History
On 18-05-1795 the SURSEANCE originally departed from the Cape; two days later the ship had to return because of adverse wind. In June, 1795, the SURSEANCE was taken by the English off St. Helena. On 05-09-1795 the ship was wrecked.
Batavian Republic
In the meantime, the political situation in Europe had changed considerably. The Orange stadtholder William V had fled from the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. The Republic had changed into the patriotic Batavian Republic allied to France. As a result, the Netherlands was de facto at war with England. These changes were not yet known in Asia and the Cape when a rich large VOC fleet was finally sent from Asia to Europe, which gathered at the Cape Colony. From there, it departed in convoy (with an escort of 2 warships) to the Netherlands.
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VOC convoy
On 18 May, the large VOC fleet of approximately 16 ships left for the Netherlands. The weather was bad and eight ships decided to turn back to wait for better weather (Alblasserdam, Zeelelie, Hougly, Meermin, Surceance, Dordrecht, Dortwijk and Vrouwe Agathe).
When these eight left for the second time a few days later (21 May), they could no longer connect with the group of ships that had left earlier.
Surrender
The squadron continued without an escort. The Hougly was soon separated from the rest. The Hougly arrived near St. Helena on 10 June. She was overpowered and captured by the English there.
In the night of 13 to 14 June, the other seven VOC ships followed. In the morning, the ships were overwhelmed by an English squadron north of St. Helena. After a short exchange of shots, the VOC squadron surrendered. She was taken to St. Helena. From there the Dutch prize ships were taken in a large English convoy to Shannon in Ireland.
The Surseance was not there the ship was lost on 5 September 1795: having sunk at sea.¹
Description
Built: yard in Middelburg, before 1786.
Bougfht by the VOC chambre Zeeland in 1786
| Tonnage | 768 ton (384 last) |
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References
- Bruijn et al. (eds).
DAS 8386.2. - Delpher.nl.
Hollandse Courant 5-1-1795. - NL-HaNA_1.04.02_11436_0005.
- Richard Hiscocks.
he Capture of a Dutch East Indiaman Fleet – 14 June 1795.