List of vessels of the Bengal Pilot Service to 1834

The Bengal Pilot Service (BPS) was an arm of the British East India Company (EIC). Its pilot boats were responsible for guiding East Indiamen, and other vessels, up and down the Hooghly River between Calcutta and the sea. The BPS vessels and their role were transferred to the Indian Navy in 1834.

The information in the tables below comes primarily from Phipps (designated with a "†"),Phipps (1840). or Hackman (designated with a "‡").Hackman (2001). The vessels listed are those one source or the other identified as serving the Bengal Pilot Service. Where the two sources disagree with respect to some datum such as year of launch, or burthen, the first datum mentioned is from Phipps and the second is from Hackman.

A & B Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks Abercromby† 147 1794 Fort William (Calcutta)New Oriental... (1802), p.64. Converted to a buoy vessel; condemned and sold out of the service 1807 Amazon† Cruiser 138 1769 Calcutta Stationed at Chittagong; dispatched to Cochin China April 1778 Apollo† Yacht Sold 4 January 1769 Arrival‡ Sloop 1676 Asseergurh† 197 1819 Kidderpore Sold 1839, or still in BPS in 1851Clark (1851), p.204. Balasore‡ Sloop 1689 Beacon† Light vessel 180 1831 Howrah Stationed at the Sand Heads; still in BPS in 1851 Blessing‡ Sloop 80 1670 London Bombay‡ Sloop 1742 Not in the BPS in 1766† Bonetto† or Bonetta‡ Sloop 107 1748 or 1746 Bombay Sold November 1786 Brilliant‡ Brigantine July 1743 Bombay Dockyard Madras Pilot Service

C Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks Caranga† (equally Caranja) Schooner 130 1775 Bombay Destroyed by a fire April 1779Fort William... (1981), Vol. 8, pp. 60 & 488. Calcutta‡ Sloop 1746 Pegu Authorized 14 April 1755 to be sunk to end white ant infestation; sold 1756 for breaking up Calcutta‡ Snow 1757 Calcutta Not in the BPS in 1766† Carnac†‡ Schooner 1762, or 1761, or 1763 Bombay, or Chittagong Sold 3 March 1767 Carolina‡ Sloop 1739 Pegu †‡ Brig 150, or 170†‡ 1787 Bombay Captured 21 January 1796 in Balasore Roads; recaptured February and taken into MadrasAusten (1935), p.79. Cassimbazar (equally Cossimbazar Fitted out October 1712 Out of service c.1731, but rebuilt c.August 1733 Cavery†, or Cauvery‡ Brig 200 1838 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851 Cecilia Ship 191 1813 Bombay Sold at Calcutta into country service 1828; Lengthened at Moulmain 1838 Chandernagore† Schooner 85 Chandernagore French pilot vessel seized at Calcutta on 5 July 1793; Condemned and sold at Calcutta on 27 June 1795 Change† Schooner 144 1799 Fort William Transferred to the Residency at Ambonya September 1810. Participated in the 1810-11 British invasion of Java and the Moluccas. Charles‡ Sloop 1683 London Charles† River transport 115 1796 Calcutta Sold 1808 Charlotte† Yacht 174 1794 Calcutta Converted to an agent vessel 1802; condemned and sold 1808 Chaser† 160 1778 Batavia Chittagong† Sloop 1755 Mauritius Sold 22 April 1767 Colleron†‡ (or Coleroon) Brig 200 1838 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851 Comet† Floating light vessel 139 1777 Calcutta Sold 1788 Conimere‡ Sloop 1682 India Purchased April 1683 at Madras for the BPS †‡ Brig 170 1787 Bombay Dockyard 10 or 19 December 1796 the French privateer Enterprise captured her and she arrived at Mauritius in January 1797. Cudbert Thornhill† 160 1804 Calcutta Sold 8 April 1818 into country service Cuddalore†‡ Sloop, or schooner 1752 Bombay Dockyard Lost 1775

D — G Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks Diamond Harbour Anchor boat 1796 Fort William Diana‡ Ketch The EIC purchased her on 4 July 1704 for the BPS Diligence† Schooner 101 Bombay Dolphin‡ Sloop 1748 Bombay Eliza†‡ Schooner 189; 251 after lengthening 1813 Bombay Dockyard Condemned and sold September 1831 out of the service at Calcutta; local buyers renamed her Will Watch. Lengthened and registry transferred to London. Last listed 1844.Lloyd's Register Seq.№ W199. Expedition Sloop 1703 Fort St. George, India (Madras) Fanny‡ Snow 1757 Fly Sloop Sold February 1772 Flora†‡ Brig 189 1814 Bombay Sold into the country service 1836 Fort St George‡ Sloop 1739 Pegu Grounded 20 April 1751 and possibly wrecked Ford† Sloop 1750 Java Sold 1 October 1770 Friendship Ketch 1705 Ganges‡ Sloop 1676 Ganges‡ Sloop 1703 Ganges‡ Brig 130 1794 Bombay Dockyard Destroyed by fire in the Saugor Roads 11 January 1797. An explosion in the magazine killed eight crew members; six hours later Laurel rescued the survivors. George† River transport 115 1796 Calcutta Sold 1807 George† River transport 109 1807 Kidderpore Sold into the country service 13 May 1819 Gillett† Schooner 140 1793 Calcutta Captured by a gang of French parole violators at Kedgeree 29 October 1795Selections... (1865), Vol. 2, pp. 429-30. Gingali Sloop or brigantine Also Gingalle; destroyed by pirates at Anjengo June 1696 Grampus†‡ Sloop 105 1748 Bombay Dockyard Sold September 1775 to local buyers Guide† 150 1799 Fort William Sold 23 July 1814 Guide† Brig 189 1817 Bombay Dockyard In 1822 she rescued the passengers and crew of . Guide was sold 1837 to local buyers and renamed Sir William Wallace

H & I Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks Haldane† Schooner 163 1797 Fort William Sold 28 June 1816; possibly sold at Port Jackson 1821 Harland† 132 1772 Bombay Dockyard Dispatched to sea October 1776 and lost Harriett† Agent vessel 70 1795 Calcutta Sold into the country service † 150 1796 Calcutta The French privateer Apollon, Captain Jean-François Hodoul, captured her on 9 November 1797 off Sand Heads (equally, Balasore Roads). Harrington arrived at Mauritius on 21 December. The same privateer also captured Trial that same day.EIC (1959), p.330. Hastings†‡ Schooner 170 1787, or 1785 Bombay Dockyard Converted to a buoy vessel May 1818; sold to local buyers 11 October 1820. A fire destroyed her in the night on 17 April 1823 while she was at Pulau Pasang, off Padang. Hattrass† (or Hatras) 197 1819 Kidderpore Still in BPS in 1851 Hawk† 180 1778 Batavia Sold March 1783 Hawke‡ Sloop 1749 Bombay Dockyard Hawke‡ Gallivat 1773 Bombay Dockyard Hay† 150 1796 Calcutta On 21 December 1796 the French privateer Enterprise captured her in Balasore Roads. Henry Meriton†‡ Brig 190 1817 Bombay Dockyard Sold 1838 to local buyers and renamed William Hertford†‡ Sloop 1752 Pegu Sold 1 July 1767 Hope† Light vessel 180 1834 Howrah Stationed at the Sand Heads. In 1842 she caught fire whilst at Saugor, but was saved. There was suspicion against some of the crew."Ships burnt and destroyed" (November 1847) Nautical Magazine: A Journal of Papers on Subjects Connected with Maritime Affairs. Vol.16, p.589. Still in BPS in 1851. Hooghly†‡ (or Hooghli, or Houghley) Schooner 130, or 147, or 150 1794 Bombay Dockyard Captain Humphrys, rescued, with John Bebb, the passengers and crew of , Captain Tremenheere 1 June 1809; condemned and sold out of the service at Calcutta. Lost. Hughley Anna‡ Ketch 1705 Hunter‡ Schooner 1758 Indus (later Industry†‡ Schooner 140 1776 Bombay Dockyard Taken by the French 1782 Intelligence† Schooner 160 1780 Calcutta Transferred to the Fort Marlborough Residency 1782

J — M Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks Jane†‡ Brig 170 1819 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851. Jessey (or Jessy) Schooner 163 1797 Fort William Lost on the Reef Head 25 May 1815 Johanna‡ (also referred to as Juno†) Snow 170 1787 Bombay Dockyard Lost on the Andaman Islands expedition 1788 John Bebb† 155 1800 Calcutta Captain Nash. Rescued, with Hooghli, the passengers and crew of , Captain Tremenheere, 1 June 1809; participated in the 1810-11 British invasion of Java and the Moluccas. John Shore† 167 1807 Calcutta Sold 2 July 1818 to the country trade Josiah‡ Ketch 1703 Juno† Yacht Juno† (see Johanna) Krishna†‡ Brig 200 4 April 1837 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851. Lady William Bentinck† BrigFalconer (1852), p.123. 200 1833, or 1834 Howrah Still in BPS in 1851. Lilly‡ Sloop 1679 London Sloop Fitted out October 1712 Louisa‡ (also referred to as Princess Louisa) Sloop 21 December 1741 Bombay Dockyard Sold to local buyers 1755 Lovely Sophia† Snow 106 1775 Mauritius Sold July 1786L'Orient† 80 1771 Chandernagore Pilot boat of the French Bengal Pilot Service; captured at Balasore 1778; sold 1785 Mary‡ Sloop 70 1695 Surat Sold to local buyers 27 March 1705 Megna†‡ Brig 201 1836 Bombay Dockyard Still in BPS in 1851. Mercury† Schooner 1667 Bardarmarghanka Sold 24 February 1773 Mergee Frigate‡ Ship 1689 Sold almost immediately to French buyers Mermaid‡ Sloop 1758 Wrecked at Calingapatam February 1759 Mermaid† Dutch pilot vessel captured at Chinsurah 1796; sold and afterwards burnt at Penang Mermaid† 1767 Surat Sold 24 February 1773 Mermaid 1778 Sold Mermaid†‡ Brig 188 1825 Bombay Dockyard Round stern. In the Pilot Service 1839; lost 1847; However, a Mermaid was still in BPS in 1851. Minerva† Cruizer 180 1770 Calcutta Sold February 1774

N — R Name Type Tons burthen (bm) Year built Where built Remarks Nerbuddah†, or Nerbuda‡ Schooner 106 1776 Bombay Dockyard Captured by the French 1782 Nereide† Yacht 237 1821 Kidderpore Sold 1824; sent to England Nymphe† Sloop 180 1778 Batavia † Sloop 108 1778 Java Buoy vessel 1793; sold 1796 Phillip Dundas†‡ Brig 176 / 187 1797, or 1798 Bombay Dockyard Sold. Conflicting reports exist concerning her subsequent career and fate. Phoenix‡ Schooner 1667† Sold for breaking up 30 April 1759 Phoenix†‡ Schooner 113 1770‡ Bombay Dockyard Sold to local buyers June 1788, or in 1778 Phoenix† Agent vessel 181 1808 Kidderpore Sold 18 October 1820 Pilot† 90 1835 Howrah Employed in river duties; still in BPS in 1851. Planet†‡ Brig 174 1816 Bombay Dockyard Acted as a light vessel. Sold to local buyers December 1832 (or 1838) and renamed Bright Planet Plassey†‡ 1762 Bombay Sold to local buyers 24 February 1773 Porto Bello‡ Sloop July 1741 Bombay Prudent‡ Sloop 1683 Queen Anne‡‡ Sloop 1702 Queensborough† Sloop 1752 Bombay Sold 1 October 1770 Ranger†‡ Schooner 160 1780 Bombay A French privateer captured Ranger on 21 December 1796 in Balasore Roads. The privateer took off the pilot and the European crew members, and put on board a five-man prize crew. The next day the serang (boatswain) and the lascars overpowered the prize crew, killing one. They then took Ranger into Balasore. The EIC in 1805 sold Ranger to local buyers. Ring† Schooner Sold 24 February 1772 Rising Sun‡ Ketch 1703 Rochester‡ Sloop 1684 River Thames Royal James‡ Sloop 1683 River Thames Russell Captured September 1712 Russell†‡ Schooner 111 or 110 1770 Bombay Dockyard Taken by the French in Balasore Roads 14 January 1796

S — W