Owner Granville Sharpe Sail plan Sloop Builder Malden? | Tons burthen 34 (bm) Launched 1787 | |
Lapwing was a sloop of 34 tons (bm), launched in 1787, that in 1790 traded between London and Africa. Lloyd's Register gives her master as Williams and her owner as G. Sharpe.
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Granville Sharpe acquired her to facilitate the work of the St. George's Bay Company in providing a safe haven for destitute Africans in Sierra Leone and elsewhere.
The broker for the company purchased Lapwing for £186 on 12 February 1790 at the Customs House. Lapwing herself was in the "condemned hold", a location in Wapping, London where ships seized for smuggling were held before Customs disposed of them.
The Lapwing Expedition
Lapwing set sail for Sierra Leone in late 1790 carrying relief supplies for the settlers there. On the return journey in 1791 she carried the Temne prince John Naimbanna to London. During his stay in London, Naimbanna became friends with Henry Thornton and Granville, and when Naimbanna converted to Christianity he adopted the forenames Henry and Granville in their honour.
Later career
Lapwing disappears from Lloyd's register between 1793 and 1798. However, a guide to the Isle of Man for 1797-8 reported that Lapwing, Cubbon, master, carried passenger from Liverpool to Douglas, Isle of Man, and that she had seven beds and a large stateroom. It goes on to say, "this once belonged to T. Whalley, Esq.; M.P." She was one of two vessels that carried the mails and passengers as well as a cargo, and usually made the trip in under 24 hours. Lapwing reappears in 1799 with W. Cubbon, master, J.J. Bacon, owner, place of building Malden, and trade Bristol - Martinique. That entry remains unchanged through the Lloyd's Register for 1804.