DOROTHY

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

Date1856

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 190.7' x breadth 31.1' x depth 18.6'
gross tonnage 703 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001087

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 199
Official Number: 16888

Fate: unknown, last in Lloyd's 1882 (D341).

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, poop deck 40', forecastle 34'

Owner:
1856-70: Charles Horsfall & Sons, registered at Liverpool
1871-82: R. W. Jamieson, registered at Greenock, then Liverpool again from 1876.

Masters:
1857-61: Master T. Moir
1862: Master White
1863-64: Master Steele
1866-68: Master H. Buchanan
1869-71: Master G. Fraser
1871-73: Master W. Walker
1875-76: Master D. MacLean
1876-78: Master W. Jackman
1880-82: Master D. Wright

Voyages (from Lloyd's Register):
1857-59: Liverpool - Africa
1860-61: Liverpool
1862-68: Liverpool - Africa
1869-71: Liverpool - India
1972-74: Clyde - Australia

General History:
15/09/1856:
New SHIPS.—Two new and handsome wooden vessels arrived here on Friday. The largest was the ship DOROTHY, built by Messrs. Hall, of Aberdeen, (the constructors of the well known Aberdeen clippers,) for Messrs. Horsfall and Sons, of this town. The DOROTHY is of 785 tons and is intended for the African trade. She is a sister ship to the CHARLES HORSFALL, built by the same firm some mouths ago.
(Liverpool Albion)

14/02/1863:
Deaths - on December 29 at Bonny, West Coast of Africa [Nigeria], after a few hours' illness, of fever, Mr. Robert Newell, carpenter aboard ship DOROTHY.
(Liverpool Mercury)

03/02/1870:
We understand that Mr. R. W. Jamieson of this town has purchased at Liverpool the A1 built ship DOROTHY of 750 tons register, she is intended for the W. India trade.
(Glasgow Herald)

13/01/1872:
Captain Walker of the ship DOROTHY from Antwerp for Greenock (sugar) reported that, when about 30 miles ENE of Portland last night a strange barque ran into her, striking her amidships, carrying away rail, bulwarks, stanchions, tearing new mainsail to ribbons. Owing to the darkness fo the night could make nothing of the other vessel. Finding the vessel making no water, bore up for Portland Roads.
(Glasgow Herald)

13/04/1872:
Aitken, Lilburn & Co.'s Line of clipper packets to Australia - from Glasgow for Sydney. The splendid Aberdeen-built clipper ship DOROTHY, 760 tons register, A1 at Lloyds and newly metalled. This fine vessel sails very fast and has just received a most extensive overhaul, having been put in every part into first rate order.
(Glasgow Herald)

02/01/1873:
Newport - James Powell and 7 other sailors were charged with refusing to proceed to sea in the ship DOROTHY of Glasgow. Complainant (Capt. John Andrew Gordon) said prisoners signed articles to sail to Kingston, Jamaica. They subsequently refused to proceed to sea, alleging the ship was unseaworthy. Surveyor Mr. Wilmot said he would not have liked to go to sea in the ship before he surveyed her. Case dismissed.
(Western Mail (Cardiff))

08/01/1880:
Report from David Wright, master of ship "DOROTHY" of Liverpool, owned by Robert Walter Jamieson, Greenock, which sailed from Liverpool with coals for Montevideo on 23 December on 26th in Lat. 51-17N, Long. 7-15W [...] she was struck during a fearful squall, accompanied with thunder and lightning and was laid on her beam ends. The deck rapidly filled with water and her sails were blown from the bolt-ropes. A ball of fire had struck the foretopmast. The concussion was sharp, sparks of fire flying from the mast in every direction. The ship was making a great deal of water and, when all available hands were set to work the pumps, they were found to be partially choked with coal. The captain decided to bear up for the Bristol Channel and arrived safely in Penarth Roads.
(Western Mail)

Note: Contract cost, £13,354 (builder's list held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)