Hercules

Official Number
none

The Hercules was a full-rigged ship (six guns) built by Thos. & Jno. Brocklebank at Bransty, Whitehaven, and launched on the 19th November 1805. She was operated by the Brocklebank company for her whole life, first in the trade to Jamaica, then from 1808 to 1817 in Government service to Malta and the Cape, then in the transatlantic trade.

The Times, Wednesday, 23rd November 1825, page 3;

" On the night of Sunday last the ship Hercules, of Whitehaven (300 tons burden), Kerr, master, from London to Liverpool, in ballast, was run foul of off the Smalls, by a large smack bearing up for the Bristol Channel; and, from the injury the Hercules sustained by the concussion, she sank shortly after the accident ! The crew, 16 in number, finding that no human effort could save the ship, took to the boats just before the vessel went down....The crew of the Hercules were next morning descreid by Captain Cox, of the Mary Simpkins, of Youghal, taken on board his vessel, treated with the greatest kindness, and landed on Monday night at the Mumbles, near Swansea."

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Hercules
1805
 301
93.9
27.2
18.0 
3 
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. "Brocklebanks 1770-1950, Volume 1" by John Frederic Gibson (1953)
  2. "Shipbuilding in Whitehaven - A Checklist" by Harry Fancy, Whitehaven Museum (1984).
  3. "Jollie's Cumberland Directory and Guide" by Frederick Jollie (1811) - the Hercules is included in the list of Whitehaven shipping, described as a ship, 301 tons, owned by Brocklebank & Co., master Capt.H.Jackson.
  4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1818-19: Hercules, ship, 301 tons, registered at Whitehaven, master Capt.Moutcey owners Brocklebank, voyage Liverpool - New Brunswick.
  5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1819-20: Hercules, ship, 301 tons, registered at Whitehaven, master Capt.R.Kneal, owners Brocklebank, voyage Liverpool - Savannah.
  6. Slightly more detailed report of the wreck in the Bristol Mercury, Monday, 21st November 1825. The smack was unidentified and was believed to have gone down with all hands.