BRITISH LIBRARY ORIENTAL
& INDIA OFFICE COLLECTIONS [BL OIOC]
References
[A] to the Earl
of Abergavenny in the East India Company archives in the British Library -
India Office Records.
Not all of these are used in the Historical Record.
CARE: Since
these have been collected over a number of years from a
variety of sources there may be some errors.
First Earl of Abergavenny (Launched 1789)
Season 1789/90 - Bombay and China (Captain John Wordsworth senior)
L/MAR/B/341A
Journal 1st Dec 1789 to 23rd Sept 1791
L/MAR/B/341G (1) Ledger
L/MAR/B/341G (2) Pay Book
Season 1792/93 - China (Captain John Wordsworth senior)
L/MAR/B/341B
Journal 16th March 1793 to 13th Feb 1795
L/MAR/B/341H (1) Ledger
L/MAR/B/341H (2) Pay Book
Second Earl of Abergavenny (Launched December 1796)
Season 1796/97 - Bombay and China (Captain John Wordsworth senior)
L/MAR/B/341C
Journal 6th Jan 1797 to 6th Feb 1799
L/MAR/B/341-I (1) Ledger
L/MAR/B/341-I (2) Pay Book
Season 1798/99 - China (Captain John Wordsworth senior)
L/MAR/B/341D
Journal 11th March 1799 to 10th Dec 1800
L/MAR/B/341J (1) Ledger
L/MAR/B/341J (2) Pay
Book
Season 1800/1 - China (Captain John Wordsworth)
L/MAR/B/341E
Journal 3rd Feb 1801 to 3rd Nov 1802
L/MAR/B/341K (1) Ledger
L/MAR/B/341K (2) Pay Book
Season 1802/3 - China (Captain John Wordsworth)
L/MAR/B/341F
Journal May 1803 to Aug 1804?
L/MAR/B/341L (1) Ledger April
30th to Oct 12th 1804
L/MAR/B/341L (2) Pay Book
L/MAR/B/341L( 3) Impress Book
Season 1804/5, Bengal and China (Captain John Wordsworth)
Lost 5th Feb 1805 - No Records
Specifications of the Earl of Abergavenny L/MAR/C
529
MISCELLANEOUS
E/1/42
Metals on board the ship
E/1/98
New ship to be built on the bottom of the old
E/1/128
Details of new ship
E/1/129
Ditto
T/23779
Books and Letters of Wordsworth
Court Book, October 1804 to April 1805, these are the minutes of the
meetings of the Court of Directors
B140 Court Minutes - British Catalogue record number. The item is in
the India Office Records. This book is the huge handwritten minutes.
This is not the Committee of Shipping. See separate notes below for IOR
L/MAR/C/534.
For correspondence to the Court, see IOR E/1/111,
“Miscellaneous Letters Received” – it contains 2
letters from a
surgeon
and a soldier
requesting
pecuniary
assistance
in
the
face
of
their
losses.
1415 - 8th February, 1805
[A letter] from Capt W. S. Clarke of the
Wexford at Weymouth, both dated the 6th.
From Messrs Lindegrens at Portsmouth, the 7th Instant; all
communicating further particulars relative to the loss of the Earl of
Abergavenny; likewise from Messrs Jagget & co transmitting a letter
addressed to them by John Perckett [Perchett?] Esq. of Weymouth, requesting to
act therein on the part of the company.
Ordered that the said letter be referred to
the consideration of the Committee of Shipping.
Prior to this entry:
“from Captain W S Clarke of the Wexford at Weymouth both
dated 6th: also a letter from Captain Edward in Balston, late of the
Hindustan, dated Martinstown in Dorsetshire”.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, Page 1424, 13th February, 1805
Letter from Messrs A & J Lindegren at Portsmouth dated,
8th, 10th, 11th and 12th.
And too the 9th instant (contents unknown).
11th Captain Clarke of the Wexford at the Motherbank.
Captain Gribble of the Royal George in Portland Roads the 6th and in
Yarmouth?
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, p1426, 13th February,
1805
"On Several Motions"
Ordered that it be referred to the committee
of shipping to enquire into the circumstances attending the loss of the late
ship Earl of Abergavenny, and to report.
That a warrant be made out for £1000 – To the secretary to disburse
and to account.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, p1430, 13th February,
1805
Letters from the undermentioned persons,
severally stating further particulars relative to the wreck of the Earl of
Abergavenny, viz.:
Capt. W. S. Clarke of the Wexford, dated the
7th and 10th Instant.
Mr. W. G. E. Stewart, late 2nd Mate, dated the 7th and 8th
Instant.
also A Memorandum of Mr. Thomas Gilpin and a letter from Mr. Stewart dated the
12th Instant advising his arrival in town, and stating that he is
awaiting the court’s pleasure.
Letters from several persons, offering their services to recover the Earl of
Abergavenny, and her cargo as follows, viz.:
Mr. William Vaughan, dated the 11th
Instant, transmitting a letter from Mr. Whirbey [Joseph Whidbey], Master
attendant of H. M. Dock Yard at Woolwich.
Mr. Lionel Lukin Junr the 11th
Mr. Enoch Tonkin the 12th and
Mr. William Robinson, the 11th.
Ordered that the said letters be referred to
the consideration of the Committee of Shipping.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, p1431, 13th February,
1805
A letter from Messrs. Bruce De Pouthieu, Buzert & Company dated 11th
Instant, calling the Courts attention to their former Tender of the cavion [?]
Both in consequence of the loss of the Earl of Abergavenny.
Ordered, That reference the Committee of Shipping to examine and report.
Letter received from David Porter, J. West,
James Fullerton, offering their services in recovering the wreck.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, p1446, 13th February,
1805
"On a Motion"
Resolved, That on consideration of the severe losses in Baggage and Passage
Money, experience by the undermentioned cadets for India, saved from the Wreck
of the Ship Earl of Abergavenny viz.;
Robert M O Gramshaw
William Ballie
Joseph Johnson
John Thwaites
Charles Taylor
they be presented with the sum of 100 Guineas each, upon them taking passage
to proceed to India according to their destination.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, p1456, 15th February,
1805
That such directors that have nominated
Writers and Cadets who were unfortunately lost in consequence of the wreck of
the Company Ship Earl of Abergavenny be indulged with nominating other
persons for their situations.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, Page 1457, 15th February
A letter from Sir William Rule and the Navy Office dated
the 11th Instant, offering some observations upon the mode of
building the Company’s Ships. (Resulting
from the unfortunate loss of the Earl of Abergavenny.)
and suggesting whether it may be proper to adopt the Method in Indiamen
(as may hereafter be built) which is at present the practice in Men O War, as
detailed in Sir William’s letter.
L/MAR/B/140 Vol. 113A, Pages 1457 - 1458, 15th February
Letter from the undermentioned persons severally mentioning
their Plans and Offering their Services in recovering the Cargo of the wreck of
the Earl of Abergavenny.
Mr. David Porter dated 11th instant
J West the 14th
James Fullerton (this day)
Ordered that these be reviewed by the Committee of Shipping
etc.
1467 - February, 1805
Letters received from Anthony Tredor Cannon,
David Porter, William Lymington, offering their services in recovering the
wreck.
1509 - 26th February, 1805
On reading a report from the committee of
shipping dated the 19th Instant stating the result of their enquiry
into the circumstance attending the Loss of the Earl of Abergavenny
Resolved Unanimously that the commander, officers and Ship’s company of the Earl
of Abergavenny be fully acquitted of all imputation of neglect or misconduct
in respect of the loss of that ship.
That this court are further unanimously of
opinion that the Earl of Abergavenny was fully sufficiently found in
anchors, cables, and other stores, and that the owners be therefore fully
acquitted of all Imputation of neglect or misconduct in respect to the loss of
the said ship.
1543 - 6th March
A letter from the 2nd,
3rd and 4th Mates of the late ship Earl of Abergavenny
stating their losses in consequence of the wreck of that ship, entreating the
court’s favourable consideration of their distressed case and that they may be
granted such gratuity to adjust their present outfit and retrieve their losses,
as the Court may deem proper.
1754 - 5th April
The Committee of Shipping in one other
report dated this day [5th April 1805] now read stating their
Proceedings on the letters received from Sundry Persons on the subject of
endeavouring to weigh the wreck and recover the Cargo, Stores, &c., of the
late Ship Earl of Abergavenny, lost off Weymouth on the 5th February
last; and submitting certain Terms and Conditions, which they have agreed
to, jointly with the Committee of Insurers for employing Messrs A & J
Lindgreen on the Business.
Resolved: That this Court approve the
said Resolution, and that Messrs A & J Lindgreen be engaged as agents for
the Company respecting such articles of the Company's Property as may be
recovered from the late ship abovementioned.
B141 Court Minutes
479 - 13th August
Letter received from Thomas Harrison dated
13th August [1805] submitting a plan for raising the wreck of the Abergavenny
in the event of the present undertaking failing.
Index of Court Minutes 1800-11 (A-L)
[IOR Indexes Z/B/2 3]
This is the open-shelf index, which lists
the following references relevant to the Abergavenny.
The index refers to the Court Book discussed above:
Letters relative to the loss — 1415, 1430
Committee to inquire into circumstances —
1426
Offers of cargo recovery — 1430, 1458,
1467, 1487-1500
Commander and officers acquitted of all
blame — 1509
Letter from 2nd 3rd
and 4th mates soliciting relief — 1563
Report on the proposals to recover approved
— 1754
IOR L/Mar/C/534
“Proceeding relative to Ships tendered for
the Service of the United East-India Company, from the twentieth of April 1803,
to the twenty-seventh September, 1809, with an appendix”. The book was
first printed in 1806, and the ‘1809’ of the title has been stuck over the
original date as the book has been expanded.
The letters (the numbers referred to in square brackets) themselves are
printed (in typescript) at the back of the volume.
Inquiry ordered 13/2/1805 [2487]
Inquiry date set 15/2 for 19th at
11am [2491]
Mr. Stewart (and any others he thinks
necessary), 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
mates, surgeon, gunner, carpenter, steward should attend.
The letters printed below are
reproduced in the Appendix to this book (L/Mar/C/534). APPENDIX No 4097.
[ 3510]
Weymouth, 6th February,
1805.
SIR,
It is with the most heartfelt sorrow I have
to acquaint you, for the information
of the honorable the Court of Directors, with the loss of their ship
Abergavenny. Soon after I sent off my dispatches to you last night, a report
came from Portland that this ship had struck on the Shambles; but I could obtain
no satisfactory information nor by any means procure a boat to go off to my
ship. The melancholly account was confirmed to me this morning.
About five o'clock, after beating over the Shambles, they found the ship
made much water; but the pumps, and bailing gained on her for some time, and
they endeavored to run in for the shore, but drifting up through Portland Road
into Weymouth Road, where she went down in about nine fathom water.
She is upright, her lower yards above water, and their pilot-boat
attending the ship, notwithstanding which, I am deeply afflicted to inform you;
that from the best information yet obtained from the second officer, not more
than eighty people are saved, which is in great measure attributed to so many of
them being below at the pumps Amongst.
the number lost, I have to regret that of her late unfortunate commander.
At the moment of writing, I
learn that the purser and fourth officer have set off for town. The latter was
on board till the last, and I must refer you to him for information. The
Collector of the Customs has sent the Greyhound cutter to attend the ship, and
Captain Quick, of His Majesty’s Post-office packet Rover,
has also sent his boats, and several boats from the Indiamen are likewise
there. The ship and cargo must, I fear, be totally lost, and from the depth of
water in which she lies, the recovery of any part of the treasure even is
extremely doubtful. Every exertion,
however, will be used to prevent plunder, and save what is possible; but for the
latter purpose I strongly recommend your Master Attendant’s being early sent
down, with suitable persons. to a service of that nature.
In the mean while I have advised Mr. Stewart, the second officer, to
await here the orders of the Honorable Court, as the fourth mate is gone up.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your very obedient humble, servant.
W. S. CLARKE.
William Ramsay, Esq.
Mem.— I lose no time in sending this up by
a horse-express, which may reach you a few hours before the post. From the Collector of the Customs I understand that there are
no drivers to be got here.
[2492]
AT A COMMITTEE OF
SHIPPING
On
Wednesday the 19th February, 1805.
The following letters were read, viz.
[vide App No. 4114.]
From Peter Everitt Mestaer, Esq., under
yesterday's date, in reply to the letter written him in consequence of this
Committee's resolution of 14th instant, respecting his tender of the
William Pitt and ship building by him at Bucklershard.
[No. 4115]
From Messrs. Bruce, De Ponthieu, Bazett [Buzert?]
and Co., dated this day, stating that Mr. George Wilkinson had informed them of
his intention to withdraw the tender of the ship Matilda, also stating that the
said ship, at the time the tender was made, was, and still is under their
direction ; that they authorised Messrs. Wilkinson to make the tender under
certain conditions of sale, or optionally on their own (Messrs. Bruce
and Co.'s) account; that the conditions of sale, not having been fulfilled, they
consider the tender as theirs, though made in Messrs. Wilkinson's names, they
having no property therein; that they are ready to accept the terms arranged by
Messrs. Wilkinson with the Court, and to fulfil all the arrangements required;
that they therefore request that if Messrs. Wilkinson should apply to withdraw
their tender, it may only be considered as withdrawing their names, and that the
tender, as originally authorised by them (Messrs. Bruce and Co.) may stand.
The Committee proceeding, agreeably to their
resolution of the 15th instant, to take into consideration the
circumstances attending the loss of the late ship Earl of Abergavenny ;
[No. 4097.]
The following particulars were read, viz.
Letter from Captain William Stanley Clarke,
of the Wexford, dated the 6th, and referred by the Court the 8th
instant and which was read in this Committee on that day, stating several
particulars relative to the loss of the before-mentioned ship.
[No. 4116 & 4117]
Two letters from
Mr. William George Erving Stewart, late second mate of the Earl of Abergavenny,
dated the 8th and 12thinstant, containing a particular
account of the loss of that ship, advising his arrival in London.
Narrative of the
loss of the above ship, signed by Mr. Stewart.
Memorandum from Mr.
Gilpin, late fourth mate of the said ship, which was read in this Committee on
the 8th instant.
Narrative of the
loss signed by Mr. Gilpin.
Letter from Captain Edward
Balston, of the late ship Hindostan,
dated
[ 2493 ]
dated the 6th,
and referred by the Court the 8th instant, and which was read in this
Committee on that day, relative to the loss of the Earl of Abergavenny.
Affidavit of Thomas
James, pilot on board the Earl of Abergavenny, respecting her loss.
Mr. William George
Erving Stewart, late second mate.
Mr. Joseph
Wordsworth, - - - third ditto,
Mr. Thomas Gilpin,
- - - - fourth ditto,
Mr. J. Addwater, -
- - - - - carpenter
of the Earl of Abergavenny, were
severally called before the Committee, and examined very particularly on the
subject of the loss of the ship. They then withdrew.
Mr. Thomas Pitcher, ship-builder, who repaired
the ship,
Mr. Gilbert Ferguson, surveyor of shipping,
Mr. Robert Maccure, first assistant,
Mr. John Hillman, second ditto,
were also called into the Committee, and
examined in regard to the repairs of the ship, and her state previous to leaving
Gravesend. They then withdrew.
And the committee having given the subject the
fullest consideration,
It was, on several motions,
Resolved unanimously, That it appears to this
Committee, that the late ship Earl of Abergavenny, was, in every respect,
complete for her intended voyage.
Resolved unanimously, That this Committee are
of opinion, that the late commander, officers, and ship’s company of the late
ship Earl of Abergavenny be fully acquitted of all imputation of neglect
or misconduct, in respect to her loss.
Resolved unanimously, That this Committee are
of opinion, that the Earl of Abergavenny was fully and sufficiently found
in anchors, cables, and other stores, and that the owners should therefore be
fully acquitted of all imputation of neglect or misconduct, in respect to the
loss of the said ship.
And the before-mentioned resolutions were submitted in a report to the Court.
INDEX TO GENERAL COURT MINUTES, 1702 - 1837
[Z/B/99]*
* - Old number?
25th March, 1807: Ballot to
be taken of the question of the loss of the Abergavenny.
16th April, 1807: Commander and owners of the Earl of
Abergavenny acquitted of blame by ballot.
NOTES & REFERENCES FOR THIS PAGE
[A] Compiled with the help of
Jonathan Roberts.
Francis Maxwell, Assistant Surgeon, Bengal Establishment. (He was a passenger returning to duty in India – letter
number 98).
Mr. Wm Baillie,
Cadet, Bengal Establishment. (Suffered
a severe blow to the leg – letter number 99)
