Saracen, 1831
Type: Brig-sloop ; Armament 10
Launched : 30 Jan 1831 ; Disposal date or year : 1862
BM: 228 tons
Notes:

1830 Plymouth, building.

12 Dec 1833 In Hamoaze.

8 Dec 1833 Came into harbour at Devonport to be docked.

2 Jan 1834 In Hamoaze, fitting out.

14 Nov 1835 is reported to be either on the north coast of Spain.

19 Dec 1835 reported to be on the North coast of Spain.

28 Nov 1836 the Comet is reported to have been used as a tug to tow small vessels up the River Nervion to form a bridge, built by men from the Ringdove, across the river for the troops, during which the boatswin's mate was wounded. In addition, guns from the Saracen were taken ashore to provide covering fire for the bridge. It has to be said that the movement was abandoned for no apparent reason, and the boats and guns returned to their original positions. Morale appears to be low !

Per a report made to Parliament in 1842, at some time during 1837 the Brig Saracen, 10 guns, Complement: 50, was involved in combatting the Slave Trade and experienced 1 Death, for which no reason is given.

19 Feb 1837 reported to be in the Bilboa River.

3 Apr 1837 arrived Plymouth from Bilboa (27 Mar).

22 Jun 1837 arrived Lisbon from Falmouth with mail.

14 Jul 1837 arrived Falmouth from Lisbon (2nd).

31 Mar 1839 detained by the boats of the Saracen in the Rio Pongas the Portuguese slave schooner Lavradora / Labradora, Victor de Barreda, master, with 245 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Portuguese Court of Mixed Commission, Sierra Leone, and on 13 Apr 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

13 Jan 1839 detained in the River Gallinas the American slave schooner Florida, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone. Subsequently the vessel was restored to her master.

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.

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

19 Apr 1839 detained in lat. 6� 57' N., long. 11� 57' W., the Russian slave vessel Goluptchick, Matias Mestri, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone which, perhaps understandably, was unwilling to take the case.

15 Jun 1839 Portsmouth a prize to the Saracen, the slaver Golupohick arrived here Monday, under charge of Lieutenant Rowlett, late of the Dolphin. The Saracen is reported to have captured two other slavers, one of which had 290 slaves on board, the other empty ; both were condemned.

20 Jul 1839 Master and Pilot C. H. Millen, appointed to the Saracen.

10 Aug 1839 The appointment of C. H. Miller, as 2d Master of the Saracen, has been cancelled.

10 Aug 1839 Portsmouth Orders have been received here to give up the slave vessel Golupchick, captured by the Saracen, under Russian colours, and if an arrangement is not immediately made with that Government, the slave trade will be carried on again to an undisturbed and unlimited amount, under cover of that flag, though no Russian capital or Russians may be engaged in it.

16 Oct 1839 detained off Gallinas the Portuguese slave schooner Brilhante, V. da Silva, captain of the Portuguese flag, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 7 Nov 1839 sentenced to be condemned.

7 Feb 1840 detained the slave schooner Senegambia, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, and on 6 Mar 1840 sentenced to be condemned.

1 Mar 1840 arrived Sierra Leone from Casaman�a, Gambia and Senegal, Lieut. Hill in command. Whilst at Casaman�a Lieut. Hill reports that he arranged the affair as far as possible until the respective Governments make their mind up. The schooner Senegambia was detained and has been condemned by the Vice Admiralty Court, however she is reported to be unfit for H.M. service and is therefore unsuitable as a replacement for the receiving ship Conflict.

4 Mar 1840 instructed to prepare for and to sail to Portendick to protect British interests during the season of the gum trade in accordance with Admiralty Instruction of 10 May 1839.

6 Mar 1840 for Portendick.

21 Jul 1840 detained off the Gallinas the Spanish slave brigantine Diana, which may also have been known as Anna, Felipe Victorio, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 8 Sep 1840 sentenced to be condemned.

17 Aug 1840 detained off the Gallinas the Spanish slave vessel Sirena, Manuel Mu�iz, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 8 Sep 1840 sentenced to be condemned.

Oct 1840 120 seamen and marines from the Wanderer and Saracen entered the village of Dombocorro with a view to obtaining, by treaty, the release of the slaves held by slavers in the district, under the control of Chief Siacca, and the burning of all eight slave factories.

23 Oct 1840 Sierra Leone, is lately reported to have taken prizes.

9 Dec 1840 detained off Seabar, River Sherbro, the Spanish slave schooner Boa Uniao, F. J. Olindes, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 1 Feb 1841 sentenced to be condemned.

11 Dec 1840 detained off Seabar, River Sherbro, the Spanish slave schooner San Paolo de Loando, late Salazar, J. M. de Amezaga, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 1 Feb 1841 sentenced to be condemned.

19 Jan 1841 detained off Seabar, River Sherbro the United States slave schooner Urraca, L. Lopez, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 23 Feb 1841 sentenced to be condemned.

27 Jan 1841 off Sierra Leone.

7 Feb 1841 detained in the slave vessel Augusta, which was sent for adjudication to a Vice-Admiralty Court, and on 31 Mar 1841 sentenced to be condemned.

22 Feb 1841 detained after a brief resistance off Seabar, River Sherbro the Spanish slave brig Republicano, F. Marengo, master, which was sent for adjudication to the British and Spanish Mixed Court of Justice, Sierra Leone, and on 6 Apr 1841 sentenced to be condemned.

24 Feb 1841, Lieut W H Hill, commanding officer of the Saracen, at anchor off Sea Bar, writes that he has been advised by a Krooman named Sea Breeze, when coming off from Sea Bar, yesterday afternoon, & informing both Lieut Hill, that he & Brookes his brother), had been beaten, put in irons, and confined in Mr Francois's barracoon, by that person and Mr Henry Tucker, the chief of Sea Bar, because they had stolen a boat belonging to the Brig, so that water can't be procured. Mr Kingston the officer in charge of the boat also informed Lieut Hill that he had filled 2 small casks with water and afterwards received a demand from Mr Tucker for $10 for having done so.
Sea Breeze's ankles plainly show the mark of the irons, & his head much bruised. He effected his escape, but his brother was sent to another place of confinement. The Ferret being here, at Sea Bar, Lt Hill requested the assistance of Lt Thomas to accompany him into the Sea Bar with 2 of his boats to demand some explanations from Mr Henry Tucker for this unfriendly proceeding, at the same time to offer a Treaty, which his Excellency the Governor at Sierra Leone has received from the Home Govt., and interested me to effect with the Chiefs on that Coast.
On Lieuts Thomas and Hill landing at Mr Francois' Factory, which is the place that Mr Henry Tucker was generally met, but it was deserted, apart from a few Black men. Two Barracoons capable of containing 500 Africans, indicating an extensive slave trading establishment.
Mr Tucker had gone into the Bush and requests were sent out for him to meet them, but he sent a message refusing, and it was soon discovered that Tucker and Francois had armed themselves with muskets and were accompanied by slaves, who they sent to fire on the ships' boats, however it would appear that the slaves came down to explain the circumstances, and stating a wish to take advantage of the opportunity of going to Sierra Leone, bringing with them a canoe from a nearby creek, containing women and children, making a total of 51 persons, which were embarked, having set fire to Mr Francois's barracoon, which would appear to have burnt to the ground. [Lt Hill goes on to detail the importance of the slave trade at that place, and that the Saracen had captured 4 slave vessels since 1 Dec, and it was known that another 2 had escaped them. A list of slaves who claimed protection from Mr F's clutches was enclosed. Copies of this letter soon reached the Admiralty and the Foreign Office. Source FO 84-384 Admiralty 1841 May-Aug p 547.

20 Mar 1841 Lieutenant Henry Worsley Hill, of the Saracen, promoted to Commander.

19 Apr 1841 Portsmouth, The Goluptchick has been captured again on the coast of Africa, by the Saracen, under the name of Augusta, within three miles of the spot she was taken at before.

10 Jul 1841 Plymouth, arrived from the coast of Africa.

20 Jul 1841 Plymouth, was paid off into ordinary.

20 Dec 1848 Devonport.

1854 Survey vessel.

20 Jun 1857 Departed Hongkong for Siam.

1860 East Indies and China.