Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 62958
Completed: 1869
Gross Tonnage: 34.46
Net Tonnage: 25
Rig: Cutter
Built: West Cowes, IoW

History

1869: Completed by ??, West Cowes, IoW for Thomas Seed, Fleetwood as BADGER. John G. Seed, manager.
8.12.1869: Registered at Fleetwood (FD55).
27.5.1870: While alongside at Fleetwood, fisherman, Thomas Tomlinson, along with the rest of the crew was cleaning the smack as directed. Tomlinson went aloft to scrape down the mast and while up there, stood on the gaff, he tore off one of his finger nails by catching it on a nail which protruded from a mast fitting. Feeling faint he called for one of the crew to relieve him and when he arrived he removed the “soul and body” lashing, took hold of one of the top mast stays to swing into the shrouds. He barely reached his mark and being unable to retain his hold, he rolled down the shrouds and fell between the quay and the smack. Tomlinson was speedily taken out of the water in an insensible state. Fortunately Dr Bowness of Poulton-le-Fylde was visiting the town and attending, rendered assistance.
1.1.1880: Owned by Robert Wright, Church Street, Fleetwood.
1.1.1883: Owned by Robert Westbury, Fleetwood.
15.10.1883: Sailed Fleetwood for fishing grounds with other smacks of the fleet. No sooner had they started to fish than the wind freshened with indications of an approaching storm. Hauling their nets they proceed for home, within a few hours there was a fairly strong gale of wind and rain, and a heavy sea. At about 8.00pm, within a short distance of the pierhead, the smack was run into by a pontoon in tow of the steam tug WARDLEYS (122grt.1882). The port side was stove in and the smack sank a few minutes afterwards, but not before the crew managed to get her alongside the pier.
16.10.1883: At low tide water was pumped out and made watertight. Came afloat and taken and moored opposite the salt warehouse. By the afternoon the storm had abated somewhat. Subsequently awarded compensation by the Railway Company believed to be £20.
9.11.1883: Mr Robert Westby offered for sale by public auction the hull of the BADGER, which was knocked down to Mr George Maskell for £146. Repairs placed in the hands of James Armour Ltd.
16.11.1883: While repairing, James Armour and a workman observed a small boat rowing towards them. They heard a splash under the far quarter of the smack, and saw a young fellow in the water. James Armour at once jumped in and getting hold of the young fellow succeeded in getting him to a boat where he was hauled in unconscious. The young fellow, Campbell, came round and later was able to go home unaided.
1885: Owned by William Hudson, Fleetwood.
24.12.1886: Sold to Mrs Margaret Hudson, 49 Warren Street, Fleetwood.
16.7.1888: Took part in the Morecambe Regatta, along with SPRAY (FD147) and ROYAL CONSORT (FD75). Finished third. There were five minutes between first and second and three minutes between second and third.
31.1.1890: At the Local Marine Board, held in the Sailors’ Home, Liverpool, James Bond was charged with drunkenness and misconduct while acting as the skipper of the fishing smack BADGER, of Fleetwood and Thomas Wignall for a similar offence, while employed as second hand on the same boat. Wignall failed to appear. (He had been served with the summons and money advanced for his rail fare to Whitehaven). It was stated that on various dates in November and December, viz from November 18th to 21st, 23rd to 25th, 27th to 28th and December 1st to 3rd the BADGER did not put to sea for the purpose of fishing when she ought to have gone, in consequence of the drunken state of Bond and Wignall, who had sold the fish they caught off Whitehaven. They neglected to account to the owners for the money so received, and spent it on drink. Mr Armour, who was agent for the owners, said that Bond was not the proper skipper of the smack – his father Lawrence Bond being the appointed skipper. Bond had taken the smack to sea from Fleetwood without his authority and if he had known he would have prevented him from going as he had discharged Bond from another boat in July for drunkenness. Armour had written and telegraphed Bond to bring the boat home from Whitehaven, also a letter was all sent by Lawrence Bond Snr asking James to stop drinking and bring the boat home. The Court heard further evidence from crew members Charles Sandham, cook and Lawrence Bond Jnr, fourth hand of the BADGER and from Robert Wright, cook of the Fleetwood smack MAY FLOWER, (FD8) also in Whitehaven. In mitigation James Bond endeavoured to make out that they had stopped in Whitehaven to mend their nets, but the Court considered charges proved, and suspended the certificates of Bond and Wignall for six months. The smack had returned to Fleetwood on December 10th.
27.2.1896: TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. FISHING SMACK “BADGER” OF FLEETWOOD. MESSRS JACKSON & MURRAY will SELL BY AUCTION, by order of the Mortgagee, on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 1896, as she now lies at the Sugar Tongue, Whitehaven, all that FISHING SMACK “BADGER,” of Fleetwood, together with all Sails, Ropes, Lamps, Fishing Gear, &c. The Smack has lately undergone extensive repairs, has been working out of the Port for the last four months, and is open for inspection up to the day of the sale. Gross tonnage 34.46, but has been altered to meet the Board of Trade requirements to come under 25 Tons Register. Sale at 1.30pm. Terms – Cash. Sold to James Armour & others. James Armour managing owner.
1897: Fleetwood registry closed.

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published.
18/08/2022: Significant history update.