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Floraville | Official Number
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Floraville | Official Number
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The Floraville was a brig built at Whitehaven by Robert Hardy. She was launched on the 5th January 1828. She seems to have been owned by William Younghusband, of Whitehaven, throughout her life, until she was wrecked in the Hooghly river, Calcutta, in November 1843.
The Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, 13th February
1844, page 3;
"The Floraville, Branthwaite, of this port, was totally
lost while proceeding up the River Hooghly, with a pilot on board, on the
24th of November last. The Floraville was bound from Penang for
Calcutta, and struck upon what is called the James and Mary Sands, and
instantly capsized, and the chief part of the crew, not being able to swim,
had nothing but death staring them in the face. Whilst some of them, however,
were clinging to the bottom of the ship the boat was washed from the fastenings
on deck, and though full of water, they clung round it, and were thus finally
got on shore by the assistance of a custom-house officer who had put off
in his boat to the capsized vessel in order to render such aid as laid
in his power. One man perished, namely William Reed, cook of the vessel,
whose father and mother reside in this town. He was the second who left
the vessel, but was unfortunately doomed never to reach the shore alive.
Though the sad occurrence took place at mid-day, the crew were not able
to save a single item of wearing apparel except what they had on, so unexpected
was the mishap and so sudden the capsizing of the ill fated vessel. Luckily
the mail bags from Penang for Calcutta had been landed on the 21st, when
Captain Branthwaite made the Light Ship, at the entrance of the river,
where he took his pilot on board. At this place the whole of the passengers
left the vessel, some of whom had got their effects on shore but others
had not, the loss to whom would consequentially have been very serious.
- The Floraville was built at this port, by Mr.Hardy, in the year
1828, was 200 tons register, and chiefly, we believe, the property of Wm.Younghusband,
Esq., of Floraville, near this town."
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