Most probably built as a whaler, her first voyage was to the fishing grounds of the South Seas.
Built as a wooden 3-mast full rigged ship in 1831 at Yarmouth, other source gives Southtown, Suffolk.
Launched under the name SUSSEX.
Tonnage 310 ton, dim. 109.10 x 27.1 x 6.1ft.
Tweendecks.
Lloyds Register gives for 1832 that her owner was G.Lyall, London where she also was registered.
First square rigged in about 1850 as barque.
19 July 1931 she sailed from the Thames and after making a call at Portsmouth she sailed under command of Capt Barney for the South Seas Fisheries.
December 1931 she made a call in Lima from whaling.
July 1834 at anchor at Cloudy Bay, Cook Strait, New Zealand with a full load of sperm oil, bound for her homeport London.
28 March 1839 at Valparaiso under command of Capt. Harmer.
31 July 1839 arrived at London and discharged in London Docks.
20 January 1840 Sailed from London in ballast for the South Seas Fisheries under command of Capt. Hammer, and owned still by Lyall.
21 April 1843 put in at Kosrae, Micronesia, sailed on the 28 April.
07 June 1843 off the Auckland Islands, New Zealand with on board 700 barrels whale oil, at that time she was out 22 months.
15 April 1844 sailed from London under command of Capt. Hammer in ballast for the South Seas Fisheries.
It was not a long voyage, maybe she got storm damage or the Capt. got ill or died the next mention of her was when she on 23 September 1844 sailed from London under command of Capt. Kenney in ballast for the South Seas Fisheries.
01 October 1847 reported at Sydney with on board 100 barrels of whale oil, ready for sailing.
1849 She arrived at Hobart Town, the book Whalers out of van Diemen Land gives:
20 February 1849 arrived from London the barque SUSSEX built in 1831 in Yarmouth, 360 tons under command of Capt. McArthur, on board where four passengers, Capt. McArthurs wife with three children.
1850 Under command of Capt. Mansfield, and she entered Hobart Town that year with on board 220-ton sperm oil.
January 1851 bought by Charles Seal, Hobart Town and registered at this port. At that time she carried a crew of 17 men.
The same year reported that she was underway to the Bering Strait for whaling under command of Capt. Gardiner.
February 1853 is given that Phillis Seal is the owner.
1855 Arrived at Hobart Town from the South Seas with on board whale oil, at that time she was under command of Capt. Smith.
1859 Still given that Seal was the owner.
1861 Reported for the last time in Whalers out of Van Diemen’s Land, that she was sold without her whaling equipment by Mr. D. Chapman for £1.150 to Capt W. Young.
1864 Still owned by Wm Young jnr.
Fate unknown.
Micronesia 1990 45c sg 182, scott 113.
Source: Log Book. Whalers out of van Diemen’s Land by Harry O’May. Ships employed in the South Seas Trade 1775- 1861 by A.G.E. Jones.