Ant

Official Number 9371

In 1857 there was one vessel named Ant registered at Workington, described as 129 tons (see Source 3). Newspaper reports in that year indicated that the brigantine Ant of Workington was found abandoned in the North Atlantic.

From the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper, Thursday, 13th August, 1857, page 3.

" SYRACUSE, Aug.12.- The French war steamer Ardent, on the 7th instant, fell in with and towed into St.Pieree, a brigantine, timber laden, having the British flag at half-mast. She had no boats, and no papers were found in her. Her name appeared to be 'Workington'. "

" SYDNEY, N.S., Aug.12.- The French war-steamer Ardent, on the 7th instant, west of Miquelon, fell in with an abandoned brigantine, having a British flag displayed at half-mast. No boats were found with her. Her name appeared to be Ant, of Workington, and she was laden with timber. No papers were discovered on board. The wreck was towed to St.Pierre by the Ardent. "

Sources :

1. "A List Of The Cumberland Shipping, Corrected To February 1840, by William Sawyers, Comptroller Of Her Majesty's Customs At The Port Of Whitehaven" - this reference does not differentiate between brigs and brigantines.
2. "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985).
3. Mercantile Navy List 1857 - gives port of registry, official number and tonnage, but does not give rig or year/place of build.
4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1857-8: Ant, brigantine, 150 tons, built at Workington in 1838, owned by Fell & Co., registered at Workington, master Capt.J.M'Minn, operating in coasting trade. The vessel is not listed in the 1858 edition of Lloyd's Register.