The Brothers

Official Number 8625

The Brothers was a brig built at Maryport in 1786 by Henry Curry. In 1840 she was one of three brigs of this name registered at Whitehaven, and at that time was owned by William Sherwen (see Source 1). In 1865 she still had the same owner (see Source 3).

From the Cumberland Pacquet newspaper, Thursday, 12th April, 1888, page 5 :

" WRECK OF "THE BROTHERS" OF WHITEHAVEN - The old brig, "The Brothers", belonging to Whitehaven, has at last had to succumb to "the perils of the sea", having become an almost total wreck off Skerry Harbour which lies between Dublin and Drogheda. In the loss of "The Brothers", the ports along the Cumberland coast will miss a ship that has braved the storms of over a century. She was built at Maryport 102 years ago, and may be said to have been the oldest Whitehaven vessel afloat. After over 50 years' service she was reconstructed by the late Mr.William Sherwin, joiner and cabinetmaker. She was converted from a brig to a brigantine eight or nine years ago, and latterly was owned by Captain John Thwaites and other Whitehaven people. "The Brothers" sailed from Workington on the 16th January, laden with coals for Drogheda. She encountered bad weather and adverse winds, and after being driven considerably out of her course, she had to seek shelter at Milford, where she remained for four or five weeks, setting sail again on the 24th of last month. Four days afterwards, whilst lying at anchor in the Skerry Roads, a violent gale arose. The captain engaged a pilot boat to assist him to make for Skerry harbour, but the wind took away the sails, and as there was then no hope of reaching the port, the vessel was run on the beach to save the crew and cargo. The crew, numbering four hands, including the master (Captain Thwaites), remained on board about six hours after "The Brothers"  was stranded, walking ashore at ebb tide. Her bottom was knocked out, and when the tide came in she filled with water; so that the old craft became almost a total wreck. The cargo was saved. Captain Thwaites has arrived in Whitehaven. "

Sources :

1. A List Of The Cumberland Shipping, Corrected To February 1840, by William Sawyers, Comptroller Of Her Majesty's Customs At The Port Of Whitehaven
2. 1857 Mercantile Navy List gives port of registry as Whitehaven, official number, tonnage 124.
3. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865 - names master as Capt.Sanderson.