Camertonian

Official Number none

The Camertonian was a full-rigged ship built at Workington by Jonathan Fell (of Peile, Scott & Co.) in 1848. She traded from Liverpool to Calcutta and to China. The Camertonian foundered in a gale off the Sand Heads, Calcutta, on the 13th September, 1854.

From the Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, Tuesday, 22nd August 1848, page 3 :

" A handsome new ship of 550 tons, built expressly for Mr.Isaac Scott, of the Brow Top, Workington, was on Friday last launched from the building-yard of Messrs.Peile, Scott, & Co., at that port. This splendid vessel was christened by Joseph Bushby, Esq., who named her the Camertonian, as she majestically moved from the berth on which she had been constructed into her destined element. This magnificent ship stands A1 at Lloyd's, London, for 12 years."

"  We briefly stated last week the loss of the Camertonian, Kirkpatrick, at the Sand Heads, Calcutta, on the 13th September. We since learn from the Bengal Hurkara, dated the 18th of September, that Capt.Kirkpatrick, who perished along with most of his crew, was anxious to obtain a pilot, and when signalised from the light-ship, he replied that he had no boat fit for the service, and was told to stand to the southward until half-flood, and then steer N.W. by N. for Saugar, and anchor in seven fathoms of water. She accordingly stood off, but came a second time for a pilot, when a like order was repeated, and she went again to the S.E. The ship bore up a third time at 5.30. P.M., when the crew hailed the Hope light-ship, reporting she had six feet of water in her hold, and was fast sinking. Immediately after this the ship brought up, and anchored close to the Hope, and in twenty minutes after went down. Two men, W.Daglish, carpenter, and Henry Woodland, reached the Hope light-ship by swimming. The following morning at daylight two men were seen clinging to the wreck. Lines and buoys were veered from the Hope in hopes the men might lay hold of them, as the gale precluded the boats being sent, but we regret to say they had not the least chance. Evening set in, and the next morning they had disappeared; no doubt they had fallen off through exhaustion and perished. "

Sources :

1. NMM Memorials - John Reynolds
2. Plans of the Camertonian are reproduced in "Fast Sailing Ships" by David R. MacGregor. Also in MacGregor, David R. - "British and American clippers : a comparison of their design, construction and performance in the 1850's.", Conway Maritime Press, London, 1993.