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The Merchant Adventures of William Farndale (FAR00289) Master Mariner of Whitby (1825 to 1887)
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John
Christopher Farndale the Elder was probably the grandson of John Farndale (FAR00136) who
sailed colliers with James Cook out of Whitby. It is likely John Christopher
Farndale was the son of Robert Farndale, also a master mariner, and buried in
the churchyard of Dracula fame at Whitby.
John
Christopher Farndale the Elder was a painter when he married Ann Ling in 1825
and until the birth of his third son in 1830. But by 1836, he was a master
mariner of Whitby, captaining a coal brig called the William and Nancy
with cargos of coal largely between Whitby and the north east
and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire and the southeast.
Of his family
of five, John’s eldest son, William Farndale (FAR00289) also
became a master mariner and continued to captain the William and Nancy.
The third son, John Christopher Farndale the Younger (FAR00308)
captained other ships. They all lived lives of adventure, perils at sea, and
travel. His second son, Thomas Farndale was a ship’s broker’s clerk who died
aged only 31. His daughter, Mary Farndale, was a straw bonnet maker and married
a master mariner in Whitby. His fifth child, James Farndale, died an infant.
This was a family of mariners at the heart of the maritime coal industry in the
mid Victorian era. The second generation ventured
widely around the North Sea (often called the German sea at the time) and the
Baltic and further south. But John died young, at the age of only 35.
The Mary, a
Brig of South Shields painted in 1855
The Traditional
Song, the Collier Brig: Oh, the worst old ship that ever
set sail, Sailed out of Harwich on a windy day. Chorus: Stormy weather,
boys, stormy weather, boys, When the wind blows the barge will go. She was
built in Roman style, Held together with bits of twine. Skipper’s half Dutch
and he hasn’t got a clue, The crew were fourteen hands too few. Cook spilt the
dinner on the galley floor, Skipper caught his hand in the wheelhouse door. Off
Orford Ness we sprang a leak, Hear our poor old timbers creak. We steered our
way round Lowestoft next, The wind backed round to the
sou-sou-west. Through the Cockle to Cromer Cliff, Steering like a wagon with a
wheel adrift. Up The Humber and up to town, Pump, you devils,
pump or drown. Then on a sandbank we got stuck, Skipper’s drunk in the Dog and
Duck. Up come a mermaid covered in slime, We took her
down the hold and we had a good time. We kept on course all through the night, Nearly went aground at the Apex light. Coal was shot by a
Keadby crew, Bottom was rotten and it went right
through. So when we saw the brig was sunk, We went to
the Barge and we all got drunk.
11 November 1825
William Farndale, son of John Christopher and Ann Farndale, was
born in Whitby. His father, John Christopher Farndale was a painter, but would
later become a master mariner, and captain of the William and Nancy.
William’s father John Christopher Farndale Senior died in 1837
1849
By 1849 eldest son William Farndale was the captain and master of
the ship his father had previously captained, the William and Nancy.
Article, 16 May 1849: HARTLEPOOL. Arrived (May 14) from … Maldon,
Wm and Mary (sic, recte,
Nancy), Farndale …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 29 August 1849: Sailed (Aug 27) …
William and Nancy, Farndale for Romney …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 1 October 1849: Sailed (Sept 26) …
William and Nancy, Farndale, for Hartlepool …
The Shipping
and Mercantile Gazette, 6 November 1849: HARTLEPOOL WEST. Arrived (Nov 2) … William and Nancy, Farndale,
from London …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 4 December 1849: BRIDLINGTON. Dec 3.
During the whole of yesterday it was excessively thick with rain, wind blowing
in the early part of the day from the south, varying to the southeast, ESE, and
east, blowing a perfect gale. This continued without intermission. At
daylight a Brig appeared to the southward, which, being unable to reach the
harbour, was run on shore about a half a mile south of the town, and proved
to be the William and Nancy, Farndale, of Whitby; Crew saved.
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 17 December 1849: BRIDLINGTON. Dec
15. Last night it blew a gale from the south, towards morning it veered to the
northwest; during the day, light and variable, and so
continued 8:30 PM. The William and Nancy, Farndale, which ran ashore near
this place on the 2nd inst, was hove off the beach and into the harbour this
this afternoon 's tide, with apparently little damage.
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 7 March 1850: Wm & Nancy,
Farndale, from London.
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 31 May 1850: HARTLEPOOL WEST. Sailed
(May 29), …William and Nancy, Farndale, for Hythe …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette. 1 June 1850: HARTLEPOOL WEST.
May 13. 13.30pm, SE, strong, foggy, 31 – E, light, fine. Put back, 30, The
William and Nancy, Farndale, with loss of anchor and 30 fathoms of chain,
windlass broken etc …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 6 August 1850: MIDDLESBROUGH … Wm
& Nancy, Farndale, arrived from London …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 20 September 1850, NEW ROMNEY. Sept
19: 18 – ENE fresh, 19 – SE light … Off, 19 – The William and Nancy, Farndale,
from Middlesbrough …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 18 November 1850: HARTLEPOOL – WEST.
Arrived (Nov 16) … Wm & Nancy, Farndale, from Whitby…
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 28 July 1851: YARMOUTH
… Passed, July 27 … 3pm … William and Nancy, brig, Farndale …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 17 September 1851: HARTLEPOOL, WEST. Arrived (Sept 15) … Wm & Nancy, Farndall (sic), from Dover …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 9 December 1851: HARTLEPOOL, WEST. Arrived (Dec 6) … Wm & Nancy, Farndale,
from Whitstable …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 20 May 1852: GREAT
YARMOUTH. May 19 .. 6pm – William and Nancy brig,
Farndale, of Whitby … northward …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 16 July 1852: TELEGRAPHS.
DEAL. July 15: Morning: SW, light, fine; Noon and Evening: SW, moderate, fine …
passed northward … 4pm – Wm & Nancy brig, Farndale, Whitby …
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 6 September 1852: DEAL. Sept 5 … The William and Nancy, Farndale, from west to north
…
1853
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 9 May 1853: TELEGRAPHS.
DEAL. May 8 … Passed westward, 7.30am, The William and Nancy brig, Farndale, Whitby
…
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 5 July 1853: GREAT
YARMOUTH – July 4 … 6am … Wm and Nancy brig, Farndale, Whitby ….
William was clearly playing it close to the wind, as his wedding
was on 7 July 1853!
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 25 August 1853: TELEGRAPHS,
DEAL. Aug 24. Morning: NE, moderate, cloudy; Noon: E, moderate, cloudy;
Evening: NE, fresh, thick rain. Passed westward, 3.15pm – The William and Nancy,
Farndale, Whitby for Dover …
1854
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 20 February 1854: LOWESTOFT – Feb 18. AM, NW strong, with snow squalls; PM:
strong, with snow squalls, very cold. Put in through stress of weather … Put in
– The William and Nancy, Farndale … The Harbour Company’s tugs, and also two Yarmouth tugs (the latter by permission of the
harbour master), have been engaged the greater part of the day assisting
vessels in, with loss of anchors, damage etc. The boy (name not reported)
belonging to the Commerce brig, of Whitby, was drowned in the inner harbour
last night, and the body dragged for and found this morning …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 23 June 1854: HULL.
June 22 .. Anchored … 1pm – Wm and Nancy brig,
Farndale, Whitby …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 22 August 1854: MARITIME
EXTRACTS. DEAL Aug 21 Arrived and proceeded … William and Nancy, Farndale, of
Whitby, … from west for north … TELEGRAPOHS DEAL. Aug 21 … 1pm … William and
Nancy, brig, Farndale, Whitby …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 31 August 1854: HARTLEPOOL,
WEST. Arrived (Aug 29) … Wm & Nancy, Farndall
(sic), from Folkstone …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 11 September 1854: HARTLEPOOL WEST. Arrived (Sept 8) … Wm & Nancy, Farndale,
from Folkestone …
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 30 September 1854: WHITBY. Arrived (Sept 29), Wm & Nancy, Farndale, from Folkestone
…
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 23 October 1854: YARMOUTH
– Oct … 22. … Passed … 10am …William and Nancy, brig, Farndale, Whitby …
The Norwich Mercury, 17 March 1855: LOWESTOFT
… SAILED – William and Mary (sic, recte Nancy),
Farndale, for Whitby …
1856
William Farndale
captained the William and Nancy in November 1856, and suffered severe
damage in a storm off Lowestoft in November 1856. The Liverpool Shipping Telegraph
and Daily Commercial Advertiser, 18 November 1856: LOWESTOFT. Nov 13 … put in through stress of weather etc, The
Wm and Nancy brig, Farndale, with loss of mainmast etc … The Norfolk Chronicle, 22 November 1856: .. The brig William and Nancy, Wil;liam Farndale, of Whitby, was forced by the brig
Ruby, off Pakefield. The former lost bowsprit, fore-mast,
fore-topmast, main-topmast, and all the gear and long boat stoven. Was assisted
into harbour by a boat’s crew for £50 … Arrived, City of Norwich … For refuge, …
Wm and Nancy, Farndall (sic) … The Norfolk News, 22 November 1856: THE
WEATHER AND THE SHIPPING. During and subsequent to the late heavy gale,
about 100 sale, many of them large class vessels, have
taken our harbour for refuge. The following are a few of the casualties
that have occurred, and owing to which they entered for repairing damages and
replacing losses:... The brig ‘William and Nancy’,
William Farndale, of Whitby, was fouled by the Brig ‘Ruby’, off [Duke’s
Head?]. The former lost bowsprit, foremast, fore-topmast, main topmast, and
all the gear and longboat stove and was assisted into harbour by a boat's crew for
£50....
However again the
vessel was repaired and made seaworthy again. The Public
Ledger and Daily Advertiser, 22 December 1856: LOWESTOFT,
December 18. Sailed, the William and Mary (sic, recte
Nancy), Farndale, for Whitby, after repairing. …
In 1857, we have the first record of a voyage outwith the
British shores, to France. Lloyd’s List, 23 April 1857: WHITBY. Arrived the
William and Nancy, Farndale, from Abbeville.
In July 1857, William
had more problems with the William and Nancy: The Liverpool Shipping
Telegraph and Daily Commercial Advertiser, 27 July 1857: RAMSGATE. July 23.
The Wm and Nancy, Farndall (sic), from Sunderland for
Deal, has put in with the loss of fore and main topmast, off the Inner
Garboard, at 11am, on the 22nd, assisted by a fishing smack.
In November William sailed to Boulogne with coals. The Newcastle Journal, 14 November 1857: WEDNESDAY, Nov 11. William and Nancy, Farndale, Boulogne, 44 chs coals …
The North & South
Shields Gazette and Northumberland and Durham Advertiser, 26 November 1857: ARRIVALS AT FOREIGN PORTS. … BOULOGNE. Nov 23. … William and
Nancy, Farndale, from Shields …
The Newcastle Courant, 11 February 1859: WARKWORTH. ARRIVED
COASTWISE. The William and Nancy, Farndale, from Shields, in ballast …
William Farndale and the
William and Nancy arrived at Warkworth from Abbeville. Abbeville is in
France not far from Le Treport, but has a canal to the sea. Warkworth is in
Northumberland near Alnmouth. The Newcastle Journal,
3 November 1860: WARKWORTH … CLEARED FOREIGN … William and Nancy, Farndale,
Abbeville.
The Newcastle
Journal, 4 February 1861: William Farndale
and the William and Nancy arrived at Amble from St Valery. Another report
showed that the vessel was carrying 125 tones of coals from Harrison, Carr
& Co.
The Newcastle
Guardian and Tyne Mercury, 6 July 1861: Blyth, June 26 - Mr Farndale, of the schooner William and
Nancy, of Whitby, from Deal, last night, or nearly this morning, passed a
quantity of German yeast, picked up one basket; several pieces of bulwarks were
floating about at the place; Tynemouth Castle bearing SW by S, distant about 5
miles.
1861
There was more trouble for William Farndale and the William and
Nancy in November 1861. The Shields Daily Gazette, 7 November 1861: The brig William Nancy, Farndale, of Whitby, from Newcastle
for Abbeville, put in at Calais, on the 2nd inst, with bulwarks carried away,
having experienced very severe weather...
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 11 March 1862 showed that on 10 March 1862 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
Shields from Abbeville.
Lloyd’s List, 25 April
1862 showed that on 23 April 1862 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived of
Whitby arrived at St Valery.
Lloyd’s List, 3 April
1862 showed that on 25 April 1862 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
St Valery from Newcastle.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 25 August 1862 showed that on 22 August 1862 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
West Hartlepool from Deal.
1863
Lloyd’s List, 4 March
1863 showed
that on 24 February 1863 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
Dunkirk from Newcastle.
Lloyd’s List, 26 March
1863 showed that on 24 March 1863 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
Sandwich from Abbeville.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 11 June 1863 showed that on 9 June 1863 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
West Hartlepool from Whitby.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 5 August 1863 showed that on 3 August 1863 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived at
West Hartlepool from Deal.
1864
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 3 May 1864 showed that on 2 May 1864 William Farndale and the William and Nancy sailed
from Ramsgate bound for Hartlepool.
The Norfolk Chronicle, 29
October 1864 showed
that on 26 October 1864 William Farndale, captain of the brig, the William and
Nancy, and travellng from Broadstairs to Whitby and ‘in ballast’, suffered
a mainstay broken.
The Shields Daily News, 6
December 1864 showed
that on 4 December 1864 William Farndale and the William and Nancy put into
to Dover have sailed from Shields en route to Abbeville.
1865
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 16 May 1865 showed that on 14 May 1865 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived in
West Hartlepool from Folkestone.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 26 June 1865 showed that on 24 June 1865 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived in
Hartlepool from Deal.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 25 August 1865 showed that on 24 August 1865 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Hartlepool from Deal.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 4 November 1865 showed that on 1 November 1865 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Sandwich from Hartlepool.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 14 December 1865 showed that on 13 December 1865 William Farndale and the William and Nancy arrived in
Sandwich from Hartlepool.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 18 December 1865 showed that on 17 December 1865 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Sandwich from Hartlepool.
1866
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 8 January 1866 showed that on 5 January 1866 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Sandwich from Middlesbrough.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 1 February 1866 showed that on 31 January 1866 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Lowestoft from London for Middlesbrough.
There is a record of shipwrecks from Whitby which shows that the
William and Nancy, formerly the ship captained by William Farndale, floundered
off Dimlington in June 1866. Dinlington is off the Holderness coast, near Hill,
south of Withensea.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 3 August 1866 showed that on 2 August 1866 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Hartlepool from Deal.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 27 November 1866 showed that on 27 November 1866 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Lowestoft from Deal.
1867
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 11
February 1867 showed that on 9 February 1867 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arriving at Hartlepool from Arboath.
The Shields Daily News, 6 June
1867 showed that on 5 June 1867 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Medusa
arriving at Sunderland from Cronstadt.
The Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette, 4 September 1867 showed that on 3 September 1867 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
left Deal heading north.
The Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette, 18 October 1867 showed that on 17 October 1867 William Farndale (or someone else?) captained the Ythan
arrived at West Hartlepool from Deal.
The Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette, 21 January 1868 showed that on 20 January 1868 William Farndale was captain of the Day Star,
arriving in Portsmouth for Llanelly.
William’s younger brother John Christopher Farndale (FAR00308) was lost at sea in the Bay of Biscay on 22 January 1868.
The Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette, 29 January 1868 showed that on 27 January 1868 William Farndale captained the Ythan arrived at
Whitby from Lowestoft.
The Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette, 18 March 1868 showed that on 11 March 1868 William Farndale captained the Ythan arrived at Blyth
from Whitby.
The Shields Daily Gazette, 28
March 1868: Serious Damage to the Ythan of Blyth. The Ythan,
Farndale, of Blyth, for Deal, put into Ramsgate on Thursday, having been in
collision with the brig Doune Castle, carrying away rigging, mainsail,
bulwarks, and receiving other damage.
The Shipping and Mercantile
Gazette, 2 May 1868 showed that on 30 April 1868 William Farndale captained the Charles Adams and was
cleared at Rotterdam for Ipswich.
The Shields Daily News, 25 August
1868 showed that on 25 August 1868 The Ythan, Farndale, for Shields, put in to Ramsgate
on Sunday with loss of anchor and chain.
1869
The Lloyds
Captains Register 1869 listed William Farndale, born 1825, as a Master Mariner.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 27 February 1869 showed that on 26 February 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Blyth for Deal
The Shields Daily Gazette,
31 May 1869 showed that on 31 May 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, was off Deal on Friday, running to
leeward for shelter.
The Shields Daily Gazette,
23 June 1869 showed that on 23 June 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, from Deal for Shields was in South
Lowestoft Roads, windbound, on Monday.
The Shields Daily Gazette,
1 October 1869 showed that on 29 September 1869 The Ythan, Farndale, from Shields to Deal.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 7 February 1870 showed that on 4 February 1870 The Medusa (s), Farndale, arrived in Sunderland from
Portsmouth.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 4 April 1870 showed that on 2 April 1870 The Ythan schooner, of Deal, Farndale, passed
Broadstairs from Sandwich, heading north.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 6 July 1870 showed that on 6 July 1870 The Ythan, Farndale, came down at Deal and proceeded for
Shields, WSW, fresh, fine.
1871
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 17 July 1871 showed that on 15 July 1871 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from West Hartlepool for
Deal Beach.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 9 October 1871 showed that on 6 October 1871 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from West Hartlepool for
Deal.
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 27 June 1872 showed that on 26 June 1872 The Ythan, Farndale,
sailed from Sunderland for Deal.
The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 25 October 1872 showed that on 24 October 1872 The Ythan,
Farndale, sailed from Shields for Deal.
1873
William Farndale appears
to have led a trans Atlantic voyage in February 1873. The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 1 and 3 February 1873: LIVERPOOL – Jan 31.
The China, Farndale, arrived here from New Orleans,
experienced very severe weather the whole of the passage. Jan 27, between
Tuskar and Bardsey, passed through an immense quantity of pine logs, deals and
bulwarks, the latter painted blue and whte, all
fresh; was compelled to keep a double watch, the logs being so large and very
dangerous to shipping at night.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 6 May 1873 showed that on 5 May 1873 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Whitby for
Hartlepool.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 26 May 1873 showed that on 24 May 1873 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Shields for Dymchurch.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 27 November 1873 showed that on 26 November 1873 The Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Hartlepool.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 15 December 1873 showed that on 14 December 1873 The Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Hartlepool
and the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 15 December 1873: On 13 December
The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Hartlepool for Whitby.
1874
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 7 March 1874 showed that on 5 March 1874 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Whitby for Shields.
The Sunderland Daily Echo
and Shipping Gazette, 27 March 1874 showed that on 25 March 1874 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Shields for Dover.
1875
The Northern Echo, 17
March 1875 showed that on 16 March 1875 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Hartlepool for Deal
Beach with coals.
The Sunderland Daily Echo
and Shipping Gazette, 21 December 1875 showed that on 19 December 1875 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Whitby for Hartlepool.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 6 July 1876 showed that on 5 July 1876 The Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Hartlepool from Whitby.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 12 July 1876 showed that on 11 July 1876 The Ythan, Farndale, sailed from Hartlepool for
Folkestone with coals.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 28 October 1876 showed that on 27 October 1876 The Ythan, Farndale, was off Deal heading from the north
to New Romney.
The Shipping and
Mercantile Gazette, 20 September 1876 showed that on 18 September 1876 The Ythan, Farndale, arrived in Whitby from Folkestone.
This may have been his
last voyage as a merchant captain.
The Whitby Gazette, 9
December 1876: THE APPOINTMENT OF HARBOUR MASTER. The
special business before the monthly meeting of the Trustees of the Piers and
Harbour, on Wednesday last, was the appointment of a harbour master in
the place of Mr William Tose, deceased. … It was resolved that Mr Robert
Gibson, master mariner, be appointed to the office … The following is a list
of the candidates … Wm Farndale … By now William Farndale was 51, so
clearly looking for a less stressful life than one on the high seas.
The Aberdeen Free Press, 2 May 1885: LOCAL SCHOONER SUNK. A Lloyd’s telegram states that the
schooner Ythan, from Hartlepool to Folkestone with coal, was run into and sunk
on Wednesday off the Humber by the steamer Frances, from Stavanger. The
crew were sved. The Frances proceeded to the Tyne apparently undamaged. The
Maritime Directory gives two schooners named Ythan – the one registered at
Aberdeen, built at Garmouth in 1876, of 86 tons, and owned by Mr Alexader
Mitchell, Newburgh; and the other registered at Deal, built at Aberdeen, iin
1837, of 76 tons, and owned by Mr William Fandale, Whitby. From Lloyd’s
telegram it is impossible to say which vessel is the one that has been sunk.
So William Farndale was owner of the Ythan by this time.
1887
William Farndale died in Whitby.
The Traditional Song, the Collier Brig:
Oh, the worst old ship
that ever set sail,
Sailed out of Harwich on a
windy day.
Chorus: Stormy weather,
boys, stormy weather, boys,
When the wind blows the
barge will go.
She was built in Roman
style,
Held together with bits of
twine.
Skipper’s half Dutch and
he hasn’t got a clue,
The crew were fourteen
hands too few.
Cook spilt the dinner on
the galley floor,
Skipper caught his hand in
the wheelhouse door.
Off Orford Ness we sprang
a leak,
Hear our poor old timbers
creak.
We steered our way round
Lowestoft next,
The wind backed round to
the sou-sou-west.
Through the Cockle to
Cromer Cliff,
Steering like a wagon with
a wheel adrift.
Up The Humber and up to
town,
Pump, you devils, pump or drown.
Then on a sandbank we got
stuck,
Skipper’s drunk in the Dog
and Duck.
Up come a mermaid covered
in slime,
We took her down the hold
and we had a good time.
We kept on course all
through the night,
Nearly went aground at the
Apex light.
Coal was shot by a Keadby
crew,
Bottom was rotten and it
went right through.
So when we saw the brig was sunk,
We went to the Barge and we all got drunk.