Hired armed cutter Courier
Encyclopedia
The Hired armed
cutter Courier appears twice in the records of the Royal Navy
. The size and armament suggests that both contracts may represent the same vessel. On the first contract the captain and crew were awarded clasps to the Naval General Service Medal, one for a boat action and one for a single ship action in which they distinguished themselves.
) and carried an armament of twelve 4-pounder guns. She had a crew of 40 men.
In 1799 she was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Searle, in the North Sea. On 15 April he recaptured the Nelly from the French privateer Vengeur. On 16 April, Courier was in company with , and when they captured the Prussian hoy
Dolphin.
Then on 2 May, , with the Courier in company, captured the Vreeda.
On 12 May, while off Winterton
on the coast of Norfolk, Courier engaged a French 16-gun privateer. The French brig was attacking a British merchant sloop when Courier intervened. The brig was armed with 16 guns, mixed 6 and 9-pounders. After an hour and forty minutes of fighting, the privateer chose to take advantage of the wind and her better sailing qualities and escape in the darkness and thick weather. Courier tried to chase her but lost her after midnight. Courier had five men wounded in the action. Latona and Ranger assisted in the action.
The next day Courier captured the French brig's consort, the privateer schooner Ribotteur off the Texel
. She had a crew of 26 men and was pierced for six guns but carrying four 3-pounders, having thrown two overboard during the chase. Ribotteur did not resist. During the action Courier observed another privateer, a lugger, in the distance, that remained aloof from the action.
On 26 June Courier and captured the Twee Gesisters.
On 1 July, Courier captured the brig
Frederick. Then on 10 July Courier was a part of a small squadron consisting of Circe, , and the hired armed cutter Nancy, all under the command of Captain R. Winthrop of Circe. The boats of the squadron rowed for 15 or 16 hours into the Watt at the back of Ameland
. There they captured three merchant vessels carrying sugar, wine and brandy, and destroyed a galliot loaded with ordnance and stores.
Between 18 July and 1 August, Courier, Circe, Pylades, Espiegle and Nancy captured the Marguerita Sophia, Twee Gesister, Twee Gebroders (Master, Vink) Twee Gebroders (Master, Nolholt), Jussrow Maria Christina, Vrow Henterje Marguaritha, Stadt Oldenburg, Vrow Antje, Vrow Gesina, Endraght, and the Frederick.
Between 11 and 12 August, Pylades, a 16-gun sloop under the command of Adam Mackenzie
, accompanied by the 16-gun brig-sloop Espiegle and Courier, attacked the ex British gun-brig , moored between the island of Schiermonnikoog
and Groningen
. Courier started the action, which resulted Crash surrendering after the two sloops joined in. Pylades lost one man killed and two wounded. Crash had a crew of 60 men and was armed with 12 carronade
s. The British also captured a schooner, which MacKenzie armed with two carronades and named the Undaunted. The boats of the squadron, now including boats and men from Latona and , then attacked the 6-gun Dutch schooner Vengeance and a battery on Schiermonnikoog. The British were able to burn the schooner on the second attempt and to spike the guns of the battery. The squadron's boats also captured a number of Dutch schuyts. During the attack Courier grounded and was only saved with some difficulty. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issue to the surviving claimants of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Schiermonnikoog 12 Augt. 1799".
Latona, Astrea, Cruizer, Pylades, Ranger, , Courier, hired armed lugger Speculator, and the hired armed cutters Fox and Diligent captured the Aeolus, Jonge Picter , Vrow Alyda, Verwagting, Vinnern, and the Almindeligheden. The same British vessels were also involved in the capture of Neptunus, Sen Soskende, Bornholm, Fabius, Zee Star, and Frou Eagle.
On 21 November, Courier sailed from Yarmouth and on the afternoon of the following day saw a suspicious sail stopping a bark. Searle passed the bark, which reported that the other vessel was an enemy. Courier gave chase and came up with her the next morning 10 or 12 leagues
off Lowestoft
. After a close action of 50 minutes Courier captured the French privateer cutter Guerrier. Guerrier was armed with fourteen 4-pounder guns, had a crew of 44 men and was commanded by Citizen Felix L. Sallemand. During her five days out of Dunkirk she had captured the Nile, a brig from London carrying coal. Courier lost her master, Mr Stephen Marsh, who was killed at the start of the action, and also had two seamen wounded. The French had four killed and six wounded. Searle later received a promotion to Commander dated 23 November. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Courier 23 Novr. 1799" for this action.
In December 1800 Courier was obliged to quit her station between the Humber and Flamborough Head after an action with a French privateer a few days earlier.
Her commander throughout the contract was Lieutenant James Boxer. Courier served off Boulogne, Ushant and Rochester. At the end of her contract she was returned to her owners.
On 12 December 1804 Courier was with the hired armed cutter Countesss of Elgin and the hired armed schooner Charlotte, when they recaptured the ship New Concord. Then on 2 September 1805, Courier alone captured the French schooner Angelique.
During the second half of 1805, Courier returned to the Downs in a battered state after having engaged a shore battery. While on patrol, she had recovered a warship's boat, together with a lieutenant and 16 men. Shortly thereafter she spotted a French privateer lugger sheltering under the protection of a shore battery. Courier attempted to cut out the lugger but came under fire from the battery's 24-pounders and a 12-pounder field piece on shore. Because of the shallowness of the water and the lack of wind, Courier was unable to proceed further. Having sustained serious damage she gave up the attempt. During the action Lieutenant Newby from the sloop was killed, as were two other men, and one man was wounded. (Presumably the men that Courier had earlier recovered were from Megaera).
were issued to a ship or ships named Courier. The first may have been the same vessel as the first contract hired armed cutter Courier. The second and third letters of marque appear to have been issued to the same vessel, which however was neither the first letter of marque nor the hired armed cutter of the second contract above. For all three letters below, the vessel is described as being armed with twelve 3-pounders.
Hired armed vessels
right|thumb|250px|Armed cutter, etching in the [[National Maritime Museum]], [[Greenwich]]During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Royal Navy made use of a considerable number of hired armed vessels...
cutter Courier appears twice in the records of 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...
. The size and armament suggests that both contracts may represent the same vessel. On the first contract the captain and crew were awarded clasps to the Naval General Service Medal, one for a boat action and one for a single ship action in which they distinguished themselves.
First contract
The first contract for Courier was from 6 June 1798 to 1 November 1801. She was of 11638/94 tons burthen (bmBuilder's Old Measurement
Builder's Old Measurement is the method of calculating the size or cargo capacity of a ship used in England from approximately 1720 to 1849. It estimated the tonnage of a ship based on length and maximum beam...
) and carried an armament of twelve 4-pounder guns. She had a crew of 40 men.
In 1799 she was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Searle, in the North Sea. On 15 April he recaptured the Nelly from the French privateer Vengeur. On 16 April, Courier was in company with , and when they captured the Prussian hoy
Hoy (boat)
A hoy was a small sloop-rigged coasting ship or a heavy barge used for freight, usually displacing about 60 tons. The word derives from the Middle Dutch hoey. In 1495, one of the Paston Letters included the phrase, An hoye of Dorderycht , in such a way as to indicate that such contact was then...
Dolphin.
Then on 2 May, , with the Courier in company, captured the Vreeda.
On 12 May, while off Winterton
Winterton-on-Sea
Winterton-on-Sea is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. As its name suggests, it is situated on the coast some north of the town of Great Yarmouth and east of the city of Norwich.Ordnance Survey . OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East...
on the coast of Norfolk, Courier engaged a French 16-gun privateer. The French brig was attacking a British merchant sloop when Courier intervened. The brig was armed with 16 guns, mixed 6 and 9-pounders. After an hour and forty minutes of fighting, the privateer chose to take advantage of the wind and her better sailing qualities and escape in the darkness and thick weather. Courier tried to chase her but lost her after midnight. Courier had five men wounded in the action. Latona and Ranger assisted in the action.
The next day Courier captured the French brig's consort, the privateer schooner Ribotteur off the Texel
Texel
Texel is a municipality and an island in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the biggest and most populated of the Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea, and also the westernmost of this archipelago, which extends to Denmark...
. She had a crew of 26 men and was pierced for six guns but carrying four 3-pounders, having thrown two overboard during the chase. Ribotteur did not resist. During the action Courier observed another privateer, a lugger, in the distance, that remained aloof from the action.
On 26 June Courier and captured the Twee Gesisters.
On 1 July, Courier captured the brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
Frederick. Then on 10 July Courier was a part of a small squadron consisting of Circe, , and the hired armed cutter Nancy, all under the command of Captain R. Winthrop of Circe. The boats of the squadron rowed for 15 or 16 hours into the Watt at the back of Ameland
Ameland
Ameland is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes. It is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the West and Schiermonnikoog to the East...
. There they captured three merchant vessels carrying sugar, wine and brandy, and destroyed a galliot loaded with ordnance and stores.
Between 18 July and 1 August, Courier, Circe, Pylades, Espiegle and Nancy captured the Marguerita Sophia, Twee Gesister, Twee Gebroders (Master, Vink) Twee Gebroders (Master, Nolholt), Jussrow Maria Christina, Vrow Henterje Marguaritha, Stadt Oldenburg, Vrow Antje, Vrow Gesina, Endraght, and the Frederick.
Between 11 and 12 August, Pylades, a 16-gun sloop under the command of Adam Mackenzie
Adam Mackenzie
Adam Mackenzie was an officer of the Royal Navy. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 13 March 1790, to Commander on 22 June 1796, and to Captain on 2 September 1799. He died on 13 November 1823.-HMS Pylades:...
, accompanied by the 16-gun brig-sloop Espiegle and Courier, attacked the ex British gun-brig , moored between the island of Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog
Schiermonnikoog is an island, a municipality, and a national park in the northern Netherlands. Schiermonnikoog is one of the West Frisian Islands, and is part of the province of Friesland....
and Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
. Courier started the action, which resulted Crash surrendering after the two sloops joined in. Pylades lost one man killed and two wounded. Crash had a crew of 60 men and was armed with 12 carronade
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...
s. The British also captured a schooner, which MacKenzie armed with two carronades and named the Undaunted. The boats of the squadron, now including boats and men from Latona and , then attacked the 6-gun Dutch schooner Vengeance and a battery on Schiermonnikoog. The British were able to burn the schooner on the second attempt and to spike the guns of the battery. The squadron's boats also captured a number of Dutch schuyts. During the attack Courier grounded and was only saved with some difficulty. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issue to the surviving claimants of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Schiermonnikoog 12 Augt. 1799".
Latona, Astrea, Cruizer, Pylades, Ranger, , Courier, hired armed lugger Speculator, and the hired armed cutters Fox and Diligent captured the Aeolus, Jonge Picter , Vrow Alyda, Verwagting, Vinnern, and the Almindeligheden. The same British vessels were also involved in the capture of Neptunus, Sen Soskende, Bornholm, Fabius, Zee Star, and Frou Eagle.
On 21 November, Courier sailed from Yarmouth and on the afternoon of the following day saw a suspicious sail stopping a bark. Searle passed the bark, which reported that the other vessel was an enemy. Courier gave chase and came up with her the next morning 10 or 12 leagues
League (unit)
A league is a unit of length . It was long common in Europe and Latin America, but it is no longer an official unit in any nation. The league originally referred to the distance a person or a horse could walk in an hour...
off Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
. After a close action of 50 minutes Courier captured the French privateer cutter Guerrier. Guerrier was armed with fourteen 4-pounder guns, had a crew of 44 men and was commanded by Citizen Felix L. Sallemand. During her five days out of Dunkirk she had captured the Nile, a brig from London carrying coal. Courier lost her master, Mr Stephen Marsh, who was killed at the start of the action, and also had two seamen wounded. The French had four killed and six wounded. Searle later received a promotion to Commander dated 23 November. In 1847 the Admiralty authorized the issuance of the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Courier 23 Novr. 1799" for this action.
In December 1800 Courier was obliged to quit her station between the Humber and Flamborough Head after an action with a French privateer a few days earlier.
Second contract
The second contract was from 23 July 1804 to 18 August 1806. She was of 11457/94 tons burthen and carried twelve 4-pounder guns.Her commander throughout the contract was Lieutenant James Boxer. Courier served off Boulogne, Ushant and Rochester. At the end of her contract she was returned to her owners.
On 12 December 1804 Courier was with the hired armed cutter Countesss of Elgin and the hired armed schooner Charlotte, when they recaptured the ship New Concord. Then on 2 September 1805, Courier alone captured the French schooner Angelique.
During the second half of 1805, Courier returned to the Downs in a battered state after having engaged a shore battery. While on patrol, she had recovered a warship's boat, together with a lieutenant and 16 men. Shortly thereafter she spotted a French privateer lugger sheltering under the protection of a shore battery. Courier attempted to cut out the lugger but came under fire from the battery's 24-pounders and a 12-pounder field piece on shore. Because of the shallowness of the water and the lack of wind, Courier was unable to proceed further. Having sustained serious damage she gave up the attempt. During the action Lieutenant Newby from the sloop was killed, as were two other men, and one man was wounded. (Presumably the men that Courier had earlier recovered were from Megaera).
Letters of marque
Three letters of marqueLetter 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...
were issued to a ship or ships named Courier. The first may have been the same vessel as the first contract hired armed cutter Courier. The second and third letters of marque appear to have been issued to the same vessel, which however was neither the first letter of marque nor the hired armed cutter of the second contract above. For all three letters below, the vessel is described as being armed with twelve 3-pounders.
- Of 12 guns and 122 tons burthen, Arthur Threlful, master; letter of marque dated 22 November 1798.
- Of 12 guns and 106 tons burthen, William Adamson, master; letter of marque dated 3 November 1804.
- Of 12 guns and 106 tons burthen, Thomas Pratt, master; letter of marque dated 22 February 1805.