Tag Archives: Hugh Ashcroft

s.v. Mary FD24

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 11787
Completed: 1798
Gross Tonnage: 26.3
Net Tonnage: 23
Built: ??, Maldon, Essex
Note: Also known as Mary Ashcroft

History

1798: Completed by ??, Maldon, Essex for ?? , ?? as MARY.
29.12.1856: Registered at Lowestoft..
By 1.1.1851: Owned by Hugh Ashcroft, Cop Lane, Fleetwood (managing owner).
1851-52: Landing regularly at Fleetwood.
By 1860: Registered at Fleetwood. Landing regularly at Fleetwood.
By 1870: Registered at Fleetwood (FD24).
5.8.1874: Fishing the ‘oyster beds’ some nine miles NNW of Morecambe Bay Lightship in company with other trawlers including CYGNET (FD110), EZRA (FD1) (Sk. Richard Wright) and MARTHA AND LIZZIE (FD??). Witnessed the MARTHA AND LIZZIE run down by the American ship IRONSIDES (1400grt/) (Capt. George Blackstone Ashton), Liverpool for Mobile, Alabama with general cargo (also said to be in ballast). Closed the ship and survivors, David Cowell, George Cowell and Edward Rimmer, transferred to CYGNET’s boat and taken onboard, but later put back onboard CYGNET for passage back to Fleetwood.
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.
8.4.1878: Alongside at Whitehaven. John Wilson, Upper Dock Street, Fleetwood, fisherman, going back onboard accidentally fell into the water off the pierhead and was drowned. His body was recovered at low water.
9.4.1878: At a coroner’s inquest a verdict of accidentally drowned was recorded.
10.4.1878: Arrived Fleetwood and body conveyed to his home. He left a wife and seven children.
1.1888: Owned by Richard Ashcroft, Fleetwood. Richard Ashcroft managing owner.
11.7.1888: Whilst fishing on the grounds near Morecambe Bay Lightship (Sk. Mills), at about 6.00am. observed the smack COUNTESS (WN115) (Sk. George Fog) on fire. Hauled and made for the punt which was standing off, took onboard Sk. Fogg and four crew. Recovered the mainmast and with that and the punt in tow set course for Fleetwood some 20 miles away. The CCOUNTESS, completely burnt out sank in the late forenoon. Arrived Fleetwood on the evening tide and landed the survivors.
9.5.1890: Reported that a beautiful illuminated address had been prepared at the behest of the Fleetwood smack crews and owners for presentation to the Rev. W. Morris MA, vicar of St. Olave’s, Ramsey, who had treated them so kindly and entertained them a few months ago when storm bound in the port and on other occasions when they sought refuge in the Isle of Man.
20.12.1900: At night entering Whitehaven harbour, struck the pier carrying away spars and damaging hull, &c. Full extent of damage not known.
30.6.1891: Arrived Glasson Dock for repairs and survey.
6.8.1891: Re measured as a 2nd class sailing trawler – 13n.
6.8.1891: Re registered at Fleetwood as a 2nd class fishing vessel (FD24).
1.1901: Sold to Charles William Pater, 31 Quay Street, Whitehaven. Charles William Pater managing owner.
29.1.1901: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Whitehaven (WA1).
Poss 4.8.1904: In a severe gale foundered off Whitehaven. Reported sold for about £20, salved and refitted for further service.
1915: Condemned. Whitehaven registry closed. Broken up.

Changelog
02/03/2011: Page published.
26/12/2014: Information updated.
01/12/2018: Information updated.
28/01/2023: Information updated.

s.v. Comet FD160

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 17226
Completed: 1882
Gross Tonnage: 28
Net Tonnage: 22
Length: 57.7 ft
Breadth: 14.4 ft
Depth: 7.1 ft
Rig: Yawl – Trawling
Built: ??, Fish House, Kircudbright

History

1843: Completed by ??, Fish House, Kirkcudbright as COMET.
1853: Owned by Mr Drummond, Fleetwood.
29.1.1853: Registered at Fleetwood O.N.17226.
1.1.1867: Owned by Hugh Ashcroft, Fleetwood.
1872: Owned by Thomas Smith, Fleetwood.
1872: Crew – Richard Rimmer (40), Master; John Collinson( 30), Mate; Jacob Collinson (16), AB; Thomas Rimmer (15), Boy.
1872: Registered at Fleetwood (FD160).
14.10.1872: Lying in the harbour at Fleetwood, discovered that someone had committed wilful damage to the smack, namely that six of the shroud lanyards had been cut. If the smack had sailed for the fishing grounds with this damage undiscovered it is probable that the mast would have been lost, endangering both the boat and her crew.
1.1.1880: Owned by James Billington, Preston.
1882: Sold to Richard Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
1882: Re-registered after lengthening at Fleetwood and converted to yawl rig at a cost of £600. Remeasured 28.36g 21.67n 57.7 x 14.4 x 7.1 feet.
28.7.1882: Reported that a Trawl Boat Race had taken place – Prizes 1st £15, 2nd £7, 3rd £5. Course. Down channel , round Sandside Buoy on the starboard hand, back round Danger Patch Buoy on the starboard hand, round Helpsforth Buoy, leaving it on the port hand, pass round the Flag Ship to SSW leaving it on the port hand, back round Kingscar Buoy on the port hand, to the Fairway Buoy, into the harbour and through the line. Distance about fifty miles. Entries – Spray (W. Hudson); WONDER (W. Leadbetter): GRATITUDE ( Peter Ball); HARRIET (Maskell); KING DAVID (John Moss); OYSTER GIRL (W. Poole); COMET (W. Leadbetter); PETREL (aka BIG PETREL) (Thomas Tomlinson). Towed out to the start at the Screw Pile Lighthouse by the paddle tug WYRE (165grt/1862). All completed the course with the exception of SPRAY which with a new suit of sails broke both her boom and gaff and returned to harbour. Results – GRATITUDE, BIG PETREL, OYSTER GIRL, etc.
16.9.1885: At the Whitehaven Regatta, came third behind GRATITUDE (F56), both owned by Richard Leadbetter. However, the first boat, SEAFLOWER, was not a registered fishing boat and the subject of an inquiry.
20.10.1888: Sold to John Wright, Fleetwood.
1891: Owned by Richard Leadbetter & others, Fleetwood.
22.10.1889: At sea with the PETREL (FD59) acting as a carrier. Closing PRINCE CHARLIE (FD157) to transfer fish, ran foul of the PRINCE CHARLIE smashing her jigger boom.
29.7.1890: At about 8.00 am, came into Fleetwood with the dead body of James Foster onboard. Foster had jumped overboard from the smack GEORGE & MARIA on 25 July 1890. The corpse was discovered in the trawl early in the morning when fishing some four miles NNW of the Morecambe Bay Lightship. The body was in a good state of preservation and in the pockets was a purse containing five pawn tickets, a knife, two clay pipes and a piece of tobacco. The body was conveyed to the mortuary.
30.7.1890: At Fleetwood Police Court the inquest into the death of James Foster was held. Having heard evidence from crew members of both the GEORGE & MARIA and the COMET and from Phoebe Foster, his wife, the Coroner said there was no doubt that it was a case of suicide and that the deceased was of unsound mind. The jury returned a verdict to that effect.
14.10.1892: In a gale, lost her rudder. Towed safely into Fleetwood in the evening.
21/22.12.1894: A whole fleet of trawlers and cargoes were lost during the great storm over Europe.
22.12.1894: Returned to Fleetwood with “trifling” damage.
1898: Along with BEAVER (DO1) and LEADER (FD165) arrived Jubilee Quay from fishing grounds severely iced up.
5.2.1901: Sold to William Leadbetter, The Emporium, Fleetwood & others.
20.10.1902: Disabled on the fishing grounds having lost her rudder. Picked up by the smack IRISH LILY (FD50) and delivered safely to Fleetwood.
18.7.1903: Sold to Francis McCallig Snr, Ballysaggart, Dunkineely, Co. Donegal. Francis McCallig Jnr skipper.
21.12.1908: Fleetwood registry closed.
12.1908: Registered at Sligo (SO1276).
1912: Francis McCallig Snr, managing owner.
1919: Sligo registry closed.

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published. 2 updates since then.
15/01/2023: Updated history.