THE SUNDERLAND SITE - PAGE 077
SHIPBUILDERS - PAGE 28

May I suggest that you navigate the site via the index on page 001.PRIOR PAGE / NEXT PAGE Do you want to make a comment? A site guestbook is here. On this page ... Robson, J. H., Robson, T., Rodgerson or Rogerson, J., Rodham & Todd, Rowntree, Shipbuilding Corporation Limited. And page bottom (Apple advertising label). Copyright?  (5 + 1 + 14 + 5 + 3 + 8 = 36) Test. Miramar, images, mariners-l.co.uk, MNL, Corrections in any of the material which follows, however tiny, would be most welcome. And additions, of course! To search for specific text on this page, just press 'CTRL + F' & then enter your search term. A general site search facility is here. J. H. ROBSON (1837 thru 1850) The webmaster's knowledge about 'J. H. Robson' is non-existent. A list of Sunderland built ships, available to the webmaster, lists 21 vessels built by J. H. Robson during the years from 1837 thru 1850. 1   Ione 319/354 tons 1840 A snow, later a barque, that would appear to have been launched in Mar. 1840 but is referenced in Lloyd's Register ('LR') as having been built in Jan. 1840. The vessel is LR listed from 1839/40 thru 1848/49, always owned by 'Thompson' of Sunderland, with, per LR, A. Dodd serving as the vessel's captain thru 1840/41 then 'Moffatt' from 1840/41 thru 1848/49. For initial service from Sunderland to 'Merimc' (where is it? Maybe Merimac river, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) in 1839/40, & from Sunderland to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia) in 1840/41 & 1841/42. In 1842/43 & 1843/44, the vessel, now per LR a barque, served from London to Mauritius, & thereafter served from Liverpool to Africa. The vessel is listed in the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49, there noted to be owned by G. Thompson & A. Gales, both of Bishopwearmouth. The webmaster is not so far aware of what finally happened to the vessel. Can you tell us? Or add anything to this brief listing. #2319 2   Palestine 196/174, later 176, later 161 tons 5050 1841 A snow or brig. Palestine, which was launched in Feb. 1841, was Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1840/41 thru 1846/47 & not thereafter. Owned by 'Penman' of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to London with 'Thompson' always, per LR, serving as the vessel's captain. T. Penman of Bishopswearmouth, Sunderland, in Apl. 1848, per the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848. The vessel became registered at Whitby on Jul. 31, 1848. Turnbull's Shipping Registers of both 1855 & 1856 list R., C., and J. Wright, of Whitby, as the then owners of the 176 ton Whitby registered brig, with J. Spence her then captain. Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 clarifies such owner names as meaning Richard, Charles & John Wright, all of Whitby - the vessel then being of 161 tons. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 & 1866 list Richard Wright of Whitby as Palestine's then owner. MNLs from 1867 thru 1872 (1870) all list William Steel of Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire as the then owner of the 161 ton vessel. Signal letters JGBQ. Crew lists are available here. Just a little operational history. On Jan 1, 1842, Thompson in command, Palestine, en route from Sunderland to Lynn, Norfolk, ran aground S. of Filey, Yorkshire now N. Yorkshire, in foggy conditions. It jettisoned part of its cargo of coal & proceeded 'with assistance'. With 'Spence' in command, the vessel carried coals from Seaham & Hartlepool to Hamburg, Germany, & to Dieppe, France, in the period from Apl. 1849 to Aug. 1850. On Nov. 11, 1872, per line 3118 here, the 161 ton brig was stranded at Scarborough while en route from Hartlepool to London with a cargo of coal. And became a wreck. Crew of 7 - none lost. Then owned by William Steel. I read that 'Steel' was Palestine's captain at the time. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2443 3   Ann 117/100 later 89 tons 8939 1842 A brigantine, later a schooner. My what a lot of vessels named Ann there were! Lloyd's Register ('LR') of 1842/43 lists 85 vessels of the name with more in the supplement. This particular Ann, which was launched in May 1842, is LR listed from 1841/42 thru 1850/51 (ex 1847/48), & from 1859/60 thru 1869/70, & not thereafter. Per LR, the vessel was owned, thru 1846/47, by J. Robson of Sunderland, i.e. by its builder, for service from Sunderland to Portsmouth, Hampshire, with 'Hanford' serving as the vessel's captain. The webmaster believes that 'Robson' sold his vessel much earlier than 1846/47 & that the LR record, as above noted, is quite wrong. This 1908 Whitby shipping history book entry (the second Ann on the page) tells us, that the vessel was first registered, at Whitby, in 1843, owned by Jn. Chambers, presumably a resident of Whitby. That in 1852 the vessel was owned by Jn. Chambers & Jn. Liles (of London), each with 32 shares in the vessel. And further that in Mar. 1857, presumably having been sold, the vessel became registered at Ipswich. LRs of 1848/49 thru 1850/51 all record Chambers & Co., of Whitby, as Ann's owner, for service as a Whitby collier, with 'Chambers' serving as her captain. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55, in 1853 data, lists John Chambers of Whitby & John Liles, of Covent Garden, London, as the vessel's then owners with John Chambers her captain. LRs of 1859/60 thru 1869/70 all record the vessel as an 88 ton schooner & Ipswich, Suffolk, registered - owned by 'Colchester'. For service from Ipswich to Rotterdam in 1859/60 & for service as an Ipswich coaster thereafter, with 'Simpsn.Jr.' the vessel's captain from 1859/60 thru 1861/62 & J. Long from 1861/62 thru 1869/70. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') comes to our rescue in the absence of LR data. It records Ann as registered at Whitby in 1857. And registered at Ipswich from 1858 thru 1872. Owned from 1865 (89 tons) thru 1868 by John Hogg, of Hadleigh, Suffolk, & from 1869 thru 1872 by Thomas Furniss of Waterford, Ireland. MNL records the vessel as Waterford registered from 1874 thru 1885, owned by Thomas Furniss thru 1884 & by Patrick Walsh, of Wexford, Ireland, in 1885. I note that the vessel is not listed in MNL of 1887 - no 1886 edition of MNL is WWW available. 66.5 ft. long, signal letters KFGV, many crew lists, thru 1884, are available here The webmaster has not yet been able to learn what happened to Ann & when. Can you help in that regard? Or - is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2584 4   Ripley 130 tons 32496 1847 A schooner, later a brigantine. The vessel, which was launched on May 27, 1847, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1848/49 thru 1856/57 with the exception of 1853/54. Ripley was owned, per LR, from 1848/49 thru 1852/53 at least, by J. Myers of Sunderland. For service ex Sunderland with 'Wrightson' likely briefly her initial captain but 'Moore' from part way thru 1848/49 thru 1852/53. LRs of 1854/55 thru 1856/57 record the vessel, now a brigantine, as owned by 'Humphry' of Sunderland for service from the Clyde to Australia. With 'Robertson' serving as her captain. Ripley's owner, in Mar. 1854, is confirmed to have been, per Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854-55, Anthony Humphrey of Sunderland, with Walter M. Robinson her then captain. I read that on Aug. 18, 1853, Ripley left Glasgow for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with a varied cargo, arriving there on Dec. 31, 1853. With, though the reference did not so state, Robinson in command. On May 30, 1854, the vessel would appear to have been first offered for sale & on Aug. 8, 1854 it was sold - to Michael Egan Murnin, a Sydney merchant who then acted as the vessel's agent. Now there are many references to the vessel at Trove, Australia, & I must refer you there for greater detail. I note that the vessel in Australia had four captains - initially Robertson, then 'Cole', followed by H. (Hugh) McNeale & James Cummins (from Apl. 1, 1856). Sydney, New South Wales ('NSW'), would seem to have been the vessel's base of operations & from Sydney Ripley made a great number of voyages back & forth to New Zealand - to Nelson & to New Plymouth, returning often with timber. And more local voyages of course. One long voyage caught my eye - on Apl. 26, 1855 the vessel left Sydney for Valparaiso, Chile, McNeale in command & on Dec. 7, 1855 arrived back at Sydney with 1900 bags of wheat ex Tome (S. of Valparaiso). In Aug. 1857, the vessel left Sydney for Richmond River (northern NSW), returning with a cargo of Australian red cedar - the first of a great many voyages to that destination returning with cedar timber. It also sailed to Port Curtis (Fitzroy River at Rockhampton, Queensland), re the Fitzroy Goldfields & indeed, on Oct. 20, 1858, it left Sydney for Port Curtis in ballast but with 50 Chinese passengers, presumably labourers to work the gold mines. On Jul. 27, 1859, the vessel left Sydney for Richmond River for the last time. On Aug. 1, 1859, in attempting to cross the bar into the river with high seas running, Ripley struck on the South Spit & remained there for a while. But the sea drove her onto the north rocks & she became a total wreck - with cargo & passengers however saved. It is splendid that National Archives of Australia makes available data about the vessel's registration at Sydney & her later ownership changes. Ripley, 'McNeale' her then captain, was registered at Sydney on Apl. 24, 1855, owned by 'Murnin'. On Jun. 8, 1857, the vessel was sold again - on that date 'Murnin' sold 32 shares in the vessel to each of James Booth & Thomas Hyndes Green, the 'Green' purchase being financed in some way by a loan from Booth. 74.6 ft. long. There is one reference - to Thomas Humphrey - that particularly has me puzzled, assuming, that is, that such name relates to the vessel's earlier owner. The Mercantile Navy List, in error most certainly, continued to list the vessel as Sydney registered thru 1864. I was glad to find that so much info. is available about this modest little vessel. Is there anything you can add to the above summary? And/or correct? #2421 5   Ellen 216 later 197 tons 511 1850 A snow. Ellen, which was first registered, at Sunderland, on Apl. 16, 1850 (scroll to #511), is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1851/52 thru 1867/68, owned, thru 1856/57 by J. Wright of Sunderland. For service from Sunderland to London, thru 1855/56, & from London to the Crimea (a peninsula located on the N. coast of the Black Sea, almost completely surrounded by both the Black Sea & the Sea of Azov) in 1856/57 & 1857/58. With, per LR, G. Wate serving as the vessel's captain thru 1855/56 & 'Clasper' so serving in 1856/57 & 1857/58. However Marwood's North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/5, in Mar. 1854 data, while it lists John Wright, of Sunderland, as the vessel's then owner, also records Henry Clasper as her then captain. As does Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855. TR of 1856, records J. Wright as still her owner. In 1858/59, per LR, Ellen became Whitby registered & owned by Tinley & Co., of Whitby, for service from Hartlepool to the Baltic. With, per LR, J. Tinley her captain (just Tinley from 1864/65). In 1858, the vessel was listed twice in Christie's Shipping Register - firstly as still registered at Sunderland & owned by Josh W. Tinley, Edmund Stevenson & Thomas Stewart, all of Whitby. And secondly, registered at Whitby & owned by Joseph William Tinley, Edmund Stevenson & Thomas Stewart. A modest puzzle with Tinley's name - the Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1865 thru 1867, list the vessel, then of 197 tons, as registered at Whitby but owned by Joseph William Finley (rather than Tinley). The vessel's Whitby ownership is clarified by this Whitby shipping history book page. Which tells us that Ellen became Whitby registered in Apl. 1858, owned by Jos. Will Tinley, Edmund Stevenson & Thos. Stewart, a tailor. In 1862, J. W. Tinley owned 48 of the vessel's shares, T. Stewart the other 16. 83.0 ft. long, signal letters HDFB. Some crew lists are available here, strangely including data re 1870. LR of 1867/68 notes that Ellen had been 'Abandoned'. For a long time, data as to what happened to the vessel did not come to hand. However, the Whitby history page tells us, I now see, that the vessel was abandoned, in Dec. 1867, when 40 miles off Dantzig (then Prussia, today Gdańsk, Poland). Wikipedia advises (thanks!) that Ellen was rather abandoned on Nov. 10, 1867, while en route from Gävle, Sweden, to Hartlepool. Further i) that the vessel subsequently came ashore at Hela, Prussia & ii) that her crew had been saved. The vessel was stated, in a report from Copenhagen, Denmark, on Nov. 17, 1867, to have been full of water when she was abandoned. If you have more detail as to her loss, or any additional information generally, do consider advising the webmaster for inclusion of your data here. #2650 T. ROBSON The webmaster's knowledge about 'T. Robson' is non-existent. A list of Sunderland built ships, available to the webmaster, lists, in fact, two shipbuilders named T. Robson. One of them, I note, built 14 vessels in the period of 1802 thru 1809. The other, Thomas I believe, built 9 vessels in the period of 1851 thru 1865. The first of hopefully many T. Robson vessels is now listed below. 1   Elizabeth 40 tons 28770 1860 A sloop. Elizabeth is not recorded in Lloyd's Register. The Merchant Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1861 thru 1872 all record Elizabeth as registered at Sunderland. MNLs of 1865 & 1866 advise that William Harty, of Sunderland, was the vessel's then owner. MNLs of 1867 thru 1871 (1870) all record William Brown of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, as her then owner. While MNL of 1872 records John Elliott of 'Jarrow co., Durham' as her then owner. Signal letters QBTW, crew lists thru 1872 are available via here. What finally happened to Elizabeth? On Oct. 11, 1872, per line 3081 here, the 40 ton sloop stranded at Holy Island, Northumberland, while en route from Leith, Scotland, to Shields with a cargo of scrap iron. Crew of 2 & a single passenger - none lost. The vessel is stated to have been then owned by John Elliott. I read that John Wilson was her master at the time of her loss & that the vessel left Leith on Oct. 10, 1872 en route to Jarrow. A gale was soon encountered & Elizabeth was driven ashore on Ross Sands, Holy Island. The Holy Island lifeboat responded admirably & saved the lives of all aboard. As per these contemporary newspaper reports - 1, 2 & 3. As this page is updated, the webmaster cannot recall where he read that the vessel was built by T. Robson. Can you add to (or correct) the above text? #2791 J. (JOHN) RODGERSON The webmaster's knowledge about 'Rodgerson' was non-existent. But he has now been informed by a kindly site visitor, that he was a shipbuilder based at Hylton Ferry, South Hylton. While Rodgerson is surely correct, I have read many references to John Rogerson also (with no 'd' in the name). See the attachments to the Yatch, later Eva Maria entry below. A list of Sunderland built ships, available to the webmaster, lists 36 vessels built by 'Rogerson' during the years from 1837 thru 1867. It is now quite clear that those & other references to 'Rogerson' are in error - the builder's name was most certainly 'Rodgerson'. All being well, we hope to be able to provide site visitors, in the near future, with details about John Rodgerson (Apl. 24, 1809/Jul. 09, 1888) & his family. The following are images of the 1848 marriage certificate of John Rodgerson & Mary Gowland (click the image for a larger version). And an image of the gravesite in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery of both John Rodgerson & his wife Mary Gowland, (née Pope - it was her second marriage). A second fine gravestone image is here. The couple were married on Sep. 07, 1848 at the Church of St. Thomas in Bishopwearmouth. Mary's first husband was Thomas Gowland, which name was given, surely in tribute, to a 'Rodgerson' vessel built in 1850. 1   George Welsford 280 tons 1837 A barque. George Welsford is recorded in Lloyd's Registers ('LR') from 1838/39 thru 1844/45 & not thereafter. Built either in Jun. 1837 (per a Sunderland build list) or in Jul. 1837 (per LR), the vessel was owned, thru its lifetime, by 'Welsford' of Weymouth, Dorset. For service initially, thru 1840/41, from Sunderland to Weymouth & thereafter for service ex Weymouth. The vessel's captains, per LR, were 'Lovell' thru to 1841/42 & R. Fowler from 1841/42 thru to 1844/45. 'Welsford', the owner, clearly means George Welsford of Greenhill, Weymouth. A timber merchant & coal dealer. I read that his wife Frances died in 1833. And that Jane Turner Hubbard, George's 2nd wife, to whom he was married on May 7, 1838, died at Warminster on Oct. 9, 1838. He would seem to have later married again, to Susannah, I think it was. Sarah, his only daughter got married on May 2, 1840. One would think, from the above LR references to the vessel's service that the vessel spent its life carrying coal from the north-east to Weymouth. But that would be quite wrong! Some 'best-efforts' George Welsford operational history - by captain. Lovell. i) on Sep. 1, 1837, the vessel left Weymouth for Quebec City, Canada. It arrived at Quebec on Oct. 28, 1837 & en route had got on shore at Red Island Reef (mouth of the Saguenay River, St. Lawrence River) & lost an anchor. ii) On Aug. 7, 1838, the vessel arrived at Quebec City, ex Weymouth. It arrived back at Falmouth, Cornwall, on Oct. 2, 1838, & presumably continued on to Plymouth. And when off Plymouth, on Oct. 4, 1838, the vessel 'was run foul of' by Her Majesty's ship Jupiter & lost main & mizzen topmasts. That would seem to mean that Jupiter ran into George Welsford. The vessel, arrived back at Weymouth on Oct. 11, 1838, likely by then already repaired. iii) A few voyages to the NE of England. In Dec. 1838 thru early Jan. 1839, the vessel sailed from Weymouth to Sunderland & back. On Jan. 10, 1839, it was reported from Deal, Kent, that George Welsford had collided with Derby, anchored in the Downs & had damaged her as you can read here. Fowler. iv) A voyage to Hartlepool & back in Mar. 1839. v) On Apl. 20, 1839, the vessel left Weymouth again for Quebec. It arrived back at Weymouth on Aug. 1, 1839, with, I read, Lovell back in command. More Fowler. vi) On May 18, 1840, the vessel arrived at Quebec (left Weymouth Apl. 5, 1840). It arrived back at Weymouth on Jul. 20, 1840. vii) On Dec. 9, 1840 the vessel arrived at Quebec with loss of bulwarks, companion etc. viii) The vessel left Weymouth for Quebec on May 25, 1841. ix) It was reported from Hartlepool on Jan. 27, 1842 that George Welsford had been damaged entering the harbour there during a heavy gale & had lost her stern-boat & davits. Wm. Good x) In Jul. 1843 the vessel again arrived at Quebec & arrived back at Deal on Aug. 25, 1843. xi) more voyages to & from Sunderland & Hartlepool. On Jan. 23, 1844 the vessel was, I have read, 'windbound' at Bridlington, Yorkshire. What finally happened to George Welsford? LR of 1844/45 notes that the vessel had been 'Abandoned'. On Apl. 6, 1844, George Welsford left Weymouth for Quebec for the last time, with 'Good' in command. Wikipedia tells us (thanks!) that on Apl. 19, 1844 the vessel, en route from Weymouth to Quebec City, was abandoned in the N. Atlantic. Further that her crew were all rescued. Abandoned in a sinking state. I learn that this happened at 45N/54W, about 300 miles S. of St. John's Newfoundland. The only report I have found provides no details as to the circumstances, nor does it tell us how the crew were rescued. But .... as I read that text, the vessel was abandoned rather on May 19, 1844, rather than on Apl. 19, 1844. Can you tell us more about the circumstances of the vessel's loss? Or otherwise add anything? #2678 2   Henry Cotes 211/177 tons 26956 1838 A snow or brig. Henry Cotes, which was launched in Jul. 1838, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1869/70. A Sunderland shipping website, which site requests no links or recognition, advises that the vessel was first registered at Shields on Aug. 04, 1838, in the names of John Coates, Thomas Solsby & George Murray, all of Bedlington. Such spelling of 'Coates' is a puzzle. It would seem that Soulby (however you spell the name) was an owner from the very beginning. Its initial owner, thru 1844/45 per LR, was Cotes & Co. of Blyth. For service from Sunderland to the Baltic with R. Masten, per LR, serving as the vessel's captain. In 1844/45, per LR, the vessel became owned by 'Soulby' of Blyth, Northumberland (but 'Soulsby' in LR of 1844/45 only). A puzzle is that the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, i.e. of 4 years later, records the vessel in Jul. 1848, as registered at Newcastle, & still owned by John Cotes - of Bedlington. LR records 'Soulby' of Blyth, as the owner of Henry  Cotes from 1844/45 thru 1860/61. The spelling of such owner name is a little suspect. Turnbull's Shipping Registers ('TR') of both 1855 & 1856 record the vessel as Shields registered & owned by T. Soulsby (with an 's') & G. Murray of Bedlington. With J. Todd the vessel's captain in 1855 per TR. Such ownership data is confirmed by Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 which records Thos. Soulsby & George Murray, of Bedlington, as the vessel's then owners. The vessel's captains while Soulsby owned? 'Kell' from 1844/45 thru 1849/50, J. Marr from 1850/51 thru 1854/55, J. Todd in 1855/56, 'Hendersn' in 1856/57 & 1857/58, & A. Watt from 1858/59 thru 1860/61. The vessel's service per LR while Soulby owned? Ex Blyth from 1844/45 thru 1854/55 & ex Shields thereafter. To London thru 1847/48, to Fécamp, France, in 1848/49 & 1849/50, to Dieppe, France, in 1852/53, to the Baltic in 1853/54 & 1854/55, & from 1858/59 thru 1860/61. To the Mediterranean in 1855/56 & to France in 1856/57. And in 1850/51 & 1851/52 for service as a Blyth coaster. On Mar. 28, 1861, the vessel was offered for sale at a public auction held at North Shields.  It was presumably bought by 'A. Grant'. LRs of 1861/62 thru 1863/64 record A. Grant (Alexander Reed Grant, I have read) of Shields as the new owner of the now 177 ton vessel. With J. Allen & then F. Patterson her captains. For service from Newcastle to France which became Shields to London. The vessel's final owner, per LR, was W. Parker of Sunderland, thru 1869/70 per LR, for service from Shields to Rotterdam. With F. Patterson continuing to serve as the vessel's captain. Such record is clearly significantly incorrect, Henry Cotes being, I now know, lost in 1865. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records the vessel as Shields registered from 1857 thru 1864. But owned at Sunderland in 1865, owned by William Parker of Sunderland. The vessel is not MNL listed in 1866. 81.0 ft. long, signal letters PHNB, some crew lists are available via this page, an early Lloyd's Survey document is available. Some best efforts operational 'snippets'. i) It was reported from Wivenhoe/Colchester on Jan. 27, 1841 that the vessel, Morton in command, was ashore on the Gunfleet. But was got off by employing four salvage smacks & their crews.  ii) In mid Dec. 1848, reported from Deal, Elizabeth, en route from Newcastle to Genoa, Italy, was in contact with Henry Cotes. Elizabeth was damaged it would seem. iii) On Jun. 29, 1849, the vessel, Marr in command, en route from Memel to Hull, put into Christiansand with 'cargo heated' & had to discharge.  iv) On Jan. 17, 1853, a violent hurricane was experienced at Dieppe. Henry Cotes, Marr in command, was stranded there but was expected to be got off with hull damage & the loss of her bowsprit. v) On Sep. 16, 1854, Todd in command, the vessel, en route from Shields to London grounded on Scroby Sand. vi) On Apl. 17, 1856, the vessel bound to the Baltic, put back to Shields partially dismasted. vii) On Aug. 31, 1856, Allen in command & ex Newcastle, the vessel had to be towed into Elsinore leaky & had to repair before proceeding to Wyburg. viii) On Jun. 11, 1861, Pattison (maybe Patterson) in command, the vessel lost its anchor & 17 fathoms of chain above the Sizewell. ix) It would seem that 'Hutchinson', a captain name not LR referenced, became the vessel's captain from about Nov. 1863. On Feb. 19, 1865, in Burlington Bay, Scarborough, Henry Cotes, in ballast with Hutchinson in command, was in collision with Elizabeth ('Burlingson' her captain). Elizabeth was damaged, put back to Sunderland & was expected to have to discharge her cargo. Henry Cotes, it would seem, suffered no damage. What finally happened to Henry Cotes? On Jul. 07, 1865, the vessel, Hutchinson in command, left Sunderland for Hamburg, Germany, with a cargo of coal. At 12.45 a.m. on the next day, i.e. on Jul. 08, 1865, the vessel encountered a gale (at 54.36N/1.25E) & sprang a leak which the crew were not able to bring under control. A little later that day, at 6 a.m., the crew took to a ship's boat & watched Henry Cotes sink at about 6.50 a.m. Twenty minutes later, the vessel's crew were picked up by Prospect of Scarborough, 'Hodge' her master, who later transferred them to May Queen of Hartlepool (a steamship it would appear). The crew were landed at Hamburg. Some contemporary news reports - 1, 2 & 3. Can you add anything additional? #2786 3   Ann Stainton 257 later 236 tons 5568 1847 The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1848/49 thru 1865/66 only. Ann Stainton was, per LR, owned thru 1859/60 (& maybe thru 1861/62) by T. Stainton - of Newcastle thru 1852/53 & of North Shields thereafter. The owner name is clarified by a number of available shipping registers to mean Thomas Stainton. Per the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Jul. 1848 data, & in the equivalent directory of 1854. Per Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855 & 1856 & by Christie's Shipping Register of 1858. The vessel's service, per LR, while 'Stainton' owned? From Sunderland to London thru 1852/53, from the Clyde to the Mediterranean from 1853/54 thru 1855/56, from Shields to the Mediterranean from 1856/57 thru 1859/60. Ann Stainton's captains per LR? A. Mackie thru 1852/53, J. (Jas.) Simm from 1853/54 thru 1855/56, J. Crowell from 1856/57 thru 1861/62. TR of 1855 lists John Lazenby as the vessel's then captain. I note that from 1861/62 thru 1865/66, LR lists T. Druery as the vessel's captain. Now LR does not record an owner name in & after 1861/62. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL'), however, comes to our rescue by naming Mary Mason, of Sunderland, as Ann Stainton's owner or managing owner in 1865. The vessel is not listed in MNL of 1866. MNL records the vessel as Shields registered from 1857 thru 1862 & London registered from 1863 thru 1865. A couple of events in the vessel's history. i) On Jan. 26, 1860, en route from South Shields to London, with 'Crowle' or 'Crowell' in command, Ann Stainton ran aground on Race Bank, in the North Sea off the coast of Lincolnshire. She was refloated and put in to Grimsby, Lincolnshire, in a leaky condition - (1 & 2). ii) On Oct. 26, 1862, when at anchor 'under' Bornholm, Denmark, en route from Wyburg (Vyborg, NW of St. Petersburg, Russia) to Hartlepool, a fire broke out on the vessel's quarter deck. After the fire was extinguished the vessel continued her voyage & arrived at Hartlepool on Nov. 10, 1862. A Sunderland shipping website, which website requests no links or recognition, tells us that on Dec. 12, 1861, Matthew Stainton Jnr. of South Shields was the vessel's registered owner. And that on Feb. 19, 1862, Mary Mason & William Parker, of Sunderland were her registered owners. We thank such site for that important data. 90.0 ft. long, signal letters JKFD, just one year's crew lists (1864) are available via this page. What finally happened to Ann Stainton? LR of 1865/66 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. It was reported, from Riga, Latvia, on Oct. 21, 1865, that the vessel, Atkins in command, en route from Copenhagen to Wyburg, was stranded on Oesel (island, now Saaremaa, Estonia, Baltic) & apparently a wreck - further that her crew had been saved. Can you tell us more about the circumstances of the vessel's loss? Or otherwise add to or correct the above? #2787 4   Azoff 249 later 235 tons 26269 1847 The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') recorded from 1846/47 thru 1872/73. The vessel, a snow or brig, was, it would seem, registered first at Newcastle, then at Sunderland & finally at Lowestoft, Suffolk. A Sunderland shipping website, which website request no links or recognition, tells us (thanks!) that the vessel, though Newcastle registered, was initially owned by John Charleton & Taylor Potts, of Sunderland. From 1846/47 thru 1857/58, per LR, Azoff was owned by 'Anderson' (of Newcastle thru 1852/53 & of Sunderland thereafter). As per the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Jul. 1848 data, the vessel was owned by M. Anderson & Co. of Newcastle. The equivalent directory of 1854/5, in Apl. 1854 data, has the vessel then owned by L. (Lewis) J. Livingston & M. Anderson, both of Newcastle, & by Thos. Anderson of London, with J. C. Parker her then captain. Turnbull's Shipping Register of 1856 lists her then owners as being M. Anderson & L. J. Livingston, both of Newcastle, & T. Anderson of London. Azoff's captains, per LR, while 'Anderson' owned? H. Oakley thru 1850/51, W. Grdener, presumably 'Gardener', from 1850/51 thru 1853/54, & J. Parker from 1854/55 thru 1857/58. Her service while 'Anderson' owned, again per LR? For initial service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean (thru 1850/51), then, in 1851/52 & 1852/53, for service from Hull to Newcastle, & thereafter thru 1856/57 at least, for service from Falmouth, Cornwall, to Limerick, Ireland. The 1857/58 LR data is limited, indicating a likely change of ownership. From 1858/59, Azoff was owned, per LR, by Cringle & Co. of Lowestoft for some varied service. From Newcastle to Hamburg, Germany (in 1858/59), from London to Dantzig (Gdańsk, Poland) in 1859/60, ex Lowestoft in 1860/61, from Liverpool to the West Indies in 1861/62, from the Clyde to the West Indies from 1862/63. W. Cringle was, per LR, the vessel's captain thru 1860/61 & J. Taylor from 1861/62. LRs from 1865/66 to 1872/73 lists no owner name for the vessel, then LR noted to have been on service from Sunderland to the West Indies. But it seems likely that LR, year after year, simply reprinted the data of the prior year so such service data is surely suspect.  The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') comes to our rescue re her ownership. It records Azoff as Newcastle registered in 1857 & 1858 & thereafter, thru 1872, registered at Lowestoft. Owned from 1865 thru 1868 by John Rounce, of Lowestoft. The vessel was, I note, offered for sale, at Yarmouth, on Feb. 22, 1868. From 1869 thru 1872 (1870), the vessel is MNL recorded as owned by William Dixon of Weybourne, Norfolk, presumably the winning bidder at that sale. 89.0 ft. long, signal letters PKLF, of 235 tons from 1858/59, no crew lists are available re the vessel. A little 'best-efforts' Azoff operational history. i) on Apl. 01, 1867, Azoff, 'Roope' in command, en route, in ballast, from Lowestoft to Memel (then E. Prussia, now Klaipėda, Lithuania), was in collision with Superb, a 132 ton schooner, in the Cattegat (Kattegat, the sea area N. of the Danish straits islands, that lies between Denmark & Sweden). Superb, which sank & was totally lost as a result of the collision, was built at Perth in 1861. Note that the data at the above 1867 link must be in error about the status of Superb after the collision. Superb had been en route from Dysart (Fife, Scotland) for Dantzig (then Prussia, today Gdańsk, Poland), with a cargo of coal. The matter was the subject of a lawsuit, which was heard in London on Nov. 07, 1867. Azoff was held to be solely responsible for the collision. ii) The wife of Captain George Roope, was, in early Mar. 1868, awarded a modest sum re the death of her husband. iii) On Oct. 29, 1969, Azoff, 'Pigott' in command, en route from Riga, Latvia, to Hartlepool, was towed into Lowestoft having lost both of her anchors & having damaged her bulwarks.  LR of 1872/73 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. On Nov. 19, 1872, per line 2716 here, Azoff, a 235 ton brig stranded at Faxo Bay (Baltic, S. of the Danish island of Moen). Crew of 8 - none lost. Vessel then stated to be owned by Wm. Dixon. The vessel's loss was reported by Lloyd's List, as being on the E. coast of Zealand, Denmark, but no greater detail, & specifically the name of her then captain, seems to be available. It may well have been 'Moy' (or 'May') - who was her captain from Aug. 1870 thru Nov. 1871, at least. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2782 5   Conqueror 257/249 tons 2081 1847 A snow or brig. Conqueror, which was launched in May 1847, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1848/49 thru 1867/68. Its initial owner, per LR, thru 1852/53, was 'Charlton' of Sunderland, for consistent service from Sunderland to the Brazils with C. Starks noted to have served as the vessel's captain. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Apl. 1848 data, records J. Charleton (with an 'e'), of Sunderland, as her then owner. Registered in such name on May 14, 1847. From 1853/54 thru 1855/56, per LR, Conqueror was owned by T. Knight of Blyth, Northumberland, for service from Blyth to the Mediterranean with G. Hays LR noted to have been the vessel's captain. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55, in 1854 data, does not confirm such ownership. It rather records Catharine Wilson and George Cleugh, both of North Shields, as the vessel's then owners, with And. Nichol her then captain. It seems certain, however, that T. Knight was an owner of Conqueror, likely for a short period only. A Sunderland shipping website, which site requests no links or recognition, notes that Thomas Knight of Blyth, became the registered owner of the vessel on Jul. 24, 1852. And notes also that Catherine Wilson & George Cleugh, both of North Shields, became her registered owners on Jan. 20, 1854. 'Wilson & Cleugh' are recorded as the vessel's owners in Turnbull's Shipping Registers ('TR') of 1855 & 1856, & in 1858 (Catharine Wilson), per Christie's Shipping Register. TR of 1855 records John Dale as the vessel's then captain. LRs of 1856/57 thru 1860/61 record C. Wilson of Shields as the vessel's owner thru 1861/62, for service ex Shields to the Mediterranean (in 1856/57 thru 1859/60) & to Holland, in 1860/61. LR records J. Dale as the vessel's captain from 1856/57 thru 1859/60 & then G. Spencer presumably for the period until the vessel was sold.  In 1861/62, per LR, 'Hopper' of Sunderland became Conqueror's owner, for service from Shields to the Baltic with T. S. Brown noted to have been her captain. The Mercantile Navy List records the vessel as Shields registered from 1857 thru 1861, And registered at Sunderland thereafter. Owned in 1865 by James Sanderson of Sunderland & in 1866 & 1867 owned by John Sanderson, maybe James John Sanderson, also of Sunderland. The Sunderland shipping website, referred to above, tells us that on Jul. 26, 1861 John Hopper & James Sanderson Brown, both of Sunderland, were the vessel's owners & that on Mar. 24, 1863 the vessel was registered in the names of James & John Sanderson, of Sunderland. 88.0 ft. long, signal letters HMQR, of 227 tons from 1865, some crew lists are available here. What finally happened to Conqueror? LR of 1867/68 notes that the vessel had been 'Lost'. It was, I have read, lost in the White Sea (Barents Sea, N. Russia, near Archangel), on Jun. 19, 1867. Per Wikipedia one of 30 vessels which were lost in ice off Archangelsk (Archangel), Russia. There are many contemporary news reports that cover the ice circumstances in the White Sea. I learn that Conqueror, Sanderson in command, had left Hamburg, Germany, for Anchangel, in ballast, on May 06, 1867. Nearing Archangel, on Jun. 17, 1867, she encountered ice conditions. Winds blew the vessel towards the coast & late on Jun. 19, 1867, by now fast in the ice & near Cross Island, the vessel settled on a rock which penetrated her hull. Soon the vessel was half filled with water. The vessel's crew took to a ship's boat & 20 minutes later they witnessed the vessel sinking. The crew made it to shore & were rescued from there by Maria Santina, a Dutch vessel, & landed at Archangel. Later Conqueror's crew were returned home by Verona, of Leith, Scotland. I have not read where they were U.K. landed. The extent of the disaster is truly amazing. 64 vessels, many of them Norwegian, stranded & 50 of them, including Conqueror, were totally lost. 18 of the vessels lost would seem to have been British. So far as I can see, there were no casualties. Some contemporary news reports - 1, 2 & 3. Can you tell us anything additional? #2788 6   Isadora 168 tons 1847 A snow or brig, which was, as per this newspaper article, launched at Hylton Ferry on Oct. 11, 1847. A vessel which had a very short life, indeed. Isadora is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1848/49 thru 1851/52 only, owned, thru 1850/51 per LR, by Charleton of Sunderland. For service from Sunderland to London with R. Jackson serving as her captain. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9, in Apl. 1848 data, lists the brig as then owned by J. Charleton of Sunderland. In 1851/52, per LR, Isadora, now noted (in error the webmaster believes) to be a schooner, was owned by 'Coll'dge & Co.' of Sunderland for service ex Sunderland. With T. Colledg' LR noted to have been her captain. There would seem to be many newspaper references to the vessel commanded by Jackson (last ref. I spotted was Jan. 22, 1850) & by 'Colledge' from soon thereafter. I note, particularly, that on Sep. 08, 1848, Isadora, Jackson in command, was cleared for departure from Warkworth (near Amble, Northumberland) to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia) with a cargo of coal. On Sep. 14, 1848, the vessel grounded on a reef off Hamra (S. tip of island of Gottland, in the Baltic). After jettisoning a part of its cargo, the vessel was assisted off & proceeded to Slitohamn (now Slite, E. side of Gottland) to repair & reload the remaining cargo. What happened to Isadora? LR of 1851/52 notes that the vessel had been 'Lost'. As per line 974 on this page, Isadora, a square, was lost on Sep. 06, 1851, at Sunk Sand, while en route from Shields to Santander, Spain, with a cargo of coal. Further that she was then owned by Thos. Colledge & her crew of 6 were all saved. Now there are a couple of places named Sunk Sand. This contemporary 1851 news report, from Wivenhoe (NE Essex, near Colchester) tells us that Isadora, Colledge in command, was lost on Sunk Sand. Which Sunk Sand, often termed Sunken Sand, is located close to the Kentish Knock, in the River Thames estuary. This report tells us that Isadora was lost on the morning of Sep. 06, 1851. Further that her crew were rescued by two smacks - Beulah, with James in command, & Ann and Maria, with Simons in command, & landed at Wivenhoe. Can you add anything more? Or correct the above? #2785 7   Shealtiel 169, later 153, 149 & 129 tons 14818 1847 Shealtiel - a name of Hebrew Biblical meaning. Shealtiel, the vessel, clearly had a very long life, nearly 50 years, the register for the vessel being closed only in 1894. Shealtiel, which was launched on Jul. 01, 1847, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1848/49 thru 1857/58, an LR silence of 16 years, then again from 1874/75 thru 1894/95. A snow thru 1858 & from 1874/75 thru 1883/84, a brigantine from 1884/85 thru to 1889/90 & a schooner from 1890/91 thru 1894/95. The vessel's initial owner, per LR thru 1857/58, was Heasman & Co. of Sunderland for service from Sunderland to London thru 1851/52, from Sunderland to Archangel, Russia, from 1852/53 thru 1854/55 & from Sunderland to London from 1855/56 thru 1857/58. With 'Heasman' her captain thru 1854/55 & J. Robson (likely correctly 'Robinson') her captain from 1855/56 thru 1857/58. It seems likely that 'Heasman' sold the vessel in or about mid 1855. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records Shealtiel as registered at Guernsey, Channel Islands, in Jul. 1855, and remaining Guernsey registered for the rest of its life. A best-efforts partial listing of Shealtiel's captains from 1855:- 'Eastland' from early 1855 to Dec. 1856, 'Alcock' in Feb. & Mar. 1857, 'Courley' from Apl. 1857 thru Sep. 1859, 'Hunkin' from Nov. 1859 thru 1860, 'Dean' from Aug. 1860, 'Vaudin' from Dec. 1864 thru late 1868. And then 'Mahy' from Jan. 1870 thru Feb. 1871, George Lee from Mar. 1871 until his death in Aug. 1871, 'De La Tour' from Sep. 1871 thru Apl. 1873, James Mead from Apl. 1873 thru Jan. 1882, 'Brice' from Jan. 1882 thru Feb. 1877. A few 'Edwin' voyages in late 1882, 'Pennison' from Jun. 1887. Have not checked thereafter. But. G. Holmes in 1891/92 & 1892/93 & G. H. Drillot in 1893/94. The webmaster has not found evidence as to the name of the vessel's owner from Jul. 1855. But I have read, at a Sunderland shipping website that requests no links or recognition, that by 1855 John Billot of Jersey was the vessel's owner. In late Jan. 1860, Shealtiel, Edmund Hunkin in command, was en route from Shields to Alderney, Channel Islands, with a cargo of coal. At about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, 1860, the vessel was in collision, off Dungeness, with Ellen, a 156 ton Jersey schooner with Philip Asplet (or Asplit) her master & Walter Haley her mate. The collision resulted in Ellen being seriously damaged & her captain drowned. Shealtiel, with seven Ellen crew members aboard, arrived at Ramsgate on Jan. 27, 1860, in a much damaged condition - with loss of bowsprit, foremast etc. Ellen, much damaged, was towed into Ramsgate by some local boatmen. Shealtiel was, in a later law case re the matter, held to have been solely responsible for the collision. Some contemporary related news reports - 1, 2 & 3. On Aug. 01, 1860, Shealtiel, noted to be recently repaired, was offered for sale at an auction held at St. Sampson's, Guernsey. MNLs from 1865 thru 1868 record John Billot, of Jersey, as the vessel's owner. I did think that he was likely the buyer at the above noted auction. While MNLs from 1869 thru to 1894 (1892) MNL record W. W. Bird jun., of St. Sampson's, Guernsey, as consistently the vessel's owner or managing owner. I note that LRs of 1874/75 & 1875/76 record W. W. Bird, jun. as the vessel's owner & from 1870/77 rather list W. W. Bird, jr. & Co. Some 'best efforts' operational reports for Shealtiel. i) on Jan. 24, 1868, Vaudin in command, the vessel was in collision during a gale with Flatworth (built at Sunderland in 1857) of North Shields. Shealtiel put into Weymouth as a result. ii) the vessel (De La Tour), en route from Port Talbot to Hamburg with a cargo of railway iron, had to be beached at Ryde, Isle of Wight, on Jan. 28, 1873 to stop a leak & on Feb. 09, 1873 was assisted into Dover with loss of anchor & chains. iii) On Oct. 05, 1874, the vessel (Mead) was aground at Filey but got off with the tide undamaged. iv) In Aug. 1879, the vessel (Mead) encountered high seas etc. in the Prince's Channel, Thames Estuary. v) in Feb. 1883 (Brice) the vessel was badly storm damaged off Grimsby. vi) On Nov. 10, 1883 the vessel (Brice), put into St. Catherine's Bay, Jersey, with pumps choked & ballast shifted. Was en route from St. Brieuc (Brittany, France) to Guernsey. vii) In Aug. 1884 (Brice), in the Thames at Wapping, the vessel sustained damage when in collision with Viola, a German steamship. ix) In Jun. 1887 the vessel was fortunately not damaged when her tow rope broke - off Alderney. x) In Nov. 1887, the vessel (Pennison) lost anchor & chain in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight roads. xi) On Mar. 26, 1888, the vessel (Pennison) grounded badly at Guernsey - was taking in 4 in. of water per hour. There probably are more similar types of events - have run out of available time to research. It would seem that a significant part of the vessel's life was bringing coal from the NE to the Channel Islands & taking cargoes of granite ex Guernsey to the U.K., often to London. 81.8 ft. long, signal letters LPRT, of 153 tons from 1865 at least, of 140/153 tons from LR of 1881/92 & of 129/153 tons from LR of 1891/92, per LR a brigantine from 1884/85 & a schooner from 1890/91. A great many crew lists are available for the vessel via this page. I note that LR of 1894/95 notes that the vessel was burnt in Feb. 1894. I read that on Jan. 29, 1894, Shealtiel left Shields for Guernsey with 230 tons of coal, apparently under the command of Captain Drillot. It arrived at Guernsey on Feb. 18, 1894 & on the next day, at 1.30 a.m., it was noticed that the cargo was on fire. The fire was stubborn. Shealtiel was run into Admiralty Harbour & scuttled. Efforts were made to extinguish the fire but it raged on, resulting in the vessel's total destruction. As you can read here. An image of the burning vessel was prominently on display in a High St., Guernsey, storefront. It would be wonderful to be able to see that image today! Can you tell us more? Or correct the above? #2789 8   Gallovidian 118/98 later 91 tons 5773 1848 Gallovidian? A native of Galloway, a region in SW Scotland that comprises the historic counties of Wigtownshire & Kirkcudbrightshire. A modest schooner that had an amazingly long life - the register for the vessel was only closed in 1899. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed - as Gallovidian - from 1848/49 thru 1887/88 & so far as I can see, not thereafter. I state the name there particularly because the Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1857 thru 1862 rather refer to 'Gallovidian of Liverpool'. From 1863, MNL lists the vessel as Gallovidian. From 1848/49 thru 1862/63, per LR, the vessel was owned by Rae & Co. of Liverpool, with A. Rae LR noted to be the vessel's captain thru 1853/54, 'Murdoch' in 1854/55, 'McL'chrie' in 1855/56 & 1856/57, R. McDowell from 1857/58 thru 1859/60, 'Rae' in 1860/61 & E. Way in 1861/62 & 1862/63. The vessel's service per LR while 'Rae' owned? Ex Sunderland in 1848/49 & 1849/50, from Liverpool to Antigua in the years from 1850/51 thru 1853/54, a London coaster in 1854/55, from the Clyde to the Mediterranean in 1855/56 & 1856/57, ex Liverpool from 1857/8 thru 1859/60, to the Mediterranean from Newcastle in 1860/61 & from Liverpool in 1861/62. I note that 'Rae' must have been partial to the vessel name Gallovidian. From 1867/68, A. & J. Rae, of Liverpool, owned another vessel of the name - a 400 ton barque built in 1867 by Dobie of Glasgow - ON #55083.  In 1862/63, per LR, Gallovidian became owned by Cumming & Co. of Liverpool, from 1877/78 J. Cumming & Co. For service from Liverpool to Shetland in 1862/63 & as a Liverpool coaster from 1863/64 thru 1873/74, at which time LR discontinued the disclosure of intended voyage data. Her captains per LR? J. Cumming from 1862/63 thru 1866/67, 'Murdoch' (Samuel Murdoch it would seem) from 1867/68 thru 1873/74, & J. Cumming again from 1874/75 all the way thru to 1887/88. It seems clear that there was more than one J. Cumming. MNLs of 1865 thru 1867 list the vessel as owned by James Cumming of Kirkcudbright. The MNLs of 1868 thru 1899 rather list John Cumming of Kirkcudbright as the vessel's owner. 67.5 ft. long, signal letters JLBT, of 91 tons from LR of 1875/76, a large number of crew lists are available for the vessel, thru 1897, via this page. What finally happened to Gallovidian? We might hope that it was broken up rather than wrecked at sea or on a coast somewhere. I see, however, that she was accidently burned. As per these words 'When near the end of her long career, she lay on the Scaur beach until she was sold into Maryport, where she was accidentally burnt', ex this page (search for Gallovidian). Burnt to the water's edge, I have read. See also here (same search). I have not been able to spot when it happened. Nor the name of her new owner. The Scaur beach was at Kippford on the Solway coast. Is there anything you can add? #2781 9   Marion 216/235 later 198 tons 1850 A snow. Built by J. Rogerson in one list & by J. Rodgerson in another. The vessel, which was launched in Dec. 1850, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1851/52 thru 1859/60. It was owned thru 1855/56, per LR, by W. Moore of Sunderland. For service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean with C. Brandt always her captain. Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1855 records Marion as then owned by Wm. Moore, Robt. Watson & Chas. Brandt, all of Sunderland, with C. Brandt her then captain. The vessel became listed at 198 tons in 1856/57, in which year Smart & Co., also of Sunderland, became, per LR, the vessel's owners, for service from Sunderland to Hamburg, Germany, thru 1857/58 & ex Sunderland thereafter. During the period of 'Smart' ownership, 'Halliday' is LR noted to be always her captain. TR of 1856 lists her then owners as being C. Smart, R. H. Halliday & J. Smart, all of Sunderland, which owner names are clarified by Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 to mean Charles & John Smart & Richard H. Halliday. All of those registers indicate that Marion was built in 1850 rather than in 1851. It would seem that LR of 1851/52 had recorded the vessel as first registered in 1850 but then changed it to 1851. 'The Commercial Daily List' of Sep. 22, 1859 advises that a vessel of the name, surely 'our' Marion, sank near Bornholm (a Danish island in the Baltic, between Sweden & Poland) while en route from Sunderland to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia). Can you tell us about the circumstances of the vessel's loss? Or add to or correct the above text? #2431 10   Nina 292/278 later 260 tons 2836 1850 A snow or brig. Built by J. Rogerson in one build list & by J. Rodgerson in another. Nina is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1850/51 thru 1865/66 & not thereafter. Owned, per LR, thru 1854/55, by 'Thompson' of Sunderland, for consistent service from Sunderland to Boston, U.S.A., with 'Lawson' always her captain. Such owner name is confirmed by the North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55 which records, in Mar. 1854, "John and Joseph Thompson", of Sunderland, as the vessel's then owners with Wm. Hammond, rather than 'Lawson', as her then captain. A little operational history. In late Oct. 1850, Nina, Lawson in command, was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to London. In a report from Reval (now Talinn, Estonia), the vessel struck on the rocks at Rothskar island, got off but was so leaky she had to be run on shore at Casperwick (or Kasperwick) Bay to prevent her from sinking. Part of her cargo was landed & the vessel was expected to be got off 'should the weather moderate'. All as per this Lloyd's List report dated Oct. 29, 1850. Both places named are near Gogland, in the middle of the Gulf of Finland, about 110 miles W. of St. Petersburg. In 1855/56, per LR, Brown & Co. of Stockton, became the vessel's owner for service from London to the Crimea thru 1856/57, & from Stockton to the Mediterranean thereafter thru 1860/61. During the period of 'Brown' ownership, A. Brown, per LR, served as the vessel's captain. Turnbull's Shipping Registers of 1855 & 1856 both list Nina as Sunderland registered & then owned by T. Brown, sen., M. Hodgson, & A. Unthank, all (I think it means) of Staiths, (i.e. Staithes, Yorkshire), which owner names Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 (still Sunderland registered) clarifies such names as meaning Thomas Brown, Sen., Margaret Hodgson & Ann Unthank. Now the Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records Nina as registered at Whitby, Yorkshire, from 1860. From 1861/62, per LR, W. Potts of Whitby was the owner of the now 260 ton snow, for service ex Liverpool. With J. (James) Potts her captain. But surely from a little earlier than that. MNL of 1865 lists Wm. Potts, jun., of Redcar, Yorkshire, as her then owner. More operational history. On Feb. 14, 1860, Nina, James Potts in command, came upon Blessing (built at Sunderland in 1847) completely disabled in the Bay of Biscay, about 120 miles W. of La Rochelle, France. The weather at the time was so very bad that boats could not be launched to rescue Blessing's crew. On the next day however, Potts sailed Nina close to Blessing, so close that her crew were able to jump from one ship to the other. Blessing sank on the next day. Nina landed Blessing's crew at Bordeaux, France. James Potts' brave actions were recognised by the award of a telescope. As per these (1 & 2) pages. Nina's crew may have boarded Blessing. Nina was, I read, greatly damaged during the course of the rescue. LR of 1865/66 records no owner name. Likely meaning that the vessel had been sold. The vessel is not later LR recorded. MNLs of 1866 thru 1871 (1870) all record the vessel as still registered at Whitby but now owned by George Wright of York. 93.0 ft. long, signal letters HQTB. LR listed at 260 tons from 1863/64. Some crew lists are available here. On Mar. 24, 1871, per line 1295 here, the 278 ton brig was stranded near Gluckstadt (Elbe river near Hamburg, Germany), while en route from Shields to Hamburg with a cargo of coal. Crew of 5 - none lost. Vessel then stated to be owned by George Wright. That last link incorrectly lists the vessel as built in 1851. Can you tell us more? #2484 11   Thomas Gowland 229 later 210 tons 24424 1850 A snow. Built by J. Rogerson in one list & by J. Rodgerson in another. Thomas Gowland, which was launched in Jul. 1850, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1851/52 thru 1856/57 & not thereafter. Owned throughout, per LR, by 'Rodgers'n' of Sunderland, i.e. by its builder, for service from Sunderland to the Mediterranean, with S. Gordon always the vessel's captain. It is clear however that such LR data is incorrect. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55, records, in Mar. 1854, Wm. O. Bradley, Stephen L. Gordon & Ann Gordon, all of Sunderland, as the vessel's owners with Stephen L. Gordon her then captain. Turnbull's Shipping Registers of both 1855 & 1856 confirm such data, through the 1855 version rather lists G. Simey as the vessel's then captain. So far as I can see, 'Simey' was Thomas Gowland's captain for a single voyage - to Palermo, Sicily, leaving Deal, Kent, in early Nov. 1854 & arriving back at Shields on May 17, 1855, from Girgenti & Palermo (both Sicily). For the lion's share of the vessel's life Gordon was the vessel's captain with voyages to Odessa (Black Sea, Ukraine), Alexandria (Egypt), Balaklava (Crimea), Berdianski (Berdyansk, Sea of Azov, SE Ukraine). And voyages returning from Cadiz (Spain) & Palermo (Sicily), I think carrying wine. 'Glen' was the vessel's captain only at the very end, from late 1856. Thomas Gowland was driven onto the beach at Yarmouth, Norfolk, on Jan. 5, 1857, during what must have been an enormous storm. As per this Jan. 8, 1857 newspaper cutting. When carrying a cargo of coal to Rochefort (S. of La Rochelle), France. The vessel became a total wreck, the crew incl. 'Glen' then her captain, all being saved. As per this 'Lloyd's List' report. Massive storms were experienced up and down the U.K. east coast, in the Channel & elsewhere. This report tells you a little about the weather's impact in the Norfolk area. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2495 12   Legatus 382 tons 7389 1856 Legatus? A high-ranking military officer in the Roman Army - anglicised as 'legate'. Built by J. Rogerson in one list & by J. Rodgerson in another. Legatus, a barque, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1857/58 thru 1866/67 & not thereafter. For all of that period, per LR, the vessel was owned by Lonie & Co. of Sunderland, initially for service from Sunderland to the Baltic, but from 1860/61 for service from Sunderland to Quebec, Canada. With, per LR, W. Pratt her captain thru 1859/60, J. Hutchinson from 1860/61 thru 1863/64 & J. Stace from 1863/64. It would seem that 'Pratt' was the vessel's captain thru Nov/Dec 1858. Then 'Hutchinson' from early 1859 thru Dec. 1861. Followed by 'Stace' thru Dec. 1864 & 'Read' (a name not LR referenced) from Aug. 1865 to the end in late 1866. A little 'best-efforts' Legatus operational history. By captain. i) Pratt. With 'Pratt' in command, the vessel made at least a couple of voyages to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia) ex Sunderland & in Nov. 1858 was at Quebec. ii) Hutchinson. In early Mar. 1859, 'Hutchinson' now in command, Legatus carried 585 tons of coal ex Sunderland to New York. It went on to Quebec & on Aug. 26, 1859 arrived back at Newcastle with a cargo of timber ex Quebec. A voyage to Bordeaux, France, ex Sunderland (left Jan. 17, 1860), with a cargo of coal. It went on from Bordeaux to New York encountering heavy weather during the entire passage & suffering some damage. It likely went on to St. John's, Newfoundland, & returned to Berwick ex St. John's on Aug. 29, 1860. A further voyage to New York, returning to London on Mar. 17, 1861 with a general cargo. A voyage to Quebec returning to Hartlepool on Sep. 01, 1861, & then a return voyage ex Hartlepool to Bordeaux. iii) Stace. On Dec. 01, 1862, 'Stace' now in command, the vessel left Cork, Ireland, for Sligo (NW Ireland) with a cargo of grain. On Mar. 10, 1864, the vessel arrived at Shields ex Las Negras (SE coast of Spain) with a cargo of lead and grass. A voyage in late 1864 to Cronstadt returning to London on Dec. 01, 1864. iv) Read. On Aug. 29, 1865, Legatus (now under the command of 'Read') left Berwick for Wyborg (Vyborg, NW of St. Petersburg, Russia), returning to Grimsby. On Nov. 10, 1865 the vessel left Sunderland for Ferrol (NW Spain) with small coals. On May 10, 1866, the vessel arrived at New York ex Shields, having encountered bad weather en route. Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 records Martin Lonie, Sen., Francis Robson, William H. Crookes & Martin Lonie, Jun., all of Sunderland, plus George Lewis of Dudley (a West Midlands town), as her then owners. The Mercantile Navy List records Legatus from 1857 thru 1867, always registered at Sunderland & from 1865 thru 1867 owned by McLorie and Co., of Sunderland. 117.0 ft. long, some crew lists are available via this page. LR of 1866/67 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. I learn that on Oct. 06, 1866, Legatus, 'Read' in command, arrived at Cronstadt ex Sunderland. On Oct. 30, 1866, the vessel, on its return journey & en route to Elsinore, Denmark, for orders, with a cargo of rye, got on shore at Krautsland. It came off the next morning & proceeded up river. The webmaster has not, so far at least, determined exactly where Krautsland is located. But a few days later, it was reported that Legatus had been lost on the Kalkgrund, which is a shoal in the Gulf of Finland, located E. of Tallinn (Reval), Estonia. Her crew were, I read, all rescued & part of her cargo was saved. Per Wikipedia. A couple of contemporary news reports - 1 & 2. Can you add to or correct the above? #2780 13   Sir John Moore 608 tons 13346 1856 A ship. Built by J. Rogerson in one list & by J. Rodgerson in another. John Moore, later Sir John Moore (1761/1809), was a famous British Army officer, most noted perhaps for his victory over the French at the Battle of La Coruña (Corunna) in Spain in 1809 - during the Peninsular War. He lost his life during such battle, struck by a cannon shot, & was buried at Corunna. Sir John Moore, which was launched on Jun. 03, 1856, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1857/58 thru 1866/67. Always LR noted to be an 1856 vessel & a ship, except in 1857/58 when it was LR identified as being a barque. It would seem, however, that the vessel was first registered only on Apl. 26, 1857. It is possible that the vessel should be considered to be rather an 1857 vessel. LRs consistently state 1856. Lloyd's Surveys seem to be 'confused' as to her year of build (1 & 2). LR records the vessel as Glasgow registered thru 1863/64 & registered at Liverpool from 1864/65. With just a single owner thru such entire period - i.e. 'Matheson' of Glasgow, Scotland. With C. Robertson her captain thru 1864/65 (LR has 'Robinson' in 1863/64 & 1864/65). And thereafter E. Willcocks or E. Wilcocks. The vessel, per LR, served Aden ex Sunderland thru 1861/62, from London to Australia in 1862/63, from London to Quebec, Canada, in 1863/64 & from Liverpool to Australia in the period from 1864/65 thru 1866/67. Sir John Moore's voyages to Australia & Canada? Some 'best-efforts' details. i) The vessel, under the command of Charles Robertson, left London on Nov. 21, 1862 for Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, via Plymouth (left Dec. 08, 1862) with 248 Government immigrants - arriving at Sydney on Mar. 22, 1863. A list of the immigrant passengers. On May 20, 1863, she left Sydney for Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, with 66 passengers, arriving at Port Chalmers (Dunedin) on Jun. 07, 1863. The vessel arrived back at Sydney on Jul. 20, 1863. 'Ball' is noted to have been in command on that particular voyage. On Sep. 25, 1863, 'Robertson' again in command, Sir John Moore left Sydney for London with 7 passengers and a varied cargo that included wool (496 bales), hides, bones, gum etc. etc. The vessel arrived at Deal, Kent, on or about Jan. 20, 1864. ii) On May 29, 1864, the vessel left Deal for Quebec, Canada, with 'Willcocks' in command. It arrived back at Liverpool on or about Sep. 29, 1864. iii) On Mar. 14, 1865, the vessel left Liverpool for Adelaide, South Australia, with a truly varied cargo, incl. 12 tons of gunpowder. The webmaster thinks that E. Willcocks was in command but there are a great many varied spellings of the captain's name. After a voyage of 104 days, the vessel arrived at Adelaide on Jun. 25, 1865 & on Aug. 31, 1865 it left Adelaide for Batavia/Guam, in ballast. On Jan. 06, 1866, Sir John Moore left Batavia (Pasaroeang?) for Rotterdam, I have read. iv) Another voyage to Canada it would seem, with 'Robertson' in command. On Nov. 03, 1866, the vessel left Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for London. The vessel is Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') listed from 1858 thru 1867, noted to have been registered at Sunderland thru 1861 (at Glasgow per LR) & at Glasgow, Scotland, from 1862 thru 1867. Not MNL listed in 1868. MNLs of 1865 thru 1867 all list Neil Mathieson, of Chemical Works, Runcorn, Cheshire, as the vessel's then owner. 141.0 ft. long, signal letters LGPR, crew lists (strangely thru 1869), are available via this page. What finally happened to Sir John Moore? LR of 1866/67 notes that the vessel had been 'Abandoned'. I learn that on Mar. 02, 1867, Sir John Moore, 'Robertson' again in command, left Cardiff, Wales, for Hong Kong with a cargo of coal. On Mar. 10, 1867, when in the North Atlantic Ocean about 450 miles NW of the NW tip of Spain (at 47N/13W), the vessel was in a sinking state. Amelie, a French ship under the command of 'Chassee' (or 'Chaser' or 'Chusco' as variously reported), came upon the crippled vessel, rescued her crew & landed them at St. Nazaire, France. The webmaster has not been able to read about the related circumstances. A couple of contemporary news reports - 1 & 2. Her loss per Wikipedia is noted here. Can you add anything additional? #2779 14   Yatch, later Eva Maria 91 later 78 tons 58099 1867 A schooner. Built by J. Rogerson in one list & by J. Rodgerson in another. Eva Maria was, per this page (scroll to #58099) first registered as Yacht (a strange name for a schooner), which name was then changed to Eva Maria. The name as registered was, in fact Yatch, even stranger. Such registration relates to the bizarre events that occurred when the vessel was almost complete. I understand that in May 1867, an agreement was reached whereby 'Rogerson' would build a 75 ft. vessel for Joseph Nicholls of Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire. The agreed price was £1,200 of which £900 was paid. A dispute arose as to the price, 'Rogerson' wanting more money for the vessel which was bigger (81.5 ft) than had been agreed. 'Rogerson' then registered the vessel, in his own name, as Yatch. Now I would have thought that the builder would own the vessel until it was formally delivered but not so it would seem. Anyway, on Nov. 15, 1867, under the cover of darkness, 'Nicholls' entered the shipyard with a crew of shipwrights to physically launch the vessel so he could complete it himself. Of course, next morning 'Rogerson' found his yard empty & the vessel moored in the river. A bunch of Rogerson's men then boarded the vessel & a fight ensued. Quite a violent fight, clearly, with men being thrown into the river. 'Rogerson' took the boat back to his yard & scuttled her. 'Nicholls' later returned, had the vessel pumped out & taken to either Sunderland South or North Dock (both are stated). The police were present through all of this but did not interfere. Later a magistrate determined that the vessel should not have been registered in Rogerson's name, that that was a misdemeanor, & committed 'Rogerson' for trial. I have not, alas, been able to find the conclusion of that later trial. A couple of the many newspaper reports - 1 & 2. The vessel is, so far as I can see, Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed, as Eva Maria, from 1867/68 thru 1881/82 & not thereafter. LRs of 1867/68 thru 1876/77 record Carr & Co. of Sunderland (of London from 1869/70) as the vessel's owner with J. Nicholls her captain. From 1876/77 thru 1881/82, J. Nicholls both owned & captained the vessel. The vessel's service thru 1873/74, per LR, is as a coaster, ex Sunderland, London, or Lynn, Norfolk. The webmaster has not tried to research the vessel's operational history. But he did skim through the many newspaper records thru 1880. And spotted the following. i) On Aug. 28, 1869, Eva Maria, 'Nicholls' in command, en route from Stockton to Southampton with a cargo of railway chairs, went aground at Redcar Rocks. Clearly damaged, she was towed off on the next tide & taken to Middlesborough with about a foot of water in her holds. And was expected to need to discharge her cargo. ii) On Dec. 21, 1871, 'Cole' noted to be in command, the vessel, en route from Leith, Scotland, with potatoes, struck on the Nore Sand, got off and anchored. While she suffered damage, she was towed to her destination, arriving with 2 1/2 ft. of water in her holds. The reference to 'Cole' may be in error. 'Nicholls' later filed a deposition re the matter. iii) On Oct. 08, 1872 (Nicholls) the vessel en route to Inverness with a cargo of manure, put into Shields for shelter. iv) On Dec. 12, 1874, Eva Maria (Nicholls) was assisted into Yarmouth with damage to her bulwarks etc. She had been aground on North Cockle Sand (near Winterton-on-Sea, N. of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk) while en route from London to Perth, Scotland, with a cargo of superphosphates. The newspaper references to the vessel are many, to a large number of European ports from Lisbon in the south to Antwerp in the north - particularly to a great number of French ports. A busy little vessel. The Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') lists Eva Maria as registered at London from 1869 thru 1894, not in 1895 but again in 1896. Owned from 1869 thru 1872 (1870) by Launcelot Stobart Carr of Newcastle. And from 1873 thru 1891 (1880 & 1890) owned by Joseph Nicholls of Wisbeach. MNLs of 1892 thru 1894 record William Carlile (not my typo), jun. of Wisbeach as being the vessel's managing owner. MNL of 1896 records the vessel, now a 78 ton ketch, as Hull registered with Henry Morrill, of Drypool, Hull, as her managing owner. 81.5 ft. long, many crew lists, thru 1896, are available via this page. What finally happened to Eva Maria? MNL notes that the register for the vessel was closed in 1896. I think that this page (scroll to #58099) states that the vessel was sold to foreigners - at a date that I cannot read. Can you tell us more? #2778 RODHAM & TODD J. J. RODHAM J. J. RODHAM & TODD The webmaster's knowledge about the collective 'Rodham' is non-existent. A list of Sunderland built ships, available to the webmaster, lists 24 vessels built by 'Rodham' during the years from 1837 thru 1845. 1   Atlas 252/254 tons 23560 1838 A snow or brig. Atlas, which was launched in Jul. 1838, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1855/56 & not thereafter. Per LR, the vessel was owned, thru 1851/52, by 'T&RBwn' of Sunderland, which owner name is clarified by the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/49 to mean, in Apl. 1848, T. & R. Brown of Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland. With 'Dunn' (T. Dunn from 1848/49), serving as the vessel's captain from 1844/45 thru 1851/52. The vessel's service while 'Brown' owned? Where LR noted. From Sunderland to i) 'Rchbct' (likely Richibucto, New Brunswick, Canada) thru 1844/45, ii) Odessa (Black Sea, Ukraine) in 1844/45 & 1845/46, iii) the Mediterranean in 1846/47 & 1847/48. And from Newcastle to Barcelona, Spain, in 1848/49 & 1849/50. Some operational history. A little difficult to spot but LR of 1843/44 noted that the vessel had been 'Lost' but then deleted the reference. Whatever could have caused such an unusual matter? I learn that in the early morning hours, between 2 & 3 a.m. on May 21, 1843, Atlas, carrying a cargo of coal from South Shields, was sailing up London's river Thames, frequently tacking as the wind was against them. Similarly proceeding upstream was Marion, coal laden & also from South Shields. As a result of a 'misunderstanding' the two vessels collided in Gravesend Reach, Gravesend, Kent. It is reported that Marion ran into Atlas with such tremendous force that Atlas's bulwarks were cut down to water level. Just enough time was available to permit the Atlas crew to lower their stern boat & escape, before Atlas pitched forward & sank stern first. This all happened in mid channel, presumably in deep water, and as a result. navigation of the river was partially obstructed. Efforts were made to raise Atlas but they were unsuccessful & it was, for a while, thought that it would prove necessary to blow the vessel up to remove her. Clearly they did later succeed in raising Atlas. These contemporary reports relate (1 & 2). Atlas & her cargo were, at the time, valued at £800. Surprisingly, Marion suffered only modest damage & soon proceeded upstream to the Pool of London. So far at least, the webmaster has not been able to identify which particular vessel named Marion it was, but it seems likely that it was Sunderland registered. Need help in identifying her. Service from Newcastle to Barcelona in the late 1840s is referenced above. It is clear that something must have happened to the vessel on one such voyage in early Dec. 1847. Cannot tell you specifically what happened & when. All the webmaster has seen is that Thomas Dunn, her then captain, filed a deposition re the matter as per this Lloyd's List report. In 1852/53, per LR, the vessel became owned by 'Eggleston' of Sunderland, for service, in 1852/53 & 1853/54 at least, from Sunderland to the Baltic. With R. Ayre the vessel's captain from 1852/53. The North of England Maritime Directory of 1854/55 records, in Mar. 1854, her then owners to be Robt. Ayre & Henry Eggleston, both of Sunderland, with Robt. Wishart the vessel's then captain. Such owner names are confirmed by Turnbull's Shipping Registers ('TR') of both 1855 &1856, the 1855 TR edition indicating that F. Roach was then the vessel's captain. What finally happened to Atlas? I note that the Mercantile Navy List listed the vessel in 1857, then registered at Sunderland. I note also that on Jan. 18, 1856, a vessel of the name, en route from London to Sunderland, with 'How' in command, ran aground on Newcombe Sand (located off Kessingland, near Lowestoft, Suffolk). The vessel was assisted off & taken into Lowestoft in a leaky condition. Was it later repaired? I do not know. Was it 'our' Atlas? I do not know but it may very well have been. Need help! Is there anything you can add to the above text? Or correct? #2560 2   Vest 227/211 became 214/227 later 191 or 192 tons 16707 1838 A snow, later a brigantine. Vest, which was launched on Feb. 26, 1838, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1838/39 thru 1877/78. Its initial owner, thru 1845/46 per LR, was Young & Co. of South Shields for service fom Sunderland to London with 'Shipley' serving as the vessel's captain. In 1845/46, per LR, the vessel became owned by H. Lawson & registered at London - thru 1854/55 per LR - with G. Moffat her captain thru 1849/50, 'Wilson' from 1850/51 thru 1852/53 & R. Davison from 1850/51 thru 1854/55. It seems likely that H. Lawson was a resident of Blyth. The vessel's service while 'Lawson' owned? A London collier in 1845/46, from London to the Baltic in 1850/51. Otherwise ex Blyth, mainly to London but also to the Baltic in 1851/52 & 1852/53. I read that on Feb. 05, 1849, the vessel, 'Moffat' in command, left Hartlepool for Blyth. Presumably to be repaired at Blyth. Because on Jan. 28, 1849, during a severe gale, Vest was one of a number of vessels that stranded near Seaton Carew, S. of Hartlepool. On Feb. 05, 1849, Vest got off with the rising tide, was towed into Hartlepool & 'laid upon the Hard'. As per these contemporary newspaper reports 1 (in red) & 2. H. Lawson must have passed away. The vessel, lying at London, was offered for private sale by his executors from Sep. 11, 1854 thru Oct 17, 1854. A sample sale notice. In 1855/56, per LR, the vessel became owned by Bowman & Co., of Blyth. with J. Tate her captain thru 1858/59 & W. Tate in 1859/60, for service from Blyth to Dover in 1855/56, & to the Baltic from 1856/57 thru 1858/59 at least. Turnbull's Shipping Register ('TR') of 1856 records the vessel as registered at Shields & owned by G. Bowman, J. Drummondson, C. Robson & Wil- J. Tate, all of Blyth or E. Bedlington (data hard to understand). Christie's Shipping Register of 1858 has the vessel, still Shields registered but now owned by George Bowman, Thos. Drummond, James Tate, all of Blyth, & Elizabeth Wilson & Catherine Robson of Bedlington. From 1860/61 thru 1868/69, per LR, Vest was owned by Tate & Co., of Blyth, with W. Tate continuing to serve as her captain. For service from Blyth to i) France in 1863/64 & 1864/65, & ii) otherwise to the Baltic. I note that the Mercantile Navy List ('MNL') records the vessel from 1857 thru 1875, always registered at Shields, & from 1865 thru 1868 owned by James Tate of Waterloo, Blyth. 83.5 ft. long, signal letters MCPS, per LR a brigantine from 1871/72, many crew lists are available via this page. In 1868/69, per LR, Lee & Co., of Blyth became the vessel's owner thru to 1875/76, with W. Norman her captain (just 'Norman' from 1868/69 thru 1871/72). I note that LRs of 1876/77 & 1877/78 provide no owner name. The above ownership data is not confirmed by MNLs. Which record, from 1869 thru 1875, John Cranston, also of Waterloo, Blyth, as the vessel's (likely managing) owner. It is clear, however, that 'Lee' & 'Cranston' were both shareholders in Vest during such period. TR of 1874 so records with Thomas Lee & John Cranston owning respectively 48 & 16 shares in the North Shields registered vessel. The webmaster is unable to tell you what finally happened to Vest. On Aug. 26, 1875, the vessel, 'Norman' in command, arrived at Blyth ex London. On Sep. 11, 1875 the vessel (no captain name reported) passed Skagen (northernmost Danish town, E. coast of Jutland, Denmark) heading south bound. Presumably headed to a port in the Baltic. So far the webmaster has not spotted any later references. Can you add anything additional? Your input would be most welcome. #2820 3   Argyra 282/309 tons 1839 A snow. Built, I have read, by J. & J. Rodham & J. Todd. Argyra, completed in Jan. 1839, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1839/40 thru 1850/51 with the exception of 1849/50. It was owned, thru 1843/44 by Tanner & Co. of Sunderland, for initial service from Sunderland to Odessa (Ukraine, Black Sea) in 1840/41 & for service from Liverpool to Cape of Good Hope ('CGH'), South Africa, from 1840/41 thru 1842/43. In 1843/44, J. Towse of London became the vessel's owner for service ex London thru 1847/48 & for service from Liverpool to CGH in 1848/49 & 1850/51. P. Rees was, per LR, Argyra's captain from part way thru 1846/47. On May 28, 1850, per line 199 on this U.K. Government page, the 309 ton snow was lost at Vista Reef, while en route from London to CGH with a general cargo. Crew of 12 - none lost. Then owned, by J. Beckwith Towse. However, a brief mention in Illustrated London News Vol. 17, (a Google book), more particularly the Oct. 26, 1850 issue, states as follows:- The ship Heber, Captain Derent, arrived from Marseilles, has brought a chronometer, a sextant, and a telescope, out of the ship Argyra, Captain P. Rees, wrecked off Buena Vista, on her voyage to Suez from the port of London. So where exactly was Argyra wrecked, i.e. where is Vista Reef or Buena Vista? There are many places of similar names but only one which might relate - a reef in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) named Bona Vista Reef. The Suez canal did not exist in 1850. Is that likely? The issue is now resolved. Per Lloyd's List ('LL') of Apl. 9, 1850, Argyra arrived at Gravesend, London, ex Mauritius with 6602 bags of sugar - & (LL of May 7, 1850), on May 6, 1850 the vessel sailed from Deal, Kent, for Suez. Last but not least, LL of Jul. 31, 1850 reports that the vessel was lost on Bona Vista Reef. So Argyra's voyage was not just to CGH as per the above U.K. Government report, but rather to Suez via CGH. Data re Heber? Heber was a 132/128 ton schooner, also built at Sunderland in 1839. In 1849/50, per LR, Heber was i) owned by Decent & Co. of Brixham, Devon, 2) W. Decent was her captain, & c) the vessel served as a Dartmouth coaster. But clearly Heber had traded into the Mediterranean. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2482 4   Aden 357/422, later 349 tons 15682 1841 A listing in progress. Built by J. J. Rodham & Todd. The vessel, which was launched in Nov. 1841, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1841/42 thru 1855/56, a 7 year LR silence, & again from 1863/64 thru 1869/70. It was always, thru 1855/56 per LR, owned by R. Brooks of London. With, again per LR, 'Waddle' serving as the vessel's captain thru 1850/51. Then 'Baker' for a portion of 1851/52 & J. Byron from 1851/52 thru 1855/56. For consistent service, per LR, from London, including to i) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, from 1841/42 thru 1844/45, ii) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, from 1845/46 thru 1847/48, iii) Launceston, Tasmania, from 1851/52 thru 1854/55. The LR listing of 1855/56 has limited detail, which suggests that the vessel may have then been in process of sale. Some limited, 'best efforts', operational history. Aden made 6 voyages to Australia under the command of Alexander Stewart Waddell (not Waddle). The first such voyage left London on Jun. 8, 1842, arrived at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on Sep. 30, 1842 with a general cargo & 69 pasengers, went on to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, then back to Melbourne, left Melbourne on Feb. 2, 1843 & arrived back in London on May 30, 1843 with a cargo mainly of wool. The 2nd voyage went to Launceston, Tasmania, on to Sydney & left Sydney for London on Mar. 28, 1844 via Rio, with a cargo of wool & mimosa bark. The next two voyages left London later - in Nov. of each year - bound for & returning from Tasmania. The 5th & 6th voyages left London in Nov. 1846 & Mar. 1848, both bound for Tasmania, went on to Sydney & left Sydney for Singapore. I noted quite a number of passenger testimonials to Captain Waddell thanking him for his courtesy & attention throughout the respective voyages. The 7th voyage was very different. It left London in May 15, 1849 for Adelaide, South Australia & then onwards to Sydney, under the command of William Samuel Baker, with a long list of passengers & emigrants - 156 maybe 172 total passengers. On a tiny ship on a voyage of 120 days. There was no testimonial letter for Captain Baker rather a furour over the vessel's overall treatment of the passengers, many detailed complaints most particularly with concerns about the quality of the food they were provided. Now feeding so many passengers on a voyage so long, must have been a daunting task in the absence of refrigeration. In a truly lengthy letter, 38 or 41 (two published articles) passengers 'blasted' Baker, 'Court' the first mate & Aden's crew for their overall treatment throughout the voyage. Do read the letters! One of the complainants later advised this his name was appended to the list without his approval, which presumably meant he disgreed with the criticism. But 8 more soon added their names to the complaints. I used the word 'blasted'. Why? The complaints are lengthy & detailed. They are very hard to read. They drew so much attention that they were discussed in the British House of Lords. Baker provided a rebuttal which I have not so far been able to find. Robert Brooks, Eden's owner, surely facing a damaged reputation & a loss of business, provided a rebuttal also. We must note that on the next voyage Baker was not her captain. John Byron had assumed that role. The texts at the following links are, I believe, worthy of your attention (1, 2, 3 (low on the page) & 4). The webmaster's available time in such research is not unlimited. He has not searched for data re later voyages to Australia under Byron & in the period of Australian ownership. Some day, perhaps.  I read (scroll to #15682) that on Jan. 17, 1855, as I interpret the handwriting, Aden was registered at Melbourne. Now we thank National Archives of Australia for making available three pages of Australian registration documents (1, 2 & 3) re the vessel. Which I believe indicate that the vessel was registered at Melbourne rather on Jun. 14, 1854 in the names, 50% or 32 shares each, of James Henty ('Henty') & George Harvey ('Harvey') - Harvey was then the vessel's captain. As the result of a deed of sale from Chas. Louis Van Guidecon (I think that is what it says), previously of Surrey, England, but then of Melbourne. On Dec. 5, 1854, Harvey sold his 32 shares to Henty who as a result became Aden's 100% owner. The final Australian change came on Sep. 11, 1856 when Henty sold all of the shares in the vessel to Alfred Hawley ('Hawley') of London - the vessel again becoming London registered. But was it a true sale? I would seem to have been rather a conditional sale since by the terms of the sale, Hawley was empowered to sell the ship in London for not less than £100 within a 12 month period. I presume that the vessel was sold. The Mercantile Navy Lists ('MNL') of 1857 thru 1863 record Aden as registered at London but provide no owner name. LR does not help for those years. This vessel is first site listed as a result of the webmaster finding, by chance, that the vessel was, from late Aug. to early Sep. 1859, offered for sale. By Cunard & Co. The vessel is noted, in such Lloyd's List advertisements, to have just come out of drydock to effect repairs. As per this image dating from Sep. 1, 1859. At this moment I cannot tell you if the vessel was sold as a result. But LRs from 1864/65 thru 1867/68 tell us that the vessel was now owned by T. Gibson, of Ramsay, Isle of Man, & registered at Ramsay. For service from Liverpool to the United States thru 1864/65 & then from Liverpool to Japan. With I. M. Dodds her captain thru 1864/65 & 'Burt' from 1865/66 thru 1867/68. In 1867/68, per LR, Aden became owned by T. Nyven of Liverpool with J. Evans serving as the vessel's captain. For service from Liverpool to North America. MNL of 1865 records Thomas C. Gibson of Ramsay as the then owner of the Ramsay registered vessel, while MNLs of 1866 thru 1868 list her owner (still Ramsay) as being William Clibborn of Liverpool. MNL of 1869 records (still Ramsay registered) T. B. Nyren of Liverpool.  In 1869 the vessel is noted to have been 'Lost at Sea' with a reference date of 7/8/1869, presumably meaning Aug. 7, 1869. 104.3 ft. long, signal letters LTHK, female figurehead. 349 tons from LR of 1863/64. No crew lists for the vessel seem to be available. LR of 1869/70 notes that the vessel had been 'Wrecked'. On Feb. 1, 1869, a vessel named Aden collided with an unnamed American ship at 38N/66W, about 1,100 miles off the U.S. coast, & was abandoned, while en route from Darien, Georgia, U.S.A., to Amsterdam. Her crew were apparently rescued by War Spite (likely means Warspite built at North Shields in 1860). As per this report. It would be good to learn additional detail.  Wikipedia tell us that at an unknown date in Sep. 1869, another vessel named Aden was wrecked near Maranhão (NE Brazil). She was on a voyage from Cardiff, Wales, to Maranhão. As per a report in the 'Liverpool Mercury' of Sep. 15, 1869. Was one or other of the above two wrecks of 'our' Aden? Can you add to and/or correct any of the above? Perhaps provide a copy of the Sep. 15, 1869 'Liverpool Mercury' article? #2424 5   Hirundo 333/356 tons 1845 Hirundo? A Latin word for a swallow. A genus of birds which includes swallows & martins. The vessel, a barque which was launched in Jun. 1845, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1845/46 thru 1855/56. Per LR of 1845/46 & a portion of 1846/47, the vessel was owned by 'Rodham' of Sunderland, i.e. by its builder, for service from Sunderland to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg, Russia) with W. Grey serving as the vessel's captain. A little 'best efforts' operational history. i) Grey or Gray. On Nov. 18, 1845 Hirundo was at Elsinore, Denmark, ex St. Petersburg, for London. In late Jan. 1846, the vessel was entered out for a voyage from London to Montreal, Canada. On Nov. 30, 1846 the vessel arrived at London, Gravesend, ex St. Petersburg. ii) Rose. On Feb. 17, 1848 Hirundo arrived at Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) ex Hull. In mid Aug. 1848 it arrived at Gravesend ex Kertch (Crimea, Ukraine, Black Sea). On Feb. 1, 1849 the vessel was again at Gravesend ex Leghorn (Livorno, Italy), iii) Banks. On Mar. 28, 1849 the vessel was cleared for a departure to Panama. On Mar. 31, 1850 the vessel arrived at Deal, Kent, ex Callao, Peru, likely ex Chincha (islands off the coast of Peru noted for their guano deposits). On Oct. 19, 1850 the vessel left Gravesend for Odessa (Black Sea, Ukraine), & arrived back at Deal on Jun. 15, 1851. iv) Marsh. On Jun. 29, 1852 Hirundo left Gravesend for Barbados. It would seem, see below, that the vessel left on its return journey with a different captain - H. Duffill. LR of 1846/47 records the vessel as London registered & owned by 'H. Barwck' - for service from London to the Mediterranean (thru 1847/48), ex London (from 1848/49 thru 1850/51), & from London to the West Indies (from 1851/52). LRs from 1849/50 seem to correct her owner's name to mean H. Barrick. I note, however, that this Whitby, Yorkshire, history page tells us that while Hirundo was registered at London, it was owned, from 1854, by H. Barrick & Co. of Whitby. The vessel's captains, per LR, while 'Barrick' owned? J. Rose from 1846/47 thru 1848/49, T. Banks from 1848/49 thru 1851/52 & 'Marsh' from 1851/52 thru 1855/56. Now the vessel was not issued an Official Number which indicates that the vessel did not exist on Jan. 1, 1855. I learn, per this Lloyd's List report, that on a date prior to Nov. 21, 1852, Hirundo, en route from Demerera (Guyana, N. coast of South America) to London, with H. Duffill noted to be in command, the vessel became leaky & sank when about 50 miles E. of the island of Tobago (one of the two islands that today comprise Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean). The crew were all saved. Wikipedia records (thanks!) that at an unknown date in Nov. 1852, the vessel was lost as above indicated. Can you add anything additional? #2555 T. ROWNTREE The webmaster's knowledge about 'Rowntree' is non-existent. A list of Sunderland built ships, available to the webmaster, lists 54 vessels built by Rowntree during the years from 1820 thru 1843. 1   Boreas 216 or 217 tons 1828 A snow or brig. The vessel is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1830 thru 1837/38. Per LR it was always owned by 'Ness' - R. Ness thru 1833, later Ness & Co. - of Newcastle likely thru 1834 then of S. Shields. With a number of captains - T. Walker thru 1831, R. Ness from 1831 thru 1832, 'Hinds' from 1832 thru 1833 & W. Wright in 1834 & later. For some varied service. From London to Hamburg, Germany, in 1830, from Hull to Newcastle in 1831, ex Plymouth in 1832, from London to Quebec, Canada, in 1833, from Newcastle to Holland in 1835/36, & from Shields to Holland in 1836/37 & 1837/38. LR of 1836/37 reports that the vessel had been 'Sunk'. What happened to Boreas? At about 11:30 p.m. on the night of May 22, 1837, en route from Guernsey, Channel Islands, to London with a cargo of granite, Boreas came into collision with Richmond (a 158 ton brig, built at Poole in 1824), when about 5 miles off Beachy Head, Sussex. Boreas sank as result of the collision - her crew were rescued by Richmond which put into Portsmouth for repairs & presumably landed them there. While there would seem to be doubt as to the actual events, the Admiralty Court, on Jan. 24, 1838, based upon the 'protest' statements of each vessel, determined that Richmond had not maintained a proper lookout & awarded damages to Boreas, or perhaps rather to Boreas' master & crew. Such damages were later established by the Court, on Jun. 16, 1838, at £2,151. As per these reports (1 & 2). Many WWW available law books cover the case. Is there anything you can add and/or correct? Y #2330 2   Messenger 201 or 202, later 196 tons 1834 A snow or brig. Messenger, which was launched in Mar. 1834, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1834 thru 1846/47 & not thereafter. It was owned, thru 1841/42 per LR, by R. Danson (R. Dauson from 1840/41), of Sunderland. For service from Sunderland to Hamburg, Germany, thru 1835/36 & from Cork, Ireland, to London in all the years from 1836/37 thru 1841/42. With R. Jackson always, per LR, serving as the vessel's master. LRs of 1842/43 thru 1844/45 record the 'Hartlepool General Shipping Company', of Hartlepool, as the vessel's owner for service from Hartlepool to Portsmouth, Hampshire. With 'Errington' per LR, serving as the vessel's captain. Later in 1844/45, LR records Carrol (or Carrell) & Co. of Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, as the vessel's new owner for service as a Stockton coaster. I refer to 'Carrell' above since the North of England Maritime Directory of 1848/9 records Messenger, now of 196 tons, to have been, in May 1848, registered at Stockton & owned by James Carrell of Stockton & Robert Swales of Whitby. With J. Harrison thru 1846/47 per LR, the vessel's captain. What finally happened to Messenger? Per these Lloyd's List reports from Harwich, Essex, on Jan. 2, 1849, Messenger, en route from Sunderland to London, was wrecked on the Gunfleet Sands (7 km. SE of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex), off the coast of Essex on Jan. 2, 1849. The vessel's crew were all saved. 'Livingston' was in command at the time of the loss - Jas. Livingston, maybe Jas. Livingstone. Wiki adds that the vessel's crew were eight in number. This page includes the vessel's loss with the captain's name spelled incorrectly. Is there anything you can add? Or correct? #2388 3   Brown 271/295 tons 1837 A snow or brig. Brown, which was launched in Jul. 1837, is Lloyd's Register ('LR') listed from 1838/39 thru 1853/54 with the exception of 1851/52. Its initial owner, thru 1845/46 per LR, was T. Brown of Sunderland, & then, thru 1850/51, by Brown & Co., also of Sunderland. With P. Dodd serving as the vessel's captain thru 1845/46 at least (no captain's name is LR referenced after that date). Her service when 'Brown' owned? Per LR i) from Sunderland to Archangel, Russia, in 1838/39, ii) from Penzance, Cornwall, to Newport, Wales, from 1839/40 thru 1845/46, iii) from Sunderland to Odessa (Black Sea, Ukraine) in 1846/47 & 1847/48 & iv) from Sunderland to London in 1848/49 & 1849/50. The 1848 North of England Maritime Directory tells us that in Apl. 1848 T. & R. Brown of Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, were the vessel's then owners. It appears to be unlikely that Brown served from Plymouth to Newport as above noted. I have only spotted a couple of references to the vessel being at Newport  - in 1838 & 1839. It arrived at Milford, Wales, on Dec. 14, 1837 from Archangel & on Aug. 2, 1838 sailed from Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey, for Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada, both with Dodd in command. The vessel is not referenced in LR of 1851/52. The LRs of 1852/53 & 1853/54, record Reed & Co., of Sunderland, as Brown's new owners, for service from Sunderland to the Baltic with G. Reed stated to have been her captain. On Sep. 17, 1852, the vessel was at Elsinore, Denmark, en route from Sunderland to Cronstadt (St. Petersburg) Russia. In late 1853, the vessel, Reed in command, was en route from Quebec, Canada, to Sunderland. It is reported that on Sep. 10, 1853, the vessel sprang a leak & lost her foremast. A few days later, on Sep. 16, 1853, the crew had to abandon the ship. The crew, except for two unfortunate boys, were saved by Stadacona, (built at Quebec in 1844) Willis in command, which landed them at Quebec on Oct. 19, 1853. Per this newspaper article (in red). I have now located a complete account of the disaster. On Sep. 10, 1853, Brown was at 49.45N/15W, roughly in the middle of the North Atlantic, when it became dead calm with torrential rains. Soon, after 4.30 p.m. that day, they were hit by 'a perfect hurricane'. At 1 a.m. next morning, the hurricane still violent, the vessel fell over broadside, taking away the deck load & two boys, one of whom was Captain Reed's very own son. With knives, the rigging was cut away & the mainmast parted from the deck & floated off taking away everything with it but the fore-mast & bowsprit. The vessel, now full of water, righted itself. For the next six days the hulk floated with wind & current & during such period the survivors had no food to eat - just a little rain water they had collected in a sail. Fortunately Stadacona, en route to Quebec, came upon the scene. Stadacona's mate, in the early hours of Sep. 15, 1853, in the middle of the vast ocean, unexpectedly heard the sound of voices above the sound of pelting rain & the violence of the winds. A vessel of some sort was seen in the darkness & Stadacona hove to. With the coming of daylight, after dense fog had cleared, they saw the wreck of Brown two miles distant & via a ship's pinnace were able to rescue the seven surviving & totally exhausted Brown crew members. I encourage you to read the full account of the disaster - here. Can you tell us more? And/or correct the above in any particular?  #2415 SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION LTD. Another yard where my data is most limited. I believe that the yard was established during WW2 at Southwick, on the site previously operated by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., which site was at the time quite vacant. The yard was supposed to open in the summer of 1942 but may well have opened rather later, at a date in 1943. It built very few ships it would seem. The company ran 2 yards from the limited data I have read, this yard on the Wear and the Low Walker site on the Tyne, previously the yard of Armstrong Whitworth. If you can help with the yard's history, I would welcome your additional data. Miramar lists? (highest hull number on page). It used to be that you could click on the links that follow & get to the relevant Miramar page. But no longer! The new procedure must be to go to Miramar (here) & log in (you must be registered to view any page). And once you are logged in, return to this page & the following two links should work for you:- 12, 11. (12) Names of just a few of the vessels constructed by Shipbuilding Corporation Ltd. - in a table in build date sequence. This list will be short even if we are able to record all of the vessels they built - just a dozen, I think. 1 Empire Cowdray 7072 tons Hull 4 180144 Granhill Baxtergate 1944 A cargo ship. Per 1 (Turnbull Scott history, 50% down), 2 (WW2 convoy duty, Empire Cowdray), 3 (WW2 experiences, Empire Cowdray, 75% down, BACK ON CARGO SHIPS), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.5 metres long overall, 129.5 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 447.8 ft., speed of 10 knots.  Built for the Ministry of War Transport & initially managed by 'Capper, Alexander & Company' & then by 'Goulandris Bros.' ('Goulandris'), both of London. Just 7 WW2 convoy references, in the period of Nov. 1944 thru Mar. 1945. Includes 3 N. Atlantic crossings. 3 refers to WW2 service thru to the Indian Ocean. The vessel was sold, on Jul. 29, 1948, to Goulandris, & renamed Granhill. A couple of court cases, it would seem. In 1950, the vessel ran aground in the River Weser (Bremen, Germany) & tugs Elsfleth & Rechtenfleth attended. Granhill was re-floated on the next flood tide 'without appreciable risk to tugs, services occupying about eight hours'. The tugs claimed remuneration. Have not read the outcome. In Dec. 1950, the vessel loaded timber at Lagos, Nigeria. Her boilers had been filled with river water at Sapele, as a result of which the port boiler failed (sludge). Again, a court case resulted, Goulandris v. 'B. Goldman and Sons, Ltd.' the owners of the cargo. Have not been able to read the circumstances nor the decision. Can anybody fill in the detail, on both cases? Granhill was sold, in 1951, for £350,000, to Turnbull, Scott & Company Limited, a tramp ship company, & renamed Baxtergate. In 1960, she was sold to 'British Iron and Steel Corporation' (BISCO), & allocated to Thomas W. Ward Limited, of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to be broken up. On Dec. 1, 1960, the vessel arrived at Barrow with 9,150 tons of iron ore, ex Bône, Algeria. Her last trip. Her cargo unloaded, she was moved 100 metres to the nearby 'Thos. Ward' ship breaking facilities where she was broken up. Can you add anything? 2 Empire Gladstone 7090 tons Hull 3 180134 1944 A cargo ship. Per 1 (fine data by Michael McFayden, images), 2, 3 & 4 (newspaper articles re wreck), 5 (WW2 convoy duty, Empire Gladstone), 6 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 137.2 metres long overall, 129.2 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 429.8 ft. long, speed of 10 1/2 knots, single screw. Built for the Ministry of War Transport, with 'J. Chambers and Company' the managers. 42 WW2 convoy references, with at least one N. Atlantic crossing. Mainly however saw service (10 voyages) to Seine Bay, France, re the Normandy landings I believe, in Jun/Sep. 1944, & later, in 1945, 8 trips to Antwerp, Belgium. Some WW2 detail at link 1 & at other sites. It would seem that the Ministry was the vessel's sole owner. The vessel was re-engined by 1949. 'McIlwraith McEacharn Ltd.', I believe, were later the managers. In or about Aug. 1949, the vessel was time chartered (ex a 'Google Books' law report),  by 'Blane Steamships Ltd.' ('Blane'), (a relationship perhaps with Adelaide Steamship Company Ltd. ('Adelaide'), of Adelaide, Australia? Have seen many references to Blane being, in fact, the vessel's manager & Adelaide being the charterer). On Sep. 1, 1950, with Captain John Lennie, OBE, in command, & a crew of 44, the vessel left Whyalla, South Australia, for Sydney & Newcastle, both New South Wales ('NSW'), with a cargo of iron ore destined for the BHP steelworks at Newcastle, but also with 159 Dodge Utility vehicles or bodies thereof, motor vehicle spare parts & tools. It would seem that the vehicle bodies were deck cargo? The vessel travelled close to the coast, & the lights of Merimbula, NSW, were mistakenly thought to be a lighthouse. Evasive action was taken when the error was realised, but as the vessel swung, the vessel's stern hit, at 7:55 p.m. on Sep. 5, 1950, a submerged reef at Haystack Rock, Ioala Point, about 8 km. SE of Merimbula. The value of the ship & cargo was estimated at £750,000. The vessel's propeller jammed on the rocks, the rudder was bent & she was hard aground. The engine would not turn over. The vessel was badly holed, its bottom ripped out from bow to bridge. It's back was soon broken, she was taking in water - 20 plus feet of water in the holds - & in danger of splitting apart. Over the succeeding days, all of the vehicles bodies were unloaded via 8 or more local trawlers - & landed at nearby Merimbula's single wharf. The vessel stayed in situ until a storm hit on Sep. 11, 1950. The vessel then sank & the remaining crew were landed. 10 of the crew had been landed at Merimbula on Sep. 7, 1950, & 14 on the 9th, having stayed aboard to help with the unloading. Wreck lies at 36.57.14S/149.56.79E. A most interesting anecdote at 4. One of the crew was named Sammy Harris, a fireman. This was, amazingly, his ninth time being shipwrecked! 'I've had it. I'm going to find myself a nice quiet job ashore. Even cats only have nine lives, and I've used up my quota.' Also aboard was a donkey-greaser named Ernest Wood, for whom this was his 5th shipwreck! I hope that they both had better luck playing the pools. The ship's anchor & its bell were both salvaged - the bell still serves aboard a boat named Nadgee. The wreck itself was sold to B. Buckland, a hotel keeper of Merimbula, for £1,250. A popular dive site today, hull largely intact, lying in about 10 metres of water, safest visited in calm weather. Can you add anything? The report of the Official Inquiry? Images? The available imagery might, shall we say, be improved. 3 Empire Mandalay 7086 (or 7083) tons Hull 5 180148 Tribesman Delta 1944 A cargo ship. Per 1 ('convoyweb.org', WW2 convoy duty, Empire Mandalay), 2 ['Harrison', Tribesman (2)], 3 (data & image, Tribesman, but you must be registered to access it), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 137.2 metres long overall, 129.2 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 429.8 ft long, 450.0 ft. long overall, speed of 11 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport & managed by R. Chapman & Son, of Newcastle. Just five WW2 convoy references, including one N. Atlantic crossing in Jan/Feb 1945, & U.K. coastal. I presume that there were many independent voyages during WW2, but that is data to which 'convoyweb.org' chooses to deny me access. The vessel was sold, on Nov. 26, 1946, for £141,703, to Charente Steam Ship Co. Ltd., ('Harrison Line') owned & managed by Thos. & Jas. Harrison, of Liverpool, & renamed Tribesman. Harrison Line, I read, had served Calcutta, India, for 87 years when, on Sep. 19, 1957, Tribesman left Calcutta for U.K. via Colombo, Sri Lanka, & was the last Harrison vessel to serve both ports. The vessel was sold again, on May 15, 1961, to 'Margalante Compagnia Naviera SA', of Panama, but registered at Beirut, Lebanon, & renamed Delta. Later in 1961, the vessel was sold to Sigma Shipping Company Ltd., of Hong Kong, & on Aug. 16, 1961 the vessel arrived at their Hong Kong ship breaking facilities to be broken up. Break up commenced on Sep. 9, 1961. Can you add anything? 4 Empire Tudor 7069 tons Hull 2 180139 Grandyke Benvannoch Medina Princess 1944 A cargo ship. Per 1 [Benvannoch (4)], 2 HMS Loch Lomond Aug. 1962), 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 430 ft. long, speed of 10 1/2 knots. Built for the Ministry of War Transport & initially managed by W. J. Tatem Ltd. & then by Goulandris Bros. of London. Just two ref. I could spot to convoy duties in WW2 in Aug. 1944 & May 1945. The vessel was sold in 1948 to Goulandris Bros. & renamed Grandyke. It was sold again, in 1949, to William Thomson & Co., of Edinburgh, Scotland, (Ben Line), & renamed Benvannoch. And sold in 1953 to Elswick Steam Shipping Co., also of Edinburgh. It was sold for the last time in 1956 to Helmville Ltd. (M. Alachouzos the manager?), of London, & renamed Medina Princess. On Aug. 8, 1962, the vessel ran aground of a reef at Djibouti but was refloated '& moored'. Per 2, HMS Loch Lomond, a Loch Class frigate, tried to assist 'to carry out salvage operation on ss MEDINA PRINCESS which was alongside with extensive flooding, possibly due to disaffection of crew. The attempt to control flooding was a total failure as no details of pipe system were held on board.' On Sep. 1, 1964, the vessel broke from its moorings, again at Djibouti, ran ashore & was a total loss. 'Reported abandoned' in 1968. Can you add anything? 5 Empire Prome 7086 tons Hull 6 180155 Martagon Mehmet Ipar 1945 A cargo ship. Per 1 (Kaye, Martagon, summary data), 2 ('convoyweb.org' WW2 convoy duty, Empire Prome), 3 (Lloyd's data, Empire Prome), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 430 ft. long, speed likely about 10 knots, cruiser stern. Built for the Ministry of War Transport, initially managed by W. Runciman & Co. Ltd., of Newcastle, & then by Kaye Son & Company Ltd., of London. Just two ref. to WW2 convoy duties - in May 1945 from Liverpool to New York City & in Aug. 1945 from Bombay, India, to Port Dickson & Port Swettenham (now Port Klang), both Malaysia. There presumably were independent voyages which records I am not permitted to access - but you surely can. On Nov. 26, 1946, the vessel was chartered to Walmar Steamship Company Ltd. ('Walmar'), a company owned & managed by Kaye. In Aug. 1946, the vessel carried 1567 parcels of relief supplies from Australia to Genoa, Italy, for forwarding to Geneva. The vessel was sold, on Jul. 25, 1947, to Walmar, & renamed Martagon. It would appear that in 1951, Martagon ripped her bottom out on a wreck, was beached, re-floated & taken to Flushing (Vlissingen, Netherlands, I presume) for repairs. Have not been able to read exactly where it happened nor the circumstances. Can you tell us - and also about the next item? On Nov. 15, 1957, while in the river Elbe, en route from Aalborg & Hamburg for Venezuela with a cargo that included cement, the vessel was in collision with Moselstein. Have not read the circumstances. Martagon was beached, & on the next day re-floated. It would seem to have made Hamburg under its own power for repairs. Moselstein had to be towed there for her repairs. Martagon was laid up at Blackwater River, Mersea, from Jan. 1958. In 1959, the vessel was sold to Ipar Transport Co. Ltd., of Istanbul, Turkey, & renamed Mehmet Ipar. The vessel was laid up at Istanbul, on Jun. 15, 1963, & never saw service again. In Sep. 1970, the vessel was sold to 'llhami Soher-Balat', & arrived at their Halic, Istanbul, ship breaking facilities to be broken up. Can you add anything? 6 Chef Mécanicien Durand 5048 tons Hull 10 181141 Rollon Aeakos laid down as Empire Stronsay launched as Louis E. Durand 1946 A cargo ship. Per 1 (French data & image, Chef Mécanicien Durand), 2 (Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, French Line, Chef Mécanicien Durand), 3 (re pirates), 4 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.9 metres long overall, 449 ft. & 431 ft. (perpendicular to perpendicular, I presume), speed of 12 knots. The vessel was laid down for the Ministry of War Transport as Empire Stronsay, was launched as Louis E. Durand for the French Government, but was delivered to the French Government as Chef Mécanicien Durand, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique the managers, & registered at Le Havre, France. Its maiden voyage was from Le Havre to New York on Dec. 31, 1946. It would seem that the vessel was found to be expensive to operate so she was sold, in 1949, to 'Cie. Maritime Normande', of Rouen, France, or Le Havre, managed by 'J. Chastellain et Compagnie', of Rouen, & renamed Rollon. And sold again, in 1963, to 'Marguardia Cia Naviera SA', of Piraeus, Greece, 'Aegis Shipping Co.' likely the managers, & renamed Aeakos. On Sep. 9, 1965, while en route from Zamboanga City, Mindanao, the Philippines, to Antwerp, Belgium, with a cargo of copra insured for $3 million, the vessel ran aground on a reef. At 5.07N/112.33E, in the South China Sea off South Luconia Shoals, about 90 miles off Sarawak. I have not WWW read the grounding circumstances. Rode Zee, a tug, came to her assistance. The vessel was badly damaged & efforts to re-float the vessel were not successful. The entire crew was taken aboard Rode Zee & landed at Singapore while the vessel was abandoned in international waters. A salvage vessel (its name?), left Singapore on Nov. 11, 1965, & made efforts to unload the cargo of copra, placing a 3-man security guard on board Aeakos. But on Dec. 6, 1965, (have also read Dec. 5, 1965), the vessel was boarded by 100 pirates in six boats. The guards fled to the salvage vessel & the pirates were left to their looting & pillaging (first time I have been able to use those words on site!) of the ship. It is possible that the pirates were later chased off the ship. Can you add anything? 7 Hesperides 7301 tons Hull 9 180929 Clan Murray launched as Empire Longstone 1946 A cargo ship. Per 1 [Houston Line, Hesperides (4)], 2 [Clan Line, Clan Murray (4)], 3 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 136.9 metres long overall, 129.8 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 431 ft., speed of 11 knots, signal letters GJSK. Launched as Empire Longstone for the Ministry of War Transport. But completed as Hesperides for British & South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., of London, Houston Line Ltd. ('Houston') the managers. The vessel was sold or transferred, in 1960, to Clan Line Ltd. (a company related to Houston) & renamed Clan Murray. On Nov. 25, 1962, the vessel arrived at the Hirao, Japan, ship breaking facilities of Matsukura KK, to be broken up. Can you add anything? 8 Lagosian 5107 (or 5046 or 5120) tons Hull 11 181095 Lagos Palm Oguta Palm Heraclitos Herodemos laid down as Empire Ronaldsay 1947 A cargo ship. The last vessel that the company built. Per 1 [Palm Line, Lagosian (2)], 2 & 3 (United Africa Co. Ltd./Palm Line/Unilever history), 4 (data & image, Heraclitos), 5 (Miramar, link, you now must be registered to access). 137.2 metres long overall, 125.5 metres perpendicular to perpendicular, 431 ft. long, speed of 10 1/2 knots. Laid down, in 1945, for the Ministry of War Transport as Empire Ronaldsay. But completed in 1947 for United Africa Co. Ltd., of London (a 100% subsidiary of 'Unilever', known as Palm Line, formed in Liverpool in 1929) ('United'), as Lagosian. Transferred in 1949 to Palm Line Ltd., of London, a United subsidiary company formed in 1949, & renamed Lagos Palm. But operated by United. Was renamed Oguta Palm in 1960 (to free up the prior name) - no ownership change. In 1964, the vessel was sold to 'Skaramanga Shipping Co.', of Piraeus, Greece, ('M. Scufalos', & then 'G. Eleftheriou' (in 1968), both of Greece, the managers), & renamed Heraclitos. Gross tonnage, per Miramar, changed to 7356. Can that be correct? The vessel was sold again, in 1969, to Helean Navigation Co. Ltd., of Famagusta, Cyprus, no change in manager, & renamed Herodemos. On Apl. 4, 1973, the vessel arrived at the Brodospas ship breaking facilities at Split, Yugoslavia, to be broken up. Can you add anything? TO END THE PAGE AN AMERICAN CRATE LABEL FEATURING CALIFORNIA APPLES I am having some difficulty in explaining exactly what the image that follows is all about. It would appear, however, that an exhibition was held in Sunderland, from April 18 to May 17, 1977, at the Sunderland Arts Centre, to promote a rather unusual subject - American crate labels of five decades & their interesting artwork. Included was a label which featured & promoted California apples. The original label, which would seem to date from the 1920s or 1930s is about 10 or 10 1/2 in. by 9 3/4 in. in size & was apparently overprinted in some way for the occasion. Such a label was offered for sale via eBay some years ago & two examples of it were available as this section was last amended in Mar. 2019. It is a truly a splendid label, is it not! May I suggest that you navigate the site via the index on page 001.PRIOR PAGE / NEXT PAGE To Thomas M. M. Hemy Data Page 41. All of the other Thomas Hemy pages, including image pages, are accessible though the index on Thomas Hemy page 05. [ ] £ é ö To the Special Pages Index. A SITE SEARCH FACILITY Search This Site for Get a Free Search Engine for Your Web Site THE GUEST BOOK - GO HERE E-MAIL THIS LINK Enter recipient's e-mail: