Golden Grove (1782 ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 Great Britain |
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| Name |
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| Namesake | Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire |
| Owner | Leighton & Co., London |
| Port of registry | Whitby |
| Launched | 1780 |
| Renamed | Golden Grove (1782) |
| Fate | Unknown, disappeared from records after 1811 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Store ship |
| Tons burthen | 321, or 331, or 333, or 400 (bm) |
| Length | 94 ft (29 m) |
| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament |
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The Golden Grove was a special ship built in 1780 in a town called Whitby, England. It was first known as Russian Merchant, but its name changed to Golden Grove in 1782. This ship played an important role as a supply ship for the First Fleet. The First Fleet was a group of ships that sailed from England to Australia. After its big journey to Australia, Golden Grove traveled to places like the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea. The ship was last mentioned in records around 1811.
Contents
Early Journeys of the Ship
When the ship first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1781, it was called Russian Merchant. Its captain was T. Parker, and the owner was Leighton. At that time, it mostly sailed between Saint Petersburg and London.
In 1782, the ship's name changed to Golden Grove. It continued to sail between Saint Petersburg and London. By 1783, its journeys changed, and it began sailing between London and Jamaica.
The First Fleet Voyage
The Golden Grove was an important part of the First Fleet, which was a fleet of 11 ships. These ships carried the first European settlers and convicts to Australia. The ship's captain for this historic journey was William Sharp.
A chaplain named Richard Johnson, along with his wife and servant, traveled on the Golden Grove to New South Wales.
Journey to Australia
The Golden Grove and the rest of the First Fleet left Portsmouth, England, on May 13, 1787. After a long journey, they arrived at Botany Bay, near Sydney, Australia, on January 26, 1788. However, they soon moved to Port Jackson because it was a better harbor.
Trip to Norfolk Island
On October 2, 1788, the Golden Grove took 21 male and 11 female convicts to Norfolk Island. This island was another early settlement. The ship returned to Port Jackson on October 25, 1788.
Return to England
The Golden Grove began its journey back to England on November 19, 1788. It sailed alongside another ship called Fishburn for a while. They stopped at the Falkland Islands for several days. This stop was needed so that some crew members who were sick with scurvy could recover. Scurvy is a serious illness caused by not getting enough vitamin C. The Golden Grove finally arrived back in England on June 9, 1789.
Later Travels and Disappearance
After its famous trip with the First Fleet, the Golden Grove continued to sail. In 1791, records show it sailing from London to Stettin (a city in modern-day Poland).
Over the years, the ship's captains and owners changed. It sailed to many different places, including Marseilles in France and Riga in Latvia. By 1805, the Golden Grove was listed as a ship of 333 tons, built in 1780. Its captain was F. Blair, and the owner was J. Sutton. It was sailing between London and Elsinore (a port in Denmark).
The Golden Grove continued to appear in shipping records with the same details until 1811. After that, it disappeared from the records, and its final fate is unknown.
Legacy of the Ship
The ship Golden Grove left its mark in Australia.
- A part of Sydney, Australia, was once named after the ship. Today, this area is mostly part of Newtown and Camperdown. Only a few maps and a street in the area still carry the name.
- In 1986, a ferry in Sydney was named Golden Grove as part of the First Fleet ferry class.
Images for kids
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An engraving of the First Fleet in Botany Bay at voyage's end in 1788, from The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay.
See also
- First Fleet
- Journals of the First Fleet
