William Ashton was launched at Lancaster in 1810 as a West Indiaman. In 1810 she repelled a French privateer in a single ship action, and in 1813 she captured a ship. Then in 1818–1819 she made one voyage to India, sailing under a licence from the British East India Company (EIC). Thereafter she traded widely until she was wrecked on 9 August 1830 at Newfoundland on her way from Dublin to Quebec.
Career William Ashton first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR), in 1810.LR (1812), Supple. pages "W", Seq.no.W54.
Year Master Owner Trade Source 1810 Greenwood Burrow Lancaster–CorkLondon–St Croix LR
Captain Thomas Greenwood's previous command had been the Lancaster-built West Indiaman .
On 22 August 1810, a French privateer with yellow sides, 20 guns, and full of men approached William Ashton as v was on her way back to England from St Croix. The two vessels exchanged fire for two hours, at times firing from within 40 yards of each other. Greenwood several times filled bottles with small shot and shot that at the French vessel, possibly causing heavy casualties. Eventually, the privateer sailed off. William Ashton was much damaged in her masts and rigging, and had taken several shot between "wind and water".
Captain Thomas Greenwood acquired a letter of marque on 22 September 1810, shortly after arriving back at Lancaster after this action. However, a month later, on 25 October, Captain Thomas Dawson took command of William Ashton and acquired his own letter of marque.
Year Master Owner Trade Source 1811 GreenwoodDawson Burrow Lancaster–Cork LR
On 13 April 1813, William Dawson, William Ashton, and Mary captured the American schooner Miranda, which was on her way from Kennebunk to Cuba. The three British ships were coming from St Croix.
Year Master Owner Trade Source 1814 T.Dawson Burrows & Co. Falmouth–St Johns LR 1815 T.DawsonT.Keen Burrows & Co. Falmouth–St JohnsLiverpool–Havana LR 1816 T.Keen E.Evans Liverpool–Philadelphia LR
On 20 May 1816 William Ashton, Keen, master, arrived at St Johns, New Brunswick, from Jamaica. She had lost two bower anchors when she ran ashore at Shelburne, Nova Scotia. On 8 September she filled with water after she struck on the Coal Rock as she was coming into Liverpool from St John, New Brunswick.
Year Master Owner Trade Source 1818 S.BaxterW.Brown E.Evans Liverpool–VirginiaLiverpool–Calcutta LR; damages repaired 1817
In 1813 the EIC had lost its monopoly on the trade between India and Britain. British ships were then free to sail to India or the Indian Ocean under a licence from the EIC.
William Ashton, Brown, master, sailed in April 1818 for Bengal.LR (1818), "Licensed India Ships". On 30 September she was at Bengal. On 3 March 1819 she sailed for Liverpool.
Year Master Owner Trade Source 1820 W.BrownW.Jameson Powell & Co. Liverpool–CalcuttaLiverpool–Jamaica LR; damages repaired 1817 1821 W.Jameson Sandback Liverpool–Jamaica LR; damages repaired 1817 1823 W.JamesonC.Hayn SandbackM'Inroy Liverpool–Jamaica LR; damages repaired 1817 1824 C.HaynM.Guy Milroy Greenock–Demerara LR; damages repaired 1817 1825 H.B.Guy Battersby & Co. Belfast–Quebec LR; damages repaired 1817
On 22 May 1824, William Ashton, Captain H.B.Guy, was sailing between the Bermudas and Cape Hatteras when he reported having observed a rock with a circumference of about 100 yards at . The rock was given the name "Ashton Rock" in contemporary nautical guides. However, the rock did not exist. There were no later confirmatory sightings and in five days of searching in 1850 Lieutenant J. C. Walsh, in the U. S. schooner Taney, could not find the rock. He reported his lack of success to Lieutenant Matthew Fontaine Maury. Later, "Ashton Rock" was included on a list of rocks and the like that had been reported but did not exist.
Year Master Owner Trade Source 1826 Bellamy Carr & Co. London–Quebec LR; damages repaired 1817 1827 BellamyArmstrong Carr & Co. London–Quebec LR; damages repaired 1817 and some repairs 1827 1828 ArmstrongJ.Cooper Dobinson London–Petersburg LR; damages repaired 1817, some repairs 1827, new deck and keel 1828 1829 J.Cooper Dobinson Bristol–Miramichi LR; damages repaired 1817, some repairs 1827, new deck and keel 1828
Fate On 9 August 1830, William Ashton was on her way from Dublin to Quebec when she struck a rock in Fortune Bay, Newfoundland during a fog and quickly filled with water. The crew and passengers were able to reach Harbour Briton."Ship News". 18 September 1830, The Times (London, England) Issue: 14335.
William Ashton was no longer listed in the 1830 volume of Lloyd's Register.
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