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.