Melbreak

Official Number
28815

The Melbreak (or Melbrek, or Melbreck) was a full-rigged ship built by Jonathon Fell at Workington, and launched in January 1863. She was one of a series of ships and clippers built for the Liverpool firm of Bushby and Edwards, designed for the trade to India and China. The Melbreak had been preceeded by the Volunteer, and was followed by the clipper Belted Will. The Scindia was also built for Bushby and Edwards in the same year, though she was an iron ship and built outside Workington.

The following newspaper records show some of the voyages made by the Melbreak in her early career.

22nd March, 1864 - sailed from Liverpool for Calcutta, Capt.Taggart.
19th Feb 1865 - spoken 76 days out from Hong Kong, bound for Liverpool.
5th August 1865 - arrived at Calcutta from Liverpool, Taggart.
18th January 1866 - at Deal, from Calcutta for London.
7th March 1866 - loading at London for Hong Kong and Whampoa, Capt.J.Taggart.
24th December 1869 - loading at London for Shanghai.

In May 1872 the Melbreak arrived at Sydney from  London, under the command of Capt.Charles Beeching (with a crew of a twenty, plus four apprentices and his wife as a passenger - see Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters for crew list).

The latest newspaper report I can find for the Melbreak was her arrival at London from Zebu (Cebu, Phillipines) in November 1886. Possibly she was sent to the breakers' yard after this. She does not appear in Lloyd's Register in 1889.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Melbreak
1863
 870
 180.2
32.3 
22.5
3 
 
 
14 years A1 

Sources :

    1. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1864-5: Melbrek, ship, Special Survey, yellow-metalled in 1865, 870 tons, 180.2 x 32.3 x 22.5, built at Workington, January 1863, owned by Bushby & Co., masters Capts.J.Carr, then Taggart, 14 years A1, voyage Liverpool - India.
    2. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865: Melbreak, ship, 870 tons, registered at Workington, owned by Bushby & Edwards, master Capt.J.Carr.
    3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1865-6: Melbrek, ship, master Capt.Taggart, voyage Liverpool - India.
    4. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Melbrek, official number 28815, signal letters QCBW, 870 tons, owned by Bushby & Edwards, of Liverpool, registered at Workington.
    5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1874-5: Melbrek, ship, yellow-metalled in 1875, owned by Bushby & Co., master Capt.J.Peirce.
    6. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1883-4: Melbrek, ship, owned by Shaw, Bushby & Co., registered at Workington, master Capt.Lightbody.