Sorata

Official Number 1733

The Sorata was a barque built at Whitehaven by Lumley Kennedy & Co., launched on the 24th May 1849. The vessel was registered in Liverpool, and in her early years seems to have operated in the China trade, being listed in the Times newspaper arriving Hong Kong from Liverpool (Sept.1853), and off Gravesend from Foochow (June 1859).

From the Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, Tuesday, 29th May,1849, page 3 :

" On Thursday morning last a handsome barque, named the Sorata, was launched from the building-yard pf Messrs.Lumley Kennedy and Co., at this port, burthen per register, N.M., 373 tons, and intended for the South American trade. The vessel left the stocks a little after eight o'clock, and being what is termed a dry launch, she had a somewhat long run upon the cradles; yet throughout the whole distance moved along as steadily and firm as if the vessel and the bilge-blocks by which she was sustained had been one solid mass of timber. The ceremony of christening was performed by Mr.Kendall, jun., of Liverpool, one of the owners. The Sorata is coppered to the bends, and in all respects finished in a style which does credit to her eminent builders. "

On the 12th November 1877 the Sorata foundered during a gale off Ramsgate, possibly due to collision. She was bound for Jamaica with a general cargo, carrying a crew of 15 together with a pilot, the master's wife and two children. The Times newspaper (see Source 4) named the master as Captain James J.Price, and reported that no news had been received of any survivors.
 

Name	Year Built	Gross Tons	Length (feet)	Breadth (feet)	Depth (feet)	Masts	Figurehead	Stern	Lloyd's Classn.
Sorata	1849	372				3			A1, 13 years

Sources :

1. "Shipbuilding in Whitehaven - A Checklist" by Harry Fancy, Whitehaven Museum (1984) - states 372 tons, barque rig, registered at Liverpool in 1860 and at London in 1873.
2. Mercantile Navy List 1857 - vessel registered at Liverpool, flag code HLFN, 373 tons.
3. Mariners and ships in Australian Waters - names master as Capt.Philip Farley, 13 other crew plus the master's wife.
4. The Times newspaper, Thursday 15th November (page 6) and Friday 16th November, 1877, page 6 - describes the vessel as a barque, 332 tons net, 343 tons gross.