Plymouth, Prison Ships

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PRISON SHIPS

Updated: 14 May 2011

Before the construction of the prisoner-of-war prison at Princetown, such prisoners were kept aboard ships moored in the Hamoaze. The ships were also used to hold prisoners awaiting transportation to the colonies to do their penal servitude.

In 1808 those in commission were [1]:-

the "Brave", which was the old French vessel "Formidable" captured in November 1805 after escaping the Battle of Trafalgar. Formerly of 80 guns, she could properly accommodate 800 prisoners;

the "El Firme", an ex-Spanish vessel captured by Sir Robert Calder in July 1805 off Ferrol. She was commissioned at Plymouth on February 23rd 1808 and could accommodate 750;

the "San Ysidro" and the "San Nicolas", both Spanish vessels captured by Sir John Jarvis KB, in February 1797 off Cape St Vincent. These could hold 750 prisoners each;

the "Hector", a French vessel captured by Lord Rodney on April 12th 1782. She could hold 700 prisoners;

the "Generaux", another French vessel, which Rear-Admiral Lord Nelson captured in the Mediterranean on February 18th 1800. She could accommodate 750 prisoners;

the "L'Oiseau", formerly the 36-gun French frigate the "Cleopatra", which was captured on June 18th 1793 off Start Point by Captain Edward Pellew, who was in command of "HMS Nymphe". She was small and could only take 300 prisoners;

the "Bienfaisant", the "Europe" and the "Panther", which were all British ships, each accommodating around 300 prisoners;

and finally, the hospital ship "Le Caton", a French vessel captured by Lord Hood in April 1782 in the Mona Passage. She was moored off Saltash.

Thus something like 6,200 prisoners of war could be held on board these ships. [1]

The "Panther" was taken out of service on December 24th 1811, having been replaced by the "Ganges", which was commissioned on December 12th. On December 26th, the "Bienfaisant" was taken out of service also. [1]

In 1812 only the "Brave", "San Ysidro", San Nicolas" "Europe" and the hospital ship were in commission. The "Europe" was taken out of service on December 28th 1812. [1]

On January 1st 1813 the prison ships in commission were the "Brave", the "El Firme", the "Hector", the "Generaux", the L'Oiseau", the "San Ysidro", the "San Nicolas", the "Ganges" and the "Le Caton". The "Europe" was brought back into service in September 1813 and the "Bienfaisant" the following month. [1]

All the above information was abstracted by Mr J Rudland Hearn from a Journal compiled by Captain Edward Hawkins RN (1765-1839), who in June 1808 was appointed as superintendent of the prison ships, replacing Captain Richard Matson. He lived aboard the "Brave". The Journal was in the possession of his granddaughter, Miss Mary G C Hawkins, of Duncan House, Saltash, who died in November 1959. [1]

Amongst the military units used the guard the prisoners were the 2nd Royal Veteran Battalion in 1807-09; the 1st Lancashire Regiment of Militia (1808); the Royal Marines (1809, 1812 and 1813); the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Foot (1809); the West Essex Regiment of Militia (1809); the 1st Somerset Regiment of Militia (1809, from mid June 1811 to January 1812 and again in October 1813); the 1st Devonshire Regiment of Militia (1810); the Shropshire Regiment of Militia (1811 and 1812); the Nottingham Regiment of Militia (1811); the Rosscommon Regiment of Militia from southern Ireland (1812 and April 1813); the Royal South Gloucester Regiment of Militia (1812); the Hereford and Norfolk Regiment of Militia (1813); the South Cork Regiment of Militia, which arrived from Ireland (1813); and the Edinburgh Regiment of Militia which was on route to Ireland (1813). [1]

On November 16th 1813 Captain Edward Hawkins RN was relieved at Plymouth by Captain D'Arcy Preston RN. [1]

There were a number of other prison ships in later years. The aptly named "Captivity", was certainly at Devonport in 1821. She held an average of 426 prisoners per day. The vessel had previously been "HMS Bellerophon" and had been reduced to a prison hulk in October 1815. She took the name "Captivity" on October 5th 1824 and remained at Devonport until around 1834, when she was removed to Sheerness. She was sold in January 1836 and broken up at Surrey Canal Wharf.

The "Stirling Castle" was at Devonport between March 1840 and September 1844, after which she moved to Portsmouth and then Gosport before being broken up in September 1861.

One of the prison hulks, the "Success", was exhibited in coastal ports around the country as "The World's Most Remarkable Vessel - Visited by Royalty".

Sources:

[1] Hearn, J Rudland, "Military and Marine Guards on board the prison ships in Hamoaze, Plymouth, between 1807 and 1813", Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries, number 185.