British Sixth Rate ship 'Penelope' (1778)

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Penelope	5743
Nominal Guns	24	BWAS-1714
Nationality	Great Britain
Operator	Royal Navy
Ordered	13.11.1776	BWAS-1714
Keel Laid Down	28.6.1777	BWAS-1714
Launched	25.6.1778	BWAS-1714
How acquired	Purpose built	BWAS-1714
Shipyard	Liverpool - Lancashire	BWAS-1714
Ship Class	Porcupine Class	BWAS-1714
Designed by	John Williams (1700-?)	BWAS-1714
Constructor	Peter Baker (1732-1796)	BWAS-1714
Category	Sixth Rate	BWAS-1714
Ship Type	Ship	BWAS-1714
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	BWAS-1714
Foundered	11.10.1780	BWAS-1714

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1714
Length of Gundeck114' 7"Imperial Feet34.7599
Length of Keel94' 9 ¾"Imperial Feet28.6703
Breadth32' 2"Imperial Feet9.779
Depth in Hold10' 2 ¾"Imperial Feet3.0671
Burthen521 ⁷⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

6.1778Broadside Weight = 105 Imperial Pound ( 47.6175 kg)BWAS-1714
Gun Deck22 British 9-Pounder
Quarterdeck2 British 6-Pounder

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
6.1778160EstablishmentBWAS-1714

1 Commanding Officer

DatesRankNameSource
29.5.1778 - 11.10.1780CaptainJames Jones (d.1780)† ADM 6/21/416BWAS-1714

Service History

DateEventSource
28.6.1777Began building at Liverpool - Lancashire BWAS-1714
25.6.1778Completed building at Liverpool - Lancashire at a cost of £5910.18.3dBWAS-1714
25.6.1778Began fitting at Liverpool - Lancashire BWAS-1714
17.10.1778Completed fitting at Liverpool - Lancashire BWAS-1714
14.11.1778Began coppering and fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth BWAS-1714
20.12.1778Completed coppering and fitting at Plymouth Dockyard - Plymouth at a cost of £4573.13.8dBWAS-1714
24.12.1778Sailed for Jamaica
31.10.1779Took two Spanish merchantmen and sent them in. (extracted from Admiral Parker's dispatches by David Hepper)
14.11.1779Took a Spanish guarda-costa sailing from Puerto Rico. (extracted from Admiral Parker's dispatches by David Hepper)
27.11.1779The Spanish Hermosa Mariana was sent into Port Royal. (extracted from Admiral Parker's dispatches by David Hepper)
2.1780Admiral Parker reports "...I am under great apprehension for the Penelope - she was expected some weeks before I sailed - it is not likely that she is taken and therefore we conjecture that some accident has happened to her at sea"
4.1780Admiral Parker reports "...there being no doubt of the loss of the Penelope"

Notes on Ship

Initial cost to build was £5,910.18.3d, plus fitting at Plymouth at £4,573.13.8d

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

BWAS-1714Rif Winfield, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Brian Stephens on Sunday 6th of April 2014 02:25

Edinburgh Advertiser, April 14, 1780
The following melancholy is just received at the Admiralty, viz. that as the Penelope sloop, who had captured three Spanish prizes in the West Indies was returning with the prisoners into Jamaica, a violent gale came on, which forced most of the Penelope's crew to go aloft during which time the Spaniards who were not confined, rose, cut Capt. Jones throat, and massacred every man upon and between decks, afterwards shot the remainder as they descended from aloft and then stood away with the ship for the Havannah. Capt. Jones son, who was put prize master into one of the Spanish vessels brought over the above horrid relation.

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