Sophia was launched at Quebec in 1826 and sailed to London. In 1830 she became a whaler in the British southern whale fishery. A fire destroyed her in the Seychelles in March 1833.
Career She was re-registered in London on 16 March 1827.Library and Archives Canada – Ship Registrations 1787-1966: Item: 66021: SOPHIA. Sophia first appeared in the Register of Shipping (RS) in 1827.RS (1827), "S" supple. pages. She initially sailed as a West Indiaman and to the Gulf of Mexico.
Year Master Owner Trade Source & notes 1827 Sabiston Baker London–Jamaica RS 1831 SabistonHaycock Baker London–Vera CruzLondon–South Seas RS 1833 Haycock Baker London–Southern Fishery RS 1833 Acock Baker & Co. London Lloyd's Register; small repairs 1830
Whaling voyage and loss Sophia sailed from London on 18 December 1830, bound for the Seychelles."THE CAPE", Launceston Advertiser 21 March 1832, p.94.
In late 1832 Sophia, Acock, master, was at where she found and killed two whales. Her first and second mates went in pursuit of some whales in two boats, but never returned to Sophia. Captain Acock cruised the vicinity for four days, but without being able to find the missing two officers and 10 men. He then called in at Table Bay on 28 December to recruit a replacement crew.
On 16 March 1833 a fire destroyed Sophia off the Seychelles. Her crew were rescued. The loss occurred at . She had about 1000 barrels of whale oil on board at the time of her loss. The crew arrived at Trois Freres.British Southern Whale Fishery Database – Voyages: Sophia. French sources state that the whaler Sophia, Hencoc, master, burned about 28 leagues from Silhouette Island. The crew saved themselves by taking to her boats and landing there.Almanach des Îles Séchelles, pour l'année bissextile 1840, p.40.
Citations
References