General Goddard (ship)
British East Indiaman and merchant ship (1782–1799)
General Goddard was an East Indiaman launched in 1782 that made six voyages to the East Indies for the Honourable East India Company. After she was sold, she made one journey to the West Indies, where the Spanish captured her in November 1799. Her most notable exploit occurred on her fifth voyage, when she participated on 15 June 1795 in the capture of seven Dutch East Indiamen.
Precautions
East Indiamen travelled in convoys as much as they could. Frequently these convoys had as escorts vessels of the British Royal Navy, though generally not past India, or before they were on the return leg. Even so, the Indiamen were heavily armed so that they could dissuade pirates and even large privateers.
Like many other East Indiamen during the French Revolutionary Wars, General Goddard sailed under letters of marque. These authorized her to take prizes should the opportunity arise.
Voyage #1 (1782–1784)
Under the command of Captain Thomas Foxall, General Goddard left Portsmouth on 11 September 1782 in company with Fairford, General Coote, and several other East Indiamen.
General Goddard reached Madras on 16 April 1783.
“General Goddard (ship)” enters the record as british East Indiaman and merchant ship (1782–1799). Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what General, Goddard and ship can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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