HMS Whiting (1812)
Encyclopedia
HMS Whiting, built in 1811 by Thomas Kemp as a Baltimore pilot schooner
, was launched as Arrow. On 8 May 1812 she was seized by the British navy
under Orders in Council
, for trading with the French, at which point she was re-fitted and re-named HMS Whiting.
In 1816, after four years further service as a 12-gun
schooner, the ship was sent to patrol the Irish Sea
for smugglers and was beached on the Doom Bar
. When the tide rose, she was flooded and deemed impossible to refloat.
trading between the USA and France
. This was hazardous, as in 1807 Britain had introduced restrictions
on American trade with France, with which Britain was at war. The U.S. considered these unlawful.
On 8 May 1812, six months after being commissioned, and on a return voyage from Bordeaux
to Baltimore fully laden with goods such as brandy
, champagne, silk
, nuts
and toy
s, the Arrow and her cargo were seized by the 38-gun frigate
HMS Andromache
, commanded by Captain
Sir George Tobin. Barely a month later the instruments allowing the seizure were repealed, two days before the United States Congress
had voted a declaration of war on Britain
which was approved by President Madison
on 18 June 1812.
Tobin sent Arrow to Plymouth
as a prize
, with six of his seamen and two marines
on board, under escort of HMS Armide
commanded by Captain Lucius Handyman. As her original crew arrived in England before the declaration of war, they were released.
The ship was taken to Plymouth Dockyard where between June 1812 and January 1813 she was re-fitted to be used by the Royal Navy
.
to join HMS Surveillante
, Medusa
, Bramble, Iris, Scylla, and Sparrow in the blockade
of trade between the U. S. and France.
Whiting was in service with the Royal Navy for almost four years. During that time, while under the command of Hayes, she captured or recaptured several vessels. On 22 March 1813, Whiting shared in the capture of the American schooner Tyger with HMS Medusa, Scylla and Iris. Tyger, of 263 tons burthen, was armed with four guns and had a crew of 25 men. She was sailing from Bordeaux, New York with a cargo of brandy, wine, and silks.
One month later, on 23 April, Whiting and the sloops Pheasant and Scylla captured the American letter of marque
Fox. Then on 15 July, she recaptured the ship Friends, in company with HMS Reindeer
. Whiting, in company with Helicon also recaptured the Colin, on 25 October.
By 26 August 1814, Whiting was under the command of Lieutenant John Little. On that day she recaptured the brig Antelope.
Whiting was also one of ten British vessels that took part in the Battle of Fort Peter
, a successful British attack on an American fort in January 1815.de Grummond et al, (1962), pp. 316-359. This battle was one of the skirmishes of the War of 1812
that happened after the Treaty of Ghent
was signed, but before it was ratified by the US Senate
.
and sail around Land's End
to the Irish Sea
to counter smuggling
in the area. On 15 September 1816, to escape a gale, Jackson took his vessel into harbour at Padstow
on the north coast of Cornwall
. The wind dropped as they came around Stepper Point
, and the ship ran aground on the Doom Bar
as the tide was ebbing, stranding her.
According to the court martial transcripts, an attempt to move Whiting was made at the next high tide, but she was taking on water and it became impossible to save her. Her abandonment happened over the next few days. The court martial board reprimanded Lieutenant Jackson for having attempted to enter the harbour without a pilot and for his failure to lighten her before trying to get her off; as punishment he lost one year's seniority. Five crewmen took advantage of the opportunity to desert; two were recaptured and were given "50 lashes with nine tails
". Whiting was eventually sold and despite correspondence requesting her move eleven years later, the Navy took no further interest in her.
, with the help of Padstow Primary School, mounted a search to find HMS Whiting. They conducted a geophysical survey that recorded a number of suitable targets that divers subsequently investigated. One target is located only 25m from the calculated position of the wreck but sand completely covers the site, preventing further investigation at this time.
Baltimore Clipper
Baltimore Clipper is the colloquial name for fast sailing ships built on the south-eastern seaboard of the United States of America, especially at the port of Baltimore, Maryland...
, was launched as Arrow. On 8 May 1812 she was seized by the British navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
under Orders in Council
Orders in Council (1807)
The Orders in Council were a series of legislative decrees made by the United Kingdom in the course of the wars with Napoleonic France which instituted its policy of commercial warfare. Formally, an "Order in Council" is simply the type of legislation by which the British government decreed these...
, for trading with the French, at which point she was re-fitted and re-named HMS Whiting.
In 1816, after four years further service as a 12-gun
Carronade
The carronade was a short smoothbore, cast iron cannon, developed for the Royal Navy by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. It was used from the 1770s to the 1850s. Its main function was to serve as a powerful, short-range anti-ship and anti-crew weapon...
schooner, the ship was sent to patrol the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
for smugglers and was beached on the Doom Bar
Doom Bar
The Doom Bar is a bank of sand at the estuary of the River Camel where it meets the Celtic Sea on Cornwall's north coast. It represents a significant hazard to shipping, and there have been many ships wrecked there through the centuries...
. When the tide rose, she was flooded and deemed impossible to refloat.
Arrow
Built for speed, the Arrow was used as a cargo vesselCargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
trading between the USA and France
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
. This was hazardous, as in 1807 Britain had introduced restrictions
Orders in Council (1807)
The Orders in Council were a series of legislative decrees made by the United Kingdom in the course of the wars with Napoleonic France which instituted its policy of commercial warfare. Formally, an "Order in Council" is simply the type of legislation by which the British government decreed these...
on American trade with France, with which Britain was at war. The U.S. considered these unlawful.
On 8 May 1812, six months after being commissioned, and on a return voyage from Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
to Baltimore fully laden with goods such as brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
, champagne, silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, nuts
Nut (fruit)
A nut is a hard-shelled fruit of some plants having an indehiscent seed. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts...
and toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s, the Arrow and her cargo were seized by the 38-gun frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
HMS Andromache
HMS Andromache
Four ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Andromache, after the figure of Andromache in Greek mythology. A fourth was planned but never completed: was a 32-gun fifth rate launched in 1781 and broken up in 1811....
, commanded by Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Sir George Tobin. Barely a month later the instruments allowing the seizure were repealed, two days before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
had voted a declaration of war on Britain
United States declaration of war upon the United Kingdom (1812)
An Act Declaring War between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Dependencies Thereof and the United States of America and Their Territories was passed by the United States Congress on 18 June 1812, thereby beginning the War of 1812....
which was approved by President Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
on 18 June 1812.
Tobin sent Arrow to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
as a prize
Prize money
Prize money has a distinct meaning in warfare, especially naval warfare, where it was a monetary reward paid out to the crew of a ship for capturing an enemy vessel...
, with six of his seamen and two marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
on board, under escort of HMS Armide
French frigate Armide (1804)
Armide was a 40-gun frigate of the French Navy, lead ship of her class, and launched in 1804 at Rochefort. She served briefly in the French navy before the British captured her in 1806. She went on to serve in the British Navy until 1815 when she was broken up.-French service:She took part in...
commanded by Captain Lucius Handyman. As her original crew arrived in England before the declaration of war, they were released.
The ship was taken to Plymouth Dockyard where between June 1812 and January 1813 she was re-fitted to be used by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
HMS Whiting
In full, the ship's new name was "His Majesty's schooner Whiting", and not "His Majesty's ship..." In January 1813 Lieutenant George Hayes RN, took command and on 25 February 1813 she sailed for the Bay of BiscayBay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
to join HMS Surveillante
French frigate Surveillante (1802)
The Surveillante entered service as a 40-gun Virginie class frigate of the French Navy. She was surrendered to the British in 1803, after which she served in the Royal Navy, classed under the British system as a 38 gun vessel, until 1814 when she was decommissioned...
, Medusa
HMS Medusa (1801)
HMS Medusa was a 38-gun 5th rate frigate of the Royal Navy that served in the Napoleonic Wars. Launched on 14 April 1801, she took part in the Action of 5 October 1804 against a Spanish squadron, in the River Plate Expedition in 1807, and made several captures of enemy ships, before being converted...
, Bramble, Iris, Scylla, and Sparrow in the blockade
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
of trade between the U. S. and France.
Whiting was in service with the Royal Navy for almost four years. During that time, while under the command of Hayes, she captured or recaptured several vessels. On 22 March 1813, Whiting shared in the capture of the American schooner Tyger with HMS Medusa, Scylla and Iris. Tyger, of 263 tons burthen, was armed with four guns and had a crew of 25 men. She was sailing from Bordeaux, New York with a cargo of brandy, wine, and silks.
One month later, on 23 April, Whiting and the sloops Pheasant and Scylla captured the American letter of marque
Letter of marque
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government licence authorizing a person to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale...
Fox. Then on 15 July, she recaptured the ship Friends, in company with HMS Reindeer
HMS Reindeer (1804)
HMS Reindeer was a Royal Navy 18-gun Cruizer class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy, built by Samuel & Daniel Brent at Rotherhithe and was launched in 1804. She was built of fir, which made for more rapid construction at the expense of durability...
. Whiting, in company with Helicon also recaptured the Colin, on 25 October.
By 26 August 1814, Whiting was under the command of Lieutenant John Little. On that day she recaptured the brig Antelope.
Whiting was also one of ten British vessels that took part in the Battle of Fort Peter
Battle of Fort Peter
The Battle of Fort Peter, or the Battle of Fort Point Peter or Fort Point Petre, was a successful attack by a British force on St. Marys, Georgia and a smaller force of American soldiers at Fort Peter, a small fort protecting the town. Point Peter is located at the mouth of Point Peter Creek and...
, a successful British attack on an American fort in January 1815.de Grummond et al, (1962), pp. 316-359. This battle was one of the skirmishes of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
that happened after the Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent , signed on 24 December 1814, in Ghent , was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
was signed, but before it was ratified by the US Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Wreck on Doom Bar
On 18 August 1816, HMS Whiting, under the command of Lieutenant John Jackson, was ordered to leave PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and sail around Land's End
Land's End
Land's End is a headland and small settlement in west Cornwall, England, within the United Kingdom. It is located on the Penwith peninsula approximately eight miles west-southwest of Penzance....
to the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
to counter smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
in the area. On 15 September 1816, to escape a gale, Jackson took his vessel into harbour at Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
on the north coast of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. The wind dropped as they came around Stepper Point
Stepper Point
Stepper Point is a headland on the Atlantic coast in north Cornwall, England, UK.Stepper Point and Pentire Point stand at either side of the mouth of the River Camel; Stepper to the south-west, Pentire to the north-east....
, and the ship ran aground on the Doom Bar
Doom Bar
The Doom Bar is a bank of sand at the estuary of the River Camel where it meets the Celtic Sea on Cornwall's north coast. It represents a significant hazard to shipping, and there have been many ships wrecked there through the centuries...
as the tide was ebbing, stranding her.
According to the court martial transcripts, an attempt to move Whiting was made at the next high tide, but she was taking on water and it became impossible to save her. Her abandonment happened over the next few days. The court martial board reprimanded Lieutenant Jackson for having attempted to enter the harbour without a pilot and for his failure to lighten her before trying to get her off; as punishment he lost one year's seniority. Five crewmen took advantage of the opportunity to desert; two were recaptured and were given "50 lashes with nine tails
Cat o' nine tails
The cat o' nine tails, commonly shortened to the cat, is a type of multi-tailed whipping device that originated as an implement for severe physical punishment, notably in the Royal Navy and Army of the United Kingdom, and also as a judicial punishment in Britain and some other...
". Whiting was eventually sold and despite correspondence requesting her move eleven years later, the Navy took no further interest in her.
Legacy
In May 2010, ProMare and the Nautical Archaeology SocietyNautical Archaeology Society
The Nautical Archaeology Society is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland and is a company limited by guarantee.The charitable aims and object of the company are to further research in Nautical Archaeology and publish the results of such research and to advance education and...
, with the help of Padstow Primary School, mounted a search to find HMS Whiting. They conducted a geophysical survey that recorded a number of suitable targets that divers subsequently investigated. One target is located only 25m from the calculated position of the wreck but sand completely covers the site, preventing further investigation at this time.