Bessie Whineray

Official Number 54534

The Bessie Whineray (sometimes written as Bessy, or as Whinneray) was a brigantine built by John Wilson at Canal Foot, Ulverston. She was launched in October 1865, and was owned locally in the early years of her career.

According to Alan Lockett the Bessie Whineray was reputed to have been a very fast sailer, and in 1866 had claimed a record passage from the Clyde to St.Petersburg.

The Times, Monday, 24th February 1873, page 5;

" PERILS AT SEA.- Information has been received at Barrow-in-Furness of the arrival at Milford of the schooner Bessie Whineray, of Ulverston, which vessel had been given up for lost. She has encountered fearful weather, and is almost a total wreck. Off Lisbon, on the 20th ult., a fearful sea struck her, throwing her on her beam ends and shifting her cargo. On the 2d inst. she was struck several times by heavy seas, and in the end rendered unmanageable. The sufferings of the crew have been terrible, as the after-part of the vessel was completely swamped, and the forecastle was the only place where anything like shelter could be obtained."

The Bessie Whineray was sold to a Maryport owner sometime between 1876 and 1880, then was owned in Hartlepool when she was lost in 1899. The brigantine was sailing from London to West Hartlepool with a cargo of iron ore when she foundered 15 miles East of Spurn Head lightship on the 4th August 1899. The vessel was under the command of Capt.J.H.Cummins and 5 of the 8 crew were lost.

Sources :

1. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1866-7: Bessie Whineray, brigantine, 168 tons, built by Wilson at Ulverston in October 1865, owned by Bell & Co., registered at Lancaster, master Capt.W.Kitchen.
2. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Bessie Whineray, 168 tons, official number 54534, registered at Lancaster, owned by John Wilson, of Ulverston.
3. Mercantile Navy List 1868: Bessie Whineray, 168 tons, official number 54534, registered at Lancaster, owned by Edward J.Schollick, of Aldingham Hall, Lancashire.
4. "North Western Sail", Alan Lockett, ISBN 0-86157-002-2, page 41 (includes a photo of a painting of the ship, which shows her as a conventional two-masted brigantine).
5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1873-4: Bessie Whineray, brigantine, 168 tons, built by Wilson at Ulverston in October 1865, official number 54534, owned by Whineray, registered at Lancaster, master Capt.P.Hodgson.
6. Mercantile Navy List 1876: Bessie Whineray, brigantine, 153 tons, built at Ulverston in 1865, official number 54534, signal letters KMGN, registered at Lancaster, owned by Edward J.Schollick, of Aldingham Hall, Lancashire.
7. Mercantile Navy List 1880: Bessie Whineray, brigantine, 153 tons, built at Ulverston in 1865, official number 54534, signal letters KMGN, registered at Maryport, owned by John Melmore, of Maryport.
8. Mercantile Navy List 1896: Bessie Whineray, brigantine, 153 tons, built at Ulverston in 1865, official number 54534, signal letters KMGN, registered at Maryport, owned by Geo.P.English, of Victoria Terrace, West Hartlepool.
   
9. Wreck info from "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles" Vol.3 by Richard & Bridget Larn, pub.Lloyd's Register (1997) ISBN 1 900839 10 5.
   

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