Clara Brown

Official Number
28004

The Clara Brown was a 70 ton schooner, built in 1860, possibly by Richard Brown, shipbuilder, of Northwich, Cheshire, who was named as her owner in 1865. At that time the schooner was registered at Lancaster, and her master was Capt.J.Poole.

In January 1870 the Barrow Times carried a report that a seaman had made a claim in court for loss of wages. He had been engaged as mate of the Clara Brown at a wage of £3 10s per month in November 1869. The managing owner of the vessel was named as W.K.Charnley and the master as Capt. Postlethwaite.

The Clara Brown was lost with all hands on Tuesday, 5th July 1870. She was under the command of Capt.Richard Latham, making his first voyage in her as master. She departed Saltney on the Tuesday morning, bound for Barrow and in company with the Flower of May and the Lady of the Lune. When between the Formby Light and Southport, the Clara Brown, for some unknown reason, capsized in a moderate sea, sinking by her stern in seven fathoms of water. Though the Flower of May was only thirty yards ahead, she missed stays whilst trying to tack, and by the time she had worn around Capt.Latham, his father (both of Preston) and Thomas Iddon, seaman, of Tarleton, had all drowned. According to the Lancaster Gazette, the Clara Brown was owned by James Fisher, of Barrow.
 
Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Clara Brown
1860
70
 
 
 
 2
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. Clayton's Register of Shipping, 1865: Clara Brown, schooner, 70 tons, built 1860, owned by Rd.Brown, shipbuilder, of Northwich, Cheshire, commanded by Capt.J.Poole, registered at Lancaster.
  2. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Clara Brown, 70 tons, off.no.28004, signal letters PTNV, registered at Lancaster, registered owner W.K.Charnley of Ulverstone, Lancaster.
  3. Court case reported in the Barrow Times, 29th January 1870.
  4. Loss reported in the Lancaster Gazette, Saturday, 9th July 1870, page 8. The Barrow Times, of the same date, also reported the wreck, but named Thomas Iddon, of Tarleton, as the master.