Daniel Brocklebank (1741-1801)
Born in 1741, Daniel Brocklebank came from the nearby village of Torpenhow to Whitehaven at the age of 14 in order to serve his apprenticeship as a carpenter in the shipbuilding trade. By 1770 he had not only a profession of shipbuilder under his belt but enough capital to venture to America to set up a ship-building company accompanied by Anne, his wife of 1 year and his baby daughter, Sarah.
In Sheepscutt, New England he built 5 ships in as many years but the war with the old country was brewing. He took his newest ship, Castor, which hadn't completed its fitting out and fled for England leaving cargo he had procured behind. Unable to obtain enough provisions for the voyage he headed for the good fisheries of New Foundland. With the fish he caught and preserved using salt from between the ships timbers he made it back home to Whitehaven.
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