Tag Archives: John Calder Fleetwood

s.v. Christina FD13

Additional information courtesy of Geoff Davidson & Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 27311
Completed: 1859
Gross tonnage: 37.76
Net tonnage: 21.88
Length: 56.6 ft
Breadth: 16.4 ft
Depth: 7.7 ft
Rig: Smack – trawling
Built: Robert Wright, Freckleton

History

1859: Launched by Robert Wright, Freckleton for Nicholas Leadbetter, Fleetwood as CHRISTINA.
12.2.1859: Appropriated.
12.2.1859: Registered at Fleetwood.
24.5.1862: Acting as a carrier landed for the fleet 99 baskets of soles, besides other fish, the produce of the labour from sixteen boats. Price achieved for the soles, 3d per pound.
25.5.1865: Sailing near the Danger Patch (Sk. Robert Wright), a young turtle was observed swimming about. The punt was launched and after a little time it was captured. On return to Fleetwood it was taken to the Crown Hotel, where it was weighed, recording 211/2lbs.
3.6.1866: At the Primitive Methodist Church, Fleetwood, Sk. Robert Wright presented a copy of the Holy Scriptures to Mr Edwin Howell on the occasion of his leaving Fleetwood. Sk. Wright had been deeply moved by the affection his young scholars of the bible class in the Sunday school showed for Mr Howell.
1.3.1869: Sold to John Calder & Robert Wright, Fleetwood. Registered at Fleetwood (FD13).
18.10.1870: Moored in the harbour at Fleetwood. The crew having gone to breakfast, two boys were playing in the area, observed smoke coming from the hold. Boarding the smack and on entering the hold saw a fire. They tried to put it out but it was too well alight, so they raised the alarm. This attracted the crew of the LOWNDS (FD??) moored nearby and they managed to put the fire out. There was little damage done but the origin of the fire is unknown.
29.5.1871: The Primitive Methodist Sunday school embarked on a trip to Barrow, there being too many passengers for the chartered steamer RENOWN, the smack was taken in tow carrying the excess. Returned to Fleetwood a little before 10.00pm.
2.6.1873: The Primitive Methodist Sunday school embarked on a trip to Barrow, there being too many passengers for the chartered Liverpool paddle steamer DANDY (126grt/1863), the smack was taken in tow carrying the scholars. Altogether about 600 people were conveyed across the Bay and returned to Fleetwood a little before 10.00pm.
1.1.1875: Owned by John Calder, Fleetwood.
24.3.1875: Fishing some 12-14 miles NNW of the Morecambe Bay Lightship (Sk. Richard Hudson. At about 2.30am. on hauling found a badly decomposed body in the net only held together by his clothing, which was those of a sailor dressed for watch onboard.
25.3.1875: Body landed at Fleetwood.
26.3.1875: At the inquest held at Fleetwood Police Station into the body brought ashore, it was noted that there was no means of identification and a verdict of “Found drowned “ was returned.
10.3.1880: One of three Fleetwood fishing boats were lying together. At about 4.15am., James Wright, son of the skipper Nicholas Wright, who was the cook, looked to go aboard the next boat the ELIZABETH ANN (FD130), but must have missed his footing in the darkness and fell between the two boats. When he was found to be missing a search of the other boats was made, but when he was not found, a trawl was made of the area where it might have fallen overboard, but without success.
1881: Census at Fleetwood – William Rimmer (35), b-Southport, master; Peter Wilson (35), b-Fleetwood, mate; Thomas Pater (20), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; Thomas Sumner (21), b-Fleetwood, fisherman; William Wright (19), b-Whitehaven, cook.
1882: Sold to Nicholas Leadbetter, Fleetwood.
28.3.1888: Sailed Ayr for Fleetwood to be home for Easter. Off Stranraer in a heavy blow it was necessary to take in a reef on the mainsail. While they were doing so a heavy squall hit them and Thomas Railton (30), Back Pharos Street, was knocked overboard by the breaking boom. Every effort was made to search for him but he was not seen again. Put back to Ayr for repair.
30.3.1888: Sailed Ayr for Fleetwood.
31.3.1888: Arrived Fleetwood.
30.10.1889: Acting as a carrier landed about 14 baskets of mixed fish, BETSEY AND SARAH (FD27) also in the carrier role, landed 16 baskets. Prices – soles 1s per lb, plaice 2s 9d per score.
2.12.1889: The Fleetwood fishing fleet sent in some good catches, acting as a carrier along with IDA (FD51) and ALICIA (FD60).
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 (Sk. John Meadows) with damage and skipper injured.
20.5.1895: Reported that while fishing in a moderate NW gale (Sk. John Meadows), struck by a squall carrying away the channel plates of the rigging port side causing the mast to break about twenty feet above deck. The trawl gear was cut away and the EZRA (FD1) (Sk. John Wright) who was close by, connected and towed back to Fleetwood.
2/3.9.1902: The majority of the Fleetwood fishing smacks, were at sea when the gale sprang up but managed to reach shelter without loss of life. Most had a very rough time of it resulting in sails torn or blown away, spars broken and otherwise damaged. During the afternoon reached port in company with ZEPHYR (FD134) with sails torn and blown away.
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 and after being buffeted about for several hours, fetched up on the hulking at Knott End in a relatively sheltered position.
26.2.1903: Refloated at high water and with minimal damage towed back into port.
21.11.1907: Laid up at Fleetwood ‘for want of skipper’.
6.1908: Sold to John Thomas Kee, 25 West Quay, Ramsey.
16.7.1908: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Ramsey, IoM (RY99).
1913: Ramsey registry closed.

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published.
30/12/2015: Information updated.
05/10/2022: Updated history.
16/09/2023: Updated history.

s.v. Alicia FD60

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 63930
Completed: 1870
Gross Tonnage: 27.92
Net tonnage: 19.56
Length: 58 ft
Breadth: 14.5 ft
Depth: 7.1 ft
Rig: Jigger Smack – Trawling

History

1870: Completed by Richard Smith?, Preston, for Richard Johnson, Fleetwood as ALICIA. 15.11.1970: Appropriated.
15.11.1970: Registered at Fleetwood.
1.1.1875: Owned by John Calder, Fleetwood.
12.10.1875: Body of Liverpool pilot, James B. Tudor, picked up off Blackpool and landed at Fleetwood.
27.7.1883: Arrived Fleetwood (Sk. Nicholas Wright) and reported having picked up a boot containing a man’s foot up to the ankle. The boot was identified by the maker and Mrs Nicholl, widow of the late Samuel Nicholl, skipper, as being that of her late husband who lost his life at sea when the smack, MARY ELLEN (FD21) was lost with all hands on 14 October 1881. While near the place where the boot was picked up, the gear came fast and the obstacle is supposed to be the sunken MARY ELLEN.
29.12.1884: Sold to Nicholas Leadbetter, Fleetwood & others (Lawrence Bond, skipper).
2.12.1889: The Fleetwood fishing fleet sent in some good catches, acting as a carrier along with IDA (FD51) and CHRISTINA (FD13).
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 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.
20.4.1905: Sold to Granville Buckley, 21 Horncliffe Rd, Blackpool.
1906: Brookes’ steam capstan fitted.
5.10.1906: On Sale. Sailing Trawler “ALICIA” 60ft length (Brookes’ Steam Capstan, nearly new); or would arrange liberally with competent, sober skipper. – W. H. Buckley, 21 Horncliff Road, Blackpool.
11.1906: When trawling in the vicinity of the Nelson Buoy (Sk. Joe Holmes), some six and a half miles from St. Anne’s pier, the trawl came fast on a heavy obstruction. The crew which included the owner, George (sic) Buckley, hauled in the net with great difficulty and found a heavy chain attached. Working for fully eighteen hours they recovered sixty fathoms of chain and a large anchor, all very much corroded. Returned to Fleetwood with fish and salvaged chain and anchor. There was much speculation as to the origin of the salvaged gear, but St. Anne’s men were strongly of the opinion that they belonged to the Morecambe Bay Lightship which was driven from her station by the turbulent seas and severe NW gale in the early morning of 23rd December 1894. Her progress, which would surely have fetched her up on the Ribble Banks, being arrested by the Fleetwood tug FYLDE (217grt/1881) when outside Salthouse Bank, which connected and proceeded northwards.
19.10.1908: Sold to William Eaves, 90 Ash St, Fleetwood (James Wright, skipper), later of 56 Addison Road, Fleetwood (Lawrence Bond, skipper).
18.2.1909: Moses Burgoyne (58), fisherman, at about 7.00pm standing on the Jubilee quayside, drunk and intent on returning to the smack to sleep it off. Seen by Robert Eaves, fisherman who tried to persuade him to move away and taken to the railway foot bridge. Sitting Burgoyne down on the steps he left him to sleep. When some ten yards away, Eaves heard a splash and returning found that Burgoyne had fallen between the smack and the quay. Climbing down the ladder Eaves held Burgoyne for about fifteen minutes before rescuers, hearing his cries, brought both men onto the smack. Burgoyne suffered a 3” cut on his forehead and after first aid by the police was conveyed to the Cottage Hospital unconscious.
21.3.1909: Burgoyne died in the Cottage Hospital having made no progress since his admission.
24.3.1909: At the inquest held at Fleetwood into the death of Moses Burgoyne, a verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded.
5.9.1911: Alongside Jubilee Quay. At about 12.50am a fire was discovered by Thomas McNaughton who at once raised the alarm. Both the Town and Wyre Dock Brigades attended and found that the bulkhead between the cabin and the hold and a quantity of loose material was well alight. Using the hydrants on the quay a good supply of water was obtained and after about an hour and a half’s combined efforts the fire was extinguished. The damage, which is estimated at £50, is covered by insurance, but the origin of the fire is unknown. Laid up.
13.12.1912: Pencil note from the Fleetwood Registry of Sea Fishing Boats (SS 13/1 3/774/2 Folio 35) “ boat to be dismantled and enquiry to be made in 3 months – 13.2.13 as to cancellation of registry. “
19.3.1913: Fleetwood registry closed “Vessel broken up at Fleetwood. Advice received from owner ”.

Changelog
05/01/2009: Page published.
20/10/2014: Information updated.
23/06/2022: Information updated.