Cambalu

Official Number 1294

The Cambalu was launched on Monday, 24th November 1851 by Charles Lamport at Workington. She had been built for J.Atkin of Liverpool, and was intended for the tea trade, under the command of Capt.Alleyne. The vessel was described in her launch report (see Source 1) as 528 tons o.m., 596 tons n.m., and was stated to be the first round-sterned vessel ever built in Cumberland. The newspaper reported that she was flush-decked, ship-rigged, and was classified A1 for 13 years.

In 1854, under Capt.Alleyne, the Cambalu arrived at Port Adelaide from London (see Source 2). Sometime later Capt.Alleyne left the Cambalu to take command of the Aerolite, also owned by Atkin and operating in the trade to Australia.

The Cambalu was registerd at Llanelly, Wales, from  March 1870. She was described as a barque, owned by Samuel & Co., Llanelly, then by J.Thomas. From 1882 the vessel was registered at Swansea. She was described as a barquentine and was owned by Thomas, Watson & Jenkins, of Swansea.

The Cambalu was converted to a barge in 1896 (see Source 4).

Sources :

1. Launch report in the Cumberland Pacquet newspaper, Tuesday, 25th November 1851.
2. Passenger ships arriving in Australasian ports.
3. Mercantile Navy List 1857 gives official number for the Cambalu of Liverpool, 499 tons, signal code HJLF.
4. Mercantile Navy List 1867 - names the vessel's owner as John Atkin, of Liverpool.
5. Information from Bryan Richard at www.swanseamariners.org.uk, which has crew details for 1890,1891 and 1892.
6. Information from Lloyd's Registers, from John Stevenson.
7. Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1877 - owner J.Thomas, registered Llanelly, master Capt.Knudson.