PERA

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

Date1843

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 106'6" x breadth 19'8" x depth 13'9"
gross tonnage 191 tons (Lloyd's 235 tons)

Object numberABDSHIP001025

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 137

Fate: unknown, last in Lloyd's 1852 (P166).

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, square stern, clipper bow, standing bowsprit, caravel built, female figurehead.

Owners:
1843: Registered at Peterhead for subscribing wners; Robert Johnston, shipowner, Aberdeen, 8 shares; John Birnie, merchant, Peterhead, 8 shares; John Reid, shipmaster, Peterhead, 24 shares.
Other shareholders; James Sutherland, shipmaster, Aberdeen, 24 shares.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1848-52: J. Ives, registered at London (Lloyd's)

Masters:
1844-46: Master John Reid
1847-48: Master W. Reed

Voyages (from Lloyd's):
1844-46: Aberdeen - Mediterranean
1847-48: London
PERA remains in Lloyd's until 1852 with no destination given, from the newspapers it seems she went to California.

General History:
18/10/1848:
Vessel for sale - for peremptory sale at Lloyd's Captains' Room, Royal Exchange, 26 Oct., the fine clipper schooner PERA, of Aberdeen, 225 tons OM, 191 tons NM, built Aberdeen 1843 of best reasoned materials, is very superior vessel with abundant inventory of stores. Adapted to the mediterranean or any other trade her size may suit. Further particulars from Francis Edmond, Advocate, Aberdeen or John Pirie & Co., Cornhill.
(Aberdeen Journal)

03/06/1849:
At anchor Gibraltar 23 May, schooner PERA, from Liverpool, bound to California with a party of gentlemen aboard. To be hoped they will be more successful in finding the Elderado of the present day than those who preceded them 300 years since [reference to California Gold Rush].
(Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper)

11/07/1854:
Court of Queen's Bench - Edwards V. Webster Bart. Plaintiff was wholesale grocer and brought actions against Sir Augustus Webster to recover sum of £466 16s. Defendant had been in Royal Navy and he and a Mr. Brabazon and some other gentlemen seemed to have thought the gold diggings at California were likely to yield a greater benefit to them than anything in this country, and so they purchased the PERA, schooner, to proceed to California. They procured an introduction to plaintiff to obtain stores and cargo. Plaintiff supplied goods to value of over £600 and had payment of about £200. Young gentlemen, not having funds to discharge debts, transferred their interest in the vessel to shipbroker named Wooldridge, but eventually sailed for California. Mr Brabazon had not since been heard of but defendant returned and subsequently succeeded to his title and estates: defendant said he had nothing to do with the vessel and had gone out on it as a passenger, but there would be proof he had held himself out to the world as owner of the vessel and must therefore be responsible for the goods supplied to it.
(Standard (London))

Note: Cost at construction, £2,654 (Builder's List held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)