Balfour

Official Number 2275

The Balfour was built by Thos. & Jno. Brocklebank at Bransty, Whitehaven. She was a full-rigged ship, and was launched on the 17th October 1809. She operated in the Brocklebank fleet until 1850, initially on voyages to the Carribean (Tobago, Jamaica), then  New Orleans in the 1820's, then to Bombay from 1833.

The Balfour was bought by William Johnson of North Shields and seems to have remained in his ownership, as a barque, until her loss in March 1865. The Balfour, Capt Benham, from North Shields for Cadiz with coal and coke, was abandoned in the Bay of Biscay after suffering damage in a SSE gale. After her galley and wheel had been swept away, her hold filled to 5 feet with water, despite the crew having been 50 hours at the pumps. The crew were taken off by the schooner Jeanne, of Dunkirk.

Sources :

1. "Shipbuilding in Whitehaven - A Checklist" by Harry Fancy, Whitehaven Museum (1984) - states vessel was a ship and gives launch date.
2. "Brocklebanks 1770-1950", Vol.1, by J.F.Gibson (1950) - states vessel was a brig.
3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1820-1: Balfour, ship, registered at Whitehaven, owned Brocklebank, master Gunston, sailed for Tobago.
4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1851-2: Balfour, barque, registered at Shields, owned W.Johnson, master J.Johnson.
5. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Balfour, 310 tons, vessel registered at Shields, official number 2275.
   
6. Christie's Annual Register of Shipping, 1858 (from Google books) - owned by William Johnson, N.Shields.
7. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865: Balfour, vessel registered at North Shields, 310 tons, owned by Wm.Johnson, Bedford Street, North Shields.
8. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1865-6: Balfour, vessel registered at Shields, owned W.Johnson, master W.Benham.
9. Loss reported in the Newcastle Courant newspaper, 7th April 1865.

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