Suwarrow / Sowarrow, 1799
Type: Hired armed lugger / schooner / cutter ? ; Armament 10
Hired : 1799 ; Disposal year : 1801
Notes:

1799 Black Joke renamed Suwarrow.

[Not only described as a Hired armed lugger, probably 10 guns, but also as a 14 or 18 gun schooner, and even a cutter, so one almost wonders if there may have 2 vessels, although I would have thought unlikely : could the vessel have been re-rigged ? Ed.]

27 Nov 1799 Plymouth, came in, from off Brest, the Suwarrow, 18, with dispatches from Lord Bridport.

2 Dec 1799 Plymouth, departed with dispatches for Lord Bridport, off Brest.

8 Jan 1800 Plymouth, arrived the Suwarrow, 14, Lt. Nicholson, having parted company with Admiral Gardner's Fleet in a gale, east, the 21st ult. ; was blown into the Bay of Biscay ; but fortunately, by a shift of wind, got into Bantry short of provisions.

10 Jan 1800 Plymouth, departed with victuallers for Torbay.

12 Mar 1800 Plymouth, arrived the Suwarrow from the Passage du Raz. He fell in with two French luggers of 8 guns, and one of 10 guns, full of men. Engaged them in a very gallant style, and beat them off; took three chasse marees, one in ballast, and two with wines, in sight of the luggers, which were running away ; he boarded and sent the chasse marees for Falmouth and Plymouth.

16 Mar 1800 Plymouth, departed with the Nereide for the Penmarks.

5 Apr 1800 Plymouth, arrived from off the Penmarks, after chasing a French privateer, of 16 guns, for several hours, but lost her in the night.

12th May 1800 the Clyde, Thames, and Suwarrow capture a French Chasse Maree.

5 Jun 1800 Plymouth, arrived with dispatches from Earl St. Vincent, which he left all well the 2d instant. She fell in with and captured a chasse maree going from Morlaix to Bourdeaux, with 300 Louis on board, to buy a cargo of brandies, &c.

17 Jun 1800 Plymouth, departed with dispatches for Earl St. Vincent.

17 Aug 1800 Plymouth, arrived with dispatches from Earl St. Vincent for the Admiralty.

24 Aug 1800 Plymouth, arrived from Earl St. Vincent with dispatches.

13 Sep 1800 Plymouth, arrived La Providence French brig, with wine, soap, and brandy for the Brest fleet. She was discovered under the guns of two batteries near Camaret Point, by the Suwarrow, 14, and cut out by the ship's boats, notwithstanding the heavy fire of the batteries.

14 Oct 1800 Plymouth, arrived from Torbay, with the loss of anchor and cables in a gale on Saturday at S. E.

23 Oct 1800 Plymouth, departed with dispatches for the Channel Fleet.

17 Nov 1800 ships' boats destroy French 20-gun ship-corvette R�olaise in Port Navalo and capture a merchant vessel. One man belonging to the Suwarrow was killed in the action.

11 Dec 1800 Plymouth, arrived from off Brest ; left the flying squadron off the Black Rocks. They had looked into Brest on the 7th inst., when there did not appear to be any movement.

21 Dec 1800 Plymouth, departed on a cruise off the Penmarks.

3 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth the Prussian brig Apollo, Boucher, master, laden with wine and brandy, bound from Bourdeaux for Altona, detained by the Suwarrow.

3 Feb 1801 sent into Plymouth the following detained Danish merchantmen, viz. the galliot Two Brothers, of Glyxstadt, Muller, master, from Bourdeaux, laden with wine for Altona ; and Two Friends, of Altona, Arfston, master, laden with brandy from Charente, detained by the Suwarrow.

3 Feb 1801 captured the French Brig La Jeune Annette and her Cargo. 22 Mar 1802 the proceeds arising due to be distributed. Appears to have been taken into the service and renamed Paisley / Pasley.

4 Feb 1801 detained and sent into Plymouth Le Jeune Annette, French brig, Capt Fauqueur, laden with coffee, cotton and dye-wood from Cayenne, bound to Bourdeaux.

4 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth later in the day.

5 Feb 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound La Jeune Nannette, 18 guns, and 45 men. Citizen Feuqueux, (Lieutenant de Vaisseau,) from Cayenne to Bourdeaux, with a valuable cargo of Annatto, dye wood, elephants teeth, &c. &c. prize to the [Little] Suwarrow, of 10 guns, Lieutenant James Nicholson, who, when he fell in with her, had only 16 men and boys on board, having manned and sent in four Danes; yet with his small force he pursued, and after a short action, obliged her to strike, tho' she was so much superior to the Suwarrow. La Jeune Nannette, had on board several deported priests returning from Cayenne, who appear from confinement mere skeletons.

9 Feb 1801 detained and sent into Plymouth the Catharina, Danish brig, Leckee, master, laden with brandy, and bound from Bourdeaux to Altona.

18 Feb 1801 arrived Torbay from a cruise. Wind SW and Squally.

7 Mar 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound from the Black Rock squadron the Suwarrow, of ten guns, left them all well last Thursday at noon, the combined fleets in the inner roads were then twenty-nine sail of the line besides frigates.

26 Apr 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound with dispatches from the fleet off Brest, which she left all well off that port on Wednesday last.

28 Apr 1801 last Monday Adm. Cornwallis went in the Fisgard to reconnoitre the outer road of Brest, attended by the Suwarrow, of ten guns, Lt Nicholson, to reconnoitre the French fleet, they got so near the batteries that shot and shells flew over them. The Admiral counted twenty-four sail of the line and ten frigates in the outer road, apparently ready for sea, with top-gallant-yards across. The Admiral jocosely observed, if the French fleet would come out he could venture to assert he would beat them with his fourteen three-deckers, and leave the seventy-four's to see fair play. The fleet are in the highest order possible, and full of spirits. By letters the 21st Apr 1801, from the inshore squadron, it appears that the combined fleets have top-gallant-yards across and sails bent.

29 Apr 1801 departed Plymouth Sound with dispatches for the inshore squadron under R.-Adm. Saumarez.

29 May 1801 arrived Plymouth Sound the Suwarrow armed schooner, Lieutenant Nicholson, from the Channel Fleet. The enemy's fleet in Brest were as follows on the 25th inst. : in the inner road four three-deckers, fourteen two-deckers, two frigates, and one corvette. In the outer road, six three-deckers, eleven two-deckers, twelve frigates, and nine corvettes. Those in the outer road are apparently ready for sea, and as several transports are also in the harbour it is supposed some push out is about to be made if they can escape the vigilance of our fleets. The fleet in Brest is commanded by Admiral Villaret Joyeuse, who was defeated by the late Earl Howe on the glorious 1st of June 1794. The British strength off Brest is, thirteen three-deckers, three seventy-four's, and three frigates, under the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis. The inshore squadron, under Rear-Admiral Sir J. Saumarez, Knt. is six sail of the line and two frigates. 30 May 1801 Lieutenant Nicholson, of the Suwarrow, went into Rochefort about fifteen days since, with an Officer of L'Impetueux, of 84 guns, Sir E. Pellew, Bart, and counted five sail of the line and three frigates ready for sea, among the latter was his Majesty's late frigate Ambuscade, of 32 guns. The French Admiral behaved very polite to the Officer bearing the flag of truce. Commodore Sir E. Pellew, with six sail of the line, was blocking the French squadron up in Rochefort.

6 Jun 1801 departed Plymouth Sound on a cruise to the Westward.

17 Jun 1801 while cruising off St. Anders, on the coast of Spain, she was chased for fourteen hours by a Spanish frigate, of 44 guns, and a gun-brig, of 14 guns, which gained upon her so much that Lieutenant Nicholson was obliged to cut his gunwhales, and throw all his guns overboard, and night coming on she escaped and was able to join the Channel Fleet and was ordered home to refit.

24 Jul 1801 came into Plymouth Sound with dispatches from the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis, dated the 22nd off Brest, which state they were all well, and the enemy as usual.

22 Aug 1801 departed Plymouth Sound with dispatches for the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis and Commodore Sir Edward Pellew.

15 Oct 1801 came into Plymouth Sound the Suwarrow, from off Brest. Lieutenant Nicholson was sent in with a flag of truce to Admiral Villaret, and received with the greatest politeness. He dined with the French Admiral, and the Spanish Admiral Don Gravina. Madame Villaret presented Lieutenant Nicholson with a morocco purse, having a bust of Bonaparte under a glass, set in silver, esteemed a striking likeness. Admiral Villaret politely sent off a present of fruit to Admiral Cornwalis, by the Suwarrow. There were 25 sail of the line in Brest water, apparently ready for sea, amongst which were 6 3-deckers. The forts at Brest were lined with cannon, and every hundred yards were furnaces for heating red hot shot. 28 Oct 1801 Suwarrow, 12, Lieutenant Nicholon, paid off, and her crew discharged.

5 Nov 1801 the Suwarrow, 14, Lieut. Nicholson, paid off, and the crew discharged.