Caldicot Castle (or Caldecot Castle, or Caldecott Castle) was built in 1794 at Caldicot, Monmouthshire. The French captured her twice; the second time she engaged her captor in a single ship action. She also survived the perils of the sea in 1803, 1807, and 1819. She was wrecked in October 1828, and was last listed in 1832.
Career Caldicot Castle appears in the 1794 volume of Lloyd's Register with P. Driscoll, master, and trade Bristol—Quebec.
On 18 March 1795, as Caldecot Castle, Driscol, master, was sailing from Barcelona to Guernsey, a French squadron of six ships-of-the-line, two frigates, and a corvette captured her off Cape St. Vincent. However, on 30 March, , of Admiral Colpoy's squadron, recaptured her and took her into Falmouth.Lloyd's List №2706. Ten British warships, , , , Robust, , , , , and , shared in the proceeds of Caldicot Castles recapture on 28 March.
In January 1803, Caldicot Castle was returning to Liverpool from Quebec when she had to put in at Crookhaven. She had lost her mizzen mast and rudder, and sustained other damage.Lloyd's List №4314.
Lloyd's List reported on 4 May 1804, that privateers had captured , Cannell, master, Caldicot Castle, Skerrett, master, and , Williams, master, and taken them into Guadeloupe.Lloyd's List №4450. Captain Richard Sherrat wrote a letter from Barbados on 14 April, in which he described the attack. He had sailed Caldicot Castle from Demerara on 27 February, and by 8 March was about 200 miles east of Guadeloupe when at 8 pm two privateers, a schooner and a ship, came up and opened fire. After about 15 minutes, the schooner had sustained damages and had sheered off. By 9:20 the ship also sheared off but remained in sight. Next morning at 6am the ship recommenced the engagement. After about 15 minutes Sherrat had to strike. Caldicot Castles rigging had been cut to pieces and he and two other men had been wounded, one mortally. The privateer was Grand Decide, which was armed with twenty 9-pounder and two 12-pounder brass guns, and had a crew of 160 men.
Year Master Owner Trade Notes 1796 Thompson M'Iver Bristol—LondonLondon—Jamaica 10 × 4-pounder guns 1797 ThompsonOxton M'IverTimperon London—Jamaica Captain Thomas Oxton acquired a letter of marque on 24 April 1797 1798 Oxton Litt & Co. Liverpool—Jamaica8 × 6-pounder guns + 8 × 4-pounder guns 1799 T. OxtonJohn Williams Timperon Liverpool—Jamaica Captain John Williams acquired a letter of marque on 25 February 1799 1800 Williams Timperon Liverpool—Jamaica 1801 WilliamsSmith Timperon Liverpool—Jamaica Captain William Smith acquired a letter of marque on 18 October 1800 1802 W. Smith Timperon Liverpool—Jamaica 1803 W. SmithSherret TimperonJones & Co. Liverpool—Jamaica 1804 R. Skerrett Jones & Co. Liverpool—Barbados
Caldicott Castle returned to British hands, though how is not clear. Her entry in Lloyd's Register for 1805 is marked "captured", but also shows a change of master.
Year Master Owner Trade Notes 1805 R. SherradD. M'Neil Jones & Co. Liverpool—Barbados Six guns 1806 A. M'Neil Dowson & Co. London transport
On 18 November 1817, Lloyd's List reported that Caldicot Castle had arrived at Portsmouth, having sailed from Malta via Gibraltar in company with several other transports until heavy weather had separated them.Lloyd's List №5230.
Year Master Owner Trade Notes 1816 Carr Dowson London transport 1817 Lloyd's Register unavailable/not published 1818 Carr Dowson & Co. London transport 1819 CarrJ. Hait Dowson & Co. London transportHull—"Klnda"
On 4 December 1819, Caldicott Castle ran aground and was severely damaged at Sunderland, County Durham."Ship News". The Hull Packet and Original Weekly Commercial, Literary and General Advertiser. 14 December 1819.
Year Master Owner Trade Notes 1820 J. Hart Capt. & Co. Hull-"Kanda" Large repair 1820 1821 J. Hart Capt. & Co. Hull-"Kinda" 1822 J. HartCharlton Captain & Co. Hull—"Kinda"Plymouth-Quebec 1823 Charlton Laings Plymouth-Quebec 1824 Charlton Laings Plymouth-Quebec 1825 Charlton Laings Plymouth-Quebec 1826 Charlton Laings Plymouth-Quebec 1827 Charlton Laings Plymouth-Quebec 1828 Charlton Laings Plymouth-Quebec 1829 Hicks S. Keene Dublin—Dantzig 1830 Hicks S. Keene Dublin—Dantzig
Fate It was reported on 20 October 1828, that Caldicot Castle had struck a rock and sunk at Milford but by 15 October, had been raised and pulled up on Laurenny Beach."SHIP NEWS", 20 October 1828, Morning Post (London, England), issue: 18049. Caldicot Castle was last listed in 1832.
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