Agnes

Official Number
27766

The Agnes was a two-masted schooner built by the Petty & Postlethwaite shipyard at Ulverston in 1859. She was owned by J.H.Barrow of Ulverston when she was lost on the early morning of Sunday, 13th August 1882. She had been carrying a cargo of gravel from Piel Island, Barrow, to Alexandra Dock, Liverpool. She was anchored between the Formby and Crosby Lightships in the Crosby Channel when she was run into by the steamer Vera Cruz at night. The Agnes was under the command of Capt.William Seward, who had his three sons aboard, and two seamen from Ulverston.

The Maryport Advertiser, 18th August 1882;

" A SCHOONER RUNDOWN - The schooner, Agnes, from Barrow, with gravel, while at anchor on Saturday night between Crosby and Formby Lightships, was run into by the Spanish steamer Vera Cruz, from Liverpool to Havannah, and sunk immediately. The master, his two sons and mate were drowned. "

John Seward, the elder son, aged 16, and a crewman, Foulkes, of similar age, were picked up by a river gig. Foulkes later swam to another anchored schooner, the Jane & Ellen, of Fleetwood, to warn them of the proximity of the steamer. The younger Seward brothers were aged 6 and 9 years.

Another Agnes was built by Petty & Postlethwaite at Ulverston in 1844, and was lost on Grasholm Island in 1852.

Name Year Built Gross Tons Length (feet) Breadth (feet) Depth (feet) Masts Figurehead Stern Lloyd's Classn.
Agnes 1859 80       2      

Sources :

  1. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Agnes, 80 tons, official number 27766, signal letters PSQB, registered at Lancaster, owned by John Bell, of Ulverston.
  2. Wreck info from "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles" Vol.5 by Richard & Bridget Larn, pub.Lloyd's Register (2000) ISBN 1 900839 61 X (citing BoT Wreck Returns) - gives incorrect master's name (Foulkes).
  3. Detailed report of the wreck in the Liverpool Mercury, Tuesday, 15th August 1882. Inquests reported by the same newspaper, 22nd August 1882.