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Sheldrake - a general history

launched 2 June 1855 as Falcon for Hartley & Co, Hartlepool, completed July 1855: Official No. 23850; Code Letters NTHW.

Owners: 1855 Ralph Ward & William Charles Ward Jackson, James Hartley, Samuel Chester, Thomas Pope, John Robson, Charles Barrett, George Lockwood & Matthew Pearse, Hartlepool-renamed Sheldrake; 1861 West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co (William S Leng & Curtis) West Hartlepool; 1864 ANW Ludders, Germany-renamed Island Queen; 1864 John Pile & John Spence, Hartlepool-renamed Danish Queen; 1866 McKinnon & Frew, Liverpool.

Masters: 1855-57 Roberts; 1858 Irvine; 1859-62 R Barnes; 1862-64 Paxton; 1865 R Meek.

Voyages: on 28 December 1861 Sheldrake left Cardiff bound for Bermuda but sprang a leak during severe gales & had to put into Lisbon. For repairs to be carried out, her cargo, which was thought to be contraband, was discharged onto the beach. The master, Barnes, perhaps looking on this as a bad omen, abandoned his running the blockade adventure & returned to Hartlepool.

Crew 1865;        Sherrington, George, able seaman

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