AGRICOLA

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

Date1857

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 95.8' x breadth 22.3' x depth 12.4'
gross tonnage 158 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001100

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 212
Official Number: 19864

Fate: Stranded on Grimsby Sands 18 November 1893, marked condemned in Lloyd's 1894 (A519)

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Brig rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, shield figurehead.

Owners:
1857-86: Northern Agricultural Co.
James Sim, chemists, Alexander Stronach, advocate, Alexander Fraser, advocate, Alexander Gibb, civil engineer, all Aberdeen; Thomas Tait, Kintore, grain merchant, Joint Owners, 64 shares.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives)
Post Office Aberdeen Directory shows Northern Agricultural Co. as owners right from 1858 whereas Lloyd's shows
1858-61: Pressley, registered at Aberdeen.
1862-76: A. Anderson, registered at Aberdeen
1876-85: Northern Agricultural Co.
It can be assumed that Pressley and Anderson were agents for the company.
1886-93: Alexander Lees, Stonehaven

Masters:
1858-61: Master Linklaker
1862-85: Master T. Angus
1878-84: Master Osburn (Post Office Aberdeen Directory)
1885: Master Fairweather (PO)
1886-92: Master Lees
1893: Master B. Lees
1894: Master W. Callender

Voyages:
1862-65: Aberdeen - London
1866-73: Aberdeen - Sunderland

General History:
02/01/1867:
'On Sunday 30th December 1866 at about 6:30pm two ships foundered while trying to enter Aberdeen harbour.' AGRICOLA (brig) was swept out to a sand bank. All crew rescued and ship safely refloated a few days later. Both vessels belong to this port, bringing coal from Sunderland.
(Aberdeen Journal)

24/11/1893:
STONEHAVEN SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN ARRIVED On Tuesday James Christie and Robert Mitchell, two members of the crew of the Aberdeen brig AGRICOLA, stranded on Grimsby Sands Saturday, arrived at their home in Stonehaven. From a statement by the former it appears that the Agricola was commanded by Alexander Lees, the owner, also a native of Stonehaven. There were six of a crew—four of these belonging to the town—the other seaman being John Dallas aged 22. The brig was in ballast to Sunderland, and was caught in the gale, and after considerable exertions kept before the storm till Saturday afternoon about five o'clock, when they where driven on the sand banks a few miles south of Grimsby. Their position was most perilous, but happily it was observed from the shore, and a boat manned by fishermen put off to their rescue. Time and again the gallant crew were driven back to the land, but about eight o'clock they managed to reach the vessel and rescue the crew, who were in a very exhausted condition. They were then taken to a hotel, and bad the benefit of a good fire, but there was no change of clothing to be had, owing to the number of shipwrecked mariners who had been landed before them —no fewer than 23 vessels having been stranded in that vicinity from about two o'clock on Saturday.
(Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin review; and Forfar and Kincardineshire advertiser)

Note: Contract cost £2,391 (Builder's list in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
some repairs in 1862, damage repairs in 1865.