hartlepool history logo

Penelope - a general history

Penelope 1849-1878

Sunderland: Official No. 19433: Code Letters MRWK: wood barque felt sheathed in yellow metal; 303g; 96.0 x 26.0 x 16.7; new deck 1853; some repairs 1853 & 1856; new keelson & some repairs 1862, 1865 & 1867 felt sheathed in zinc in 1865.

Owners: 1849 Ellis & Co, Plymouth; 1857 J Beynon & Co, Newport; 1859 T Benyon & Co, Newport; 1867 Robert Hutchinson, John Furness (Rift House) & Michael Pennock Lund, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1851-54 Scadden; 1855-56 Samuel Nicholas Hicks Clyma (C.N. 11074 London 1854); 1857 Howells; 1859-62 W Perry; 1863-64 J Thomas; 1865 J Clay; 1866 Hall; 1867-69 Marwood Smith; 1869 Charles Payne; 1870-77 Marwood Smith (C.N. 10568 Leith 1854); 1878 Booth; 1880-83 Marwood Smith.

Insured with Hartlepool Mutual Marine Association.

28 October 1869 the master & crew of Penelope saved four men from the fishing cutter Makrell which foundered off the Borkum Reef in the North Sea. The Bremen Senate presented a gold watch to the master, Charles Payne, & £1 5s to each of the crew for their gallantry in saving the lives of the men.

Crew October 1869;

Anderson, Charles

Bartlam, William, mate

Harrison, Joseph

Hunter, Robert

Mackay, George

Payne, Charles, master

Ona voyage from Gefle to Hartlepool with a cargo of timber & a crew of nine Penelope was abandoned 12 miles ESE of Tynemouth after a collision with the West Hartlepool steamer Celeste on 2 November 1878. Three tugs set out from the Wear in search of the vessel. The crew were landed at Sunderland in a Shields pilot coble.

Related items :