Pigmy, 1810
Type: Schooner ; Armament 10
Launched : 1810 ; Disposal date or year : 1823
Notes:

15 Aug 1811 arrived Portsmouth with a convoy from the Downs.

19 Aug 1811 departed Portsmouth with a convoy for the Downs.

2 Sep 1811 departed Deal to cruise off the coast of France.

10 Sep 1811 arrived Deal from a cruise.

11 Sep 1811 departed Deal with convoy for Portsmouth.

18 Sep 1811 arrived Portsmouth from the Downs.

18 Sep 1811 arrived Deal from a cruise.

26 Dec 1811 arrived Deal (dismasted) from a cruise.

23 Aug 1813 arrived Portsmouth with a convoy from the Downs.

2 Dec 1813 arrived Deal from a cruise off the French coast.

11 Dec 1813 departed Deal with dispatches for Admiral Young, off Flushing.

16 Dec 1813 arrived Deal with dispatches from Admiral Young, off the Scheldt. We learn that Admiral Young with the whole of his fleet are gone into the Roompot.

18 Dec 1813 departed Deal with dispatches for Admiral Young, in the Roompot.

21 Sep 1814 arrived Plymouth from a cruise.

14 Dec 1814 distribution of head-money arising from the capture of American gun-boats and sundry bales of cotton, [per London Gazette of 26 Jun 1821].

7 Sep 1817 departed Falmouth on a cruise.

15 Jun 1820 seizor's proportions of the proceeds of the boat June, and of 33 casks of spirits, and the bounty for three men seized in her, [per London Gazette of 28 Jul 1821].

27 Nov 1821 Is in commission and based on Plymouth.

19 Feb 1822 departed Plymouth Sound for Portsmouth with marines from the Vigo.

14 Mar 1822 arrived Spithead from Plymouth.

17 Mar 1822 departed Spithead for the River, i.e. for vessels recruiting at Chatham and Sheerness &c., with men paid off from the Vigo.

23 Mar 1822 reward for the seizure of 63 casks of foreign spirits [per London Gazette of 28 Sep 1822].

30 Apr 1822 proceeds received following the seizure of 70 kegs of foreign spirits, [per London Gazette of 14 Jan 1823].

21 Apr 1822 William Lewis, 33, of Wyke Regis, smuggler, was killed by a shot from HM ship Pigmy. Source: MI.

3 Jun 1822 on Monday se'nnight a court martial assembled on board the Queen Charlotte to try Lieut Hills, of His Majesty's vessel Pigmy, schooner, for having caused the death of William Lewis, a man belonging to the sloop Active, of Weymouth ; when it appeared from the evidence, that on the 21st April, the Pigmy being about 3 leagues to the southward of Portland, she fell in with a sloop steering for the land ; musquetry was fired to bring her to, which was not noticed by the sloop, which endeavoured to escape, and appeared to be throwing supposed contraband cargo overboard ; a firing was kept up for about 20 minutes, when she shortened sail, and on a boat boarding her from the Pigmy, the said Lewis was discovered to have been wounded, and was taken ashore off Weymouth, where he is said to have died 3 days later. The Court decided that Lieut Hills was perfectly justified in his conduct upon that occasion, and pronounced him to be fully acquitted. The President at the conclusion of the trial informed Lt Hills that he had the pleasure to return his sword unstained, and observed that as the laws of our country are administered with justice and mercy, so they require to be adopted with firmness and vigour. I don't think it should be forgotten that during this period it wasn't unusual for the smugglers to open fire against Revenue cutters, and to attack Revenue personnel when apprehended ashore, so it wasn't unusual for Revenue personnel to be suitably armed when on duty ashore. This, combined with the way that gangs of smugglers subdued and frightened local populations, giving the legal system few opportunities for the public to act as witnesses for the prosecution, despite many offers of money from the Government for the capture and condemnation of wanted smugglers. There again it was the upper classes and those working in high places with money to spare who bought smuggled goods from the smugglers, thus keeping them in business, along with high duties on spirits and tobacco imposed by the Government, which as we know today, only seems to provide an incentive for those prepared to take the risk to bring these goods into the country.

30 Apr 1823 Put up for sale [per London Gazette of 17 May 1823].