Sovereign (1789 ship)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Great Britain | |
| Name | Sovereign |
| Builder | Edward Mosley, Howdon[1] |
| Launched | 1789 |
| Fate | Wrecked 22 January 1804 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Tons burthen | 382,[3] or 395, or 430[4] (bm) |
| Complement | 49[3] |
| Armament |
|
Sovereign was launched at Newcastle in 1789. She traded between London and South Carolina and then as a transport. In 1802 she became a Guineaman, i.e., a slave ship, in the triangular trade in enslaved people. She wrecked on 22 January 1804, as she was returning from the West Indies where she had landed her captives at Trinidad.
Sovereign first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1789.[4]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1789 | J.Benn | Brown | London–South Carolina | LR |
On 19 November 1791 as Sovereign was returning to London, she came across a brig on her side at 49°10′N 8°30′W / 49.167°N 8.500°W. The brig had been abandoned and a strong wind was causing the seas to break over her.[5] Sovereign arrived in the Downs on 26 November.
Lloyd's List reported on 14 November 1794, that Sovereign, Benn, master, was one of seven transports that had sailed to Toulon from Corsica as cartels, carrying prisoners. The transports were presumably carrying prisoners from the British capture of Corsica. When the vessels arrived at Toulon, the French detained them.[6]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1795 | J.Benn | Brown | London–South Carolina | LR |
| 1800 | Balmano | Brown & Co. | London transport | LR |
| 1802 | Balmano J.Ward |
Brown & Co. | London transport London–Africa |
LR |
Voyage transporting enslaved people (1802–Loss): Captain John Ward sailed from London on 7 November 1802.[7] In 1802, 155 vessels sailed from English ports to Africa to acquire and transport enslaved people; 15 of these vessels sailed from London.[8]
Sovereign acquired captives at Bonny.[7] Ward was issued a letter of marque on 2 July 1803,[3] but by that time he was dead.[9] Lloyd's List (LL) reported on 3 September 1803, that Sovereign, late Ward, had arrived at Suriname from Africa and was bound for Trinidad.[10][9] Ward had died while Sovereign was in Africa.[9] She arrived at Trinidad on 22 July 1803 with 319 captives.[7]