Wooden full-rigged ship Urania, built Chepstow 1834
467 tons, owned Horsefall, Liverpool.
Voyage Liverpool to Sydney, NSW, with around 250 emigrants, Captain Ogilvy[also Ogilby].
October 7 1841, driven aground on West Hoyle Bank at night
All passengers and crew [277] saved by Hoylake and Point of Ayr life-boats and other local boats.
One man from Point of Ayr lifeboat lost.
Vessel broke up, some 2000 blankets salvaged and offered for sale.
The Scotsman - Saturday 16 October 1841
LOSS OF THE EMIGRANT SHIP URANIA - MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION OF THE
PASSENGERS AND CREW. For the following particulars of the loss of this
vessel, we are indebted to Mr Wyllie, the intelligent surgeon
of the ship:
 The Urania left the Mersey on Thursday afternoon, a little
before three pm with a very forbidden[sic] sky. We had 248
emigrants[other accounts say 208] on board, besides passengers and
crew. The wind blew fresher as the night came on and at half-past
eleven pm, the ship struck on an extensive sand-bank (the West Hoyle)
and drifted over the bank for about three miles, striking the ground
heavily. As the sea was making very high, the ship threatened every
minute to break up. We had five feet water in the hold, our boats
stove, and no human assistance at hand, being six or eight miles from
land. Providentially the ship grounded about four am, and in this
condition remained until morning, when the poor emigrants were taken
on shore first, and then the crew, in the life-boat. I am happy to say
that no lives were lost and this is the more surprising, considering
the number of children who were exposed to the fury of a stormy night,
under the most alarming circumstances. I am glad to be able to say
that I escaped unhurt, and have saved the greater part of my effects.
Chester Courant - Tuesday 26 October 1841
WRECK of an outward bound Ship, URANIA. On Thursday
morning, 7th inst, the Ship Urania went out of port for New South
Wales, with 276 emigrants on board, and at about 11 p.m. (the pilot
having left her) she struck on the West Hoyle Bank; owing to the
darkness of the night, she was not observed until day-break the
following morning, at which time a most tremendous wind was blowing
from the N.E. with heavy rain, which continued until eight o'clock,
when the weather partially cleared up. Mr. Sherwood, the superior
Officer of the Customs at Hoylake, immediately sent out the life-boat
to render assistance, giving directions to the captain of the boat to
hoist the flag as soon as he got alongside, should he require more
assistance. As soon as the vessel reached the Urania, the signal was
given, and Mr. Sherwood lost not a moment in manning four fishing
boats, accompanying them in his own large boarding boat. By the most
persevering and sure-mitted[sic] exertions, the whole of the passengers and
crew were, by half-past four p.m., safely landed at Hoylake, without
the least accident occurring to any individual...
Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser - Friday 15 October 1841
Reports from the Marine Surveyor, and the keepers of the Point of Ayr
and Hoylake life-boats, were read, detailing the circumstances of the
loss of the Urania, on the 7th instant, as described in the Standard.
Great praise was given to the conduct of the crews. The total number
of persons saved was 277. The reports were ordered to be entered on
the books.
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette - Friday 15 October 1841
MOSTYN Oct. 13: We reported in our paper yesterday the loss of the Urania. The
following is the report as by our correspondent:
Robert Beck,
life-boat man, Point of Ayr, informs us that the ship Urania, from
Liverpool for Sydney N.S.W. went on the West Hoyle Bank night of the 7th
inst. She had 280 emigrant passengers on board whose lives were all
providentially saved by the life-boats stationed in the neighbourhood but we
are sorry to learn that their little alls[sic] were totally lost. We are also
sorry to state that the mate of Robert Beck's life-boat was knocked overboard by the boom
of life-boat, and was drowned. The ship was a total wreck, but it is
said a few articles will be saved. Another vessel is being got ready to take the
unfortunate passengers on to their destination.
Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser - Friday 03
December 1841
The Dock Committee [who paid for the lifeboat service] in a
meeting
in December 1841 stated:
The widow of a man belonging to the Point of Ayr lifeboat, who had been
unfortunately drowned whilst going to a wreck, was presented with
£10.