Maria Lamb

Official Number
60629

The Maria Lamb was launched in June 1868. She was a brig, built to special survey by Watson Mainhurst at Milford. She was of composite construction, felted and yellow-metalled to allow her to engage in deepwater trades. In 1873 she was bought by James Fisher, the Barrow shipowner, and her registry was transferred from Swansea to Barrow. In January 1879 the Barrow Times gave her master's name as Capt.Walker, and the schooner was at London loading for Port Natal. In 1889 the Maria Lamb was converted to schooner rig.

Still owned by Fishers, the Maria Lamb was stranded in a Force 8 SW gale on Taylor's Bank in the River Mersey on the 27th January 1894. She was travelling from Fowey to Runcorn and her cargo was china clay. Her crew of six, together with the ship's dog, were rescued by the New Brighton lifeboat Duke of Northumberland.
 
Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Maria Lamb
1868 
 200
110.0
23.0
11.6 
 2
 
 
14 years A1, Special Survey 

Sources :

  1. Research by Derek Blackhurst.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1868-9 (Supplement): Maria Lamb, brig, 200 tons, built at Milford by Watson, June 1868, iron frame planked, felted and yellow-metalled in 1868, owned by W.Thomas, registered at Swansea, no master named.
  3. Report of loss in "The Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol.5" by Richard and Bridget Larn.
  4. Loss also reported in the Times newspaper, Monday, 29th January, 1894, page 11.
  5. "The Story of the New Brighton Lifeboats" by Jeff Morris, Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society (1986).