departed for St. Helena.

2 Nov 1844 arrived St. Helena. Following the departure from Princes Island 61 cases of fever occurred, fortunately resulting in 1 death, only, and by the time the vessel left St. Helena on the 10th inst. the crew were fit and healthy again.

10 Nov 1844 departed St. Helena.

15 Nov - 2 Dec 1844 at Ascension. Letters received announced the promotion of Captain W. Jones to Commodore, with effect from circa 15-18 Aug 1844.

21 Dec 1844 Kacongo Bay, when writing to the Admiralty.

4 Jan 1845 departed Boa Vista.

5 Jan 1845 touched at the Isle of St. Vincent.

7 Jan 1845 called at Porto Preya, in search of the US Commodore, but missed him, and left him a note.

11 Jan 1845 entered the Gambia, and remained at Bathurst a day, and surveyed the Wilberforce steamer, lying there in a wrecked condition.

12 Jan 1845 departed the Gambia for the Pongos.

15 Jan 1845 arrived off the River Pongos, and sent the ship's boats up River, to Charleston, where the slave barracoons were situated. 4 vessels suitable for the slave trade were found, but their equipment for feeding and securing the slaves etc., must have been stored ashore, since it is noted the holds were empty : so whilst it was patently obvious what the vessels were going to be used for, there was nothing on board that could be used to legally detain them :
Slaver : Spanish brigantine "Dos Hermanos," (Two Sisters), completely rigged and sails bent and ready for sea, but with a clean swept hold, arrived from Cuba last May, but it is interesting to note that she was detained by HMS Ardent on 25 Mar 1845, and condemned on 9 Apr 1845.
Slaver : American schooner (four top-sails), the "Hero of Baltimore," clean holds.
Slavers : Two American schooners, lashed together, fore and aft, vessels painted white, the "Manchester," of New Orleans, and the "Toronto," of New York.
Legitimate Trader : English schooner "Jane," from the Gambia, bound to Sierra Leone, and touching at Charleston for the purpose of trading.
N.B. It is perhaps worth noting that these boat trips up river, if made at the wrong time of the year, were often the most dangerous for the boats' crews, not from the slave traders, unless caught in the act of loading their cargo, but from malaria and yellow fever etc., which, if not lethal, could often leave men debilitated, and needing invaliding back to the UK. I have personal experience of the East Coast of Africa, where the monsoon season invariably left pools of water sufficient for the mosquito to breed, so I presume that they also had a "rainy season" on the West Coast of Africa, aka, the White Man's Grave.

18 Jan 1845 arrived Sierra Leone, and whilst the ship was coaled, watered, and provisioned, the Captain visited the Lieutenant-Governor to discuss the problem of serious outrages being inflicted on British subjects by slave dealers at Sherbro and Gallinas, and putting an end to the situation. To explain a little, many of these British subjects were some of the many thousands of black freemen, e.g. Kroomen, or former slaves emancipated at Sierra Leone, who perhaps accepted work with people who they thought were genuine and ended up being sold by their employers to slave dealers. There are many such stories along similar lines ; even black seamen who found work on British ships, inadvertently ending up in the Southern States of the USA, and being illegally detained and sold into slavery on American cotton estates etc.

21 Jan 1845 departed Sierra Leone for the Pongas, where a pinnace was left on the 22nd watching the river until HMS Albert arrived to relieve them, having received intelligence that one of the vessels up river had recently hired a crew.

24 Jan 1845 joined the Growler, Larne, Eclair, and Sealark, off Gallinas, and supplied them with provisions etc., and then dispatched the Sealark to her station off New Cestos, and prepared, with the commanding officer of the Growler to resolve the problem with the Chiefs of the Gallinas.

25 Jan 1845 off Seabar.

4 Feb 1845 following the ill-treatment of black British subjects by the Chiefs and slave dealers in the various lands surrounding Sierra Leone and not having received any positive response 286 officers and men in 18 boats, from the Penelope, Larne and Growler entered the River Gallinas, and proceeded to the now empty slave barracoons at Dombocorro, which were levelled to the ground, and the materials removed were burnt. At the same time Schaffa Rogers avoided any attempt to confront him, so his town was reduced to ashes, and musket fire from nearby was silenced by the marines and the canonades from the boats. The Rogers' family properties were similarly reduced, and when returning to their ships some musket fire from the nearby mangrove swamps caused no problems and the officers and men returned on board with out any injuries.

6 Feb 1845 not having received any positive response from Harry Tucker and his son Charles, who stated that the local slave dealer, Luiz, was their agent, it was decided that the Taylor family were responsible for all that was wrong within their fiefdom, and as a result the boats of the Penelope, Ardent and Eclair, under the command of their commanding officers, proceeded to the Tucker's slave factory, which was also found to be empty, and which was burnt to the ground, along with anything of value remaining in the buildings. Further action against Tucker's residence was postponed, the tides not being helpful for the current operation.

8 Feb 1845 at Sierra Leone.

17 Feb 1845 arrived at Sierra Leone for coal, water, and provisions.

18 Feb 1845 off Gallinas.

1 Mar 1845 off Seabar.

26 Sep 1845 detained the Brazilian slave Steamer Cacique, fitted for the reception of 1,500 slaves, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and on 30 Oct 1845 sentenced to be condemned, which was reputed to have been an expensive loss by the slave traders.

4 May 1847 per a return made by the Admiralty to Parliament the Cacique, 222 tons, was purchased into the service from the officers and crew of the Penelope for �1,731 : 5s : 6d. She was renamed Snap.

30 Sep 1845 detained the Brazilian slave vessel Ligeira, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and on 30 Oct 1845 sentenced to be condemned.

28 Oct 1845 at Ascension.

7 Nov 1845 departed St. Helena.

18 Nov 1845 arrived Loanda and coaled ship. The Commodore discussed the slave trade with the Captain General of Angola to discover the extent to which measures were being taken to being the trade to an end.

20 Nov 1845 departed Loanda and has been joined on the station by the Larne, Commander Brisbane, who is to be based up on the Gallinas once she has distributed her surplus supplies, whilst the Actaeon, Captain Mansel, will be moved south to the Benguala - Congo region. Meanwhile is is planned to take the Penelope to Kabenda, Prince's Island, Fernando Po, Lagos, Accra, to be at Gallinas by 18 Dec. 22 Nov 1845 off the River Congo, flying the pennant of the Commodore and Senior Officer on the West Coast of Africa.

22 Nov 1845 later the same day was off Cabenda.

5 Dec 1845 Clarence Cove, Fernando Po.

8 Dec 1845 off Lagos.

30 Dec 1845 off Cape Mount.

3 Jan 1846 off Gallinas.

9 Feb 1846 West Bay, Princes Island.

2 Mar 1846 at Ascension.

21 Mar 1846 off Gallinas.

31 Mar 1846 off Goree, West Coast of Africa.

18 Mar 1847 detained the slave vessel Saron, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 31 May 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

30 Mar 1847 detained the slave schooner, Name Unknown, supposed Felicidade, with 317 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 31 May 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

4 April 1847 detained the slave vessel Joanito, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 31 May 1849 proceeds arising due for payment.

17 Oct 1847 detained the slave vessel Sylphide, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena, and sentenced to be condemned. 16 Jan 1850 Proceeds arising now due for payment.

Jun-Jul 1848 Off the Slave Coast (Sierra Leone). See the vessel Amphitrite for article from the Morning Chronicle, for 11 Sep 1848.

22 Jun 1848 detained the slave vessel Theresa. 1 May 1850 Proceeds arising now payable.

30 Jun 1848 at St. Paul de Loanda.

19 Jul 1848 at St. Paul de Loanda.

5 Aug 1848 the Siren, with the Penelope and Bittern in company, detained the Brazilian slave-vessel Polka. 2 Sep 1850 Proceeds arising now payable.

17 Aug 1848 in Elephant Bay, on the coast of Loanda.

30 Sep 1848 at St. Paul de Loanda.

16 Oct 1848 at St. Paul de Loanda.

1 Nov 1848 at St. Helena.

4-5 Dec 1848 at Ascension.

20 Dec 1848 Coast of Africa.

3 Jan 1849 detained in lat. 2� 14' N., lon. 6� 40' E. the slave vessel Jacinto, Francisco Argos, master, with 322 slaves onboard and subsequently condemned by the Vice-Admiralty Court, at Sierra Leone. Prize money, in the form of a slave bounty and proceeds from the hull for this vessel became due for payment circa 23 Oct 1850.

3 Feb 1849 assembled a squadron off Gallinas, consisting of the Penelope, Favorite, Sealark, Waterwitch, Bonetta, Dart and Pluto. Boats from the squadron with 300 men passed the bar at 7.30. a. m., and landed at Dombocorro, took possession of it, and the neighbouring factories and barracoons...whilst the boats of the Penelope, pushed on to the Solyman factories, and the village of Dreesing, were totally destroyed. Commander Murray also conducted a party to Mineh, and destroyed the factories and barracoons which it contained. On the 4th the three large factories in the vicinity of Dombocorro were destroyed, along with Dombocorro itself, with all its contents, was burnt to the ground, and by sunset, the force had returned to their respective ships, without a single casualty (representing a summary of the Commodore Hotham's report on the event).

13 Feb 1849 at Sierra Leone.

2 Apr 1851 The Penelope, 22, steam-frigate, at the trial of her speed, yesterday, at the measured mile, attained a mean speed of 9� nautical miles per hour. This was considered satisfactory. She is now completing coaling ; and, after adjusting the starting gear of the engines which is found defective, she will be ready for sea.

6 Apr 1851. Portsmouth. Painting ship, and ready for bending sails.

16 Apr 1851 Portsmouth. Under weigh at Spithead to test engines.

21 Apr 1851 Portsmouth. Advance of wages paid at Spithead. Captain Lyster. Bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Bruce. departed for Plymouth, with her tender the Teazer

24 Apr 1851 Devonport. arrived here Monday afternoon, and having coaled she departed for the coast of Africa to relieve the Centaur, Commodore Fanshawe. On leaving harbour she slightly touched the ground at the bridge. See also Teazer

3 May 1851 at Madeira meets Commodore Lavalette of the US Corvette Germantown, recently arrived on the Station.

12 Jun 1851 at Ascension.

31 Jul 1851 at Prince's Island.

8 Aug 1851 off Ambriz, Angola. Flag ship for the Commodore off the West Coast of Africa.

3 Sep 1851 at St. Paul de Loanda.

17 Oct 1851 off the Congo. Commodore Bruce advises the Admiralty that it has been discovered that 2 vessels were being built in the region, probably using frames from Brazil : one in the Congo and another in the river at Cabenda, which could well be used as slave vessels, and that they do not appear to have any legal excuse to destroy then before they are used.

27 Oct 1851 at Fernando Po.

1 Nov 1851 at Isle of St. Thomas.

25 Nov 1851 at Ascension.

6 Dec 1851 at Sierra Leone.

8 Dec 1851 departed Sierra Leone.

9 Dec 1851 off the Sherbro.

10 Dec 1851 off Cape Mount.

18 Dec 1851 arrived off Lagos.

23 Dec 1851 at Lagos, operations recommenced against the usurping King Kosoko with a view to reinstating King Akitoye :
Casualties: Killed : Midshipman Mr. F. R. Fletcher, Shot through the head ; A.B. John McDonald, Shot through the head ; Captain foretop William Laws, Shot through the orbit ; Armourer Frederick Hunn, Shot through the brain ; Captain forecastle Thomas Sutton, Shot through the brain ; Gunner's mate James Webb, Shot through the abdomen ; A.B. Thomas Davis, Shot through the abdomen ; Stoker Samuel Pitt, Shot through the head ; Stoker Benjamin Tracey, Killed on shore ; Stoker Rd. Peacock, Killed on shore ; Marine Francis Bone, Shot through the brain ; Marine Thomas Nonely, Shot through the brain ; Supernumerary Marine, William Wilson, Shot through the brain ; Krooman King George, Shot through the heart.
Wounded : Captain Henry Lyster, Severely ; Commander C. F. Hillyar, Severely ; Lieutenant John Corbett, Very severely ; First Lieutenant Marines J. W. C. Williams, Severely ; Master's assistant H. M. Gillham, Dangerously - since dead ; Gunner A. Dewar, Slightly ; Boatswain James Blight, Slightly ; Ordinary Henry Huggins, Severely ; Captain forecastle V. Waiters, Dangerously ; Boatswain's mate George Strong, Slightly ; A. B. Henry Keemer, Severely ; Captain foretop Peter Coleman, Severely ; Ordinary James Markham, Severely ; Captain�s coxswain George Day, Severely ; Boatswain's mate William Voler, Severely ; 2nd Ordinary Thos. Stephenson, Severely ; A. B. H. M. Davis, Severely ; A. B. Henry Laws, Severely ; Ordinary Joseph Brunkir, Severely ; 2nd class Ordinary George Cox, Severely ; A. B. William Walter, Severely ; A. B. Richard Wisdom, Severely ; A. B. George Bulley, Slightly ; Ordinary William Rice, Slightly ; Captain maintop William Hender, Slightly ; Sailmakers' crew Henry Harrison, Slightly ; Coxswain's launch Alexr. Rutter, Severely ; A. B. John Murphy, Severely ; Captain maintop William Smith, Severely ; Ordinary William Hayes, Severely ; Quartermaster William Aldred, Slightly ; Gunner's mate William Windsor, Slightly ; Stoker Charles Whitcomb, Severely ; Stoker Robert William, Slightly ; Leading stoker James Fullerton, Dangerously ; Stoker William Marshall, Severely ; Boy 1st Class John Oakley, Dangerously ; Supernumerary Boy 1st Class Thomas Saunders, Severely ; Thomas Rose, Boy 1st class Slightly ; Theophilus Cock, Boy 1st class Severely ; Richard Cocks, Boy 1st class Slightly ; G. Ben. Inprel, Boy 1st class supernumerary, Slightly ; David Berry, Boy 2nd class Slightly ; George Peters, Gunner R.M.A. Slightly ; George Glen, Fifer Severely ; W. Wainford, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; W. Bovingdon, Gunner R.M.A., Dangerously ; Wm. Botters, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; William Chaffe, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; Edward Cassidy, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; George Lacey, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; John Brown, Bombardier Severely ; Robert Wood, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; David Harlick, Gunner R.M.A., Severely ; George Maggs, Serjeant Slightly ; Ben Liverpool, Krooman Dangerously ; Tom Toby, Krooman Severely ; Tom Peter, Krooman Slightly ; Tom Bestman, Krooman Slightly ; Tom George, Krooman Slightly ; Abm. Dennis, Krooman Severely ; Tom Barber, Krooman Slightly.
see p. 368-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow
see also the Commodore's report of the action to the Admiralty : http://tiny.cc/2zwt6

23 Jan 1852 at Ascension.

10 Feb 1853 at Sierra Leone.

25 Feb 1853 off Lagos.

3 Mar 1853 at Whydah.

Circa 23 Mar - 1 Apr 1853 off Loanda.

Circa 25 Apr - 12 May 1853 at Ascension.

19 Jul 1853 off Loanda.

12 Aug 1853 Rear Adm. Bruce arrived off Lagos and found the Polyphemus, just returned from Sierra Leone, and Waterwitch, and was informed by Commander Phillips, of the former, "that great disturbance prevailed in the town of Lagos, two of King Akitoye's chief's having risen in open rebellion against him ; that Cdr. Gardner was up the river for the protection of British interests. Cdr. Gardner having seen the Penelope arrive, hastened down the river and informed me of the state of affairs at Lagos; that general consternation prevailed, and that the dispossessed chief, Kosoko, with a multitude of armed men and several large war-canoes, was within a few miles from the place."

13 Aug 1853 sent Cdr. Phillips with the boats of the Penelope, Polyphemus, and Waterwitch, supported by Commander Gardner and Acting-Commander Leikie, Lieutenants Strickland, Curtis, and Ruxton, to Lagos, "to support and protect the English and the King Akitoye. On entering the river, Commander Phillips was informed that Kosoko and his people had made good his footing in the town, and in conformity with his instructions, he immediately opened fire upon the house and position where they were known to be, and so effectually dislodged them by a few shot and shells that they all at once fled," in their canoes, which conveyed them away beyond our reach as night fell.

Commander Phillips to wrote to Rear Admiral Bruce, as follows:
"H.M.'s Steam Sloop Polyphemus, Lagos Roads, August 14, 1853.
Sir, Yesterday evening, the force you did me the honour to place under my command arrived off Lagos, which I found in terror and confusion, in consequence of the usurper Kosoko having, by the treachery of the Caboceers, A'Pellu and Aginea, established himself in force within musket-shot of the quarters of our ally, King Akitoye.
........I got the boats into position as fast as they came up, and just as darkness set in opened on the enemy's position with shot and shell ; a few minutes sent them flying out of it, and Akitoye's friends, deriving encouragement from our very forcible demonstration, fired their buildings, seized much of their property, and by daylight had driven them off the island, with such a loss of killed, wounded, and captives, as will, I hope, remove the impediments that have so long existed to deprive Lagos of the advantages our country has been striving to secure it.
By 2 p.m. on this day, Akitoye's authority was so completely restored that I was enabled to direct the boats to return to their ships. The local experience of Commander Gardner, of the Waterwitch, was of the greatest assistance to me, and the conduct of the officers and men engaged with me was such as deserves my thanks and acknowledgments. I have, &c. (Signed) C. Gerrans Phillips.

16 Sep - 5 Oct 1853 at Ascension.

10 Nov 1853 off Lagos.

18 Nov 1853 off Cape Coast Castle.

7 Jan 1854 off Lagos.

23 Jan 1854 at Fernando Po.

21 Feb 1854 at Sierra Leone.

13 Jun 1854 the French fleet joined the British in the Baltic at Baro Sound - see p. 419-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

10 Aug 1854 Penelope went ashore under the Russian guns and had to throw her guns overboard and was much mauled by the enemy's red-hot shot before she could be floated off, assisted by the boats of the Hecla, Gladiator, Valorous, and Pigmy, who also suffered - see p. 424 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

21 Jun 1855 the Penelope and Frolic rendered salvage services to the Earl of Eglinton.

1861 Portsmouth, re-rated as a 16