Triton, 1846
Type: Sloop ; Armament 4
Launched at Blackwall : 24 Oct 1846 ; Disposal date or year : 1872
BM: 654 tons ; Displacement: 1055 tons
Propulsion: Paddle
Machinery notes: 260 h.p.
Notes:

Jan, 1846, Triton, 4, iron steamer, Wigram, half built, at Blackwall.

26 Jun 1847, Woolwich, in harbour.

10 Nov 1847, Woolwich, in the inner basin.

17 Nov 1847, Woolwich, departed for Chatham to be fitted out and brought forward for commission.

9 Dec 1847, Chatham, taken into dock to be fitted for service.

14 Jan 1848, Chatham, fitting for sea. Her bottom is being treated with Mr. Hays composition.

20 Jan 1848, Chatham, painting finished, and goes out of dock Saturday.

27 Jan 1848, Chatham, departed for Woolwich for machinery trials.

28 Jan 1848, Woolwich, arrived from Chatham.

5 Feb 1848, Woolwich, since her sister ships, the Oberon and Antelope caught fire when they went to sea, the Triton is to be sent to sea for 4-5 days to ensure that the fault has been resolved.

9 Feb 1848, Chatham, arrived from Woolwich, to store ship.

29 Feb 1848, Woolwich, departed at 6 a.m. for trials in the Channel.

5 Mar 1848, Portsmouth, came into harbour having had her compasses adjusted.

17 Mar 1848, Woolwich, returned from a cruise in the Channel, including calls at Portsmouth and Falmouth, and experienced severe weather, but no repeat of the problems that affected the Oberon and Antelope.

21 Mar 1848, Admiralty, Lieutenant Charles J.P. Glinn appointed to the Triton, in command. Is to be taken into the basin to be prepared for commission and service as a packet in the Mediterranean.

23 Mar 1848, Second Master S.W.K. Freeman, and Clerk in Charge J.H.W. Bownman, appointed.

25 Mar 1848, Assistant Surgeon Phillip Porter, and Assistant Chief Engineer Charles K. Renwick appointed.

29 Mar 1848, Acting Gunner John Goldie appointed.

5 Apr 1848, Woolwich, Cpl. James Lambert, RM, fell down hatchway of the receiving ship Nymph and died. I can only guess that the Nymph was being used as an accommodation ship for the crew of the Triton whilst she was in dockyard hands, being prepared for sea.

5 Apr 1848, Assistant Engineer J.D. Beaton appointed.

11 Apr 1848, Woolwich, with 2 other vessels their fires were lit and kept in a state of readiness to embark troops, presumably for exercise only ?

12 Apr 1848, Woolwich, departed for Spithead.

16 Apr 1848, Spithead, arrived from Woolwich, en route for Plymouth.

23 Apr 1848, departed Plymouth a.m. with despatches for Lisbon and the Mediterranean.

25 Apr 1848, arrived Lisbon in the evening, after a 60 hour passage from Plymouth, with despatches and Portuguese passengers : then coaled and prepared to depart for Gibraltar, but was detained by the Captain of the Havannah, Senior Officer at Lisbon, until at least the 28th with mail for the Mediterranean.

24 May 1848, Malta, in harbour.

4 July 1848, reported to be en route between Malta and Marseille. [I think that by this time mail was being sent by diplomatic bag across France, to England, using train etc., much quicker than sending it by sea, even when using steam ships. The bag would, of course, also include mail from the Far East etc., brought to Malta from Alexandria. It is interesting, how during the 19th Century, communications of this nature declined from taking months, to weeks, days and then a few hours by the time of the Boxer Rebellion, as long as someone didn't pull down the telegraph poles!]

2 Sep 1848, Malta, in harbour.

26 Sep 1848, reported to be en route between Malta and Marseille. Although it is reported elsewhere that, following unconfirmed reports of a case of cholera in Malta, most shipping from Malta is subject to weeks of quarantine in Continental ports, e.g. 50 days at Messina and Naples.

28 Sep 1848, expected back from Marseille, but had not arrived by 2 Oct.

26 Oct 1848, still reported to be en route between Malta and Marseille, but not as overdue ?

12 Nov 1848, Malta, in harbour. The Board of Health have issued a formal notice stating that whilst there appear to have been a number of false reports of Cholera, it now considers that the Island is clear, although some doctors are still reporting that in their opinion some patients may have Cholera.

22 Nov 1848, en route between Malta and Alexandria.

2 Dec 1848, Malta, in harbour.

23 Dec 1848, her engines are reported to have broken down and she is now in the hands of the Dockyard.

12 Mar 1849 Triton remains at Malta, undergoing repair, whilst her crew has taken despatches to Corfu in the Locust, and was due back tomorrow.

17 Oct 1854 1st Bombardment of Sebastopol - see p. 437 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

24 Nov 1857 departed England for anti-slavery duties on the West Coast of Africa.

8 Feb 1858 off Tachin, boarded the Spanish brig Don Juan in accordance with the appropriate Treaty for the suppression of the Slave Trade.

18 Feb 1858 off Aghwey, 4.40 a.m. observed a suspicious vessel standing out from the land. 6.15 a.m. stopped and boarded the American schooner Hanover, of New York.

8 Mar 1858 off Adaffie, boarded the American schooner Hanover. 19 May 1858 Commodore Wise stated in a letter that in the Bights, the intention of the Hanover to ship a cargo of slaves has been frustrated, and that she has left the coast in despair. She was also stopped by other R.N. cruisers, including the Hecla. It was also noted by the British Consul at Lagos, in a letter of the same date, that 8 Kroomen working on board, having discovered the nature of the Hanover's trade, had deserted the vessel.

17 Mar 1858 cruising off Adaffie.

18 Mar 1858 ashore enquiring about slaves for the schooner Hanover, supposed to be lurking in the offing. Remained in search of the human cargo that the Hanover hoped to slip in and embark, in order that the Triton would be ready for her.

28 Mar 1858 Bights Division, on the West Coast of Africa: following a visit by the Flag Officer he stated that there is no doubt that the vigilance of our cruisers alone has prevented the shipment of large numbers of slaves from the lagoons communicating with Whydah. The increase of the squadron has been most advantageous, and the cruizers, under Commander Aplin's judicious guidance, have been so far, I hope, completely successful. The squadron at present consists of the Hecla, Trident (to be relieved by Ardent,) Triton, Sharpshooter, Pluto, and Brune. l have stated that there is no doubt that the Slave Trade in the neighbourhood of Whydah is checked only by our cruizers; in proof of this I may mention that all the reports from British residents show that the demand for slaves in the interior markets has much increased, that the slave-hunts from Abomey and from Abbeokuta have been revived, and that three undoubted slavers, with two suspected vessels, are at this moment on the coast. These are, the Marshall, and the Hanover, both under American colours ; and the Don Juan, Spanish brig lately purchased, it is said, by slave-dealers, off Appi, watched by the Trident. There is also reason to suspect the American barque Firefly, boarded by the Pluto on the 10th of March last, and a Portuguese schooner. I have written to the American Commander-in-chief pressing him to station an American ship of war in the Bights.

18 Jul 1858 at Whydah.

4 Feb 1859 when at anchor off Killongo observed a vessel in the offing : following a chase of 4 hours was detained the slave brigantine Name Unknown, supposed George Louhse, and being without flag or papers she was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and on 7 Mar 1859 sentenced to be condemned. 8 Oct 1860 Prize money due payable.

20 Apr 1859 was in the River Congo when the USS Marion arrived in the River and the the following day seized the American slave barque Orion, with all he crew, which she sent to New York for adjudication, followed a few days later by the American brig Ardennes, who arrived in the River with the Pluto, in which case Commander Brent of the Marion considered that the master had perjured himself to the authorities at Jacksonville by stating that he was sailing for the Canaries, whereas he never went near the islands, nor had any intention of doing so despite having 2 "passengers" on board who had been furnished with passports for those islands, but were most probably more interested in the vessel's prospective slave cargo ?

3 May 1859 10.45 a.m., departed anchorage off Snake's Head.

4 May 1859 at 7.10 a.m. detained in lat. 8� 5' S., long. 12� 58' E., off Mossulo or Marula, the slave schooner, Name Unknown, supposed Regla, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and on 31 May 1859 sentenced to be condemned. 8 Oct 1860 Prize money due now payable.

5 May 1859 arrived at Loanda with the slave schooner Regla in tow, en route for St. Helena, departing on the 10th.

2 Jul 1859 left the company of HMS Conflict off the Congo, and spoke to HMS Pluto off Shark's Point and anchored and supplied her with provisions.

4 Jul 1859 detained a slave schooner, Name Unknown, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and sentenced to be condemned.

10 Jul 1859 at Shark's Point, near the mouth of the River Congo.

30 Jul 1859 boarded the American barque Ottawa to confirm her identity.

1 Aug 1859 departed Juma Bay and anchored at noon with the American vessel Memphis to seaward.

2 Aug 1859 weighed and was overtaken by the Ottawa running to the northward.

8 Aug 1859 anchored near Point Padrone, having spoken to the Vesuvius to the south of Snake's Head, regarding various meetings the Triton had had with the American ship Memphis, which when first visited was supposedly disguised as a whaler, whilst plainly engaged in the slave trade, and that her movements were closely watched from 14 Jul when her movements became most suspicious.

8 Aug 1859 having received information from the ship's boats that the suspected American slave vessels Ottawa and Lillie Mills had gone up the River Congo to Punta da Lenha, departed in pursuit to anchor in company with them and on 10 Aug went on board the Lillie Mills to inspect her papers. Her master, R. H. Weeks, stated that he was a former RN seaman who had served on board HMS Dido in 1848, who now claimed to be a citizen of the United States.

11 Aug 1859 followed the Ottawa down river, which being so closely watched left the river for the sea and thence to the southward, and was suspected of seeking a slave cargo elsewhere, such as Ambrizette or Moanda.

17 Aug 1859 detained off Bahia Fonda, a few miles to the north of Ambriz after a chase of over 3 hours the slave schooner, Name Unknown, supposed Juana, and without papers or flag, her crew having deserted, which was sent under the command of Mr. Edward C. Smyth, Second Master, for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena and on 15 Sep 1859 sentenced to be condemned.

11 Sep 1859 boarded the American ship (former barque) Emily, which had been acting suspiciously by anchoring the previous evening in Bahia Fonda Bay, only normally used by vessels involved in the slave trade, however her papers being in order she was allowed to go about her business.

13 Oct 1859 boarded the American brig Taverier, of New York, which, whilst her papers appeared to be in order, it being noted that there was no means of proving their authenticity, and raised some points which might suggest that there did appear to be some problems with the papers, but that could only be resolved by a U.S.N. officer, which would appear to have been confirmed by the fact that she was detained by the Viper on the 4 Nov 1859 with 518 negroes on board.

22 Dec 1859 with the Viper, chased a slave brig, Name Unknown, but supposed Dos Hermanos, but lost her.

24 Dec 1859 chased and detained in Lat. 7� 17' S., long. 12� 14' E., off Bahia Fonda, a slave brig, Name Unknown, supposed Dos Hermanos, about 200 tons, as she was preparing to embark her human cargo. She was sent to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena for adjudication in the charge of Master's Assistant C. J. Bigley and on 23 Jan 1860 sentenced to be condemned.

9-10 Jan 1860 detained in Lat. 5� 8' S., long. 11� 52' E., a slave barque Name unknown, supposed Pamphylia, with 6-700 slaves on board, 200 youngsters, for their own safety, being removed to the Triton, both vessels departing for the adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena where on the 13 Feb 1860 the Pamphylia was sentenced to be condemned.

13 Apr 1860 detained in Lat. 3� 25' N., long. 11� 1' W., a slave ship, Name Unknown, supposed Roanoke, which was sent for adjudication to Sierra Leone and on 25 Apr 1860 sentenced to be condemned.

7 Jan 1861 returned to England from the West Coast of Africa.

23 Jan 1863 Devonport. Commissioned.

1864 on the South East Coast of America. Report of fever onboard : number of Cases of Disease and Injury.

1870 Devonport