Master: Richard May Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index. Board of Trade Wreck Return 1858 Pt.III p40

Left Flushing Roads about 6am on 18-OCT, the master taking charge of the deck all that day; at 8pm the course was W x S, the ship making about 7 knots. Between 11pm and 12am, she was suddenly luffed to starboard to avoid collision with a steamship which was showing no lights, leaving the sailing ship heading directly for the coast. At midnight the master went below, having `neglected all proper and ordinary means of ascertaining correctly the ship's position aand rate of sailing.' At the time the weather was clear and both the South Foreland and South Sand Head lights visible, so on taking charge the mate continued to steer WSW until she drove hard ashore and became a wreck. From evidence given by the crew, it appeared that the master was in a state of intoxication, rendering him almost, if not wholly, incapable of taking charge of the ship. Under the circumstances, the subsequent inquiry found that `the JANE MAY was lost by the wrongful act and default of the master, owing to his being in such a state of disability from drink as to be unfit to manage the ship.' His certificate was therefore cancelled, but he could resit the examination after three months. (1)(2)

Built: 1837
Where Built: Plymouth
Master: Richard May
Owner: May and Company

Date of Loss Qualifier: A

Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index:
BOT.Wk.Rtn 1858 Pt.III p40; LR.1858 No.168(J)

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.