Experiment (1789 ship)

Experiment was launched on the River Thames in 1789. She made seven voyages for Calvert & Co. as a slave ship, carrying slaves from the Gold Coast to Jamaica before a French squadron captured her in 1795.

For other ships with the same name, see Experiment (ship).

History
United Kingdom
Name: Experiment
Owner: Calvert & Co.[1][Note 1]
Builder: River Thames
Launched: 1789[1]
Captured: 1795
General characteristics
Type: Brig[1]
Tons burthen: 143,[2] or 145[1] (bm)
Propulsion: Sail
Armament: 8 × 4-pounder guns[3]

Career

Experiment appears in Lloyd's Register for 1789 with R. Owen, master, Calvert &Co., owners, and trade London—Africa.[1] A database of slave trading voyages shows Experiment making seven voyages.[2]

First slave trading voyage (1789-1790): Richard Owen was her master for the first, with Diederick Woolbert replacing him at some point in the venture. Experiment sailed from London on 13 July 1789 for the Gold Coast. She started gathering slaves at Cape Coast Castle on 16 September. She then sailed from Africa on 30 April 1790, and arrived at Jamaica in June 1790. She had embarked 242 slaves and disembarked 240, for an unusually low loss rate of 0.8%.[2]

Second slave trading voyage (1790-1791): Captain Diederick Woolbert sailed from Jamaica in August, straight back to Africa. Experiment starting to gather slaves on 9 November, first at Cape Coast Castle and then at Anomabu. She left on 8 December, and arrived back at Kingston 5 February 1791. She had embarked 238 slaves and she landed 232, for a still low loss rate of 2.5%. She arrived back in England on 20 May 1791.[2]

Third slave trading voyage (1791-1792): Captain Woolbert sailed from London 28 June 1791. Experiment started gathering her slaves, again at Cape Coast Castle and then Anomabu, on 14 September. She left Africa on 10 October and arrived at Kingston, Jamaica, on 13 February 1792. She had embarked 239 slaves and she landed 238, for a loss rate of 0.4%.[2]

Fourth slave trading voyage (1792): Captain John Marman sailed straight back to Africa from Jamaica in April. He returned to Jamaica on 2 August 1792. Experiment had embarked 206 slaves and she landed 191, for a loss rate of 7.3%, which is in the more normal range.[2]

Fifth slave trading voyage (1792-1793): Captain Marman sailed from Jamaica on 28 August, and started gathering slaves at Cape Coast Castle and then Anomabu. Experiment left Africa on 23 May 1793 and arrived at Kingston on 16 July. She had embarked 238 slaves and she disembarked 231, for a loss rate of 2.9%.[2]

Sixth slave trading voyage (1794-1795): Captain William Mechan sailed from England on 14 January 1794. Experiment arrived at the Gold Coast on 26 June and started gathering slaves at Cape Coast Castle and Anomabu. She arrived at Kingston 2 February 1795. She had embarked 270 slaves and she landed 251, for a loss rate of 7%.[2]

Sixth slave trading voyage (1795): Captain Mechan sailed from Kingston on 19 April. Experiment gathered slaves at Cape Coast Castle. Before she could deliver them she was captured.

Loss

Lloyd's List reported on 8 September 1795 that a French squadron coming from Africa had captured Experiment, Mitchan, master, as she was sailing from Jamaica to Africa, and took her into Rochefort.[4]

The database on slave voyages states, however, that Experiment had embarked 210 slaves, and that her captors had landed 195, for a loss rate of 7.1%.[2] Clearly, the report in Lloyd's List is at variance with the data in the database.

Notes and citations

Notes

  1. The owners were Anthony Calvert, Thomas King, and William Camden.[2]

Citations

  1. Lloyd's Register (1789), Seq. №E377.
  2. Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database: Voyages — Experiment, Calvet owner.
  3. Lloyd's Register (1795), Seq.№E366.
  4. Lloyd's List №2749.
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