Dora

Official Number 17246

The Dora was a schooner built at Ulverston in 1834. From crew lists (see Source 1) her voyages and crew  in 1852 were listed as follows :

Voyages in 1852  (ports mentioned):
First half-year:  Barrow, Newport, Liverpool, Cardiff
Second half-year: Barrow, Oban, Lancaster, Chepstow, Newport, Liverpool, Glasgow

Crew during the year 1852:

James Stones, age 38, born Ulverston, ticket no. not stated, Master
John Bispham, age 27, born Ulverston, ticket no. 40760, Mate
Thomas Seward, age 23, born Ulverston, ticket no. 131932, Seaman

From Soulby's Ulv.Adv., 8th May 1862 :

SHIPWRECK.—We are sorry to have to announce the total wreck of the schooner Dora, the property of Captain J. H. Holmes of this town. It appears that she was bound from Cardiff to Liverpool with a cargo of coals and Captain Holmes being taken ill was left at Cardiff and the vessel given in charge of four men to sail her to Liverpool. On nearing Holyhead, on Thursday afternoon last, by some unaccounted for means, she drifted on the rocks at  "Skerry Platters" and became much damaged. The crew of the steam-tug Universe seeing her position, boarded her, and cut away her sails, two or three of which were got safely away, they then got the ship's papers and other articles out of the cabin, but in consequence of the tide making they were unable to get anything more away. Soon after the vessel floated off into deep water and sunk, and has now become a total wreck, crew saved. We are sorry to hear that she was not insured, as the loss will be severely felt by her owner, who had but recently purchased her and laid a considerable sum of money out in repairing her.

Sources :

1. Crew lists, Lancaster, 1852,  Public Record Office, Kew, ref. BT98/2981 - research by Philip Holmes
2. Lancaster Shipping Register 1837-55 at Lancashire Record Office, Preston.