Category Archives: Sailing Trawlers

Sailing Trawlers

s.v. Ellen and Ann

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 20853
Completed: 1858
Gross Tonnage: 84.6
Length: 51.3 ft
Breadth: 16.2 ft
Depth: 7.5 ft
Rig: Smack – trawling

History

1858: Completed by Gibson & Butcher, Fleetwood for ??, ?? as ELLEN and ANN. Registered at Fleetwood.
1.1.1870: Owned by H. & C. Blundell, Southport.
1.1.1875: Owned by Henry Wroe, Row Lane, North Meols.
1876: Registered at Liverpool (14/1876).
1.1.1880: Owned by Thomas Evans (64/64), Laburnum Villa, Egerton Street, New Brighton.
1891: Liverpool registry closed.
6.4.1891: Registered at Douglas (DO225).
5.11.1891: Sold to John Eccles (64/64), 21 Bank Road, Hoylake for the sum of £1,000.
16.11.1891: John Eccles designated managing owner.
4.10.1893: Remeasured 34g 34n.
12.1894: Sailed Hoylake for fishing grounds off the Welsh coast (Sk. John Eccles); five crew total.
21.12.1894: At about 2.00pm. in freshening weather, sailed Bangor for home in company with smack BETSEY (1630)(LL73) (32tons/1796/1877 owner Robert A. Aldred, Hoylake). In evening as storm increased and in snow and sleet separated from BETSEY which was cast ashore off Hoylake.
22.12.1894: In the early hours, ELLEN and ANN with sails carried away was driven into the Ribble estuary and took the ground off Birkdale, quickly opening up; all five crew drowned. (The Southport No.2 lifeboat EDITH and ANN (Cox William Robinson) was launched to other vessels in distress but had to return when her mainmast broke.)
24 & 26.12.1894: All bodies recovered.
27.12.1894: Inquest held at Southport.
25.7.1895: Douglas registry closed.

Note: Mrs. Eccles lost her husband, two sons and all their lifetime savings and was left penniless with four children. An appeal for help for her and Mrs. Sherlock was made at the end of the inquest.

Note: On 22 Dec 1894 MAUD PICKUP (Cox Robert Wright) which was newly arrived that year was launched to the 3-masted Barrow schooner ANNIE PICKUP and all crew saved. 120mph recorded at Fleetwood night of 21/22 Dec.

Crew lost – John Eccles (51), 21 Bank Road, Hoylake; Joseph Sherlock (57) Mate, Becks Yard, School Lane, Hoylake; Joseph Rainford (18) seaman; Edwin Eccles (20) seaman; John Eccles (15) cook. (Joseph Rainford was the stepson of Joseph Sherlock and the younger Eccles were sons of the skipper).

Changelog
23/02/2011: Page published.
12/11/2014: Information updated.
21/11/2015: Added additional information

s.v. Ellen Ball

If you have any technical or historical information about this vessel, please contact webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info

Technical

Official Number: 45347

History

1865: Registered at Fleetwood as ELLEN BALL.
1.1.1870: Owned by Thomas Blackburn, Fleetwood.

Changelog
21/02/2011: Page published.
12/11/2104: Information updated.

s.v. Dotterel FD5

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 62951
Completed: 1885
Net Tonnage: 36
Length: 55 ft
Rig: Smack- trawling
Built: Robert Wright, Freckleton

History

28.1.1869: At 11.00 am, launched by Robert Wright, Freckleton for William (“Owd Billy”) Leadbetter and Thomas Leadbetter (his son), Fleetwood as Dotterel.
13.2.1869: Appropriated.
13.2.1869: Registered at Fleetwood (FD5).
1.1.1875: Owned by William Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
24.9.1879: Fishing off the Cumberland coast (Sk. William Leadbetter). At about 9.30am when some 9 miles off the Duddon Buoy, observed a body floating in the water. Hove to and launched boat, succeeded in recovering the body, identified as that of James Scott (33) washed off the smack SYREN (FD30) while trawling to the north of the Barrow Ironworks three weeks previously. The body was left in the boat and towed back to Fleetwood arriving at about 6.30pm.
25.9.1879: At the inquest held in the Crown Hotel, Fleetwood a verdict of “Accidentally drowned” was recorded. The jury expressed a strong opinion that the body, having been immersed in water for three weeks, should have been taken to the mortuary and not taken to the home of the deceased.
1881: Census at Fleetwood – William Leadbetter (37), b-North Meols, master fisherman; Robert Wilson (65), b-North Meols, mate; William Baxter (39), b-North Meols, fisherman; James Middleton, b-Stafford, fisherman; Richard Rimmer (14), b-Fleetwood, cook.
1885: Owned by Thomas Leadbetter (43/64) and Sk. William Leadbetter (21/64), Fleetwood.
7.10.1885: Sailed on the morning tide from Fleetwood for the fishing grounds (Sk. William Leadbetter). When about 3/4 mile beyond the Danger Patch Buoy and standing out on the starboard tack across the Lune, at about 11.50am, the cook, who was at the helm, observed a smack on the port tack bearing down on them. The cook left the tiller and rushed to call out the crew. When the mate arrived on deck the smack INDUSTRY was only a few yards away and shortly after struck the trawler on the port side by the fore rigging. One crew member scrambled aboard the INDUSTRY and the others took to the boat, the trawler foundering in about 28 – 30 fathoms in the centre of the Lune. Both smacks were being helmed by the cook, as was customary once they were clear of the Wyre Light and the crew were below eating.
1885: Fleetwood registry closed.

Note: Rule of the Road – When a vessel is on the starboard tack and approached by a vessel on the port tack, he stands on and the vessel on the port tack gives way.

Changelog

20/02/2011: Page published. 3 updates since then.
12/05/2022: Information updated.