Airey

Official Number
none

The Airey was a ship built at Maryport by John Peat, launched in December 1837. Reputedly she was the first vessel to be launched into the River Ellen broadside, a technique regularly used at Maryport in subsequent years. She started her career as an East Indiaman, then moved into the guano trade to South America.

In 1847 the Airey, Captain Walker, arrived at Callao from Panama, and then departed on the 24th September for the Chinchas (guano-rich islands in the Pacific, now part of Ecuador). Presumably she loaded a cargo of guano and headed back to Liverpool, rounding Cape Horn. She was almost in the Western Approaches when she must have been damaged by bad weather, for she was abandoned on the 4th March, her crew being taken off by the Hesperus.

The Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, Tuesday, 14th March 1848, page 3;

" The Airey, Walker, from Callao for Liverpool, was fallen in with on the 4th instant, in lat.48 deg., long.12 deg., in a sinking state, with only the lower main and mizenmasts standing - crew taken off the wreck and landed at Liverpool 9th inst. "

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Airey
1837
 304
 
 
 
3 
 
 
 10 year A1

Sources :

  1. Information from Maryport Maritime Museum.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1839-40: Airey, barque, coppered 1837, owned and commanded by Nicholson, registered at Liverpool, voyage Maryport - Liverpool.
  3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1843-44: Airey, barque, 304 tons, yellow-metalled 1841, owned and commanded by Nicholson, registered at Liverpool, voyage Liverpool - Calcutta.
  4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1846-47: yellow-metalled 1847, owned Nicholson, registered at Liverpool, masters Nicholson and Wood, voyage London - Valparaiso.
  5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1847-48: owned Nicholson, master Capt.Wood, registered at Liverpool, no voyage given.
  6. Newspaper reports from the Liverpool Mercury, Friday, 10th December, 1847; the Morning Chronicle, Friday, 10th March, 1848;