John O'Gaunt

Official Number
24201

The John O'Gaunt was a full-rigged ship, the largest vessel built by Lumley Kennedy & Co. at Whitehaven, and launched on the 2nd May 1855. She was owned by Chism & Co., and was registered at Liverpool, and entered the trade to India, making her first voyage from Liverpool to Calcutta.

The John O'Gaunt sailed from Liverpool for Manila on the 23rd August, 1876, and was subsequently wrecked in the Philippine Islands. The vessel had encountered severe gales and adverse currents, and early in the morning on the 8th January had struck an uncharted reef, 2 miles E of Baccan Island. The holed vessel drifted W, and Captain Please decided to abandon her before she wrecked. He and the 23 crew managed to get into two boats, though two others were lost whilst being launched, and Capt.Please suffered a head injury. The John O'Gaunt struck on Baag Island, near the coast of Samar, and immediately capsized. The crew landed there, and remained for several weeks, until picked up by a Spanish steamer. They arrived at Hong Kong from Manilla on the 30th March. The John O'Gaunt had been carrying a coal cargo, which she had loaded at Cardiff. The ship had been strained on her previous voyage, and on arrival at Liverpool had had her damage repaired. At the time of her loss she was owned by Mr.W.T.Bell, of Liverpool, and was registered at that port.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
John O'Gaunt
1855
 859
 177.5
32.1
 21.1
3
 
 
13 year A1, Special Survey

Sources :

  1. "Shipbuilding at Whitehaven - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1984).
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1856-7: John O'Gaunt, ship, 859 tons, yellow-metalled 1855, registered at Liverpool, owned by Chism & Co., commanded by Capt.Smith, voyage Liverpool - India.
  3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1865-6: John O'Gaunt, ship, 859 tons, yellow-metalled 1864, registered at Liverpool, owned by Chism & Co., commanded by Capt.G.Thompson, voyage London - India.
  4. Mercantile Navy List 1867: John O'Gaunt, 860 tons, official number 24201, signal letters NVSH, registered at Liverpool, owned by Lawrence Gladstone, of Liverpool.
  5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1874-5: John O'Gaunt, ship, 859 tons, official number 24201, signal letters NVSH, registered at Liverpool, owned by T.Bell, masters Capts.T.Donnan, then Jeffrey.
  6. Wreck reported in the Times newspaper, Monday, 19th February, 1877, page 6. For rescue of the crew, see the Manchester Times, 15th May 1877.