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When the ship Gotheborg was built in 1738, there was an Englishman named William Makett who served as the shipbuilder at the Terra Nova shipyard in Stockholm. He had arrived to Sweden in 1724 and had become known for introducing a method of bending planks for ships in a box filled with hot steam from a copper kettle. Previously, planks were heated and bent over an open fire to make them pliable.
The Gotheborg was constructed as a merchant frigate, which means it was a fully-rigged ship armed with cannons. It had a length of 40.55 meters and a width of 10.7 meters. The ship had a capacity of 340 lasts, which corresponds to a load capacity of approximately 830 metric tons. It was armed with 30 cannons and had a crew of around 120 men.
At the shipyard, about 200 people worked at that time, with half of them being carpenters. The others were joiners, book keepers, inspectors, blacksmiths, wood carvers, and more. The oak for the ships was primarily sourced from present-day Sweden and Poland since all the oak in Sweden belonged to the crown at that time to ensure the availability of oak for building warships.
The Gotheborg was likely launched in the late spring of 1737 and set sail about a year later. After the launch, work began on rigging and outfitting. On October 19, the ship was ready and equipped for its journey from Stockholm to Gothenburg
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Götheborg Built at Terra Nova, 340 lasts (approximately 883 tons), 30 cannons, 120 men. |
Voyages under the first charter: January 1739 - June 15, 1740. To Canton under Captain Peter von Utfall. Supracargos: Charles Morford, Daniel Vignaulx, Gerard Barry, John Williams, Henrik König. The ship was sold after the voyage to the next expedition for 84,000 dal smt. February 16, 1741 - July 28, 1742. To Canton under Captain Bengt Askbom. Supracargos: Charles Morford, Daniel Vignaulx, John Williams, John Henry Matsen. When England and Spain were at war since 1739, Götheborg was intercepted on its journey from Cádiz to Canton by the English warship "The Biddeford," armed with 24 cannons, under Lord Forrester. He was drunk and threatened to shoot the 4th mate Axel D. Stålhandsk, who had been taken on board for questioning. Götheborg was taken to Madeira and detained there for a month. They suspected that the Swedes were smugglers bound for the Canary Islands with Spanish goods, Spaniards, and Englishmen. The voyage yielded a profit of 312,552 dal smt (40%) plus a fund of 66,332 dal smt for unforeseen expenses. The value of the free trade goods (pacotill) amounted to 30% of the sales. March 14, 1743 - (September 12, 1745?). To Canton under Captain Erik Moreen. Supracargos: Auguste Tabuteau, John Williams, Nils Ström, Andreas Gotheen, Georg Kitchin. The ship wrecked on the way home at Hunnebådan outside Älvsborg Fortress in Gothenburg Harbor. What could be salvaged was sold at an auction a month later, allowing a distribution of 14 1/2%. Over 70% consisted of goods belonging to the crew's free trade. |
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Copyright © Jan-Erik Nilsson 1998, 2010, 2023