Tricia Pearcey <tricia.pearcey@ntlworld.com> posted >> I have been trying to track down a ship named "Independence" which sailed from London to New York. The ship arrived in New York on 11 February 1851 and the Master was Robert A Fletcher (780 tons). Ancestors of mine were listed as passengers but I am unable to find the ship listed on your site. Are you able to help please? >> It is true the Independence seems to have been missed on TheShipsList; no conspiracy, just nobody asked about her before :-) The ship was built in 1833/34 (by Smith & Dimon of New York, I think) and was the first packet ship over 700 tons (733 tons). She was owned by Fish, Grinnell & Company. Her first captain was Ira Bursley, (drowned 1850 in the wreck of the Hottinguer). She was captained for many years from 1836 by Eliza Nye, known for carrying a lot of sail and making fast passages. She went missing at sea in 1856, still operating, I think, in the packet trade. Source: Queens of the Western Ocean, Carl Cutler -- Harry Dodsworth Ottawa Ontario Canada af877@freenet.carleton.ca ----------------------------------------------------------------