two ships by the same name in the same Navy

[AON]

I am transcribing some old newspaper postings and stumbled on the building of two different ships in the same yard for the British Royal Navy in 1785 that were assigned the same name.

 

 

SQUIRREL - see below.   Did this really happen?

Edited November 5, 2019 by AON

[mtaylor]

 Interesting find.  Wikipedia shows only a 24 gun ship by that name and year.  

[bruce d]

Hello Alan,

Odd. Can I ask what are the list headings? Do the headings state that these are RN ships under construction or might it include ships undergoing other work as well?

If I have it right, 'Sutton' was a yard in Plymouth. A cutter named Squirrel was launched there in 1785 after some delays in building.

Bruce

[amateur]

LIke the list in Wiki: The NMM gives plans for a 20 gun 6th rate ship (1755), named Squirrel 

a 24 gun 6th rate build in 1785 and a 16 gun second class brig (1853).

 

No others mentioned aoudn 1785, and no 28 guns....

 

Jan

Edited November 6, 2019 by amateur

[bruce d]

5 minutes ago, amateur said:

20 gun 6th rate ship (1755)

Yes, saw that too, but the 1755 Squirrel was sold and renamed prior to 1785. She was in private hands as a whaler in 1785.

[druxey]

Looks like a transcription error into print. The entry for the 24 gun ship seems to be the accurate one. She was built by Barton of Liverpool, launched 9.5.1785 and survived (as a hulk) until sold in 1817. (Lyon, The Sailing Navy List, page 89).

[bruce d]

45 minutes ago, druxey said:

... built by Barton of Liverpool, launched 9.5.1785 ...

Oops. Quite right, my earlier statement that she was built at Plymouth was wrong. After launching she went to Plymouth for survey and further fitting out. She is described as a cutter at this time.

[Matle]

Typos are as old as typography =)

[AON]

I must apologize for not responding since the 6th of November!!!  For some reason I did not get any notifications of any postings here.

 

The headings were SHIP - YARD - GUNS

 

I suspect if it was a typo (which is as likely as anything I suppose) then the proper ships name was omitted in error.

 

Another posting lists the 24 gun Squirrel as having been launched the following year, having been published in The Scots Magazine on the 1st of May 1786.

 

I have also seen ships built under one name and launched under another only to be renamed again some years later.