Name Lady Mary Pelham Fate Ran aground (wrecked) Length 84'2" (25.7m) Tons burthen 186,900 kg | Out of service 31 August 1849 Class and type Falmouth Packet Launched 1816 | |
Notes Sister to
Marchioness of Salisbury Builder John Pelham of Rotherhithe | ||
Lady Mary Pelham (1816–1849) was a brig working as a Falmouth packet which, after modification to barque became part of the South Australia Company's fleet of 1836. She later served as a whaler and transport between Van Diemens Land and Portland, Victoria.
Contents
The Ship
She was copper sheathed and copper fastened; originally configured as a brig, but modified to barque by the addition of another mast. Her carrying capacity was 206 tons, Length 84 ft. 2 in. (25.7 m.), beam 24 ft. (7.3 m.).
The first 20 years
Her first captain, Jainer Hay, took charge of her on 10 January 1816. Henry Cary, R.N. was appointed in 1820. From 1822 under Anselm Hatch, she carried Irish migrants to New York City.
In Australia
Lady Mary Pelham was chartered by George Fife Angas for the South Australian Company, left Portsmouth for Adelaide 30 March 1836 under Captain Robert Ross, the third of the fleet to leave. Her only full fare-paying passengers were Cornelius Birdseye and Mrs Birdseye. There were also five assisted emigrants, several of whom were also working as crew members. Her first mate, James Doine Thompson, died at sea.
She was purchased by S.G. Henty & Co. of Portland, Victoria and refitted in Hobart Town as a whaler. as a whaler; her first captain was John Mills, followed in 1841 by John Harper, then in 1844 by William Dutton (1811–1878), sometimes referred to as "William Pelham Dutton". Dutton killed 100 whales in his career, the last being in 1866, and is considered one of the founders of Portland. He gave up command of Lady Mary Pelham in 1847 to Rosevear; Henty sold her that same year. She underwent repairs in Launceston and put in the charge of Captain Thomas Wing.
Her demise
She was wrecked on 31 August 1849 at Port Fairy, Victoria or Belfast as it was then officially named . She was anchored off the port, awaiting a favourable wind, when a fierce gale broke her chains. Captain Wing deliberately beached her, with the result that no lives were lost, and most of her cargo was able to be salvaged. Her back was broken and by mid-October she had completely broken up by wave action.