Bristol Packet (1801 ship) facts for kids
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|} The Bristol Packet was a large wooden sailing ship built in New England in 1801. It was a full-rigged ship, which means it had many sails on tall masts. Sadly, the ship was lost in 1808. Today, a shipwreck believed to be the Bristol Packet lies buried in the sand at Madbrain beach in Minehead, Somerset, England. This wreck is now a protected ancient monument, which means it's an important historical site.
History of the Ship
The Bristol Packet was built in 1801. It first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1802. Lloyd's Register was like a big record book for ships. It showed that Daniel Orr was the ship's master (captain), and A. Harris was the owner. The ship sailed between Bristol and Boston.
By 1808, the Lloyd's Register showed that the ship had been checked in Dublin in 1806 and was registered in Liverpool. In February 1807, a British naval ship called Nile rescued the Bristol Packet. A Spanish privateer (a private ship allowed to attack enemy ships) had captured the Bristol Packet while it was sailing from Liverpool to Philadelphia. The Nile took the rescued ship to Falmouth.
The Bristol Packet was lost in February 1808. It was on a short trip along the coast, sailing from Teignmouth to Bristol when it was wrecked.
The Wreck Today
A shipwreck, thought to be the Bristol Packet, can be found in the intertidal zone off Madbrain sands near Minehead. The intertidal zone is the area of the beach that is covered by water at high tide and exposed when the tide is low.
The wreck has been seen at different times, including between February 2014 and July 2015. During this time, experts studied and photographed the parts of the wreck that were visible. The way the wreck lies suggests it was pushed sideways onto the sands by strong forces.
Experts have confirmed the age of the ship by looking at how it was built. It was made from pine and larch wood. It used both treenails (wooden pegs) and copper fastenings to hold its parts together. The Bristol Packet was known to have pine wood on its upper sides, which matches the wreck found.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Bristol Packet |
| Owner | A. Harris |
| Port of registry | Liverpool |
| Builder | New England |
| Launched | 1801 |
| Fate | Wrecked at Minehead in 1808 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 249 bm |
| Length | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft (4.6 m) fully laden |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
