Bonanza

Official Number
10510

The Bonanza was a brig or schooner built by Thos. & Jno. Brocklebank at Bransty, Whitehaven, launched 27th March 1830. She sailed for the Brocklebank Line for most of her life, mainly to South America, but also in the China trade, where she earned a reputation for speed. Reputedly she took 91 days from Shanghai to Liverpool in 1844. On these voyages she was commanded by Capt.Clement Mossop.

The Bonanza was sold to J.Mondel in 1856 and was lost on a return voyage from the West Indies, on the 7th October 1856. Bound from Porto Cabello to City St.Domingo, the vessel struck on the reefs at the east end of St.Domingo. The crew were saved.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Bonanza
1830
176 
 85.6
21.8 
13.2 
2 
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. "Shipbuilding in Whitehaven - A Checklist" by Harry Fancy, Whitehaven Museum (1984)
  2. "From Cumberland to Cape Horn" by D.Hollett.
  3. "Clipper Ships" by David R.Macgregor ISBN 0 85242 618 6 - reports that the vessel was a brig.
  4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1855-6: Bonanza, brig, 176 tons, built at Whitehaven in 1830, FYM in 1852, owned by Brocklebank, registered at Liverpool, master Capt.A.Penrice.
  5. Mercantile Navy List 1857 : Bonanza, 154 tons, registered at Liverpool, official number 10510, signal letters KNSP.
  6. Wreck reported in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper, Sat., 22nd November 1856.