Built as an East Indiaman by Wells at Deptford, Thames River for Barrington Buggin.
26 October 1764 launched under the name ANKERWYKE
Tonnage 679 (bm), dim. 100.0 x 34.0ft.
Three decks
23 January 1765 chartered by the East India Company for a round voyage to China, she made this voyage under command of Capt. Andrew Ross. Charter terminated after arrival the U.K. on 03 August 1766.
Again chartered by the ECI on 21 March 1768 for a round voyage to Coromandel Coast and Bengal, charter ended on 21 April 1770 after her arrival in the U.K.
Third voyage for the ECI when chartered on 14 Jan. 1771 for a round voyage to the Coromandel Coast and China, made the voyage under command of Capt. James Barwell, charter ended 02 October 1772.
Her fourth and last voyage she made for the ECI when chartered on 16 Jan. 1775 for a round voyage to Coromandel Coast and Bengal, charter ended after arrival U.K. on 26 August 1776.
Mr. E.J. Hogan gives in Log Book Vol. 25 page 115, she sailed on 01 January 1775 for India under command of Capt Barwell, it seems she spent over a week at anchor in the Downs, as it was not until January 9th that she sailed from there. Arrived at Madeira on 14 February, not any report on her arrival in Cape Town in the Lloyd List of 26 September 1775. When homeward bound she made a call at St Helena, being there 04 June 1776, with other ships, including HM frigate ARETHUSA, awaiting for another frigate.
The ANKERWYKE arrived back in Gravesend on 27 August 1776; she had previously arrived at Portsmouth, with the frigate ARETHUSA on 16 August. (Charter dates differ with the sailing and arrival dates).
1776 The ANKERWYKE was sold to John Durand ( MR Hogan gives M. Durand) and renamed LORD AMHERST. She was hired out to the American colonies as a troop transport.
Armament as a transport given as 2 – 9pdr. and 8 – 6pdr. guns.
She sailed under command of Capt. Geed from Gravesend on 4 December 1776 for Pensacola, the main British base in Florida.
Her next movement is given that she arrived Antigua, late February early March 1777, from there she sailed for Jamaica, her arrival is reported in Lloyds List of 13 May 1777, at that time she was still under command of Capt. Geed.
Most probably she made an other voyage in that area, or was used as a storage ship or seamen’s hospital in Jamaica, and did Capt. Hartwell relieve Capt Geed.
16 February 1778 with on board invalid soldiers the LORD AMHERST wrecked off Bermuda, the Bermudians rescued the invalids for a price.
Ships of the East India Company gives: 1782 Foundered at sea. One of the sources is not correct, maybe there was an other LORD AMHERST sailing in that time, who wrecked on Bermuda, which I don’t believe.
Bermuda 1986 $2 sg 520B, scott 495.
Source: Some web-sites. Ships of the East India Company by Rowan Hackman. Log Book.