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SCOTTISH MAID

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

Shipownervessel built for Alexander Nicol

Date1839

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD; Oak, Beech and Larch with Fir Planking

ClassificationsShip

DimensionsLength 92'4" x Breadth 19'4" x Depth 11'7"
142 Tons

Object numberABDSHIP000987

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 101

Fate: Wrecked on the Knave Stone, North Sunderland, 26 August 1888 at 7:30pm.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, square stern, carvel built, no galleries, female figurehead. Constructed of oak, beech and larch with fir planking.

Owners:
07/08/1839: Builder's Certificate transcription from Aberdeen City Archive Harbour Register entry;
These certify that we Alexr. Hall and Coy., Shipbuilders, did build and Launch from our building Yard at Aberdeen in the County of Aberdeen, North Britain upon the fifteenth day of July in this present year the Ship or Vessel called the Scottish Maid of Aberdeen, being a Square Sterned, Carvel Built Schooner Rigged Vessel having one Deck and two Masts, a fixed Bowsprit, a Female Figure Head, no Gallery, that her length from the after part of the Main Stem to the fore part of the Stern Post aloft is ninety two feet and four tenths, that her greatest Breadth Amidships (Inside) is 19.3/10 feet, her Depth of Hold 11.7/10 feet and is of the Burthen or Measurement of 142. 347/3500 Tons, of which Ship or Vessel Messrs Alexander Nicol and George Munro, Shipowners, Aberdeen, holding 12/64 for their share, carrying on business under the Firm of Nicol and Munro, William Hogarth, Esq., Shipowner, Aberdeen holding 8/64 for his share George Davidson, Esq., Shipowner, Aberdeen holding 6/64 for his share, James Nicol, Advocate, Donald Gordon Stewart, Fish Curer and Benjamin Moir, Merchant, all of Aberdeen holding 4/64 each for their share, Charles Brown and Alexander Troup, Corn Merchants, Mill of Sclattie Parish of New Hills holding 4/64 each for their share, James Hall and William Hall, Shipbuilders, James Murray, Advocate and William Milne, Flesher, all of Aberdeen holding 2/64 each for their share, Alexr. Pirrie, Esq., Stoneywood, Frances Pirrie and Alexr. Pirrie, Jnr., Paper Manufacturers, Aberdeen holding 2/64 each for their share, all of the County of Aberdeen, George Nicol, Surgeon in the Island of Jamaica and James C. Crispin, Merchant, London holding 2/64 each for their share—were the first purchasers.
Given under our hands at Aberdeen this 7th day of August 1839.
(signed) Alexander Hall & Co

Owners’ Transactions:
25/07/1843: Alexander Nicol and George Munro, Shipowners in Aberdeen, carrying on business under the firm of Nicol and Munro, have transferred by Bill of Sale, dated 16th Febuary last, 12/64 shares to Alexander Nicol and William Nicol, carrying on business under the firm of Aleander and William Nicol, merchants in Aberdeen.
03/11/1843:
George Gibson of Bassinghall Street, London and Robert Goulding, Corn Factor, Hunsleydrum, Surrey, Trustees on the sequestrated Estate of James Clark Crispin, Merchant, London have transferred by Bill of sale, dated 4th September last, 2/64 shares to Alexander Nicol and William Nicol, carrying on business under the firm of Alexander and William Nicol, Merchants in Aberdeen.
03/11/1843:
The Owners of this vessel have transferred by Bills of Sale dated 30th Aug., 5th, 6th, 9th, and 11th Sept., 10th, Oct., and 2nd Nov., 1843, 64/64shares to George Leslie, Shipowner in Aberdeen.
17th Sept. 1888 the registration cancelled. The vessel was lost on 26th Aug. 1888 at 7:30pm on the Knave Stone, North Sunderland.
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Register (Aberdeen City Archives))
The Post Office Aberdeen Directory shows George Leslie & Co. as the owner continually until 1888.

Masters:
1839-46: Master A. Watson (Lloyd's)
1846-49: Master Bruce (Post Office Aberdeen Directory)
1850-52: Master Sinclair
1853-60: Master Gordon
1861-70: Master Greig
1871: Master Mitchell
1872-73: Master Buyers
1874-75: Master Wilson
1876-79: Master Beattie
1880-88: Master Smith

Voyages (Lloyd's only records the first years of her life):
1839-43: Aberdeen - London
1844-45: Aberdeen coaster

General History:
The schooner SCOTTISH MAID, built by the Hall shipyard in 1839, was the first vessel with the raked stem known as the 'Aberdeen bow'. SCOTTISH MAID was intended for the Aberdeen-London trade, where speed was crucial to compete with steamships.

The Hall brothers tested various hulls in a water tank and found the clipper design most effective. The design was influenced by tonnage regulations. Tonnage measured a ship's cargo capacity and was used to calculate tax and harbour dues.

The new 1836 regulations measured depth and breadth with length measured at half midship depth. Extra length above this level was tax-free and became a feature of clippers. SCOTTISH MAID proved swift, regularly making the journey from Aberdeen to London in 49 hours, and reliable and the design was widely copied.

Aberdeen Journal's 12 July 1848 edition, described the construction of the first true Clipper Ship and what was to become known around the world as the Aberdeen Bow:

'The Messrs Hall commenced framing the schooner from aft, and continued the frames until they reached the fore end of the keel.
Thus far the work had proceeded, when the builders suggested a deviation from the models, which they belived would proved to be a decided improvement.
They proposed to run the stem out so as to form the cutwater, the effect of which would be to draw the waterlines finer at the bow and, as a natural consequence, the vessel would divide the water easily, be more buoyant forward, and of less register tonnage than if she were built on the old plan.
The idea did not at first meet the views of the owners. A skeleton bow was then erected, and not a few of the curious examined it and were skeptial of the uncommon design. After due consideration, the owners gave consent to proceed with the vessel according to the skeleton model, and in that style she was finished and launched.
The look of the schooner in the water was encouraging. It was evident from the appearance of her waterlines that the idea of a perfect bow was realized, and some of those who were at first opposed to the project were now among the warmest commendators.'

09/09/1839:
"The gale yesterday - SCOTTISH MAID, clipper built schooner, Captain Watson, of and from Aberdeen with a general cargo, arrived yesterday with lost of foretopmast."
(The Standard (London))

30/09/1851:
SCOTTISH MAID, schooner, Mathews master, Petersburg - Hull, towed into Yarmouth 28 Sept. by a fishing smack with loss of foremast, mainmast and all thereto attached, leaky and with sundry damage to her hull, having been in contact with the John Mowlem of Weymouth.
(Daily News)

21/01/1853:
Arthur Sinclair, master of schooner SCOTTISH MAID, was charged by collector of excise with concealing a quantity of whisky with intent to defraud the revenue. On 18th October the last he declared one gallon of whisky, but on search being conducted another two gallons were discovered and other jars, which master claimed he had no knowledge of and must have been brought aboard by crew. Case dismissed.
(Newcastle Courant)

06/10/1854:
Schooner SCOTTISH MAID, Reah master, of and for Sunderland, was assisted into Harwich by smack Alfred with loss of bowsprit, jibboom and damage to bows., having been in collision with a brig in the swin.
(Essex Standard)

21/11/1862:
As schooner SCOTTISH MAID was towed down river Tyne and opposite Jarrow, one of seamen fell overboard and was drowned.
(Newcastle Courant)

27/02/1867:
Elsinore, 22 Dec. - SCOTTISH MAID, schooner, Smith master, Stettin - Newcastle, was towed into Elsinore having been ashore last night at Kronburg owing to the drift ice. Was assisted off.
(Dundee Courier)

01/09/1888:
SHIPWRECK AT THE FARNE ISLANDS—The schooner Scottish Maid, 136 tons register, has been totally wrecked at the Farne Islands. The vessel, which belonged to Aberdeen, was laden with 200 tons of stones, and while proceeding from Aberdeen to Newcastle. struck on the Knavestone Rock and sank. The crew, six in number, were landed at North Sunderland. The SCOTTISH MAID, which was built in 1836 [sic] was was not insured.
(Blyth News)

Notes: cost at construction, £1700 (Builder's List in Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
1842, Damage repaired; 1843, Large repairs