Betty Russell

Official Number
47796

The Betty Russell was a two-masted schooner, built by Robert Reay at the Rawlinson & Reay shipyard at Hindpool, Barrow. She was launched in  April 1864, and was the last vessel built by Robert Reay. She and her sister ship, the Harry Russell, were originally part of the Rawlinson fleet, but later came under the ownership of  Barrow shipowner James Fisher.

Like many Furness schooners the Betty Russell operated in the Spanish ore trade, and in April 1873 Lloyd's List recorded her arrival in Seville under the command of Capt.Lewis. The Barrow Times gave the same name for the master in November 1879.

The Betty Russell was berthed at Barrow at the time of the 1881 Census, and had four crew aboard, all Welsh. 

The Betty Russell was owned by Fisher from 1872 until 1911, when she was sold. Her name was subsequently changed to Moorside.
 
Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Betty Russell
1864
164
 
 
 
2 
 
 
A1, 7 years 

Sources :

  1. The Ashburner Schooners, ISBN 0-95-16792-0-1
  2. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865: Betty Russell, schooner, classed A1 for 7 years, 163 tons, built 1864, owned by J.Rawlinson, iron ore merchant, of Dalton, registered at Lancaster, master Capt.Robert Jervis.
  3. Mercantile Navy List 1875: Betty Russell, schooner, 148 tons, built at Barrow in 1864, official number 47796, signal letters VQDJ, registered at Lancaster, owned Joseph Fisher, of Barrow.
  4. 1881 Census details from Bob Sanders, Ships in Port 1881 website
  5. Mercantile Navy List 1919: Moorside (formerly Betty Russell), schooner, 132 tons, built at Brrow in 1864, official number 47796, signal letters VQDJ, registered at Rochester, owned by Cheviot Coasters Ltd., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.