Alfred & Emma

Official Number
27691

The schooner Alfred & Emma was built by Allen at Pembroke Dock in 1860. She was part of the fleet of Barrow's James Fisher from 1863 until 1871, when she was sold, her registry subsequently being transferred from Lancaster to Castletown, Isle of Man.

The Alfred & Emma was wrecked at Deerness (in the E mainland of Orkney) on the 17th November 1877. She was sailing from Scrabster to Fleetwood with a cargo of paving stones. The schooner had loaded the paving stones at Thurso, but broke her cable whilst anchored and hit the rocks below Dunnet Head Lighthouse. The master saved himself by swinging to the shore on a brace, and three of the crew took to the small boat and saved themselves. The schooner drifted away from land with the mate still aboard, and he managed to rig some sail and head before the wind, finally running aground at Dingieshowe, Deerness. The mate was rescued by four locals who rowed out to the schooner. Reportedly the schooner was refloated and towed to Kirkwall for repairs.

The Alfred & Emma continued what was to become a long career. Her registry was only closed in 1930.
 
Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Alfred & Emma
1860
73
 
 
 
2
 
 
A1, 8 years 

Sources :

  1. Research by Derek Blackhurst.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1861-2: Alfred & Emma, schooner, 73 tons, built by Allen at Pembroke in November 1860, owned by Allen & Co., registered at Milford, master Capt.D.James.
  3. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865: Alfred & Emma, schooner, classed A1 for 8 years, 73 tons, built 1861, owned by Jas.Fisher, ship agent, of Barrow, registered at Lancaster, master Capt.P.Roskell.
  4. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Alfred and Emma, 73 tons, official number 27691, registered at Lancaster, owned by James Fisher, of Barrow.
  5. Report of loss in "The Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol.4" by  Richard and Bridget Larn - states that she was still registered at Lancaster.
  6. "Shipwrecks of Orkney, Shetland and Pentland Firth" by David M.Ferguson - also reports the vessel as Lancaster registered.
  7. Closure of registery at the National Archives website (BT110/454/29).