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'SIR FRANCIS DRAKE'

Built by:Alexander Brown, Plymouth.
Yard:Cattedown.
Yard No.:
Launched:10th May 1823
Tonnage:113 5/94
Length:108 feet 8 inches
Breadth:18 feet 8 inches
Depth:11 feet
Machinery:70 hp. Length of the Engine Room 13 feet 9 inches.
Decks:One Deck - Three Masts - Square Sterned.
Built of:Wooden
Type:Paddle Steamer.
Registered:23rd August 1823. Plymouth.
Official No.:5615
Other info:
History:26th August 1823. Due to start a weekly return trip to Falmouth.
9th September 1823. Sailed from Plymouth with 90 passengers for Portsmouth.
10th September 1823. Put back to Plymouth owing to the pipes which supply the water to the boilers being choked with shavings and oakum; whether from accident or design is not known.
12th September 1823. Sailed for Portsmouth.
13th September 1823. Obliged to put back a second time, owing to an accident happened in the machinery.
13th October 1823. Sailed from Portsmouth.
14th October 1823. Arrived at Plymouth with a full cargo of bale goods and passengers.
1st November 1823. The ‘Superb’ was due to sail out of the harbour, a few days ago, but the wind proving contrary, so the ‘Sir Francis Drake’ towed her from her moorings off North-corner, out into the Sound.
June 1826. Commenced plying from Plymouth to Guernsey, and this season, for the first time, she ran weekly to Jersey.
6th April 1829. Up for sale. The price was knocked down to £950 and sold to Mr. Ward of Falmouth, who intends to employ her as a packet between Plymouth and Falmouth.
8th December 1830. Sailed from Dartmouth and returned two hours later being towing by 3 smacks, with loss of bowsprits, funnel, boats, paddles, and other damage. Crew and passengers were all safe and well.
22nd January 1848. Had a re-fit and lengthened, plus a thorough repair at Messrs Moore and Sons slip at Plymouth.
22nd October 1848. Collision at sea with the brig ‘Sophia’. She arrived safe at Plymouth a few days later all safe.
1845. Registered by W. Langdon.
1857. Run on the return route of Plymouth to London.
1858. Registered by W. S. Andrews.
3rd September 1859. Was put up for sale on the 8th September. If no buyer found she will continue to operate under mortgage until sold.
18th June 1862. Registered at London. Her owners are William Rose and Thomas Crowder both of Gun Dock Wapping, Shipwrights. Her register is for a three-masted schooner and against how propelled is written “Sails” and she is reduced to 158.52 tons.
6th April 1863. Sailed for Rio.
September 1863. At Falmouth.
11th February 1864. Sailed for St. Helena and the Cape. After some coastal trading she sailed for Port Chalmers, New Zealand.
29th June 1865. Having obtained a coastwise cargo she entered the Hokitika River, striking the bar, she was hauled onto the beach and subsequently became a wreck.
June or July 1865. Broken up off Canterbury.


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