Avis wreck
The US whaler Avis was a 299 ton three-masted wooden ship with two decks, built in 1827 at Bath, Maine. It had left New London, USA in August 1841 on a voyage to the Indian Ocean whaling grounds with 24 crew under Captain Pendleton. The Avis arrived in Albany and took on stores before sailing to Two Peoples Bay, where several other ships were also anchored. During the night of 28 August 1842 a south-east gale caused the Avis to part both anchor cables and it was driven ashore, where it became buried two-thirds in sand. Timber, tobacco, rigging and iron construction pieces were salvaged. The wreck has not been located, though ships’ timbers have been found wedged in rocks in the north-eastern part of Two Peoples Bay.
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Country Built USA
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Port Built Bath, Maine
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When Built 1827
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Engine N
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TONA 291.00
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When Lost 1842/08/28
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Where Lost Albany, Two People Bay
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Sinking Blew ashore, buried two thirds in sand
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Sunk Code Foundered
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Port From New London
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Port To Indian Ocean whaling grounds
Museum Reference
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wreck Avis
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Protected Federal
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Found N
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Inspected N
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File Number 195/72
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Confidential NO
Artefact information
| wreck | Avis |
|---|---|
| When Lost | 1842/08/28 |
| Protected | Federal |
| Found | N |
| Inspected | N |
| Where Lost | Albany, Two People Bay |
| Engine | N |
| TONA | 291.00 |
| Country Built | USA |
| Port Built | Bath, Maine |
| When Built | 1827 |
| Port Registered | New London |
| Crew | 25 |
| Sinking | Blew ashore, buried two thirds in sand |
| Sunk Code | Foundered |
| Port From | New London |
| Port To | Indian Ocean whaling grounds |
| Cargo | 800 barrels of whale oil, provisions, tobacco |
| Master | Captain Gilbert Pendleton, 27 years old of Westerly, Rhode Island |
| Owner | Joseph Lawrence and others |
| File Number | 195/72 |
| Comments | The US whaler Avis was a 299 ton three-masted wooden ship with two decks, built in 1827 at Bath, Maine. It had left New London, USA in August 1841 on a voyage to the Indian Ocean whaling grounds with 24 crew under Captain Pendleton. The Avis arrived in Albany and took on stores before sailing to Two Peoples Bay, where several other ships were also anchored. During the night of 28 August 1842 a south-east gale caused the Avis to part both anchor cables and it was driven ashore, where it became buried two-thirds in sand. Timber, tobacco, rigging and iron construction pieces were salvaged. The wreck has not been located, though ships’ timbers have been found wedged in rocks in the north-eastern part of Two Peoples Bay. |
| Sources | Dickson, R., 2007, The history of the whalers on the south coast of New Holland from 1800-1888, Hesperian Press: 191. Henderson, G., 2007, Unfinished voyages: Western Australian shipwrecks 1622-1850, University of WA Press: 259-260. |
| Confidential | NO |
| URL | http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/avis |