Built as a wooden two-mast schooner in 1824 in Pilton, Devon, England.
Tonnage 88 59/94 ton, dim. 58.9 x 19.0 x 10.3ft.
One deck, square stern.
Her first owners are unknown, but in 1829 was she under the ownership of the Van Diemen’s Land Co, and was she registered at London under the name FRIENDSHIP.
October 1831 was she for this company registered at Launceston, Tasmania.
March 1833 sold to Edward Biddulph and registered at Sydney.
January 1835 Sold to Capt. John Harrison and Henry Bull a merchant, also registered at Sydney.
On a voyage from Sydney, Australia to Tahiti via Norfolk Island, where she had to discharge government stores under an agreement made with the colonial government. She arrived on 15 July 1835 on Norfolk Island.
On arrival she changed signals with the island, to make sure that the convicts were not on a mutiny, and that the vessel could fall in the hands of the convicts. At that time most of the inhabitants were convicts and guards. When the signals did give on that the island still was under British control, the FRIENDSHIP moored on the buoy which was recently laid down there by the government.
At that time she was under command of Capt. John Harrison, one of the owners.
The next evening Capt. Harrison was invited to have diner with the Governor, after dinner he returned on board, and was going to sleep, only a watchman on deck.
During the night a gale sprang up and when daylight came people from the shore did see the FRIENDSHIP slowly drifting to the rocky shore together with the buoy.
There was not any movement on deck of the schooner, and most probably everybody on board was sound asleep including the watchman. To arouse the crew on board, gunners were called from the army camp, and gunshots were fired over the schooner, at least some movement was discovered on deck of the schooner but to late. Before any sail was set she was already between the breakers and grounded heavily on the rocks, and within minutes she was a complete wreck.
The crew and passengers were saved thanks to the extraordinary courage and exertions of a large body of prisoners who on being called, fearlessly hurried through the surf and every other danger to the wreck, while others equally daring, carried one of the boats bodily over the rocks and breakers to a spot and remained by her in a most perilous situation until by the combined efforts of all, every one of the passengers, guard and crew, 43 in total were saved from an untimely watery grave.
Part of her cargo was also saved.
The owners assessed their loss at £1500, but the government rejected a claim for compensation on the ground that the buoy had been insufficiently moored.
On the stamp is given she was lost on 17th May 1835, also in the presentation pack info. But all the other sources give 17 July 1835 or July 1835.
Norfolk Island 1982 35c sg289, scott?
Source Ships of Australia and New Zealand before 1850 by Ronald Parsons. Norfolk Island History books.
Australian Shipwrecks by Charles Bateson. Info from a presentation pack of Norfolk Island Shipwrecks.