PRESTON was built in 1805 at Preston with a tonnage of 99 burthen,
a length of 66ft 8in and a beam of 18ft 7in. Built in wood and
galliot rigged she was acquired by John Bibby & Others in
1812 for trading out of Parkgate. She was sold to W. Wilson
in 1837 for coastal trading between Belfast and bangor. Trace
of her was lost after 1839.
ARIEL was built in 1802 at Sunderland with
a tonnage of 154 burthen but her dimensions are not known. Built
in wood she was acquired by Bibby in 1812 and sold to Farleigh
in 1826. All trace of her was lost by 1832 and it is assumed
that she was broken up..
BIBBY was built in 1813 at Liverpool with
a tonnage of 163 burthen, a length of 76ft 4in and a beam of
22ft 10in. Built in wood and brigantine rigged she was the second
new ship built for Bibby. Although sister of the Highfield,
her construction reflects the practices of the day when there
were no definitive plans. Dimensions of identical ships varied
and in this case the beam was a little wider which was reflected
in her burthen tonnage. She ended her career when she was wrecked
during a voyage from Dublin to London in 1829.
FEARON was built in 1813 at Liverpool with
a tonnage of 152 burthen, a length of 73ft 1in and a beam of
22ft 1in. Built in wood and snow rigged she was a sister if
the Bibby and completed for Bibby, Highfield & Fearon. Joseph
Fearon was a cargo broker who stored his goods in Bibby owned
warehouses prior to loading on a Bibby vessel. He had shares
in several Bibby ships. In 1838 she was sold to London owners
but was no longer listed in Lloyds Register.
NILE was built in 1800 at Scarborough with
a tonnage of 156 burthen, a length of 74ft 7in and a beam of
22ft 11in. Built in wood and brig rigged she was acquired by
Bibby in 1815. She was Bibby's first brig, a rig which became
predominant in many sailing ship fleets over the subsequent
fifty years or so. In 1835 she was lost in a winter gale in
the Irish Sea and only wreckage was washed ashore.
JOSHUA was built in 1817 at Liverpool with
a tonnage of 125 burthen, a length of approximately 73ft and
a beam of 22ft. Built in wood and brig rigged she was the first
of two brigs purchased new from their Liverpool builder. Although
sisters their dimensions differed as size was dependent on the
lengths of available timber. In those days ships were purchased
according to cargo capacity (cost per ton) and not on size or
tonnage. Built for the Parkgate-Dublin service they reflected
the trend at the time which was towards the brig which was the
most economical and seaworthy ship for her size. The Joshua
was lost in the Irish Sea but the date is not known.
JOE was built in 1817 at Liverpool with a
tonnage of 120 burthen, a length of approximately 73ft and a
beam of 22ft. Sister of the Joshua she was copper sheathed for
deep sea trading and John Bibby was the sole owner. She was
sold to Dublin owners in 1828 for further deep sea trading and
thereafter all trace of her was lost.
SAMPSON was built in 1798 at Runcorn with
a tonnage of 139 burthen, a length of 73ft and a beam of 21ft
4in. Built in wood and brig rigged she was built for local short
sea trading and acquired by Bibby & Highfield in 1817. She
was refurbished in 1818 and copper sheathed for the West Indies
or African trade. In 1822 she was given new topsides, re-rigged
and, reputedly, given iron cables. After a further nine years
trading she was broken up at Dublin during 1831.
MARY(2) was built in 1818 by Worthington &
Co. at Lancaster with a tonnage of 212 burthen, a length of
80ft 11in and a beam of 25ft 4in. Built in wood and snow rigged
she was purchased new by Bibby & Highfield for trading in
the Irish Sea. She was named after John Bibby's wife and daughter,
who were both named Mary, and was the last snow rigged ship
for 15 years as Bibby's switched to the more predominant brig
rig. In 1827 she was condemned due to hull rot and was dismantled.
KATE was built in 1820 by J.James & Co.
at Liverpool with a tonnage of 150 burthen, a length of 76ft
and a beam of 21ft 3in. A wooden brig she was built for John
Bibby & John Highfield's Dublin trade. In 1824 she was lost
in the Irish Sea during a voyage from Liverpool to Dublin.
GEORGE IV was built in 1820 by P. W. Quirk
at Liverpool with a tonnage of 187 burthen, a length of 80ft
and a beam of 23ft 1in. A wooden brig steered with a wheel as
opposed to a tiller she was built for John Bibby & John
Highfield's Brazil trade and named to mark the accession to
the throne of the Prince Regent. In 1822 she was trading to
Demarara in Guiana where she loaded sugar and in 1923 completed
a voyage to Rio de Janeiro. By 1935 she was sailing between
Liverpool and Corunna and in the same year she was recorded
as being wrecked near Lagarta in Spain although there is no
place with this name on the Spanish coast.
BOOTLE was built in 1820 by Rathbone &
Leather at Liverpool with a tonnage of 153 burthen, a length
of 75ft and a beam of 22ft 2in. A wooden brig she was purchased
from the builder as in those days it was rare to order a ship.
Yards would build a ship and then sell it through a broker or
by direct advertising . In 1823 she was advertised as operating
a direct service between Liverpool and Lisbon with a departure
on the first of each month. She was sold to J. Harrington of
Liverpool in 1842 and her subsequent career is not known. The
Harrington Dock in Liverpool was named after the same J. Harrington.
ROSALIND was built in 1819 at Scarborough
with a tonnage of 134 burthen and unknown dimensions. Built
in wood she was a brig acquired by Bibby & Highfield in
1820. After thirteen years service she was lost in 1833 during
a voyage from Liverpool to Corunna.
HARDWARE was built in 1821 by at Liverpool
with a tonnage of 152 burthen, a length of 77ft and a beam of
21ft 11in. A wooden brig, she was purchased new by Bibby &
Highfield for the Irish Sea trade. In 1823 she was transferred
to the monthly Lisbon run and in 1926 copper sheathed for trading
in the tropics. She was sold to Shaw & Co. of Liverpool
in 1841 for trading to West Africa.. Her port of registry in
1845 was recorded as being Whitehaven and after 1854 she was
no longer listed.
GEORGE & WILLIAM was built in 1820 by
at Liverpool with a tonnage of 187 burthen, a length of 73ft
and a beam of 21ft 4in. A wooden brig she was acquired in 1821
but her subsequent history is not known.
MARIA was built in 1815 at Barrington, Nova
Scotia with a tonnage of 113 burthen, a length of 66ft 11in
and a beam of 20ft 8in. A brig, she was constructed with local
woods, birch and pine, the birch planking being covered with
a layer of pine or fir as protection against the teredo worm.
Unfortunately the practice was not successful even though big
headed nails were hammered in so closely that the worm could
not get a hold. Copper sheathing was the only answer to the
teredo worm but before copper alloy nails were introduced iron
nails caused erosion through electrolysis. On of the smallest
vessels she was acquired by Bibby's in 1821 for coastal trading.
In 1823 she was sold to Taylor & Co. of Liverpool for trading
to the Isle of Man. Trace of her was subsequently lost when,
at the time, there were 67 vessels with the name 'Maria'.
LANCASHIRE WITCH was built in 1821 by.James
& Seddon at Liverpool with a tonnage of 127 burthen, a length
of 75ft and a beam of 19ft 11in. Built in wood and rigged as
a ketch she was acquired as new by John Bibby & John Highfield
and was the third ship of a trio which maintained a cargo service
between Liverpool and Lisbon. The ketch was a simple ship, a
good cargo carrier and required only 6 crewmen. In 1824 she
was copper sheathed for deep sea trading and in 1833 was lost
off Vera Cruz in Mexico.
ELLEN JENKINSON was built in 1823 by C &
J Smith at Liverpool with a tonnage of 162 burthen, a length
of 83ft 6in and a beam of 21ft 3in. Bibby's second ketch she
was built in wood and purchased new. She was copper sheathed
in 1824 and given a new deck in 1838. In 1840 she was sold to
James Hatton & Co. of Liverpool for trading to Africa and
in 1857 was listed as being broken up at Liverpool.
MARY
BIBBY was built in 1825 by C & J Smith at Liverpool with
a tonnage of 299 burthen, a length of 104ft and a beam of 25ft
11in. Twin decked, built in wood and ship rigged she was the
first vessel purchased for John Bibby & Co, their largest
sailing ship to date. She was steered with a wheel and her figurehead
was of Mary Bibby, John Bibby's wife. On delivery she was immediately
sent to Whadborne & Co. for copper sheathing in readiness
for trading to Bombay which became her regular annual voyage
for the following decade. In 1836 she was sent to Canton where
she loaded 3462 cases of tea and 15 bales of silk. Sold to Maryport
owners in 1841 all trace of her was subsequently lost. (Photo:
From a painting by Joseph Heard)
BISPHAM was built in 1826 by C & J Smith
at Liverpool with a tonnage of 214 burthen, a length of 90ft
11in and a beam of 23ft 5in. A wooden brig her hull was felted
and covered in fir planks to inhibit the growth of weeds, a
practice which was common for ships trading in home waters.
She was wrecked near Holyhead in 1838.
(2).jpg)
MARY
BIBBY was built in 1825 by C & J Smith at Liverpool with
a tonnage of 299 burthen, a length of 104ft and a beam of 25ft
11in. Twin decked, built in wood and ship rigged she was the
first vessel purchased for John Bibby & Co, their largest
sailing ship to date. She was steered with a wheel and her figurehead
was of Mary Bibby, John Bibby's wife. On delivery she was immediately
sent to Whadborne & Co. for copper sheathing in readiness
for trading to Bombay which became her regular annual voyage
for the following decade. In 1836 she was sent to Canton where
she loaded 3462 cases of tea and 15 bales of silk. Sold to Maryport
owners in 1841 all trace of her was subsequently lost. (Photo:
From a painting by Joseph Heard) 
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