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HMS SEALARK, 1849.
A brig of 8 guns.
Built at Portsmouth Dockyard 17.7.1843.
Became a training ship in 1875, and was sold to a private buyer, 11.11.1898, when 55 years old.
Log Book November 1986
Ascension SG420, 537

Built as a brig-sloop by Portsmouth Drydock, Portsmouth for the Royal Navy. 20 February 1837 ordered. May 1840 keel laid down. Launched 27 July 1843 as HMS SEALARK. Tonnage of 319 tons builder's measurement ; 90 length x 29½ ft beam, depth 13.5ft, length of keel 71.2ft. Armament 10 guns. 27 October 1843 commissioned under command of Commander Thomas Lewis Gooch. 09 December 1843 completed.

I have the following notes, which would suggest she spent much of her early life off the Coast of Africa on the lookout for slaving and pirate vessels and, in addition, sorting out local difficulties such as ....... The action from 25 Nov - 29 Dec, 1851, when the vessel's commanding officer was Commander Edward Southwell Sotheby is covered in William Laird Clowes History of the RN from earliest times until 1900, although the vessel is only mentioned once in the 2 or 3 pages given over to this rather bloody affair, although no doubt her officers and men were used in the ships boats and ashore, as required. 1846 East Coast of Africa. 21 Oct. 46 captured a slave vessel BONITO PORTO. Proceeds of Tonnage Bounty due to be paid 24 Jan. 1849. 22 Oct. 46 captured a slave vessel. Proceeds of Hull and Tonnage Bounty due to be paid 24 Jan. 1849. 14 April 1847 captured a slave vessel GUSTAVO PRIMEIRO. Proceeds of Tonnage Bounty due to be paid 24 Jan. 1849. 7 Aug. 47 captured the slave vessel LEBRO. Proceeds of Slave and Tonnage Bounty due to be paid 18 April 1849. September 1847 till January 1848 under repair at Chatham. June-July 1848 under command of Commander William Backhouse Moneypenny off the Slave Coast (Sierra Leone).
27 August 1848 took the slavers SAN FRANCISCO, on 30 July 1849 the ORITE and the FRANCELLINA on 06 October 1849.
Feb 1851 Sighted of Ambriz - anti-slaving patrol. 30 Aug 1851 Coast of Africa. 25 Nov - 29 Dec, 1851, action against Coçioco, who wouldn't assist in fight against slavery, in support of Akitoye, the legitimate king of Lagos.
During Christmas Eve of 1851, following an earlier ineffectual attempt to put down an uprising by a certain Coçioco, who had proclaimed himself King of Laos, a small fleet of vessels including HMS SEALARK , proceeded up the River Seba to put down the uprising. After a number of blunders, unfortunate groundings, by other vessels which resulted in heavy skirmishes and a few deaths and many wounded, after refloating of the vessels the situation was eventually resolved.
29 December Coçioco had evacuated the area.
13 July 1852 paid off.
Fitted out as a training brig for naval apprentices 1852/53 and as tender for HMS VICTORY.
11 July 1854 recommissioned under Lieut. Marcus Lowther as training and tender to HMS ILLUSTRIOUS at Portsmouth. 1860 Tender to HMS BRITANNIA at Portsmouth. 1870 Tender to IMPLACABLE, Devonport. January 1888 tender to HMS GANGES. 1894 Tender to "LION". Officer borne in "LION". 1897 Used for sail training. 26 June 1897 Present at the Naval Review at Spithead in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.
31 March 1898 paid off.
11 November 1898 sold to Mr. Harris of Bristol for £560 and broken up in Milford Haven.

Ascension 1986 50p sg420, scott412.
Source: Internet British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817-1863 by Rif Winfield. History of the Royal Navy Vol .VI by William L Clowes. Navicula.