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 Lloyds Register as still being owned by Girvin & Co. It appears she was sold to foreign interests, but was subsequently re-named and re-registered as a British vessel, the Lord Ashburton, in 1870 (see Source 5). In 1873 the vessel arrived at Sydney, NSW from London with passengers, under the command of Capt.Richard Mosey (see Source 6). The Lord Ashburton was wrecked at Tripoli in January, 1880.

Lloyds 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."
Lloyds 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."
Lloyds 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
 
 
 14A1

Sources :

  1. Is not listed in "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985).
  2. Lloyds Register of Shipping 1856  - master named as R.S.Gales, voyage to India.
  3. Lloyds Register of Shipping 1868 - entries for both Sebastian Cabot and (in the Supplement) for David Livingstone.
  4. Mercantile Navy List 1857 - vessel registered at Liverpool, 1009 tons, signal code JRHG.
  5. 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".
  6. Mariners and ships in Australian Waters - Lord Ashburton
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