Edgar

Official Number
none

The Edgar was a brig of 229 tons, built at Workington by William Wallace and launched on the 29th July 1824. She was owned by Mr.J.Harding, of Workington, and was commanded by Capt.R.Gibson for most of her career, which was spent in the Atlantic trade.

The brig was still owned by Mr.Harding and commanded by Capt.Gibson when she was lost in 1835. Bound from Quebec for Liverpool, the Edgar was capsized in a storm on Wednesday, 25th November 1835, at lat. 44.30 N, long.43.20 W. Four of the crew were lost in the wreck, and also four passengers, all brothers. The remaining seven crew hung to the upturned hull for five hours, until the Edgar righted herself. Three of these men, including Captain Gibson, died whilst clinging to the rigging. The four remaining seamen were eventually picked up by the Tiber, of New York, and taken to that port. The rescued men were James Glover, mate, John Thomas, John Wright and William Berry.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Edgar
1824
 229
 
  
 
 2
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985).
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1826 (Underwriters' Green Book): Edgar, brig, 226 tons, coppered in 1824, owned by J.Harding, masters Captains R.Gibson, & W.Kennedy, voyage Liverpool - Antigua.
  3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1835-6: Edgar, brig, 229 tons, coppered in 1834, owned by Harding, registered at Workington, master Captain R.Gibson, voyage Liverpool - Pernambuco.
  4. Wreck described in the Cumberland Pacquet newspaper, 5th January 1836, in the form of a long letter from the mate of the Edgar, James Glover, dated New York, 28th December 1835.