Owen Potter

Official Number
14355

Painting of ship Owen Potter, by Joseph Heard, courtesy of Andy V ByersThe Owen Potter was a full-rigged ship built at Workington by Peile, Scott & Co. She was launched on the 15th June 1850 and was owned by Potter Brothers, of Liverpool. She was first commanded by Capt.Robert Banks, later to command the Sea Horse, built by the same firm for the same company.

The painting of the vessel shows broadside and stern views. In both she is flying her identifying number under Capt.Marryatt's Universal Code of Signals from the mizzen mast (6793, second distinguishing pennant).

The Owen Potter arrived at Calcutta from Liverpool on the 22nd October, 1857, under the command of Capt.Nicholson. She sailed from Calcutta bound for Mauritius on the 7th December 1857, and no more was heard of her. Amongst the crew who died were Capt.Frederic Nicholson, George Nelson and James Crane Powell.


Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Owen Potter
1850
 780
 145.8
27.3 
 21.3
 3
 Male
 
 13 years A1

Sources :

  1. "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985).
  2. Painting by Joseph Heard, 1850, photo courtesy of Andy V Byers (see Weorcingas website).
  3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1851-2: Owen Potter, ship, 645 tons, built 1850 at Workington, registered at Liverpool, owned by Potter Brothers, master Capt.R.Banks, voyage Liverpool - Calcutta.
  4. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Owen Potter, 780 tons, official no.14355, signal letters LMSW, registered at Liverpool.
  5. BoT Transcript of Liverpool Shipping Register (No.183 for 1850) at Merseyside Maritime Museum - annotated "vessel lost in 1857".
  6. Lloyd's List, 30th November 1857, column 11.
  7. Loss reported in the Morning Chronicle, (London newspaper), 10th May 1858.
  8. Obituaries of crew in "The Commercial Code of Signals for all Nations" by William Mitchell (1859).