GEM

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander HALL & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Date1839

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD; Oak, Birch and Fir

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 81.2' x breadth 20.2' x depth 14.1'
gross tonnage 188 tons (Lloyd's 186 tons)

Object numberABDSHIP000985

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 99

Fate: unknown, last in Lloyd's 1852 (G62) see notes.

Propulsion: Sail

Description: 1 deck, 2 masts and a trysail, brigantine rigged, fixed bowsprit, square stern, carvel built, female figurehead. Constructed of oak, birch and fir.

Owners:
1839: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
Alexander Mitchell, shipmaster, Newburgh, 12 shares, Gilbert Mitchell, farmer, Haddo, 4 shares, Thomas Phillips, shipowner, Aberdeen, 12 shares.
Other shareholders; Patrick Robertson, shipowner, Aberdeen, 8 shares; Charles Ruxton, farmer, Hill of Fiddes, 4 shares; Alexander Mitchell, farmer, Fiddes, 4 shares; Thomas Fiddes, farmer, Pitmillan, 4 shares; George Fiddes, farmer, Kingston, Foveran, 4 shares; Andrew Mitchell, farmer, Methlick, 4 shares; William Bruce, farmer, Mains of Slains, 4 shares; William Carnegie, farmer, Newton of Skene, 4 shares.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1847-48: Cadogan & Co., now registered at London.
1850-51: Evans & Sons, now registered at Galway.
1852: Reid & Co., now registered at Glasgow.

Masters:
1840-42: Master T. Phillips
1842-46: Master P. Robb
1847-48: Master Murry
1850-52: Master W. Douglas

Voyages:
1840-42: Aberdeen - Archangel
1842-43: Leith - Montreal
1844-45: Liverpool - Brazil
1847-48: London - Wales
1850/51: Liverpool - California
1852: Clyde - Philadelphia

Note: Cost at construction, £1,548 (Builder's List in Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
05/01/1867, GEM, on a voyage from Portmadog to Gloucester with a cargo of cut slate, the vessel foundered in wind conditions SE force 9 at Bishops Rock, Isles of Scilly. 3 Crew lost.
(Richard and Bridget Larn (1997), “Shipwreck Index of the British Isles” (Lloyd’s Register, London vol. 1, section 3)
This is a possible fate but is too long after the last Llyd's entry for a positive identification