|
Town of
Preston
|
Official
Number
1160 |
From the Preston Guardian, Saturday 26th September 1846:
“ PRESTON VESSEL FOR FOREIGN
TRADE - Tuesday last was the day appointed for the launch of the first
vessel of the Preston Foreign Shipping Company, by the builders,
Messrs.Nicholson & Simpson, of Glasson Dock. Very early in the
morning, part of the shareholders, in two conveyances, were on their
way to Glasson in great glee. About two miles from the dock, they first
got a view of the craft upon the stocks with her colours flying. They
reached Glasson about 9 o'clock in the morning, and having mounted her
deck to have a full view of her, they next surveyed her in every part.
They were kindly received by Mr.Simpson and Capt.John Wilson, who is
appointed to command her, and all expressed themselves satisfied with
the manner she is finished in. Twelve o'clock was appointed for the
launch, but long before that time there was a great number of persons
from Lancaster and the neighbourhood, and several from Preston, to see
her launched. About half-past eleven o'clock, the workmen began to make
ready, and at a quarter to twelve o'clock, when with a great number of
persons upon her deck, the word was given to strike the dagger, and
Mrs.Wilson, wife of Captain Wilson, being appointed to christen her,
named her the "Town of Preston".
The gallant ship went off the stocks into the water, upon which she
floated gallantly, and the spectators gave her a hearty cheer, cannons
firing at the same time. She was then brought into the dock for the
purpose of finishing her rigging. She will be ready for sailing in two
or three weeks, when she will make a voyage to Ireland for a cargo
which will be brought to Preston. At one o'clock, the bell belonging to
the shipyard was sounded for the friends and owners to go to dinner,
which was set out in the sail room of Messrs.Nicholson and Simpson.
About 50 sat down. After the cloth was removed, Mr.Nicholson was called
to the chair, and Mr.T.Carter, of Preston, was appointed vice. The
chairman gave the usual toasts, and especial honour was done to
"Success to the Town of Preston".
The Town of Preston was a schooner built in 1846 at Glasson
Dock,
Lancaster. In 1865 she was owned in Preston by her master,
Capt.H.Young.
The Fleetwood Maritime Museum has a ledger and the day book from the
same period from the Rawstrone's shipyard at Freckleton. The
first
vessel mentioned is the Town of Preston, schooner, account
settled
by Mr.Jackson and Co. on 10th Oct 1870. Work included
£132.14.6
on smithwork There were three other schooners mentioned,
the
Lilla, Spencer and Jane (see Source 4).
The registry of the Town of Preston was transferred from
Preston
to Wigtown in April 1870. In 1882 her registry at Wigtown was renewed,
the vessel's owner being named at that time as Anthony Findlay, Master
Mariner, of Port William. The schooner was stranded on the Jura side of
the Islay Sound in 1884 and remained there, the registration being
closed
in February 1887.
|
Name
|
Year Built
|
Gross Tons
|
Length (feet)
|
Breadth (feet)
|
Depth (feet)
|
Masts
|
Figurehead
|
Stern
|
Lloyd's Classn.
|
|
Town of Preston
|
1846
|
69
|
67.5
|
19.4
|
9.5
|
2
|
Billet
|
Square
|
|
Sources :
-
Mercantile Navy List 1857 - vessel registered at Preston, 69 tons,
signal
code HGTJ.
-
Clayton's Register of Shipping, 1865.
-
Dumfries
Shipping Register
-
Information from Nick Miller