Aurora (1779 ship)

Aurora was launched at Philadelphia in 1779. She did not appear in British registers until 1800. She then made four voyages as a slave ship. Next, she became a West Indiaman and was last listed in 1813.

For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named Aurora.

History
Pennsylvania
Name: Aurora
Builder: Philadelphia
Launched: 1779
Fate: Sold c.1799
Great Britain
Name: Aurora
Acquired: c.1799
Fate: Last listed 1813
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 284,[1][2] or 286 (bm)
Complement:
Armament:
  • 1800:18 × 9-pounder guns[1]
  • 1800:18 × 18&6-pounder cannons[2]
  • 1803:12 × 6-pounder guns[2]
  • 1805:12 × 6-pounder guns[2]

Career

Aurora first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1800 with A. Duncan, master, changing to Lawson, changing to A.Roie. Her owner was A.Hughans. Her trade was Liverpool–Jamaica, changing to London–Africa. She had been almost rebuilt in 1797.[1]

1st slave voyage (1800–1801): Captain George Lawson acquired a letter of marque on 26 November 1800.[2] He sailed from London on 2 December 1800, bound for the Gold Coast. Aurora purchased her slaves at Cape Coast Castle and Anomabu. She arrived at Kingston, Jamaica, on 11 August 1801 and there landed 278 slaves. She left Kingston on 5 September, and arrived back at London on 1 November. At some point in the voyage Captain Thomas Ramsey had replaced Lawson.[3]

2nd slave voyage (1802–1803): Captain Nathaniel McGhie sailed from London on 17 January 1802. Aurora purchased her slaves on the Gold Coast and again delivered them to Kingston. She arrived at Kingston on 17 December and landed 277 slaves. She left Kingston on 7 March 1803 and arrived at London on 8 May.[4]

3rd slave voyage (1803–1804): Captain James Wilkinson acquired a letter of marque on 15 October 1803.[2] Captain James Wilkins sailed from London on 15 November. Aurora started purchasing her slaves on 26 February 1804, first at Cape Coast Castle, and then at Accra. She arrived at Kingston on 28 June and landed 290 slaves. She arrived back at London on 11 October.[5]

4th slave voyage (1805–1806): Captain James Philips acquired a letter of marque on 14 March 1805. He sailed from London on 5 April. Aurora purchased her slaves on the Gold Coast and arrived at Demerara on 16 November. There she landed 280 slaves. She arrived back at London on 1 June 1806.[6]

The Slave Trade Act 1807 ended British vessels' involvement in the slave trade. Aurora became a West Indiaman. Lloyd's List ship arrival and departue (SAD) data does show a voyage by Aurora, Phillips, master, in 1807 to Trinidad and back to Liverpool, but nothing thereafter.

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1807 J. Philips Taylor & Co. Demerara–Cork LR
1810 J. Philips Taylor & Co. Demerara–Cork LR

Fate

Aurora was last listed in 1813 with data unchanged from 1810.

Citations
  1. LR (1800), Seq.№A708.
  2. "Letter of Marque, p.51 - accessed 25 July 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  3. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Aurora voyage #80389.
  4. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Aurora voyage #80391.
  5. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Aurora voyage #80391.
  6. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – Aurora voyage #80391.
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