Built as brig sloop by the Pembroke Dry Dock for the Royal Navy.
13 June 1817 ordered.
May 1818 keel laid down.
10 June 1820 launched under the name HMS FALCON, one of the Cherokee class.
Tonnage 235 ton (bm), displacement 297 ton. Dim. 90 x 24.6 x 11ft.
Armament 2 – 6pdrs. and 8 –18 pdr. carronades.
Crew 52 during peace. Many vessels of this class were used as mail packet vessel to the West Indies.
29 January 1830 stationed in Cape of Good Hope under command H. Colpoys.
1831 In the West Indies.
March 1832 at Sheerness. Under command of Thomas Currie (act) May 1832
06 March 1832 she was fitted out with a steam engine and converted to a steam-sloop by the Admiralty, but the results were unsuccessful and the engine was removed in 1834.
16 August 1838 sold for mercantile use and renamed WATERWITCH.
Till 1853 under British flag with homeport London.
July 1840 she sailed out from London, Arrived 10 May 1942 at Sydney under command of Capt. Christie, sailed out and after months of successful whaling she anchored in Lambok for fresh water and provisions.
A boat was launched, manned with four seamen, the surgeon, boatswain and steward who rowed to the beach. Within 24 hours after returning to the WATERWITCH all the men from the boat were dead. Not possible to find the cause of the tragedy, Captain Christie set sail and headed for Australia. On 23 December 1842 she arrived at Sydney, with 220 brls sperm oil. In Sydney the mate committed suicide.
After she got replacements for the lost crew she sailed out, F.J.King from Sydney replaced the lost mate.
From Sydney she sailed to Lord Howe Island were they met more whalers, Captain Christie did have a good time with the other whalers, but the crew who got paid by the lay was not happy at all.
One day with full stores on board and the Captain again at shore the First Officer King together with the crew, decided to leave Captain Christie with his friends on Lord Howe Island and sail out.
The next morning when Capt. Christie awoke the WATERWITCH was gone.
The marooned Capt. was given a passage to Sydney, where he reported the piracy of the WATERWITCH but King had managed to send a letter to the Sydney agents explaining what actually had happened, and not any action was taken against the ship.
After a 12 month cruise King brought her back to Sydney with a full load of oil and the ship in very good condition, and not any action was taken against him or the crew.
At Sydney her whaling gear was sold and she sailed from that port as a merchantman with a cargo of wool and passengers for London.
She returned later back to Australia, as what, as whaler or merchantman is not clear.
December 1853 Sold to Wm. Burgess & Alex Learmont & Charles Sidey, Sydney, From Sydney she was used as a whaler from Sydney. Given as a 3 masted barque 253 tons, dim. 95.6 x 22.6 x 17.4ft..
July 1855 Sold to Chas. Smith & S.K.Salting.
January 1860 Sold to Capt./ John Scott McArthur, Hobart, and still under the name WATERWITCH used for whaling from Hobart, Tasmania. She was barque –rigged. He had bought the WATERWITCH at Sydney for £1.300.
Arrived 12 August 1860 at Hobart under command of Capt. William Harrison with on board 118 tuns sperm oil and bone with a total value of £10.000. He was the next 16 years her captain.
1875 When McArthur died the WATERWITCH was bought by Alex McGregor for £1.900, he kept Harrison as master.
During 1891 while trying out a whale at Port Davey, the carcass was given away to two colored men; in the carcass they found 180 lbs ambergris with a total value of £6.000.
A ships mate stabbed the same year a crewmember after which he died. The slayer was declared insane.
Her last voyage as a whaler she made under command of Capt. George Atwell, and he returned on 15 November 1895 with on board 58 tuns of oil.
She did made still a profit for there owners, the last nine voyages over a period of 9 years she made £23.750, after deducting all cost she made a profit of £7.000.
Between the years 1886 and 1995 her catches amounted to 669 tons of oil, five tons of whalebone and 167 lbs of ambergris
1896 After she was dismantled, she was broken up.
Norfolk Island 1985 15c sg360, scott?
Source: The Sail & Steam Navy List by David Lyon & Rif Winfield. Ships employed in the South Seas Trade 1775-1861. Whalers out of Van Diemen’s Land by Harry O’May. Blue Gum Clippers and Whale ships of Tasmania by Will Lawson.