For other ships with the same name, see HMS Pictou.
HMS Pictou was a 14-gun schooner that the Royal Navy captured in 1813. She served briefly on the Royal Navy's North American station, capturing one or two merchantmen before the AmericanfrigateUSS Constitution captured her during the War of 1812.
The origins of Pictou are obscure. Some references report that she was built as the American letter of marqueSyron. However, the most comprehensive listing of American letters of marque has no vessel by that name.[2] Also, the London Gazette has no mention of the capture of any vessel with that name. Other references suggest that Pictou was originally a privateer by the name of Bonne Foi. Again, there is no record in the London Gazette of a capture of a privateer with that name.
Admiralty records show that in October 1813 Admiral Sir John Warren, commander-in-chief of the Royal Navy's North American station, purchased Syron and renamed her Pictou. Lieutenant Edward Stephens commissioned her.[1] However, apparently Pictou was already serving the Royal Navy, and may well have been captured in the Caribbean.
On 12 May 1813, Pictou and Canso arrived at Halifax with five vessels that they had convoyed from Bermuda.[3]
One source states that on 19 September Pictou captured the brig Isabella, of 126 tons (bm), which was sailing to Boston with a cargo of silk, wine, oil, etc.[4] Other records give the date as 19 August, and the captor as the schooner Picton, although the Royal Navy had no vessel by that name.[5][6][a] The records of the Halifax Vice Admiralty court gives the date of capture as 19 July, and reports that Isabella P. Slaygur, master, had been sailing from Algeciras to Boston carrying wine, silk, oil and cork.[7] A third source has the capture date as 22 July.[8] A fourth account has Pictou bringing Isabella into Halifax on 23 July, and otherwise is consistent with the third account.[3]
Pictou recaptured the sloop Ringdove, which the American privateer Polly, of Salem had captured. Polly had also captured a schooner carrying a cargo of stone, but the schooner too had been recaptured.[3]Ringdove had been traveling from Halifax to Newfoundland when Polly had captured her.[6]
Lossedit
The USS Constitution captured Pictou on 14 February 1814, windward of Barbados.Pictou was escorting the armed merchant Lovely Ann from Bermuda to Surinam. In the morning Constitution, under the command of Captain Charles Stewart, stopped Pictou with a shot through her sails and captured her. A few hours before, Constitution had already captured Lovely Ann and had taken her as a prize. Captain Stewart decided to keep the merchant vessel but commanded that Pictou be destroyed. Pictou was one of five British warships that Constitution captured or destroyed during the war.
It is possible that Constitution did not destroy Pictou. The Vice admiralty court in Halifax, Nova Scotia recorded the capture of the vessel Three Friends, which it described as "alias his Majesty's sloop Pictou, captured July 30, 1814."[9]
Notesedit
^The announcement in the London Gazette, gives Pictou's name as Picton. This was a common mistake but there is no ambiguity or confusion as the Royal Navy did not use the name Picton until the 20th century. The mistake may have originated in the town of Pictou being relatively unknown, whilst Thomas Picton was a noted British general then serving in the Peninsular campaign.
Dudley, William S; Crawford, Michael J (1992). The Naval War of 1812 : a documentary history. Volume II, 1813. Naval Historical Center, Dept. of Navy. OCLC 26596434.
Emmons, George F (1853). "The Navy of the United States from the commencement, 1775 to 1853; with a brief history of each vessel's service and fate as appears upon record. To which is added a list of private armed vessels with their services and fate; also a list of the revenue and coast survey vessels, and principal ocean steamers, belonging to citizens of the United States in 1850". Gideon. OCLC 848601615.
Vice-Admiralty Court, Halifax (1911). American vessels captured by the British during the revolution and war of 1812. Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute. hdl:2027/mdp.39015070578847.
Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN978-1-86176-246-7.
pictou, 1813, other, ships, with, same, name, pictou, pictou, schooner, that, royal, navy, captured, 1813, served, briefly, royal, navy, north, american, station, capturing, merchantmen, before, american, frigate, constitution, captured, during, 1812, historyu. For other ships with the same name see HMS Pictou HMS Pictou was a 14 gun schooner that the Royal Navy captured in 1813 She served briefly on the Royal Navy s North American station capturing one or two merchantmen before the American frigate USS Constitution captured her during the War of 1812 HistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS PictouNamesakePictou Nova ScotiaAcquired25 October 1813 by purchase after captureRenamed1813FateCaptured and destroyed 14 February 1814General characteristics 1 Tons burthen211 bm Length83 ft 25 3 m overall 65 ft 2 in 19 9 m Beam24 ft 8 in 7 5 m Depth of hold10 ft 6 in 3 2 m Sail planSchoonerCrew57Armament14 guns Contents 1 History 2 Loss 3 Notes 4 Citations 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe origins of Pictou are obscure Some references report that she was built as the American letter of marque Syron However the most comprehensive listing of American letters of marque has no vessel by that name 2 Also the London Gazette has no mention of the capture of any vessel with that name Other references suggest that Pictou was originally a privateer by the name of Bonne Foi Again there is no record in the London Gazette of a capture of a privateer with that name Admiralty records show that in October 1813 Admiral Sir John Warren commander in chief of the Royal Navy s North American station purchased Syron and renamed her Pictou Lieutenant Edward Stephens commissioned her 1 However apparently Pictou was already serving the Royal Navy and may well have been captured in the Caribbean On 12 May 1813 Pictou and Canso arrived at Halifax with five vessels that they had convoyed from Bermuda 3 One source states that on 19 September Pictou captured the brig Isabella of 126 tons bm which was sailing to Boston with a cargo of silk wine oil etc 4 Other records give the date as 19 August and the captor as the schooner Picton although the Royal Navy had no vessel by that name 5 6 a The records of the Halifax Vice Admiralty court gives the date of capture as 19 July and reports that Isabella P Slaygur master had been sailing from Algeciras to Boston carrying wine silk oil and cork 7 A third source has the capture date as 22 July 8 A fourth account has Pictou bringing Isabella into Halifax on 23 July and otherwise is consistent with the third account 3 Pictou recaptured the sloop Ringdove which the American privateer Polly of Salem had captured Polly had also captured a schooner carrying a cargo of stone but the schooner too had been recaptured 3 Ringdove had been traveling from Halifax to Newfoundland when Polly had captured her 6 Loss editThe USS Constitution captured Pictou on 14 February 1814 windward of Barbados Pictou was escorting the armed merchant Lovely Ann from Bermuda to Surinam In the morning Constitution under the command of Captain Charles Stewart stopped Pictou with a shot through her sails and captured her A few hours before Constitution had already captured Lovely Ann and had taken her as a prize Captain Stewart decided to keep the merchant vessel but commanded that Pictou be destroyed Pictou was one of five British warships that Constitution captured or destroyed during the war It is possible that Constitution did not destroy Pictou The Vice admiralty court in Halifax Nova Scotia recorded the capture of the vessel Three Friends which it described as alias his Majesty s sloop Pictou captured July 30 1814 9 Notes edit The announcement in the London Gazette gives Pictou s name as Picton This was a common mistake but there is no ambiguity or confusion as the Royal Navy did not use the name Picton until the 20th century The mistake may have originated in the town of Pictou being relatively unknown whilst Thomas Picton was a noted British general then serving in the Peninsular campaign Citations edit a b Winfield 2008 p 367 Emmons 1853 a b c The Naval Database HMS Pictou P Benyon Archived from the original on 2 January 2018 Dudley amp Crawford 1992 p 281 No 16837 The London Gazette 1 January 1814 p 20 a b Lloyd s List no 4803 1 accessed 9 October 2014 Vice Admiralty Court 1911 p 129 Arthur 2011 p 215 Vice Admiralty Court 1911 p 159 References editArthur Brian 2011 How Britain Won the War of 1812 The Royal Navy s Blockades of the United States 1812 1815 Boydell amp Brewer OCLC 942408269 Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Dudley William S Crawford Michael J 1992 The Naval War of 1812 a documentary history Volume II 1813 Naval Historical Center Dept of Navy OCLC 26596434 Emmons George F 1853 The Navy of the United States from the commencement 1775 to 1853 with a brief history of each vessel s service and fate as appears upon record To which is added a list of private armed vessels with their services and fate also a list of the revenue and coast survey vessels and principal ocean steamers belonging to citizens of the United States in 1850 Gideon OCLC 848601615 Vice Admiralty Court Halifax 1911 American vessels captured by the British during the revolution and war of 1812 Salem Mass Essex Institute hdl 2027 mdp 39015070578847 Winfield Rif 2008 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 1817 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 246 7 External links edithttp www pbenyon plus com 18 1900 P 03516 html Archived 2 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine https web archive org web 20100207052510 http www visit1812 com history https web archive org web 20090705163649 http www ussconstitutionmuseum org collections FAQ engagements htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Pictou 1813 amp oldid 1172150064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
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