Maha Ranee

Official Number
7020

The Maha Ranee was built by Peile, Scott and Co. at Workington and was launched there in March 1853. The vessel was principally owned by Joseph Bushby, with 16 shares, and Joseph Sanderson, with 10 shares, but also Isaac Scott and others. The Maha Ranee was the ninth vessel built by Peile, Scott & Co., and their designer, Jonathan Fell, for Bushby & Co., and followed the Clymene into their fleet. The new vessel sailed from Liverpool on the 29th April, bound for Calcutta, then departed Calcutta in September for Liverpool. She seems to have remained in this trade in her early years.

On the 1st June 1863 the Maha Ranee, of Workington, arrived at Sydney from London, under the command of Capt.Daniel Ritson and with some passengers (see Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters - Maha Ranee).

The Liverpool Mercury, Thursday, 26th April 1866;

" THE LOSS OF THE MAHA RANEE- The navigation of the Hooghly has proved fatal to another Liverpool ship - the fine clipper Maha Ranee, bound down the river from Calcutta to this port. On passing Kedgeree she took the ground, and, despite the efforts of steam tugs, she remained fast, embedded in the bank. The heavy sea which was running at the time tended to imbed her still further, and on the following morning (April 18) she began to break up, and her crew had to abandon her. The tugs continued for some days endeavouring to save cargo, but with very indifferent success. Of 3369 bales of cotton on board, very little will be saved. She was the property of Messrs.Bushby and Edwards, of this port, having been built for them (specially for the Australian service) at Workington, in 1853."

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Maha Ranee
1853
1097
 176.5
 35.0
 23.5
3
 
 
 14 years A1

Sources :

  1. Entry no.1 for 1853 in the Workington Shipping Register 1839-55 (Ref.TSR/3/1 at Cumbria Record Office, Whitehaven) - states that this vessel, official no.7020, was a ship, 1097 tons, built at Workington by Fell and first registered there, with a builder's certificate dated 5th March 1853. States that the ship was lost in the Hoogly, Calcutta, on the 17th April 1866.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1853-4: MahaRanee, ship, 1097 tons nm, 1013 om, built at Workington in 1853, owned by Bushby & Co., commanded by Capt.J.Carr, registered Workington, voyage Workington - Calcutta.
  3. Mercantile Navy List 1864: Maha Ranee, 1097 tons, official number 7020, signal letters JRFW, port of registry Workington.
  4. "Merchant Sailing Ships 1850-1875; Heyday of Sail" by David R.Macgregor (1984), page 36.
  5. Clayton's Register of Shipping, 1865: Maha Ranee, ship, 1097 tons, 14 years A1, master Capt.J.Carr, owned by Bushby & Edwards, registered at Workington.
  6. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1866-7: ship, 1097 tons, owned by Bushby & Co., commanded by Capt.A.Carr, registered Workington, voyage London to Australia, annotated "wrecked".
  7. Glasgow Herald newspaper, Tuesday, 27th March 1866, reported the Maha Ranee, Ritson, sailed from Calcutta for Liverpool on the 17th Feb.1866. However, the same newspaper also reported on the 6th March 1866 that "the Maha Ranee, for Liverpool, put back to Calcutta previous to the 25th Feb., and would be docked."