Brig "Iceni", Buenos Ayres

1834 - Brig "Iceni", Robert Lacy
FO446/4 , FHC microfilm 1494330, folios 110-111 renumbered as 219-222 - Printer Friendly Version

The Iceni left Liverpool in May of 1834 with a General Cargo bound direct for Buenos Ayres. When the vessel was entering the River Plate she ran aground on the "Arklow" Bank. The stern of the ship was "hung" and they were unable to get her off. When the wind and waves endangered the ship they opened the aft hatchway and lightened the ship by jettisoning part of the cargo.

On reaching the Port of Buenos Ayres the Captain of the vessel required the consignees to agree to share the losses of the jettisoned cargo in proportion to the value of the ship, freight and cargo by signing a Bond of Indemnity.
The Captain recorded his "Protest" in the consulate in which he described the events that led to the losses in order to establish that they were not attributable to faults of the ship or crew.
The Captain requested the Consul to order a survey of the ship, probably to show that she was seaworthy and to determine her value.

The next step was for an accountant, Robert De Billinghurst, to calculate the General Average, the losses of cargo belonging to the consignees and the losses and other expenses incurred by the ship which amounted to about 43 981 $ (they used the term "dollars" not "pesos"). The value of the ship, freight and cargo was 977 357$ which meant that the losses amounted to 4.5% of the total value.
Then they calculated how much each party should pay, proportional to the value of the ship, cargo and freight. There were 29 merchants with cargo on that ship, nearly a who-is-who of the British merchant community in 1834:
Mohr & Ludovici, Rennie Macfarlane & Co., Alexander Spears & Co., Parlane Macalister & Co., John Dalton, McDougall & Co., James Dunnett & Co., George Nuttall, Daniel Gowland, George Beley & Co., Orr & Jordan, Barton & Wild, Harratt & Sons, Alfred Barber, Hodgson & Robinson, Rodger Breed & Co., William & John Black, Anderson Weller & Co., Brownell & Stegmann, Nicholson Green & Co., Bertram Delisle & Co., John Appleyard, Dickson & Co., J. C. Thompson, Henry Jones assigns Dorr, Reincke & Lees, Plowes & Atkinson & Co., Lafone Robinson & Co., Richard & John Carlisle, McCracken Jamieson & Co.

Biographical information on most of the above can be found in Diccionario de Britanicos en Buenos Aires (Primera Epoca) by Maxine Hanon, Buenos Aires 2005.

FO446/4 , FHC microfilm 1494330, folio 115, page 219 return to top

This Bond of Indemnity has been made and entered into on the day of the date whereof by and between the undersigned the several Consignees of the Cargo of the British Brig Iceni and the master of the said Brig Robert Lacy for, and by reason of the said British Brig having suffered a Jettison in consequence of her having struck on the Arklow Bank on her passage from the Port of Liverpool unto this Port of Buenos Ayres whence a General Average on the ship cargo and freight has been incurred.
Now therefore we the undersigned consignees of the Remainder Cargo Do hereby bind ourselves our Heirs Executors and Assigns unto the said Robert Lacy Master to pay or cause to be paid for us and in our name unto the several Parties interested in the Goods which have been of necessity thrown overboard for the Benefit of all parties concerned in the cargo of the before mentioned British Brig "Iceni", severally our due proportion of the value thereof and charges consequent therein as may and shall be hereafter ascertained and made manifest by legal protest and adjustment according with commercial usage and custom in all cases of a like nature. The Condition of this Bond of Indemnity being that the said Robert Lacy master shall in our mutually and severally signing this and cause the said vessel to be discharged and the Exciting goods to be severally delivered unto as according with our respective Bills of Lading,
We the Undersigned hereby covenanting and declaring on the other part that we will hold the said Robert Lacy harmless insomuch as respects all just charges for the said Jettison to be hereafter apportionable as a General Average on the Ship, Cargo and freight in consequence thereof, whensoever the same shall be duly made manifest by legal Protest and adjustment as aforesaid.
In Witness Thereof we have severally hereunto set our signs manual in this city of Buenos Ayres on this Twentieth day of August One Thousand and Eight hundred and thirty four. It being further covenanted on the part of the said Robert Lacy He doth hereby bind himself to pay or cause to be paid by his agents or assigns such proportion of the aforesaid General Average as shall on adjustment correspond to ship and freight.
/signed/

Alexander Spears & Co	McCracken, Jamieson
pp Plowes Atkinson & Co., Fredk. Plowes	Rennie, Macfarlane
Brownell Stegmann	Wm. Rodger, Breed & Co
Alfred Barber	Mohr Ludovici
John Harratt & Sons	Hodgson & Robinson
Henry H. Jones	John Appleyard
Orr & Jordan	Bertram, Delisle & Co.
Wm. & Jno. Black	Barton & Wild
J. C. Thompson	pp George Nuttall, John Nuttall
John Dalton	McDougall & Co
pp George Beley & Co., Charles H. Twyford	pp Nicholson Green & Co., Edward Lumb
Lafone, Robinson & Co.	Anderson Weller & Co.
Robert Lacy, Master	pp Robert Carlisle, John Wyatt Smith
Daniel Gowland	pp = per procurationem (Latin) = by proxy
Parlane, Macalister & Co.
James Dunnett & Co.
pp Dickson & Co., W. H. Garrett

return to top

return to top
British Consulate
Buenos Ayres 22nd August 1834

Mr. Robert Lacy master of the British Brig "Iceni" having applied in this Consulate for an order of survey on the said ship,

These are to require of you Mr. David Smith Master of the British Barque "Mary Worrall",
Mr Richard Sandford master of the British Brig "Lorina" and Mr. William Hambrook Ship Carpenter, to repair on board examine and report upon the same accordingly
/signed/ Charles Griffiths H M's Consul

To David Smith Master of the British Barque "Mary Worrall"
Mr. Richard Sandford Master of the British Brig "Lorina"
Mr. William Hambrook Ship Carpenter

Pursuant to the annexed order of Survey dated August 22nd 1834 and directed to us by Charles Griffiths Esquire H.B. Majesty's Consul for Buenos Ayres, We the undersigned did repair on board the British Brig called the "Iceni" of London, Robert Lacy Master and did then and there take a strict and impartial survey of the said vessel.

And we do declare and report that we found the decks of the said "Iceni" in good condition, also the topsides and bands which latter had been caulked fore and aft And we further declare that on Careening the said Brig (as much as prudent in this Port) we found the copper and bottom in good condition and not injured on the said vessel being on shore on her passage to this port that the Iceni is tight and fit to complete any voyage whatever.

To the Truth and impartiality of our proceedings on this survey we are willing to make oath if called upon to do so.

/signed/ David Smith Master of the British Barque "Mary Worrall" of Liverpool
Richard Sandford Master of the British Brig "Lorina" of Yarmouth
William Hambrook Ship Carpenter

These are to certify etc. etc.
/signed/ Charles Griffiths
H M's Consul

return to top
By this Public Instrument of Declaration and Protest Be it Known to all whom it may concern that on the Third day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred & thirty four personally came and appeared in the British Consulate at Buenos Ayres in South America Robert Lacy master of the Brig or vessel called the Iceni of London of the burthen of 180 tons or thereabouts who duly noted his Protest in this office on arrival at this Port together with John Barcham mate and John Wilson second mate who declared that the said vessel being laden with a General Cargo they the said appearers sailed on the Thirtieth day of May of this Year on board the said Brig from the Port of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster bound direct to this Port of Buenos Ayres & proceeded on the voyage with light Breezes & fine weather, nothing particular occurred until the First day of June [could it have been August??] when at 4 pm they head bearing SSW distance about 12 miles ship lying SW & by W ½ W with the wind at the south, fresh Breezes & very foggy weather, tacked ship and stood to the ESE and at ¾ past 4 am unfortunately struck at the north end of the Arklow Bank, instantly hoisted signal of Distress, weather still foggy; got out the skiff & sounded & found only 11 ½ feet water, the vessel hanging on her stern, continued to sound in search of deep water the weather then moderate but the fog at times heavy, carried out a stream anchor to the north west with upwards of one hundred fathoms/feet? of stream howser [sic] and hove out upon it with all possible strain,

but found the vessel still hung; about 7 am it coming on to freshen from the south the sea making heavy and finding the ship in great danger after consulting with the officers deemed the necessity to lighten the ship abaft in order that she might swing to the howser this was effected with all possible dispatch from the half? deck hatchway a quantity of Packages were thrown over board the exact number and marks thereof unknown as under the pressure of such circumstances it became necessary to lose no time for the preservation of the ship having done this the vessel began to pay off and about half past 1 am cut away the stream anchor as it was dangerous to make any effort to weight it and got clear off the bank, tried the pumps and finding the vessel had made no water considered it best to continue our voyage which we accordingly did, and nothing very remarkable occurred until they anchored the vessel in safety in the Outer Roads of this port.

And the said appearers further declared that the said Brig at the time of her sailing from Liverpool aforesaid upon the said intended voyage was tight staunch and strong & had her hatches well and sufficiently caulked & covered and was well and sufficiently provided and furnished with all things needful and necessary for the said voyage and that they the said appearers and the rest of the ship's company used their utmost endeavours to preserve the Brig and Cargo from damage

Whereupon the said Robert Lacy master of the said Brig called the Iceni entered this Protest to the end that all such loss of damage as the said vessel her cargo tackle or furniture as may have suffered or sustained by the happenings aforesaid and all costs charges and expenses attending the same shall be borne and paid by those whom of right it may concern as being occasioned by the reasons aforesaid and not by or through any insufficiency or neglect of the said vessel her tackle furniture or crew.

This done and Protested the said appearers have hereunto subscribed their Names in the British Consulate at Buenos Ayres on the day month and year before written
/signed/ Robert Lacy
/signed/ John Bancham
/signed/ John Wilson
/signed/ Andrew Peternony?
These are to certify etc. etc.
/signed/ Charles Griffiths
H M's Consul

---------------------------

The next step was to determine the value of the cargo that had been lost and to share the amount among the shipowners and the merchants proportionally. -----

Statement of a General Average incurred by Jettison from the British Brig Iceni Robert Lacy master occasioned by the vessel having struck on the Arklow Bank on her voyage from Liverpool to the Port of Buenos Ayres in consequence of which accident remuneration is now sought for the Parties suffering therefrom by a General Contribution on the value of the Ship, Freight and Cargo FO446/4 , FHC microfilm 1494330, folios 116-117 renumbered as 231-233 return to top
Claims for the goods jettisoned & charges		per Doc. No.	Currency
By Mohr & Ludovici		3	10196.00
By Rennie, Macfarlane & Co		4	3565.00
By Rennie, Macfarlane & Co		5	3200.00
By Alexander Spears & Co.		6	8320.06
By Parlane, Macalister & Co		7	2045.75
By John Dalton		8	881.00
By John McDougall & Co		9	2378.12
By James Dunnett & Co.		10	3893.25
By George Nuttall		11	107.50
By Robert Lacy		12	250.00
By Daniel Gowland		13	420.62
By George Beley & Co.		14	2687.62
For one seven inch hawser cut..... 1150 ft @ $90 p 100 ft?	1092.40	.	.
For 25 yards of canvas and two gallons of tar, for tarpaulin thrown overboard	74.40	.	.
	1167.80	.	.
Less 1/3rd off New F????	389.00	15	778
For a second hand stream anchor 450 @ 90$ p 100?		15	450.00
For freight receivable in Buenos Ayres on goods jettisoned		16	594.75
For the Master's expenses on shore attending meetings of the consignees and other business respecting the average	.	17	283.78
For Mr. Robert de Billinghurst's attendance advice & assistance to the Master drawing average bond, the examination of Claims and Valuations together with the final adjustment thereof	.	18	1750.00
For Consular Protest & Registry of Papers etc. etc. and other Consular expenses	.	.	175.00
For Messrs. McCracken & Jamieson Commission for Paying and receiving 5% on $41000	.	.	2050.00
Total amount of Loss Expense		.	43 981.47
Now if $977 336 the value of the Ship, Freight & Cargo, and losses $43 981.47 , 100$ will lose 4 1/2%

return to top

To be defrayed in manner following :
By the Ship, Cargo, & Freight including the value of the Goods Jettisoned				69000.00	4.5%	3105.000
By the Freight receivable at Buenos Ayres £150 Less proportion of 3 Ms surveys? & provisions £54 Receivable in Bs As £96 Exch ?				3321.00	4.5%	149.445
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Mohr & Ludovici	per Document	A	16978.00	4.5%	764.010
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Rennie, Macfarlane & Co.	per Document	B	84075.00	4.5%	3783.375
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Alexander Spears & Co.	per Document	C	16920.00	4.5%	761.805
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Parlane, Macalister & Co.	per Document	D	71725.00	4.5%	3227.625
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	John Dalton	per Document	E	4747.00	4.5%	213.615
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	McDougall & Co.	per Document	F	73729.00	4.5%	3317.805
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	James Dunnett & Co	per Document	G	104694.00	4.5%	4711.230
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	George Nuttall	per Document	H	1698.00	4.5%	76.410
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Daniel Gowland	per Document	I	650.00	4.5%	29.250
By Potatoes	Robert Lacy	per Document	J	250.00	4.5%	11.250
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	George Beley & Co.	per Document	DD	38884.00	4.5%	1749.780
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Orr & Jordan	per Document	K	34023.00	4.5%	1531.035
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Barton & Wild	per Document	L	967.00	4.5%	43.515
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Harratt & Sons	per Document	M	42883.00	4.5%	1929.735
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Alfred Barber	per Document	N	26650.00	4.5%	1199.250
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Hodgson & Robinson	per Document	O	44050.00	4.5%	1982.250
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Rodger, Breed & Co.	per Document	P	2517.00	4.5%	113.265
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	William & John Black	per Document	Q	31607.00	4.5%	1422.315
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Anderson, Weller & Co.	per Document	R	45782.00	4.5%	2060.190
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Brownell & Stegmann	per Document	T	52595.00	4.5%	2366.775
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Nicholson, Green & Co.	per Document	S	23639.00	4.5%	1063.755
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Bertram, Delisle & Co.	per Document	U	8153.00	4.5%	366.885
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	John Appleyard	per Document	V	9009.00	4.5%	405.405
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Dickson & Co.	per Document	W	75754.00	4.5%	3408.930
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	J. C. Thompson	per Document	X	6701.00	4.5%	301.545
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Henry Jones assigns., Dorr Reincke & Lees	per Document	Y	9169.00	4.5%	412.605
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Plowes & Atkinson & Co.	per Document	Z	17276.00	4.5%	777.420
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Lafone, Robinson & Co.	per Document	AA	17704.00	4.5%	796.680
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	Richard & John Carlisle	per Document	BB	13135.00	4.5%	591.075
By the Merchandise consigned to Messrs.:	McCracken, Jamieson & Co.	per Document		29072.00	4.5%	1308.240
	Value of the Ship, Freight & Cargo			977357.00	4.5%	43981.470
The foregoing statement has been carefully drawn and accurately calculated in conformity with the original documents by me /signed/ Robert De Billinghurst Accountant Buenos Ayres, 8th October 1834 approved by me /signed/ Robert Lacy These are to Certify that the within signatures are of the time and proper handwriting of Mr. Robert De Billinghurst Accountant in this city and of Mr. Robert Lacy Master of the British Brig "Iceni" British Consulate Buenos Ayres 10th October 1834 /signed/ Charles Griffiths H M's Consul return to top

Arklow Bank - we have found no mention of an Arklow Bank in the modern charts of the River Plate Estuary nor in the XIX Century Sailing Directions. From the information given by Robert Lacy it is possible that they ran aground on the Banco Ortiz.