RAMBLER

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

Date1841

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD; Fir, Oak, Elm, and Larch

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 73.4' x breadth 17.8' x depth 10.4'
gross tonnage 110 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001013

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 125

Fate: Abandoned in the North Sea, 28 December 1852.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, constructed of fir, oak, elm, and larch

Owners:
1842-46: D. Louttit, registered at Wick (The Builder's list held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum says that RAMBLER was built for Thomas Flett, but since he was the master in the period D. Louttit is shown as owner in Lloyd's this may be a misinterpretation)
1849-53: Osborne & Co., registered at Lyme (Devon)

Masters:
1843-46: Master T. Flett
1849-50: Master W. Good
1852-53: Master S. Simpson

Voyages (Lloyd's Register):
1842: Aberdeen - Wick
1843-46: Liverpool coaster
1849: Torquay - Sunderland
1850: Topsham coaster
1852: Teignmouth coaster

General History:
18/01/1844:
Arrived Clyde schooner RAMBLER (110) or Wick, Flett, from Riga in 58 days.
(Caledonian Mercury)

22/01/1853:
LOSS OF THE SCHOONER RAMBLER.—DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF THE CREW.- the 15th instant, the French brig CHARLES LEPRETER, of Rouen, arrived in the Tyne, with William Combs, Henry Little John, Thos. Croft, and Thos. Hodder, and a cabin boy, the survivors of the crew of the schooner RAMBLER, of Lyme Regis, which vessel had encountered the hurricane of the 27th December, and had had her master, William Keddy, and her mate washed over board and drowned. The vessel, after the master and mate were drowned, had become completely disabled, and was deserted on the 28th ult., by the crew, who got on board the French brig. After the vessell arrived in the Tyne, the river police received strange information of the conduct of the crew of the RAMBLER. After the master of the CHARLES LEPRETER had left his vessel to proceed to Newcastle to see his broker, the four men went below into his cabin, and broke open a box containing a log and wages book belonging to the RAMBLER. They destroyed the log book, and tore out all the entries in the wages book, which they burnt with some other written documents. After committing this act they demanded £12 from the mate of the French brig; belonging to the RAMBLER, which he gave them. They then left the ship, taking with them a quantity of clothes belonging to the master and crew of the French brig. They have also, the master of the French brig says, the watches belonging to the master and mate of the RAMBLER. Information of this act of disgraceful robbery has been sent to the superintendent of police at Lyme Regis by the river police of the Tyne. The master of the French vessel, who had these atrocious villains on board 18 days, is justly indignant.
Sun (London)
The Above account appeared in many of the papers, the crew were tried, but discharged due to lack of evidence one account under the headline 'PIRATICAL CONDUCT OF A SHIP'S CREW' said this was 'to the great indignation of the seafaring population of the town [Shields]' (Age (1852) - Saturday 05 February 1853). However, a letter from Joseph Reid of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariner's Royal Benevolant Society to the North & South Shields Gazette and Northumberland and Durham Advertiser (Friday 28 January 1853) took the crew's side, doubting the crew sought to do anything but take that which had rightly belonged to their shipmates concluding 'I cannot help thinking that these poor fellows have been, to say the least, very hardly dealt with'.

Note: Cost at construction, £1,215. (Builder's list held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)