Category Archives: Lost Vessels

Vessels that have been lost

s.v. Reliance FD210

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number:114302
Completed: 1903
Gross Tonnage: 40.41
Net Tonnage: 16.95
Length: 64.0 ft
Breadth: 18.1 ft
Depth: 8.21 ft
Engine: 1925: Converted to auxiliary motor (60hp semi diesel) Re-measured 9n

History

21.,10.1903: Launched by Miss Adela Liver, sister of Mr Arthur T. Liver a director of the builders at Liver & Wilding Ltd, Fleetwood for John Liver (64/64), ‘Brookfield’, Fairhaven, Lytham (64/64) on behalf of a private syndicate. She was christened RELIANCE using a bottle of water from the River Jordan which Mr John Liver had brought back from his travels. Berthed in Wyre Dock by the launch tug Wyre for fitting out .
1903: Completed at a cost of £1,200.
23.11.1903: Registered at Fleetwood (FD210). John David Gibson, 88 York Terrace, Fleetwood designated ship’s husband.
24.11.1903: Shares (16/64) sold to John David Gibson, Fleetwood.
24.11.1903: John David Gibson, Fleetwood, designated managing owner.
27.11.1903: Shares (8/64) sold to Walter Whittaker, Hill Top, Cheadle Hulme.
7.12.1903: Shares (8/64) each sold to Agnes Liver, Frank John Liver and Herbert James Liver all of ‘Brookfield’, Fairhaven, Lytham.
9.12.1903: Shares (8/64) sold to Arthur Thomas Liver, 158 Dock St, Fleetwood.
1904: Tonnage altered to 20.10 net per Surveyor’s Certificate dated Liverpool 28.5.1904.
11.3.1907: Arthur Thomas Liver designated managing owner.
1917(?) : Arthur T. Liver, 4 Clarendon Road, St. Annes-on-the-Sea designated managing owner.
1925: Sold to Mary Ellen Leadbetter, Fleetwood and others (joint owners 64/64).
1925: Converted to auxiliary motor (60hp semi diesel) Re-measured 9n.
1925: Sold to Thomas W. Dixon (64/64), Holm Lea, Earls Road, Whitehaven (managing owner).
24.11.1925: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Whitehaven (WA25).
3.1947: Sold to Mr & Mrs William Frank Davison for conversion to a yacht. Along side at Jubilee Quay fitting out for a voyage to either Canada of West Indies.
17.5.1949: Sailed from Jubilee Quay without notifying the harbour authorities of their intentions. They had only 300 galls of fuel onboard and a local skipper who had spoken to them thought they were undermanned for a voyage to Canada.
18.5.1949: An officer from Manchester registrar’s court arrived at Fleetwood with notice of judgement awarded on a £250 debt claim against the Davisons.
27.5.1949: A vessel believed to be the ketch RELIANCE reported anchored between The Brissons and Cape Cornwall. Sennen cove lifeboat (Cox John Roberts) attended to warn the crew that they were anchored in a dangerous position, but assistance was refused and the engine which had seized due to slow running was restarted. At 5.00pm they headed across Mounts Bay. Sighted by Coast Guards at several points along the coast, motoring at about 2 knots, steering erratically. Tried to make for a French port but driven back by strong winds towards Plymouth.
3.6.1949: During darkness and worsening weather, with engine having insufficient power to go against the tide and no sails, driven up Channel and caught in the Portland Race buffeted and swept by seas, went on the rocks at Cave Hole, Portland. Made paraffin flares to attract attention, put on lifejackets and got the raft ready to abandon if necessary. At about 2.00am, when the mainmast went over the side, took to the raft with the intention of paddling down the coast to suitable landfall. A rocket and lights seen from the top of the cliff and seeing what they thought was a lifeboat they tried to attract attention but were carried out a long way. For twelve hours they were in the raft which was swamped continually and in the afternoon nearing the shore, Mr Davison, who had already died, was swept away when the raft over turned. Mrs Davison managed to reach the shore and exhausted, fell asleep.
4.6.1949: On waking Mrs Davison with difficulty got up the cliff side and and was met by the Coastguards who thought there were no survivors.
6.6.1949: The body of Frank Davison (49) recovered among rocks.
14.6.1949: At the Coroner’s Court at Portland a verdict of death by misadventure was recorded on Mr Davison. Evidence showed that he died of heart failure due to exposure and exhaution but that there were no signs of drowning. Wreck investigated by Weymouth salvage team but no hope of getting the vessel off the rocks. Whitehaven registry closed. Total loss.

Click to enlarge image

sv Reliance FD210

sv Reliance FD210
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

sv Reliance FD210

sv Reliance FD210
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

sv Reliance FD210

sv Reliance FD210
Picture courtesy of The David Slinger Collection

s.v. Reliance FD210

s.v. Reliance FD210
Picture courtesy of David Slinger

mfv Reliance FD210

mfv Reliance FD210
Image courtesy of Christine Simm

Reliance FD210

mfv Reliance FD210
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
23/02/2009: Page published.
22/01/2015: Information updated.
21/01/2022: Information updated and picture added.
26/01/2022: Added an image.
10/06/2022: Added an image.
14/09/2023: New images added.

s.v. Prince Charlie FD151

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 68625
Completed: 1873
Net Tonnage: 24
Rig: Smack
Built: ?? Fleetwood

History

1873: Completed by ??. Fleetwood for Richard Leadbetter, Fleetwood as PRINCE CHARLIE.
1873: Registered at Fleetwood (FD157).
1874: Sold to Philip Turner, Fleetwood.
1876: Sold to Charles W. Pater, Fleetwood.
By 1.1.1880: Sold to Richard Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
1881: Census at Fleetwood – Henry Leadbetter (27), b-Fleetwood, skipper; Isaac Leadbetter (25), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; William Wright (25), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; Nathan Cowell (25), b-Fleetwood, fisherman.
18.11.1892: Returning to Fleetwood from a trip, five hands all told, in thick fog ran into Barrow registered iron steamer GALGORM CASTLE (181grt/1879) which had been at anchor near the Wyre Light. Crew taken off onto the steamer but line to smack cut and drifted off towards Morecambe Bay Light vessel and subsequently foundered 13 miles away.
12.1893: Fleetwood registry closed.
1894: Owners and others brought a case in the Admiralty Division of the High Court against the owners of the GALGORM CASTLE, claiming £750 for loss of the smack, fish and effects. It was stated that the master of the steamer, which suffered no damage in the collision, would give no assistance to tow the smack to Fleetwood and cut the line causing the smack to drift away and subsequently founder. The judge found in favour of the defendant with costs, attributing the collision to the improper speed of the Prince Charlie considering the weather conditions.

Changelog
23/02/2009: Page published. 2 updates since then.
27/11/2015: Information updated.

s.v. Petrel FD59

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
Official Number: 21483
Completed: 1866
Net Tonnage: 25
Rig: Cutter-trawling
Built: ??, Ringsend, Dublin

History

1866: Completed by ??, Ringsend, Dublin as PETREL.
1867: Registered at Galway, Co. Galway.
1.1.1870: Owned by Thomas Glover, Manchester.
By 1875: Registered at Fleetwood (FD59).
4.11.1875: At Whitehaven in company with AMETHYST (FD107), CONFIDENCE (FD121) and SPRAY (LR??). Attempted to leave harbour. Informed by Mr Dawson, collector of dues, that they could not leave until harbour dues paid. As they refused to pay the harbour tug was moored across the entrance to prevent them leaving. CONFIDENCE and PETREL skippers decided to pay, but AMETHYST and SPRAY continued their attempt to leave, one of the crew of SPRAY cut the tug’s head ropes and AMETHYST fell foul of the tug, smashing her boat. AMETHYST and SPRAY boarded by harbour master and mainsails confiscated.
6.11.1875: Skippers attended at the office of the solicitors to the Harbour Trustees and consented to pay all dues, damages and costs. Sails returned and allowed to sail.
20.9.1876: With very little wind, sailed Fleetwood about 12.30am for the fishing grounds (Sk. John Bond): crew Thomas Bond, James Rimmer and John Wright. At about 5.30am, when off Piel, the wind dropped away and likely to drift on to Piel Island. To prevent this the skipper and James Rimmer set about casting out the anchor. Just as it was going over the stock caught the skipper and carried him overboard. He did not rise and the crew thought he must have been injured severely. The anchor was immediately weighed but there was no trace of the skipper. On arrival at Fleetwood later in the morning, made known his loss to the owner and his relatives. He leaves a wife and one child.
1881: Census at Fleetwood – John Roskell (37), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; Joseph Wolf (37), b-Blackpool, fisherman; Thomas Gregg (42), b-Liverpool, fisherman; William Gregg (14), b-Liverpool, cook.
By 1.1883: Owned by Nicholas Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
24.10.1887: Sold to Nicholas Leadbetter, Fleetwood & others.
9.2.1888: Reported that with easterly winds prevailing the Fleetwood fleet had been fishing the Cumberland Coast and Duddon Channel, near Walney Island. Owing to the bottom being hard and rocky, lost all the fishing gear.
14.3.1888: A football match was held between the Fleetwood Grocers and Publicans to raise funds to be devoted to the aid of William Hudson who was injured onboard a while ago.
11.10.1889: Thomas Bond (17), son of John Bond who drowned in 1876, a fitters labourer and working on the L&Y Railway paddle steamer PRINCESS OF WALES (1023grt/1870), was found dead lying in the mud between the ship and the jetty. It is assumed that he fell off the gangway which was only a plank, suffered injuries when hitting the sponson, landing in the mud and shallow water and was unable to call for assistance.
22.10.1889: While at sea acting as a carrier and transferring from the smacks COMET (FD160) and PRINCE CHARLIE (FD157), the COMET ran foul of the PRINCE CHARLIE smashing her jigger boom.
22.10.1889: On afternoon tide, arrived Fleetwood with 270 baskets of various fish consisting of soles, ray, cod, gurnard, plaice, etc.. Prices soles 1s 6d per lb and plaice 2s 6d per score.
30.10.1889: At Fleetwood landed 50 baskets.
21/22.12.1894: A whole fleet of trawlers and cargoes were lost during the great storm over Europe. After a day of severe weather, in the early evening the NW wind strengthened and during the night in storm force conditions (100 – 120mph) driven ashore off Gynn, Blackpool. Skipper Richard Wright drowned. Other boats of the Fleetwood fleet lost that day. MAYFLOWER (FD8) foundered in the vicinity of Shell Wharf. Wreckage found at Norbreck. SURPRISE (FD15) foundered off Cumberland coast/ in Morecambe Bay. Crew lost.
1895: Fleetwood registry closed.

Changelog
23/02/2009: Page published.
09/01/2015: Information updated.
07/07/2017: Information updated.
09/10/2021: Information updated.
14/10/2021: Information updated.

s.v. May Flower FD8

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson & Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 15210
Completed: 1852
As built 35 tons burthen 29reg tons
Net Tonnage: 35 (29reg tons)
Rig:Sloop/ Smack – trawling
Built: William Gibbs, Galhampton

History

1852: Completed by William Gibbs, Galhampton as MAYFLOWER.
23.1.1852: Registered at Dartmouth.
19.6.1855: Appropriated.
1.1.1870: Owned by Thomas Whiteway (64/64), Brixham.
1.1.1875: Owned by Mrs Elizabeth Whiteway (64/64), 9 Rockingham Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool.
1876: Registered at Dartmouth (DH759).
1885: Sold to Frederick T. Saunby, 2 Wholesale Fish Market, Liverpool and J. Cottier.
1885: Dartmouth registry closed.
1885: Registered at Ramsey (2/1885) as MAYFLOWER (RY16).
2.1886: Remeasured 32reg tons.
1886: Re-registered at Ramsey (3/1886) as MAY FLOWER (RY16) after vessel remeasured.
11.1887: Sold to Charles Henry Saunby, Fleetwood.
17.11.1887: Ramsey registry closed.
1887: Registered at Fleetwood (FD8).
30.9.1892: In boisterous weather took part in Fleetwood Regatta on a 45 mile course, which was won by LIVONIA (FD65) (£25).
31.7.1893: Advertised for hire, by day or week; accommodation for eight persons; fishing gear found.
1894: Sold to William Peet, 2 Walkers Place, Whitehaven and others. Fleetwood registry closed.
1894: Registered at Whitehaven as MAY FLOWER (WA58).
21-22.12.1894: A whole fleet of trawlers and cargoes were lost during the great storm over Europe.
22.12.1894: Off the Cumberland coast (Sk. Thomasson, Fleetwood) driven ashore near Earl Crag, Seascale, south of the ELIZABETH (FD2) also driven ashore near Barnscaur. Both crews saved. Whitehaven registry closed

Changelog
22/02/2009: Page published.
11/12/2014: Crew information added.
28/12/2014: Added Thomas Whiteway as owner.
30/12/2015: Information updated.
07/07/2017: Information updated.
28/11/2022: Updated history.

s.v. Acceptor FD45

Additional material by Ian Wilson

Technical

Official Number: 29810
Completed: 1861
Gross Tonnage: 49
Net Tonnage: 49
Length: 71.2
Breadth: 18.1
Depth: 8.5 feet
Rig: Dandy
Built: Smith & Stephenson, Grimsby

History

11.1861: Completed by Smith & Stephenson, Grimsby for Robert Roberts, 12 Worsley Buildings, Grimsby (R. Turner, skipper). Registered at Grimsby (GY98).
3.1869: Re-registered at Grimsby (GY72).
1870: Rebuilt.
11.1883: Sold to Joseph E. Horne, 20 Stanley Street, New Clee (P. Carter, skipper).
3.1888: Sold to F. W. Moody, Grimsby (G. Beacher, skipper).
10.1988: Sold to Charles H. Saunby, 32 Victoria Street, Fleetwood (managing owner). Grimsby registry closed. Registered on the Shipping Register at Fleetwood (FD45). Employed as a trading ketch.
1.1.1892: Owned by John D. Gibson, Fleetwood (managing owner).
1894: Sold to Mrs Mary J. Conley, Belfast.
1.1.1895: Owned by Alexander Hull, 34 Nelson Street, Belfast (managing owner).
6.1899: Wrecked Bunbeg River, Co. Donegal (J. Bailie, Master) having loaded bog ore at Bunbeg for Port Dundas. Master and two crew rescued.
1899: Fleetwood registry closed.

Changelog
18/02/2009: Page published. 6 revisions since then.
20/10/2014: PLN added.