RF Bell

Official Number
51085

The RF Bell was originally a brig of 340 tons burthen, built at the Hindpool shipyard of Rawlinson and Reay. She was launched in May, 1865 and entered the fleet of Samuel Jervis, for whom she sailed until 1872, when she was sold to another Barrow shipowner, James Fisher. In September 1882 she was re-registered as a schooner.

The RF Bell was lost in collision with the steamer Skreien, of Bergen, Capt.Christinsen, off Rattray Head on the evening of Saturday,18th July 1896. The RF Bell, described as a three-masted schooner, was bound from Stornaway to Newcastle in ballast, under the command of Capt.John Davies. In dense fog, when 5 or 6 miles off Rattray Head, she was struck by the steamer, which was bound from Fraserburgh to Libau with herrings. The steamer was seen just before the collision, so the crew below were called on deck. Though knocked off their feet, they were all uninjured and able to clamber onto the steamer. The steamer then reversed her engines and the schooner sank in 5 minutes. The steamer made course for Aberdeen, for repairs, and the crew of the RF Bell were landed there. They were Capt.John Davies, of Rhyl; William Jones, mate, of Nevin, North Wales; David Williams, A.B., of Cardiff; Robert Connell, A.B., of Dundee; and John Sadler, A.B., of London. The RF Bell had not been insured.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
RF Bell
1865
 187
97.9
24.0 
13.0 
2 
 
 
7 years A1

Sources :

  1. Launch reported in the Ulverston Advertiser, 1st June 1865.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1866-7: R.F.Bell, brig, yellow-metalled 1865, 187 tons, owned by J.Rawlinson, registered at Lancaster, master Capt.J.Parker.
  3. Mercantile Navy List 1867: R.F.Bell, official no.51085, 186 tons, registered at Lancaster, owned by Samuel Jervis, of Barrow.
  4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1871-2: R.F.Bell, brig, yellow-metalled 1869, 186 tons, built by Rawlinson at Barrow in May 1865, owned by J.Rawlinson, registered at Lancaster, master Capt.J.Parker, voyage Stockton - Mediterranean.
  5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1883-4: R.F.Bell, schooner, yellow-metalled 1874, 187 grt, 175 nrt, built by Rawlinson at Barrow in May 1865, official number 51085, signal letters HQFC, owned by J.Fisher & Sons, registered at Barrow, master Capt.J.Clement.
  6. Lengthy report of the collision in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Monday 20th July 1896.
  7. Wreck is included in the database of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland website - gives place of loss as 5 miles NNE of Rattray Head.