Avenger

Posted by Stephen Mills on Friday 30th of May 2025 19:11

During a cursory archaeological dive in 1999, jetsam, including over 100 24-pdr solid shot and ballast bars, likely from that wreck were recorded at the site of the grounding at the entrance to St. John's harbour. Local tradition has the wreck located about 150m away from the jetsam.

Posted by AvM on Friday 21st of July 2017 21:21

"Ships Employed in the South Seas Trade 1775-1961"
Data form BT 107

'Thames' ship
Registeed London #207 on 1 Jun 1804
Built at King's and Queen'S Dock, Rotherhithe, 14 Dec 1803
2 decks 3 masts 403 64/94bm 110ft x29ft5in x 5ft10in
square stern ship, flush deck, no gallery, hilled head
owner William Mellish, Shadwell Dock, merchant
master John Hemmons from 1 Jun 1804

Posted by AvM on Friday 21st of July 2017 21:16

Collection of Interesting and Important Reports and Papers on the Navigation and Trade ...
London 1807

P.E.Mestaer, Rotherhithe
launched 14 Dec 1803 a ship Thames of 374bm
for South Seas (but now a sloop of war).

Posted by AvM on Friday 21st of July 2017 12:05

Papers Respecting The Navy, Presented In Pursuance Of Addresses of the House of Lords to His Majesty.
Navy Office, 18th March 1805

HMS Avenger was purchased form William Mellish
as 'Thames' was 2 years old and has 404bm
was purchased for £8,400
moreover £1,885 were spent to fitting the ship at King'S Yard.

So she was not purchased on stock!!!

Posted by Brian Stephens on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 17:40

Feb 5, 1813 Edinburgh Advertiser p. 4

Friday, a court martial was assembled on board the Gladiator, for trial of Capt. Johnson, his officers, and ships company for the loss of his Majesty's ship Avenger, in the narrows of St. Johns Harbour, Newfoundland. She was running in from sea, with a hard wind, and close to the north side, to avoid the Pancasta Rock, when a sudden flow of wind nearly stopped her way, by which, with the strong current setting out she was thrown on shore close to the Chain Rock. Every effort was made to haul her off, assisted by the Captains and ships companies of the Comet, Hazard, Nimrod, and Odonis; but. by 9 o'clock, the following morning, she was wholly under water. The Court agreed that there was no blame imputable to the said Capt. Johnson, her Commander, his Officers and ships company, and did adjudge them to be acquitted. Rear Admiral Hargood, President.