Hi Jan
Glad to hear that you've managed to establish contact with fjaney, who's patently a blood-relative of yours.
I could possibly have answered your questions re William Lea and John B, but it would be more than my life is worth to steal Dave or Barrie's kudos - particularly if I were to get it wrong. :-)
However, if you don't already have it, you may be interested in the following from the Liverpool Mercury of Wednesday 10 June 1857 :-
Pilot Boat Accident.
To the Editors of the Liverpool Mercury.
Gentlemen, In your paper of the 6th instant I perceive there is a statement respecting the loss of two pilots from pilot boat No 5 (of which I am the master), when on her station at Hoylake about 14 days previously; and as some part of that statement is not correct, I will thank you to publish the following, which is in truth the reality :-
It is stated that there were two men, the one drowned and the other having died of exposure after the accident. Now the fact is, that William SALE, who was drowned, went of his own accord, to steer the punt in which two of the apprentices were having the steamer WILLIAM PENN to board; the second pilot, CASEMENT, was not in the water at all, and is now alive.
The accident occurred in consequence of the punt not being steered in such a manner as to keep her off the pilot boat's quarter.
Yours &c
Isaac WILLIAMS, first master No 5 Pilot Schooner
Liverpool
8 June 1857
Incidentally, there was also a Liverpool Pilot named George SALE, born 1877, licensed 1901, retired 1942, died 1969 (aged 92!), but there's no obvious connection to William Lea or John B(radford).