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Official Number
58194 |
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Official Number
58194 |
| The Beckermet was
a barquentine built at Whitehaven by Shepherd
and Leech, and launched on the 3rd June 1871. The following appears
to be a local newspaper report of the launch (see Source 1):
THE NEW VESSEL, "THE BECKERMET" About the time that the "Patterdale" left the stocks, there was launched from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. J Shepherd and Company a handsome three-masted brigantine. Her dimensions are - length on keel, 104 ft; length for measurement, 106 ft 2½ in; breadth, 22 ft 10¼ in; depth of hold, 12 ft 11½ in; builder's measurement 258 ft and sixty-seven ninety-fourths; register tonnage, 229 tons. She has been built of first-class materials, is designed expressly for the West India Trade, is copper fastened, and is pronounced to be as good a specimen of workmanship as Whitehaven has produced for some time. Mr. Thomas Middleton, Whitehaven, is the managing owner. She will be commanded by Captain T. Dalrymple, of Dumfries. The christening ceremony was performed by Mrs. J.S. McGowan, and the vessel will henceforth be known as "The Beckermet". There was a goodly number of spectators present, the fair sex being especially prominent. Not a single mishap occurred; and we hope that we may be able to say this of the "Beckermet" for a long time to come. In "Merchant Sailing Ships 1850-1875" (see Source 2) David McGregor states that the Beckermet was one of only two barquentines ever built at Whitehaven, the other being the Chrysolite. McGregor also says "for much of the sixties and seventies the barquentine rig was described as "three-masted brigantine.....and it is probable that the rig of many early barquentines is disguised under the term", explaining the newspaper description of her as a three-masted brigantine. |
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The Beckermet was involved in a collision in December 1871, reported in Lloyd's List (see Source 3).:
SWANSEA 11th Dec. The Beckermet, Dalrymple, which arrived here 8th Dec., from Antwerp, was in collision, about 5 a.m. six miles SW of the Lizard with a vessel, supposed to be a loaded brig, and had chain plates, foretopsailyard, mainrigging, &c., carried away and bulwarks, &c., carried away.In Lloyds Register 1882 the Beckermet was described as a 3-masted brigantine, fastened with copper bolts and felted and yellow-metalled in 1882. It also stated that she had had repairs to damages in 1882. Her owner was named as T.Middleton and her port of registry was Whitehaven. The master was named as Capt. J. Young.
On the 1st October 1883 the Beckermet was
stranded and lost in a N Force 7 on Sheringham beach, Norfolk. She was
on passage from Cedar Keys, Florida to Hartlepool with a cargo of soft
wood, under the command of Capt.J.Young and with six others aboard.
At the time of loss she was still owned by T. Middleton of Whitehaven and
was registered there.
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If you have further information on the Beckermet, please contact Bob Dalrymple, a descendant of the first master of the vessel.
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