| Career (US) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Arrow |
| Builder: | Thomas Kemp |
| Launched: | 7 December 1811 in Baltimore |
| Captured: | 8 May 1812 by HMS Andromache |
| Career (UK) | |
| Name: | HMS Whiting |
| In service: | 2 January 1813 |
| Fate: | Grounded on Doom Bar on 15 September 1816 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Pilot schooner |
| Tons burthen: | 225 5⁄94 (bm) |
| Length: | 98 ft (30 m) (overall), 75 ft (22.860000000 m) (keel) |
| Beam: | 23 ft 7.625 in (7.20408 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails |
| Sail plan: | Gaff rig with square topsail on foremast |
| Complement: | 50 |
| Armament: | 10 x 12-pounder carronades and 2 x 6-pounder guns |
HMS Whiting, built in 1811 by Thomas Kemp as a Baltimore pilot schooner, was launched as Arrow. On 8 May 1812 she was seized by the British navy under Orders in Council, for trading with the French, at which point she was re-fitted and re-named HMS Whiting.[1]
In 1816, after four years further service as a 12-gun schooner, the ship was sent to patrol the Irish Sea for smugglers and was beached on the Doom Bar. When the tide rose, she was flooded and deemed impossible to refloat.[2]
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Built for speed, the Arrow was used as a cargo vessel trading between the USA and France.[3] This was hazardous, as in 1807 Britain had introduced restrictions on American trade with France, with which Britain was at war. The U.S. considered these unlawful.[4]
On 8 May 1812, six months after being commissioned, and on a return voyage from Bordeaux to Baltimore fully laden with goods such as brandy, champagne, silk, nuts and toys, the Arrow and her cargo were seized by the 38-gun frigate HMS Andromache, commanded by Captain Sir George Tobin. Barely a month later the instruments allowing the seizure were repealed,[3] two days before the United States Congress had voted a declaration of war on Britain which was approved by President Madison on 18 June 1812.[5]
Tobin sent Arrow to Plymouth as a prize, with six of his seamen and two marines on board, under escort of HMS Armide commanded by Captain Lucius Handyman. As her original crew arrived in England before the declaration of war, they were released.[3]
The ship was taken to Plymouth Dockyard where between June 1812 and January 1813 she was re-fitted to be used by the Royal Navy.[3]
In full, the ship's new name was "His Majesty's schooner Whiting", and not "His Majesty's ship..."[6] In January 1813 Lieutenant George Hayes RN,[7] took command and on 25 February 1813 she sailed for the Bay of Biscay to join HMS Surveillante, Medusa, Bramble, Iris, Scylla, and Sparrow in the blockade of trade between the U. S. and France.[3]
Whiting was in service with the Royal Navy for almost four years. During that time, while under the command of Hayes, she captured or recaptured several vessels. On 22 March 1813, Whiting shared in the capture of the American schooner Tyger with HMS Medusa, Scylla and Iris. Tyger, of 263 tons burthen, was armed with four guns and had a crew of 25 men. She was sailing from Bordeaux, New York with a cargo of brandy, wine, and silks.[8]
One month later, on 23 April, Whiting and the sloops Pheasant and Scylla captured the American letter of marque Fox.[9] Then on 15 July, she recaptured the ship Friends, in company with HMS Reindeer.[6] Whiting, in company with Helicon also recaptured the Colin, on 25 October.[10]
By 26 August 1814, Whiting was under the command of Lieutenant John Little. On that day she recaptured the brig Antelope.[11][Note 1]
Whiting was also one of ten British vessels that took part in the Battle of Fort Peter, a successful British attack on an American fort in January 1815.[13] This battle was one of the skirmishes of the War of 1812 that happened after the Treaty of Ghent was signed, but before it was ratified by the US Senate.
On 18 August 1816, HMS Whiting, under the command of Lieutenant John Jackson, was ordered to leave Plymouth and sail around Land's End to the Irish Sea to counter smuggling in the area. On 15 September 1816, to escape a gale, Jackson took his vessel into harbour at Padstow on the north coast of Cornwall. The wind dropped as they came around Stepper Point, and the ship ran aground on the Doom Bar as the tide was ebbing, stranding her.[2]
According to the court martial transcripts, an attempt to move Whiting was made at the next high tide, but she was taking on water and it became impossible to save her. Her abandonment happened over the next few days. The court martial board reprimanded Lieutenant Jackson for having attempted to enter the harbour without a pilot and for his failure to lighten her before trying to get her off; as punishment he lost one year's seniority.[14] Five crewmen took advantage of the opportunity to desert; two were recaptured and were given "50 lashes with nine tails".[15][2] Whiting was eventually sold and despite correspondence requesting her move eleven years later, the Navy took no further interest in her.[16]
In May 2010, ProMare and the Nautical Archaeology Society, with the help of Padstow Primary School, mounted a search to find HMS Whiting.[17] They conducted a geophysical survey that recorded a number of suitable targets that divers subsequently investigated. One target is located only 25m from the calculated position of the wreck but sand completely covers the site, preventing further investigation at this time.[18]