William & Margaret

 Official Number
18981

The William & Margaret was a schooner built in the Isle of Man in 1846. She was owned initially by Richard Cuthbert, coal merchant, of Bray, Co.Dublin, and was named after his parents.

In November 1846 William & Margaret was fortunate to survive being stranded at the mouth of the Bray river. She was got off, and continued what was to become a long career, which seems largely to have been spent in the short sea trade between Bray and the coal ports of Cumberland and Scotland. The schooner was owned by Richard Cuthbert until 1901, and continued her career until at least 1922, possibly longer.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
William & Margaret
1846
87
76.8
20.0    
 9.4
2 
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. Information from Marcia Cuthbert.
  2. Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, Saturday, 21st November 1846: " There are two large vessels stranded at the mouth of the Bray river, both coal laden; one the William and Margaret, newly-built, belonging to Mr.Cuthbert, of Bray, coal merchant - the other, the Robert Seymour, property of Mr.Seymour, also of Bray. The William and Margaret having arrived safely in Kingstown from Whitehaven, sailed on Thursday morning from Kingstown and dropped down to Bray where she anchored to discharge her cargo. The other vessel arrived soon after. Both vessels dragged their anchors during the gale, and came into collision before on shore. They are both blown high and dry up the beach, and it is supposed that considerable difficulty will be had in getting them afloat."
  3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1866-7 (Supplement): William & Margaret, wood schooner, 87 grt, built in the Isle of Man in 1846, owner R.Cuthbert, registered at Bray, Whitehaven coaster.
  4. Mercantile Navy List 1867: William & Margaret, official no.18981, 87 tons, registered at Dublin, owned by Richard Cuthbert, of Bray, Co.Dublin.
  5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1874-5: William & Margaret, wood schooner, 87 grt, official no.18981, built in the Isle of Man in 1846, lengthened in 1866, owner R.Cuthbert, belonging to the port of Bray, master Capt.Pluck.
  6. Crew Lists for the William & Margaret are held at the Maritime History Archive, Memorial University of Newfoundland, up to the year 1922.