Congress

Official Number 12678

The Congress was a brig built by John Peat at Maryport in 1818. Originally 299 tons, she was later altered by adding an extra midship section, her tonnage being increased to 396 tons. Still a brig, she was reputedly the largest brig listed in Lloyds Register of Shipping at the time.

Like many other Maryport brigs the Congress was employed in the transatlantic timber trade from Quebec. In 1841, on a voyage from Fleetwood to Quebec, the Congress was only 200 miles from Nova Scotia when a heavy sea shifted her ballast, causing her crew to cut away the mainmast to right the vessel, and then run before a gale all the way back to the UK.

In 1864 the brig was owned by Ritson & Co. of Maryport, and was commanded by Capt. Fawcett. That year she carried timber from Quebec to Whitehaven, then loaded a salt cargo at Liverpool for Savannah. She returned from the US to Liverpool with a cargo of pitchpine.

The Congress was wrecked on the Bird Rock, St.Lawrence River, in the spring of 1888.
 

Sources :

1. "Ships of West Cumberland" by Desmond G.Sythes (first published 1969, republished by The Friends of Whitehaven Museum, 1992) - information from Sheila Cartwright.
2. 1857 Mercantile Navy List gives port of registry as Maryport, official number and signal letters LCTF, tonnage 412.