Eleanor Lancaster

Official Number 31652

The Eleanor Lancaster was a full-rigged ship built at Maryport in 1839. She was originally registered at Liverpool and her first master was Capt. P.Cowley, who was succeeded by Capt. F.Lodge when the ship came under the ownership of Souter & Co. in 1844. At that time the ship was registered in London.

The Eleanor Lancaster was yellow-metalled and operated in the trade to Bombay (1844), Port Philip, Australia (1845), Lima (1846) and Sydney (1847 until 1853). Capt.F.Lodge was still listed as her commander in 1853.

The Eleanor Lancaster was wrecked in a gale on Oyster Bank, Newcastle, NSW on the 7th November 1856. She was on passage from Newcastle to Melbourne with 640 tons of coal, under the command of Capt. James McLean and with 15 crew. Source 3 reports that the crew had to stay on the wreck overnight, and were rescued by the efforts and bravery of a Mr.Skelton, who rowed out to them three times from the shore.
 

Sources :

1. Lloyds Register of Shipping 1840 to 1854, details from Gilbert Provost's Lloyds Register website.
2. Australian National Shipwreck Database - at the time of her wreck the vessel was registered in Melbourne and was owned by Cole, Bruce & Co.
3. Newcastle Shipwrecks