Adventure

Official Number
8760

The Adventure was registered at Whitehaven in 1840, and was at that time owned and commanded by Capt.Joseph Bragg. She was a brig, captured as a prize, and 140 tons old measure. Given the name of the owner, it is likely that this is the vessel whose wreck was reported in the Whitehaven newspaper in January 1861.

The Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, Tuesday, 15th January 1861, page 5;

" Wreck of the brig Adventure - We regret to have to record the total loss of the brig Adventure, Capt.Currie, of this port, which took place on Wedneday morning last. The vessel was bound to this port from Dublin, with vitriol for Messrs.Rayson, of Corkickle; and about seven o'clock on Wednesday morning, the weather being excessively thick, the crew were unable to make out land, and she struck on a scar or rock between Braystones and seascale, about twelve miles south of this port. There was a heavy sea running at the time, and the crew were in consequence compelled to take to the rigging. One of them, an apprentice belonging to Dublin, becoming exhausted from the severity of the weather, fell from the rigging on to the main hatch, and received severe injuries. The mate immediately went to his assistance, but the poor fellow exclaimed, "Save yourselves - I am dying;" and expired almost instantly. The remainder of the crew remained in the rigging until the tide ebbed, and got on shore about one o'clock. The Adventure, which was not insured, is a total wreck, but some of the materials may be saved. The vitriol, which was fortunately insured, was of course lost. The vessel was owned by Capt.Joseph Bragg, of this port."

The "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles" gives some different details of the wreck, though the date, place, cargo and number of deaths correspond to the above account. This source identifies the Adventure as a brig of 161 tons, built at Leith in 1824, and owned by Swan Brothers.

Another vessel named Adventure, official number 8610, was owned at Whitehaven in the years 1837 to 1880.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Adventure
Not known
 140
 
 
 
2
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. Lloyd's Register of Shipping (Underwriters' Green Book) 1825: Adventure, brig, 140 tons, foreign-built, a  prize, owned and commanded by Capt.J.Bragg.
  2. A List Of The Cumberland Shipping, Corrected To February 1840, by William Sawyers, Comptroller Of Her Majesty's Customs At The Port Of Whitehaven.
  3. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Adventure, 140 tons, official number 8760, signal letters KDMW, registered at Whitehaven.
  4. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865 lists no vessels named Adventure registered at Whitehaven.
  5. Wreck described in "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles" Vol. 5 by Richard & Bridget Larn, pub. Lloyd's Register, 2000, ISBN 1 900839 61 X - citing from BoT Wreck Returns.