Category Archives: Sailing Trawlers

Sailing Trawlers

s.v. Ezra FD1

If you have further information about this vessel. please contact webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info
Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson

Technical

Official Number: 56697
Completed: 1866
Gross Tonnage: 35
Net Tonnage: 21
Length: 54.4 ft
Breadth: 16.2 ft
Depth: 8.3 ft
Rig: Smack – trawling
Built: John Gibson, Fleetwood

History

1866: Completed by John Gibson, Fleetwood (Yd.No.10) for ??, ?? as EZRA.
1869: Sold to Thomas Leadbetter, 19 Saint Peter’s Place, Fleetwood & others.
1.3.1869: Registered at Fleetwood (FD1).
1881: Census at Fleetwood – Richard Sumner (39), b-North Meols, master; Joshua Summerfield (50), b-Liverpool, mate; Thomas Sharp (21), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; Richard Wright (20), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; Thomas Wright (14), b-Fleetwood, boy.
20.5.1895: Reported that while returning home in a NW moderate gale (Sk. John Wright), observed smack CHRISTINA (FD13) (Sk. John Meadows), dismasted. Connected and delivered Fleetwood
6.4.1908: Sold to John Thomas Kee & John Brown Kee, 25 West Quay, Ramsey.
14.4.1908: Fleetwood registry closed.
4.1908: Registered at Ramsey.
1912: Sold to Albert Abecasis, Irish Town, Gibraltar. Ramsey registry closed. Registered at Gibraltar.
1914: Not in MNL.

Changelog
25/01/2009: Page published.
14/11/2014: Information updated.
30/12/2015: Information updated.

s.v. Excelsior FD97

Additional information courtesy of Gordon Wilson

Technical

Official Number: 68615
Completed: 1873
Gross tonnage: 36
Net tonnage: 25
Length: 57.3 ft
Breadth: 16.3 ft
Depth: 8.1 ft
Rig: Jigger smack – trawling & lining
Built: Peter Rawstrone, Freckleton

History

5.4.1972: Launched by Peter Rawstrone, Freckleton for Richard Roskell, Fleetwood as EXCELSIOR.
2.1873: Completed.
27.2.1873: Registered at Fleetwood O.N.68615.
20.3.1873: Registered at Fleetwood (FD97).
1892: Owned by R. Roskell, Fleetwood.
19.12.1900: Sold to Richard Ashcroft, 54 North Albert St, Fleetwood.
3.10.1921: Sold to Mark Leadbetter, 36 Belmont Road, Fleetwood (managing owner).
14.2.1927: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Ramsey. Registered owner Mark Leadbetter, 14 King Street, Ramsey, IoM & others. Mark Leadbetter managing owner.
1931: Ramsey registry closed.

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published.
14/11/2014: Information updated.
15/11/2019: Information updated.

s.v. Devonshire Lass FD37

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 87593
Completed: 1883
Net Tonnage: 44
Built: Thomas Mathews, Galmpton
Rig: Cutter – trawling

History

1883: Completed by Thomas Mathews, Galmpton for Alfred Wilton, Brixham as DEVONSHIRE LASS. Registered at Dartmouth (DH18).
1885: Sold to Thomas Blackmore Brusey, Dublin.
1888: Sold to Jas. Brusey, 9 York Street, Kingstown, Co. Dublin.
1897: Owned by Samuel Pullen, 15 Cambridge Street, Ringsend, Co. Dublin.
28.8.1900: Sold to James Wright, 25 Adelaide Street, Fleetwood. Dartmouth/Brixham registry closed.
5.9.1900: Registered at Fleetwood (FD37).
25.2.1903: During the night, the Fylde Coast experienced the worst weather since the storm of December 1894, in a SSE Force 9 severe gale, reaching storm force in the squalls, torn from her moorings at Jubilee Quay and after being after being buffeted about for several hours, carried out and on to Bernard’s Wharf. On the flood, driven further on to Pilling Sands and shortly before noon she foundered. Visited at low water, found to be partly buried in sand, seams open and feared to be a total wreck.
19.3.1903: Reported that the wreck of the fishing smack “Devonshire Lass” which went ashore on Pilling Sands a fortnight earlier, was sold by auction for 22s 6d.
7.10.1903: Fleetwood registry closed “ Sold as a wreck.”

Click to enlarge image

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published.
05/10/2022: Updated history.

s.v. Desdemona FD127

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
Official Number: 70166
Completed: 1874
Gross tonnage: 36.87
Net tonnage: 36.87
Length: 57.3 ft
Breadth: 16.3 ft
Depth: 8.2 ft
Built: Peter Rawstrone, Freckleton
Rig: Dandy – trawling & drifting

History

21.3.1874: Launched by Peter Rawstrone, Freckleton for Philip Turner, Fleetwood as DESDEMONA.
2.7.1874: Appropriated.
2.7.1874: Registered at Fleetwood (FD127). J. Randles manager.
10.7.1874: SMACK “DESDEMONA” The Owner will not be responsible for any ARTICLE supplied to the above-named smack, without an order can be produced signed by the owner, or his Agent. Mr W. M. ROULBORN, Kent Street, Fleetwood, dated 6th July 1874.
27.8.1875: FLEETWOOD. To Fish Dealers and Others. Fast Sailing Fishing Smack for Sale. MR A. HARRISON will SELL BY AUCTION, at the Crown Hotel, Fleetwood, on SATURDAY, September 4th, 1875, at Three o’clock in the Afternoon the FISHING SMACK “DESDEMONA.” Length, 57 feet and three-tenths; breadth 16 feet and three-tenths; depth of hold 8 feet and two-tenths. Built at Freckleton in 1874, and is one of the fastest sailing smacks belonging to the port of Fleetwood. This vessel is in excellent working condition, with all her gear, sails, ropes, anchor and chains, oyster dredges, trawl nets, beam sails, and punt, and is fitted up with everything for the fishing trade. For further particulars apply to the AUCTIONEER.
4.9.1875: Sold to David Moss, Fleetwood.
26.5.1880; Sailed Glasson Dock for Fleetwood (Sk. Evans).
2.7.1881: At about 1.00 pm, while on their moorings in the river a body was seen floating in the water about a hundred yards from the quay. Sk. William Moss took the punt, picked up the body, brought it to the shore and handed it over to the police.
4.7.1881: At the inquest on the body, which had been in the water some time and the features of which were quite unrecognisable, it was concluded that it was the body of a sailor. In one his pockets was found a black leather purse, in which was 1s 8d in money. A verdict of “Found Drowned “ was returned, some of the jurors expressing a wish that some arrangement should be made for internment of such bodies without the formality of an inquest.
28.7.1882: At Fleetwood, took part in race for Fishing Boats’ Punts (Sk. William Moss). Considered that there was too much sea outside, but the contest was very close.
10.1.1882: Entered Ramsey Harbour and reported that fishing some seven miles off Maughold Head, when hailing the trawl they recovered the body of a youth from fourteen to sixteen years of age. The body had been in the water some time and the face had been eaten away. The Coroner ordered the body not to be interred until yesterday, in order that investigation may be made as to whether the body is that of a youth lost from the Liverpool barque LEBU (726 regd tons/1868) at the lifeboat disaster in Douglas Bay on 20th October 1881. (Returning to Douglas with fourteen men and two women taken off the LEBU, the Douglas No.1 lifeboat Manchester and Salford Sunday Schools, when within 1 mile of the harbour, overtaken by a heavy sea, broached and capsized with the loss of four lifeboatmen, the master and six of the crew of the barque.).
12.1882 : Owned by John Moss, Fleetwood & others.
22.12.1882: Reported fears for the safety of the smack (Sk. John Moss), not seen since 12th December. Later reported seen on the fishing grounds.
16.10.1883: Following on from the storm of the previous day, towards nightfall another storm began to brew culminating in a WSW gale with heavy rain and wind. At high tide in a very confused sea in the channel, had trawl beam broken and damage to stern sustained by pitching against the PRINCE CHARLIE (FD157) while at their moorings.
4.11.1887: In a particularly fierce gale with recorded wind speeds of 70mph, lying alongside Jubilee, had mooring line part and dashed with great violence against the quay, smashing the stern. In swinging again, struck the stern of the Lancaster registered schooner BETTY RUSSELL (146grt/1868) and stove in the bulwarks. Ranging again alongside, the bulwarks and stanchions were damaged.
24.10.1887: Sold to David Moss, Fleetwood & others.
9.5.1902: Fleetwood registry closed.
8.5.1902: Registered at Liverpool (LL353).
10.11.1902: Sold to Jeffrey Wright (64/64), 73 Kemp Street, Fleetwood. Jeffrey Wright designated managing owner.
10.11.1902: Liverpool registry closed.
13.11.1902: Registered at Fleetwood (FD203).
19.3.1903: Sold to Alice Marquis (64/64), 63 New Road, Blackpool.
23.3.1903: John Rimmer, 30 North Street, Fleetwood designated manager.
12.6.1906: Sold to Richard Ashcroft (64/64), London Street, Fleetwood.
20.6.1906: Richard Ashcroft designated managing owner.
28.3.1908: Tonnage altered to 24.86net per Surveyor’s Certificate dated Liverpool 26.3.1903.
9.7.1909: Shares (32/64) sold to John Rimmer, 6 North Church Street, Fleetwood.
21.8.1918: John Rimmer shares (32/64) sold to Richard Ashcroft, Devon House, Blakiston Street East, Fleetwood.
9.9.1918: Shares (32/64) sold to Hezekiel B. Shepherd, ??
11.2.1920: Sold to John Shippen & Thomas William Dixon, Whitehaven.
17.2.1920: At Fleetwood, William Robert Atkinson (20) was charged with stealing a sextant from the smack. In July 1919, the smack was secured alongside in Fleetwood (Sk. Bedford). The accused locked out of his home, went onboard to sleep. On awakening in the cabin he saw a sextant and other articles and took them. Accused offered the sextant for sale to Capt Slavin, 87 Preston Street, Fleetwood. Being suspicious of the origin Capt Slavin asked the accused father if the lad owned the sextant and when this was confirmed he bought it for £5. Slavin then offered the sextant for sale and the origin came to light. Atkinson pleaded guilty and was fined £5, his father making reparation for the wrong.
26.1.1922: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Whitehaven (WA2).
1925: Whitehaven registry closed.

Click to enlarge image

Sailing Trawler Desdemona

Sailing Trawler Desdemona
Picture courtesy of rossallbeach.co.uk

sv Desdemona FD203

sv Desdemona FD203
Picture from the Internet

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published. 3 updates since then.
12/06/2016: Picture added.
21/12/2017: Removed FMHT watermark from image.
25/11/2018: Updated information.
25/08/2022: Significant update to history.
18/09/2023: Added an image.

s.v. Cygnet FD15

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 27312
Completed: 1859
Gross tonnage: 35.25
Net tonnage: 22.65
Length: 51.7 ft
Breadth: 16.1 ft
Depth: 7.8 ft
Built: Gibson & Butcher, Fleetwood
Smack – trawling

History

28.8.1859: Launched by Miss M. Noblet, daughter of one of the owners at Gibson & Butcher, Fleetwood for Messrs, William Sumner, James Noblet, Thomas Parkinson and Sk. Geoffrey Wright, all Fleetwood as CYGNET.
25.10.1859: Registered at Fleetwood (FD15).
15.2.1851(and subsequent weeks): ON SALE. ONE-FOURTH SHARE of the FISHING SMACK “CYGNET.” The CYGNET was built seventeen months since by Messrs, Gibson and Butcher of Fleetwood, and is now profitably engaged in the Fishing Trade. Apply to Mr William Sumner, Fleetwood.
7.11.1866: Alongside the Jubilee Pier. At a little past midnight, P.C. Campbell on duty in Dock Street heard cries, “Oh Captain, there’s a man overboard.” Campbell ran to the pier and saw a man in the water clinging to a wooden fender outside the smack. Although the smack was some feet below the pier and away from the side, he jumped onboard and tried to pull the man out of the water but he was too drunk to respond. On blowing his whistle, PC Whiteside responded and found, that with the help of a seaman from the Preston registered brigantine SAXON (153regd tons/1863), the man had been lifted out of the water. He was identified as William Baxter, a fisherman of Fleetwood and was fortunate that the wind kept the smack away from the pier, otherwise he could have been drowned or crushed to death.
5.8.1874: On the ‘oyster beds’ some nine miles NNW of Morecambe Bay Lightship in company with other trawlers including EZRA (FD1) (Sk. Richard Wright) , MARTHA and LIZZIE (FD??) (Sk. Robert Rimmer) and MARY (aka MARY ASHCROFT) (FD24), with the trawl down in a moderate SW breeze under main and jib running across the tide. At about 6.00pm. saw a ship under full sail on the port tack coming towards them. An hour later trawling on the port tack, saw the same ship again bearing down on them now on the starboard tack. Observed the MARTHA and LIZZIE run down and foundered under the ship’s bow. Launched the punt manned by Jeb Rimmer, Dick Wright and Jack Wright and pulled over to search for survivors. The ship, payed off on the port tack and when in a position close to where the collision had occurred, spoke to the boat informing them that they had onboard three survivors, David Cowell, George Cowell and Edward Rimmer, but two men, Robert Rimmer and David Cowell were missing after last seen in the water. After wearing ship again transferred the three men to the boat and after a fruitless search in the area placed them onboard the MARY ASHCROFT. Later it was decided to take the three men back to Fleetwood onboard the CYGNET.
6.8.1874: Arrived Fleetwood and landed the survivors. The ship proved to be the American ship IRONSIDES (1400grt/) (Capt. George Blackstone Ashton), Liverpool for Mobile, Alabama with general cargo (also said to be in ballast).
1.1.1875: Owned by Thomas Parkinson, Fleetwood & others.
16.8.1879: A boat race which created much interest amongst the Fleetwood fishermen was that for smack punts over a course in the River Wyre. The prizes competed for were offered by Mr J. Johnson, auctioneer, of Preston. The first was an eight-day clock, valued at 20s, the second 10s and the third 5s, with a metal tea pot for the last boat. Fifteen boats started the race, the course being from the ferry slip, round the lighthouse and back again. The MARY ASHCROFT boat took the lead at the half distance but at the Knott Buoy she was overtaken by the CYGNET and afterwards the MARIA. The return journey was slow there being very little wind and an ebb tide. Results were CYGNET having taken three hours and 20 minutes followed by the MARIA and MARY ASHCROFT. The last boat home was the EZRA.
1.1.1880: Owned by Jeffrey Wright, Fleetwood & others.
1881: Census at Fleetwood – Richard Wright (38), b-Southport, master; Robert Wright (19), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; William Archer (34), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; James Pater (45) b-Liverpool, fisherman; James Pater (13), b-Fleetwood, cook.
13.10.1881: The storms in this month were particularly severe, reaching hurricane force at times. In general the Fleetwood fishing fleet fared better than many others, however no word of the smack was received in Fleetwood and she was reported missing.
18.10.1881: Arrived Greenore, Co. Louth to land a catch of fish. She had sheltered in Douglas until Sunday evening 16th. All well.
28.7.1882: At Fleetwood, took part in race for Fishing Boats’ Punts (Sk. John Wright). Considered that there was too much sea outside, but the contest was very close. Finished third (10s 16d).
4.11.1887: In a particularly fierce gale with recorded wind speeds of 70mph, lying alongside Jubilee, had topmast break away.
4.10.1888: On coming into Fleetwood when crossing the bar in collision with the smack CORSAIR (AR29). Bowsprit carried away and at one time both in danger of grounding.
27.11.1889: Sold to William Moss, Fleetwood.
31.12.1900: Sold to William Moss & John Wignall, Fleetwood. William Moss managing owner.
31.1.1891/1.2.1891: Very few of the trawlers that returned home came back without some loss or damage. With very bad weather in the Irish Channel the fleet had attempted to to reach the Irish coast but the weather on 26th January was so severe that they remained at anchor until the following day. Only a few boats made the Irish Coast and many put into Peel and Ramsey for shelter. In the midst of the heavy gale which lasted for six hours the Fleetwood boats that were still at sea suffered damage. Returned with trawl beam broken.
2.2.1891: Nearly all the boats alongside were undergoing repairs, some had landed fair catches which made around £12 gross.
4.5.1892: Coxswain Wright, along with Mr S. Scott (Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, etc), Mr B. Furse (Board of Trade) and Mr J. R. Gibson, held an examination for skippers and second hands. Mr John Johnson, fisherman of the CYGNET passed satisfactorily as second hand.
8.3.1904: Sold to William Moss, 41 Pharos Street, Fleetwood.
19.12.1904: Fleetwood registry closed. “ Vessel dismasted & will no longer used as a fishing boat.”

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published. 2 updates since then.
21/10/2022: Significant update to history.