John Kenworthy (1830-1881) voyage dates
The following is a chronological list of all the ships John worked aboard, and the dates of the voyages he was on, as best I can tell.
The ships John worked on prior to becoming captain are recorded on John's Statement of Service, which is included with the papers for his Master Mariner Certificate of Competency, issued 13 December 1858; (National Maritime Museum). Ships he served on as master are known from newspaper shipping reports (see below), which typically stated the master's name for each vessel.
For the most part, dates of arrivals and departures are derived from shipping reports in the following contemporary newspapers:
- Lloyd's List
- Northern Daily Times
- Liverpool Telegraph
- Liverpool Daily Post
- The Friend of India
- Liverpool Albion
- Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette
A few other small details have been gleaned from Molly Jenkins' book A Very English Family (2001; privately published), which Molly in turn sourced from John's personal log.
The list of voyages is not complete. In particular, his early voyages as an apprentice are impossible to accurately record, mainly because his record states he served his apprenticeship on the Esk and the Valparaiso but does not make it clear when he switched from one to the other, or if he switched back and forth. His record states that he first went to see on 4 September 1844, but both the Esk and the Valparaiso were already out at sea on that date. It is possible the date is incorrect, although this is unlikely as it first appears on his maritime register ticket which was issued in August 1845, less than a year later. It may be that he made a journey on an unknown ship from Whitehaven (close to his place of birth, and almost certainly where he was recruited) down to Liverpool before being properly assigned to a vessel. I have worked on the assumption that his first voyage was on the Esk, as it is listed first and it was the first of the two to sail from Liverpool after 4 September. Once he completed his apprenticeship, it is known with more or less certainty which ship was serving on at any given time.
Voyage dates are grouped as round trips, typically with four dates (departing Liverpool; arriving destination; departing destination; arriving Liverpool), to show the entire time he was away from home and the turnaround time at the destination port. I have not been able to find all four dates in every case, but there is at least one date for each round trip, and by looking at the typical voyage durations we can usually estimate the missing dates to within a month or so. In earlier voyages there are sometimes more than two pairs of arrivals and departures, especially for the trips to South America, where they might travel to multiple ports along the coast and often stopped in Hamburg on the way back. In some cases I have been able to provide extra dates, especially from 1858 onwards, when reports start to appear of ships' positions mid-voyage.
For destinations, I have used the names reported in the press, although many of these places are now more more commonly known by another name, and in some cases it is not entirely clear where each location actually was. The following is an explanation of all the ports that appear on the list.
Liverpool - then part of Lancashire, this was John's home port throughout his career, although when he was younger he would return home to his family in Egremont, presumably by way of Whitehaven.
Bahia - A coastal region (and now a state) of Brazil. The actual port was probably the city of Salvador. Principle exports were cotton, coffee, and tobacco, most of which was produced by slaves of African descent (slavery was not abolished in Brazil until 1888).
Falmouth - In Cornwall, the first sizeable port reached when approaching Britain from the southwest.
Hamburg - In Germany, then as now one of the largest ports in mainland Europe.
Rio de Janeiro - Then the capital of Brazil, and a major port.
Calcutta - Now officially known as Kolkata, which is a more accurate rendering of the Bengali pronunciation.
Saugor - Probably refers to Sagar island, in the Ganges delta, which ships would have passed as they left the river and into open sea.
I have also noted the dates of significant events in John's life such as his competency certificates, the births of his children (all of which he was at sea for), and the deaths of family members. These events are in green italics to distinguish them from the voyage dates. All events took place in Liverpool, unless otherwise stated.
And now, the list...
04 Sep 1844 - First went to sea, according to later service records.
The Esk (Nov 1844-?) and the Valparaiso (?-?)
Role: Apprentice
Master: Massy (Esk) and Dixon (Valparaiso)
Owner: Brocklebank
02 Nov 1844 departs Liverpool
12 Dec 1844 arrives Bahia
14 Jan 1845 departs Bahia
23 Feb 1845 arrives Falmouth
09 Mar 1845 at Falmouth "awaiting orders"
10 Mar 1845 death of father; Egremont
07 Apr 1845 departs Falmouth
14 Apr 1845 Esk arrives Hamburg
The Pilot Fish (May 1851 - Jan 1852)
Role: Seaman
Master: James Sedgely
Owner: Cotesworth, Wynne and Lyne
31 May 1851 Pilot Fish departs Liverpool for Bahia
02 Sep 1851 Pilot Fish departs Bahia
20 Dec 1851 Pilot Fish arrives Hamburg from Rio de Janeiro
28 Jan 1852 Pilot Fish arrives Liverpool from Hamburg
The Robert Pulsford (Feb-Nov 1852)
Role: Seaman
Master: ?
Owner: Brocklebank
11 Feb 1852 Robert Pulsford departs Liverpool (for Calcutta)
27 Nov 1852 Robert Pulsford arrives Liverpool
The Martaban (Jan-Oct 1853)
Role: 4th Mate
Master: Adamson
Owner: Brocklebank
17 Jan 1853 departs Liverpool, for (Calcutta)
21 Oct 1853 arrives Liverpool (from Calcutta)
25 Nov 1853 2nd Mate certificate
The Maia (Nov 1853 - May 1855)
Role: 2nd mate
Master: Turpin
Owner: Brocklebank
30 Nov 1853 departs Liverpool (for Guatemala)
[unable to find any info within 1854]
?? Mar 1855 arrives Valparaiso from Acajutla
17 May 1855 arrives Folkstone (from Guatemala)
The Florence Nightingale (Aug 1855 - May 1857)
Role: 2nd Mate
Master: Mossop
Owner: Brocklebank
17 Aug 1855 Florence Nightingale departs Liverpool
05 Dec 1855 Florence Nightingale arrives Calcutta
24 May 1856 Florence Nightingale arrives Liverpool
29 May 1856 marries Amelia Coleman
30 Mar 1856 1st Mate certificate
25 June 1856 Florence Nightingale departs Liverpool
31 Mar 1857 Florence Nightingale arrives Liverpool
The Patriot Queen (Apr 1857 - Nov 1858)
Role: 1st Mate
Master: H.B. Fletcher
Owner: Brocklebank
21 Apr 1857 departs Liverpool for Calcutta (loses maintopmast)
15 Aug 1857 arrives Calcutta
c.Dec 1857 child John Coleman (1st of that name) born
13 Dec 1857 child John Coleman dies
18 Jan 1858 off Scily; reported Tornado
21 Jan arrives Liverpool
04 Mar 1858 departs Liverpool
14 Apr 1858 spoken with at 12 N 31 W (en route to Calcutta)
15 Jul 1858 cleared to leave Calcutta
29 Nov 1858 arrives Liverpool from Calcutta
30 Dec 1858 Master certificate
The Sumatra (Jan 1859 - May 1861)
Role: 1st Mate
Master: Rorison
Owner: Brocklebank
04 Jan 1859 departs Liverpool
01 Jun 1859 departs Calcutta
16 Sep 1859 arrives Liverpool (approx, no later than 17th)
10 Nov 1859 departs Liverpool
21 Mar 1860 arrives Calcutta
19 August 1860 arrives Liverpool
20 Sep 1860 departs Liverpool
12 Jan 1861 arrives Calcutta
13 Feb 1861 departs Calcutta
02 May 1861 child John Coleman (2nd of that name) born
24 May 1861 arrives Liverpool
The Princess Royal (Aug 1861 - Oct 1866)
Role: Master
Owner: Brocklebank
21 Aug 1861 Princess Royal departs Liverpool
02 Jan 1862 arrives Calcutta
30 Jan 1862 departs Calcutta
25 May 1862 arrives Liverpool
19 Jun 1862 departs Liverpool
15 Oct 1862 arrives Calcutta
21 Nov 1862 departs Calcutta
01 Mar 1863 child George Frederick born
16 Mar 1863 arrives Liverpool
17 Apr 1863 departs Liverpool
02 Aug 1863 arrives Calcutta
09 Sep 1863 departs Calcutta
29 Dec 1863 arrives Liverpool
29 Jan 1864 Princess Royal departs Liverpool
14 Jul 1864 Princess Royal departs Calcutta
08 Nov 1864 Princess Royal arrives Liverpool
08 Jan 1865 departs Liverpool
01 Jul 1865 departs Calcutta
11 Sep 1865 child Amelia born
15 Oct 1865 arrives Liverpool
The Arachne (Mar - Nov 1866)
Role: Master
Owner: Brocklebank
27 Mar 1866 departs Liverpool
03 Aug 1866 arrives Calcutta
30 Aug 1866 departs Calcutta
15 Oct 1866 child William Henry born
12 Nov 1866 Arachne abandoned, Cabo Verde
c. 26 Dec 1866 Keldhead drops crew of Arachne in London.
The Florence Nightingale (Mar - Oct 1867)
Role: Master
Owner: Brocklebank
04 Mar 1867 departs Liverpool
15 Jun 1867 arrives Calcutta
25 Jul 1867 departs Calcutta
31 Oct 1867 arrives Liverpool
27 Nov 1867 William Henry dies
The Mahanada (Dec 1867 - Sep 1876)
Role: Master
Owner: Brocklebank
21 Dec 1867 departs Liverpool
24 Sep 1868 arrives Liverpool
17 Nov 1868 departs Liverpool
22 Nov 1868 at 46 N, 11 W
09 Mar 1869 arrives Calcutta
10 Jun 1869 at 31 S, 10 E (en route to Liverpool)
16 Jul 1869 child James Edward born
02 Aug 1869 arrives Liverpool
23 Sep 1869 at 41 N, 21 N (en route to Calcutta)
13 Oct 1869 at 6 N, 24 W (en route to Calcutta)
15 Jan 1870 departs Calcutta
11 May 1870 arrives Liverpool
?? Aug 1870 departs Liverpool
16 Oct 1870 arrives Calcutta
05 Nov 1870 departs Saugor (Sagar island)
21 Mar 1871 arrives Liverpool
03 Aug 1871 departs Calcutta
30 Dec 1871 arrives Liverpool
24 Apr 1872 arrives Calcutta
29 May 1872 departs Calcutta
15 Aug 1872 child Emma born
11 Sep 1872 arrives Liverpool
16 Oct 1872 departs Liverpool
14 Feb 1873 arrvies Calcutta
08 Mar 1873 departs Calcutta
27 Jun 1873 arrives Liverpool
21 Dec 1873 departs Calcutta
27 Mar 1874 arrives Liverpool
20 Apr 1874 departs Liverpool
08 Jun 1874 child Emma dies
25 Jul 1874 arrives Calcutta
26 Aug 1874 departs Calcutta
12 Nov 1874 arrives Liverpool
04 Jul 1875 departs Calcutta
24 Oct 1875 arrives Liverpool
11 Dec 1875 departs Liverpool
14 Apr 1876 arrives Calcutta
11 May 1876 departs Calcutta
27 Jul 1876 passed St Helena (en route to Liverpool)
01 Sep 1876 at 47 N 21 W (en route to Liverpool)
07 Sep 1876 arrives Calcutta
The Alexandra (Jul 1877 - Feb 1879)
Role: Master
Owner: Brocklebank
11 Jul 1877 departs Liverpool
28 Oct 1877 arrives Calcutta
05 Dec 1877 departs Calcutta
08 Dec 1877 child Agnes Edith born
16 Apr 1878 arrives Liverpool
12 Apr 1878 departs Liverpool
?? Aug 1878 arrives Calcutta, with loss of foretopmast
06 Nov 1878 departs Calcutta (collides with tugboat Enterprise)
19 Feb 1879 arrives Liverpool
The Belfast (Mar 1879 - Oct 1881)
Role: Master
Owner: Brocklebank
16 Mar 1879 departs Liverpool
13 Jun 1879 arrives Calcutta
31 Jul 1879 departs Saugor
13 Nov 1879 arrives Liverpool
17 Mar 1880 arrives Calcutta
06 May 1880 departs Calcutta
03 Sep 1880 arrives Liverpool
20 Oct 1880 departs Liverpool; towed out by tugboat Wrestler
26 Mar 1881 departs Calcutta; towed out by tugboat Challenge
22 Jul 1881 arrives Liverpool
28 Aug 1881 Belfast departs Liverpool
05 Oct 1881 final log entry; 2.19 S 25.16 W
13 Oct 1881 his death; aboard the Belfast.
To go back to John's main biography page, click here
.To go back to the Robinson-Kenworthy tree, click here
.