Sebastian Cabot

Official Number
7040

The Sebastian Cabot was a ship built at Workington by Peile, Scott & Co. in 1854. She was owned by Girvin & Co. and was registered at Liverpool. In 1868 the vessel was renamed David Livingstone, and was listed in Lloyd's Register as still being owned by Girvin & Co. It appears that she was sold to foreign interests, but was subsequently re-named and re-registered as a British vessel, the Lord Ashburton, in 1870. In 1873 the vessel arrived at Sydney, NSW from London with passengers, under the command of Capt.Richard Mosey. The Lord Ashburton was wrecked at Tripoli in January, 1880.

Lloyd's List, Tuesday, 20th January 1880, column 37;

" TRIPOLI - Jan.14 - The following vessels have been driven ashore during a hurricane : Lord Ashburton, Genoa, crew saved. She has part of her outward cargo on board. Snelland, Danish bark, crew saved ; Ayos Kiricos, Greek brig ; Demetrius, Greek brig."

Lloyd's List, Monday, 26th January 1880, column 23;

" TRIPOLI - Jan.14 - Last night during a heavy gale the following vessels were driven ashore in the harbour : Lord Ashburton, of Liverpool, Lorentzen, which arrived here on the 6th inst., in ballast (iron ore) from Genoa. She had on board at the time she went ashore part of her cargo for Tyne Dock, 785 bales of esparto grass, which may possibly be recovered in a damaged state."

Lloyd's List, 16th February 1880, column 22;

" TRIPOLI - Jan.27 - Lord Ashburton - up to the present date 59 bales and a quantity of loose esparto grass, nearly all damaged, have been recovered, and sold in different lots at public auction."

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Sebastian Cabot
1854
847 om, 1009 nm
 171.5
 30.2
 20.9
 3
 
 
 14 years A1

Sources :

  1. Not listed in "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985).
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1856-7: Sebastian Cabot, ship, 847 om, 1009 nm tons, owned by Girvin & Co., registered at Liverpool, master Capt.R.S.Gales, voyage to India.
  3. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Sebastian Cabot, 1009 tons, official number 7040, signal letters JRHG, registered at Liverpool.
  4. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Sebastian Cabot, 893 tons, official number 7040, signal letters JRHG, registered at Liverpool, owned by Robert Girvin, of Liverpool.
  5. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1868 - entries for both Sebastian Cabot and (in the Supplement) for David Livingstone.
  6. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1879-80: Lord Ashburton, ship, 879 tons, official number 7040, signal letters JRHG, built at Workington in 1854, FYM in 1872, registered at Liverpool, owned by Leech, Harris & Forwood, master Capt.Lorentzen.
  7. BoT Transcript of Liverpool Shipping Register (No.170 for 1870) at the Merseyside Maritime Museum - Named Lord Ashburton, but annotated "formerly Sebastian Cabot" and "vessel lost at Tripoli, per letter 28th February 1880", and "wrecked 13th January 1880".
  8. Mariners and ships in Australian Waters - Lord Ashburton