hartlepool history logo
close button

Duchess - a general history

Official No. 37747: Code Letters SGHL.

Owners: 1855 Pictou, Nova Scotia; January 1856 W. Jones, Waterford; 1859 Otto Trechmann, Hartlepool; April 1864 Robert Soulsby, Hartlepool (to sell the vessel); September 1864 Henry Richard Nicholls (Whitstable, Kent) Faversham; by 1867 Alfred Nicholls (Whitstable, Kent) Faversham.

Masters: 1856-60 Somerville; 1861-64 Robert Soulsby (C.N.13718 Shields 1856); 1867 Lacy/Lacey.

Voyages: 1856-61 Liverpool for the West Indies.

Duchess sailed from Llanelly on 30 November 1867 bound for Honfleur with a cargo of 350 tons of coal & a crew of nine. The weather became thick & soon a hurricane was blowing. All hands were at the pumps but she began to settle as there was seven feet of water in her hold. The crew took to their boat on 2 December near the Deadman & were picked up by the schooner British Lady of Penzance, Dusting master. They watched the Duchess disappear under the water about an hour later. The master thought the vessel was worth about £1,400 & the cargo about £175.

Related items :