Name Union Island Builder Bristol Tons burthen 324 (bm) | Namesake Union Island Fate Sank 27 June 1821 Launched 1794 | |
Owner S. & J. Span (1804-1801) | ||
Union Island was a merchant vessel launched at Bristol in 1794. Her master, William James Pocock, received a letter of marque for her on 6 December 1794.
Contents
In November 1795 Pocock was still her master; she was described at the time as "half frigate built". Pocock remained her master until 1801.
In April 1801 Union Island, Dormer, master was sailing from St Vincent when a Spanish privateer attacked her. Union Island was able to repulse the attack, but with the loss of one man killed and Dormer and her mate wounded. She then put into Tortola, which she left on 1 May. Shortly thereafter she encountered a French privateer and after a severe engagement, Dormer was forced to strike. The privateer sent Union Island and another prize, Sally, into Puerto Rico.
Still, a year later, in April 1802, Union Island was advertised for sale in London and described as sailing well and carrying "a remarkable large cargo for her tonnage."
Fate
Lloyd's List for 29 September 1821 reported that the Union Island, Muir, master, had sunk in the Dure River, with the loss of three crewmen drowned. Apparently she was sailing from Liverpool to Calabar when she struck on a sunken rock near the "Dure River" (possibly the river by Duke Town, Calabar), on the coast of Africa on 27 June and was totally lost.
Lloyd's Register
Entries in Lloyd's Register are often stale dated, that is, lag the actual change in data.