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A ship's bell "Birmingham Packet", American, late 18th century,
the bronze bell of conventional form, cast with raised lettering "SHIP BIRMINGHAM PACKET OF PHILADELPHIA 6 OCTR 1790 , complete with iron clapper Height: 14in( 36cms) ,Diameter:14 1/2in(36.5cms)
Footnotes
According to the 1793 Lloyd's Register, The Birmingham Packet was built/launched in 1790 out of Philadelphia and so the date inscribed on the bell of 6th October 1790 probably commemorates the date of the launch of the ship. On 23rd September 1790, the Pennsylvania Packet announced: "For Bristol, The American Ship Birmingham Packet, 300 tons, will sail on 1st November 1790, a fine new ship with good accommodations for passengers" The first captain the Birmingham Packet was Leeson Simmons. Sixteen years after it was launched, in late 1806 whilst under the command of Captain Bowden, the ship, was sailing from Charleston to the Clyde laden with a cargo of cotton. On Christmas day, the ship ran aground and was wrecked opposite Cara Isle on the Mull of Kintyre. The Marine List reported that. "It is expected that the ship will go to pieces, but hopes are entertained that the cotton may be saved".
The Birmingham Packet's bell then found its way to Glenbarr Abbey, some 3 miles from the site of the wreck where it spent the next 212 years of its life.
We are grateful to Cindy Verser of the Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia, for undertaking research into the Birmingham Packet.
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