According to Log Book No 9 page 148. The stamp illustrates LORD SIDMOUTH, typical “Falmouth Packet” entering under shortened sail St. George’s Harbour, Bermuda. She was carrying the mails of November 1820 and the dispatches for the British Naval and Military Station.
Mr. E.J. Hogan gives in Log Book No 10 page 86.
The LORD SIDMOUTH bound from London to Rio de Janeiro and New South Wales, was chased in Lat. 3 30? and Long. 21 15W., by a brig under Spanish colours with 16 guns and upwards of 100 men, and after speaking to the LORD SIDMOUTH she bore away for a vessel in sight. (Lloyds List Dec. 29, 1818.) (The entry can not be correct during 1817/1818 the LORD SIDMOUTH made voyages from Falmouth to America, Jamaica, and Mediterranean, and during her time as packet vessel she never made a voyage to New South Wales, there was a other LORD SIDMOUTH build in 1816 in Shields which made voyages with convicts to Australia from the Thames and she arrived 05 Dec. 1818 in Rio de Janeiro, so most probably Mr. Hogan has given the info of the wrong vessel. This LORD SIDMOUTH was never used in the packet service.)
From Mr. Benn of the World Ship Society I got the following info:
She was built in 1815 at Jersey by Le Boeuf for Charles Pipon, Jersey. 192 tons (180 tons other source), barque rigged. Her dimensions not given but the FRANCIS FREELING an other packet and of the same class had the dimensions of 80.8 x 23.8 x 8.99ft., so most probably she had about the same dimensions.
Launched under the name LORD SIDMOUTH.
She is given as a Falmouth Packet from 1815, and still so in Lloyds Register 1826.
Her First voyage as a packet was when she sailed on 11 Oct. 1815 from Falmouth for Jamaica, from this port she sailed on 01 Jan. 1816, and returned at Falmouth on 15 Feb. 1816.
All her next voyages were made in the packet service from Falmouth and she made voyages to Jamaica, Leeward Isl. Brazil, North America, Lisbon and Mediterranean.
Her last voyage in this service she made, when she sailed on 20 Dec. 1826 from Falmouth for Pernambuco, where she arrived 19 Jan. 27, Bahia arrived 04 Feb. and Rio de Janeiro arrived 23 Feb.
Returned in Falmouth 20 April 1827. Her contract as packet vessel was terminated on 25 April 1827.
Almost all the voyages she made as a packet were under command of Capt. Charles Pinon
Jersey sailing ships by John Jean, has not much more information on the vessel, of her Captain it gives:
Charles Pinon born 1774 a well known packet captain for many years, Captain of the GENERAL DOYLE 1809, FRANCIS FREELING 1811 and LORD SIDMOUTH 1815. He died 17 May 1841.
Not listed in Lloyds Register of 1828, but again in Lloyds Register for 1832, but then as a South Sea whaler, and London registered.
15 May 1832, sailed from London under command of Capt. Wright, and passed Deal that day bound for the South Seas.
23 June 1834, arrived at Mauritius from whaling under command of Capt. Terry.
04 Dec. 1834 Arrived on the Thames under command of Capt.Terry from the South Seas.
06 Feb. 1836, under command of Capt. Alloway sailed from the Thames for a South Sea whaling voyage.
21 Feb. 1836 sailed from Portsmouth, and was reported 28 Feb. 1939 at King Island, near Tasmania, not a Capt. name given.
15 Sept. 1939, under Capt. McFarlane sailed from Hobart, Tasmania for a whaling voyage.
02 Nov. 1839, still under Capt. McFarlane sailed again from Hobart for a whaling voyage.
Her fate till so far not known.
Bermuda 1980 $2 sg420.
Further information from Eddie Robertson:-
LORD SIDMOUTH
A 400 ton Falmouth Packet built at Shields in 1807. As the Bermuda stamp shows her there in 1818, she was possibly sold after that voyage because she left England on 27th Sept. 1818 with 160 convicts for New South Wales and 2 old soldier pensioners, as free passengers under a scheme to encourage settlers which ended in 1840. Also embarked on 6th Aug were 1 Lt. 1 Sgt & 30 men of the 84th Regiment as guards.
LORD SIDMOUTH sailed on 27th Sept 1818 for Rio de Janeiro, arriving on 5th Dec and leaving for Port Jackson on the 22nd. They reached Port Jackson on 11th Mar.1819 after a voyage of 5 months 12 days!! On the return voyage she sailed to Calcutta with soldiers for India.
On her next voyage she sailed on 9th Nov. 1820 from Ireland with 160 male convicts, 31 guards from the Royal Scots Regiment with 13 women and 10 children. On 30th Aug. Pte Faulkner was given 275 lashes for insubordination!! They arrived at Port Jackson 19th Feb. 1821 after 107 days at sea. A considerably quicker passage.
Her third voyage with 97 female convicts for Tasmania and New South Wales, sailed from Woolwich on 11th Sept. 1822.
Lord Sidmouth is mentioned again in 1840 when she is expected to arrive in Hobart on 15th May to sail to Port Philip with a notation that she can carry 10 horses!.
The stamp is Bermuda issue 1980 SG420 value $2
I can find no other details about the ship, she does not appear on any listing I have found for ships built on the Tyne. (North & South Shields are near the Tyne mouth). There also appears to be no info about her connection with Bermuda. The Australian convict voyages seem to list every ship & voyage with full details of passengers but no info about the ship other than the Captain & Surgeon.