T

Taunton Castle East Indiaman
Built by Barnard, launched in 1790. Three decks; length: 165 ft. [approx], breadth: 41 ft. [approx]; 1209 tons.
Nine (9) voyages to India and China between 1791 and 1812: (1) January 1791 - June1792 (Bombay & China); (2) May 1794 - July 1795 (China); (3) April 1796 - February 1798 (Bombay & China); (4) December 1798 - June 1800 (Bombay & China); (5) May 1801 - September 1802 (China); (6) June 1804 - September 1805 (China); (7) April 1807 - September 1808 (China); (8) April 1809 (Bombay); (9) March 1811 - July 1812 (Madras & China). Commanded by James Urmston (1746-) on first voyage in 1791/1792.
In June 1794 James Morley, Lachlan Macquarie's brother-in-law, left Bombay for China on board the Taunton Castle, under the command of Captain Edward Studd (1758-), and thereafter returned to Britain. In 1797, during her return voyage from China, the Taunton Castle and four of her consorts were passing through the Lombok Straits between the islands of Bali and Lombok (Indonesia) when they encountered six French frigates under the command of Rear Admiral Sercey. The senior officer of the convoy, Captain Charles Lennox of the Woodford, East Indiaman, hoisted the Royal Navy command flag of the Rear Admiral of the Blue and ordered his convoy to hoist the Blue Ensign and the Royal Navy pennant. The French fleet was bluffed into believing that they had encountered the British East India Squadron under Rear Admiral Rainier, and broke off their engagement.
[Source: Farrington, Catalogue of East India Company Ships' Journals and Logs 1600-1834. pp. 640-641].

Thane of Fife Smack
Built at Aberdeen in 1821; 62 tons; London coaster; later sailed London to Malta.
Masters: Aston, Wilson; Owners: Captain and Co., then Patterson.
Transported the Macquaries' personal effects and animals from London to Mull on 9 July 1822.
[Sources: Personal communication: M. Nix (2007); Lloyd's Register (1823)].

HMS Tremendous [Third Rate: 74 Gun] - Royal Navy
Built by William Barnard at Deptford, London; launched 30 October 1784. Dimensions: length, 139 ft.; breadth 47 ft. [approx];. 1680 tons. Guns: 28 x 32 Pounders; 28 x 18 Pounders; 18 x 9 Pounders. Crew: 550.
Long period of service in Royal Navy. Fought in the Battle of Glorious First of June off Ushant on 1 June 1794; at the Cape of Good Hope in 1796; in East Indies in 1803; in action against 40-gun La Canonniere on 21 April 1806; destroyed French 36-gun La Preneuse off Mauritius on 11 December 1809. Reconstructed 1810-1811 at Chatham Dockyard. Receiving ship at Sheerness 1822-1842. In 1845 cut down to Frigate (Fourth Rate, 50) and renamed Grampus; hulked and fitted as a powder depot in 1866. Sold 1897.
Macquarie refers to HMS Tremendous at Table Bay, Cape Town, on 5 March 1803 as part of the British squadron departing that day for Britain, with the former garrison of soldiers of the 81st. and 91st Regiments of Foot. He again mentions HMS Tremendous on 1 March 1806 as preparing to depart India for Britain as escort for a fleet of Indiamen.
[Sources: Winfield, Rif. British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817: design, construction, careers and fates. London: Chatham Publishing, 2005 pp.59, 85; Lyon, D. The Sailing Navy List... 1688-1860. p. 72; Macquarie, L. Journal 5 March 1803; 1 March 1806].

Tug Steamboat
Built: Port Glasgow, 1817; length: 73 ft 10" breadth: 17 ft 2"; depth: 8 ft 9"; 1 deck, 1 mast, standing bowsprit, square stern, carvel built keel; tonnage: 47 tons [approx].
Owned by the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leith Shipping Co (EGL) from 1817; and the London, Leith, Edinburgh and Glasgow Shipping Co. (LLEG) from 1820; other owners after 1825.
The Tug began service as steam boat for EGL Shipping Co. sailing between Leith and Grangemouth in 1817; and later on, between Leith and the coast of Fife and regular ferry services on Forth and Clyde Canal; vessel sank on 3 September 1830 after striking Dog Rock, located in the Firth of Forth, north of Bo'ness harbour. There is evidence in 1832 to suggest that the Tug was raised again in 1832.
The Macquaries embarked on the Tug at Newhaven on 2 September 1822 on their return voyage to Mull (via Edinburgh and Glasgow).
[Sources: National Archives of Scotland; Edinburgh Evening Courant 22 September 1817 and 13 December 1828; Edinburgh Advertiser, 7 Sep 1830; personal communication: M. Nix (2007)].

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