Hope (1789 brigantine) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
United States
Name	Hope
Owner	Thomas Handasyd Perkins, Russell Sturgis, and James Magee
Laid down	1789, at Kittery, Maine
Launched	1789
General characteristics
Class and type	Brigantine
Tons burthen	70 or 72 (bm)
Propulsion	Sail
Sail plan	Brigantine
Crew	16
Armament	12 cannon; 6 swivel guns

The Hope was an American brigantine, a type of sailing ship with two masts. It was built in 1789 in Kittery, Maine. The ship was used for the maritime fur trade, which involved trading animal furs by sea. It was owned by Thomas Handasyd Perkins, Russell Sturgis, and James Magee.

The Hope's First Big Journey

The Hope began its first major voyage from Boston on September 16, 1790. Its destination was the Pacific Northwest Coast. The ship was led by Captain Joseph Ingraham. He had previously been a first mate on another famous ship called the Columbia Rediviva.

Sailing Around the World

The Hope sailed all the way around Cape Horn. This is the very southern tip of South America. They passed it on January 26, 1791. After many weeks at sea, the ship finally reached land on April 14. They stopped at Port Madre de Dios on Dominica Island. This island is part of the Marquesas Islands. Here, they picked up some supplies before continuing their journey.

Discovering New Islands

Just a few days later, on April 19, Captain Ingraham and his crew made an exciting discovery. They found a small group of five islands that were not on any maps. These islands were about 9 degrees south of the equator. Ingraham named them the Washington Islands. Today, we know these are part of the Marquesas Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Ingraham named several of these newly found islands after important American figures. He named one Washington after the president. Another was named Adams after the vice president. Other islands were named Federal, Franklin, Knox, and Lincoln.

Trading for Furs in the Northwest

After leaving the Marquesas, the Hope sailed north to the Hawaiian Islands. From there, it continued to Haida Gwaii on the Northwest Coast. The ship arrived in June 1791.

Successful Trading Season

The ship and its crew spent the summer trading with the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. They traded for valuable sea otter pelts. This trading was very successful.

Journey to China and Back

In the fall, Captain Ingraham sailed the Hope to Canton, China. There, the valuable furs were sold using a special trading system called the Canton System. After selling the furs, the Hope sailed back to the Northwest Coast. It arrived again in July 1792.

Challenges in Trading

During his first trip to the Northwest Coast, Ingraham had been clever. He had his crew make special neckrings from twisted iron and copper wire. These were very popular with the local people in 1791. However, when he returned in 1792, things had changed. The demand for these goods was gone. He found it hard to trade anything. Because of this, the voyage ended up losing money.

Meetings and Departures

In August 1792, the Hope met another ship called the Margaret at Nootka Sound. The Margaret was commanded by James Magee.

Sailing Together

On August 12, the Hope and Margaret left Nootka Sound together. They were both looking for more fur trading chances. They separated near Haida Gwaii but met up again at Nootka Sound in late September.

Meeting Spanish Ships

On September 26, 1792, the Hope was at Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula. There, they met two Spanish ships, the Princesa and the Activo. These ships were under the command of Spanish Commodore Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra. On the same day, Captain Gray arrived with his ship, the Columbia, and a smaller ship called the Adventure. The Adventure was then sold to Commodore Quadra.

Return to the Hawaiian Islands

In October 1792, the Hope and Margaret sailed together towards the Hawaiian Islands. On November 8, they met another ship, the Halcyon, led by Captain Charles Barkley. The three ships sailed together to Waikiki, Oahu, to get fresh water. Then, they sailed to Kauai, arriving on November 11.

The Journey Home

On November 13, the Halcyon left for Guangzhou (Canton), China. The Hope and Margaret followed shortly after. On their way to China, the Hope's logbook shows them passing by Formosa. From Canton, the Hope finally sailed all the way back to Boston.

The Captain's Journal

Captain Ingraham kept a detailed log of his voyage. This journal was published in 1971 as Journal of the Brigantine Hope on a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of North America, 1790–1792. Unlike many ship logs from that time, Ingraham's journal is very interesting. It includes his thoughts, funny stories, good maps, and beautiful drawings of people, plants, and animals. Another crew member, Ebenezer Dorr, also kept a log and journal, and parts of it still exist today.