Quaker (1793 ship)
Quaker was launched at Tynemouth in 1793 as a West Indiaman. The French captured her in 1795 but in a process that is currently obscure she returned to British ownership. In 1797 she became a slave ship, sailing out of Liverpool. On her first slave voyage the French captured after she had gathered her slaves, but the British Royal Navy recaptured her. She resumed her voyage but before she could deliver her slaves the French captured her again. She returned to British ownership in 1805, but wrecked in December 1806. Career. "Quaker" first entered "Lloyd's Register  (LR") in 1794. Captain Thomas Burnet acquired a letter of marque on 9 December 1793. "Lloyd's List" ("LL") reported on 4 February 1794 that "Quaker", Burnett, master, from Cork to Barbados, had arrived at Penzance having lost her bowsprit, sails, etc., and having had to throw some of her cargo overboard. She had sailed from Cork on 26 January. Then about two months later, "LL" reported that "Union", of Boston, had arrived at Cowes from Brest with the news that "Quaker", Burnett, master, from Cork to Barbados, "was carried into that port." It is not clear whether the report  was in error, or whether "Quaker" returned to British ownership by recapture, or other means. Captain James Robertson sailed from Liverpool on 17 January 1797. "Quaker" gathered her slaves at Anomabu and Whydah. "Lloyd's List" reported on 29 December 1797 that "Quaker", Robertson, master, of Liverpool, had been reported off Whydah by "Renoir's Squadron". A later report confirmed the vessel and location. A report in March stated that "Quaker", of Liverpool, with 350 slaves, and , of Bristol, Buckle, master, had been retaken on the coast of Africa. "African Queen" was on a trading voyage to Africa, not on  a slaving voyage, and returned to Bristol. "Quaker" continued her slave trading voyage, sailing to the West Indies, but apparently with a new master. "Quaker"s recaptors were and , and she was one of six ships that they captured or recaptured off Gorée. The notice in the "London Gazette" described "Quaker" as "late of Liverpool". She was of 260 tons, 10 guns and a crew of 36. She was trading on the coast and had a cargo of merchandise and 337 slaves. The next report in "Lloyd's List" was that "Quaker", Jones, master, from Africa to Saint Kitts, had been  taken and sent into . "Quaker" reappeared in "LR" in 1805. Again, it is currently unclear by what process she had returned to British ownership. Fate. "Quaker" sailed to Honduras, from Honduras to New York, and then from New York to London. On 16 December 1806 "Lloyd's List" reported that "Quaker", Irwin, master, had been lost on the Margate Sand. Her crew and part of her cargo had been saved. Notes and citations. Notes Citations