Sandown (1788 ship)
Sandown is notable because when in 1793-94 she carried slaves from Sierra Leone to Jamaica, her master, Captain Samuel Gamble, kept a detailed log with profuse illustrations. This has been published in a transcribed and annotated form. It is one of only a few journals and logbooks from the British slave trade. "Sandown" entered "Lloyd's Register" in 1789 as a vessel built in France in 1781, lengthened in 1787, and surveyed in 1787. Her owner was John St Barbe, and her master was W. Snow. Her trade was London–Turkey. In 1791 her trade was  London–Marseilles. "Lloyd's Register" for 1793 shows her master changing from W. Snow to S. Gambell, her owner from J. St Barbe to Cameron, and her trade from London–Straits [of Gibraltar] to Cork–Africa. Captain Samuel Gamble received a letter of marque on 21 March 1793, i.e., before he sailed to West Africa. "Sandown" sailed from London on 7 April 1793 and started gathering slaves on 15 September at Sierra Leone, though she primarily gathered her slaves at Rio Nuñez. On 27 March 1794 "Sandown" left Africa and on 13 May arrived at Jamaica. Apparently at some point  there was a slave uprising that left ten slaves dead before it was suppressed. She had embarked 232 slaves and she disembarked 212, for a loss rate of 8.6%. "Sandown" left Jamaica on 27 July. On 11 October she arrived at Liverpool. She started her voyage with 22 crew members and added six before she commenced gathering slaves. Five died on the voyage from England to Africa, five died while she was in Africa, and one died on the voyage from Africa to Jamaica. On her way she stopped at Barbados where a number of crew members deserted so that  she limped into Jamaica with only six crew members. "Lloyd's Register" for 1795 showed "Sandown"s master changing from Gamble to F. Smith, and her owner from Cameron to Captain & Co. Also, her trade changed from London–Africa to London–Cork. She was last listed in 1798 with Smith, master and owner, and trade London–Cork. Notes, citations and references. Notes Citations References