MACDUFF
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Date1859
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 219.5' x breadth 35' x depth 22.1'
gross tonnage 1135 tons
gross tonnage 1135 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001101
Keywords
Yard Number: 214
Official Number: 21770
Fate: wrecked Baie Verte, New Brunswick, 15 May 1900.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper
Owners:
1859-76: Isaac Cruickshank, registered at Banff
1877-85: F. Walker, registered at Banff
1886-92: C. Anker (Norwegian), registered at Fredrikshald, Norway.
Masters:
1861: Master Blacklock
1863: Master Osborn
1865-67: Master W. Bruce
1868-85: Master T. Watson
1886-94: Master J. Petterson
1895-1900: Master C. J. Strensen
1900-01: Master John Sorensen
Voyages (fromm Lloyd's):
1861: Aberdeen - China
1863-67: Liverpool - India
1868-69: Liverpool - Australia
1871-72: London - Australia
General History:
07/01/1865:
Calcutta Dec. 7 - the ship MACDUFF will have to dock. Repairs progressing.
(Glasgow Herald)
03/07/1867:
Devitt & Moore's Australian Line of packet ships. For Port Philip [Victoria] direct (last shipping day 25 August) the splendid clipper ship MACDUFF, A1 14 years, register 1136 tons, T. T. Watson Commander, lying in the East India Docks. This high-classed vessel, built at Aberdeen by Messrs. Hall, is well known in the Melbourne trade for her rapid passages and sound delivery of cargo. She has first rate accommodation for passengers in her commodious poop and will carry an experienced surgeon if necessary [repeated till 11 Sept. - "immediate despatch"].
(Daily News)
18/12/1867:
The large clipper ship MACDUFF, one of the finest and fastest merchantmen trading to this port, was telegraphed at the heads yesterday morning from London. The MACDUFF [...] has made some good passages in her time [...] altogether eclipsed by her present performance... 66 days from Plymouth, a feat seldom equalled and rarely excelled even in the palmiest days of the crack clipper ships which were to be met with in Hobson's Bay during the decade from 1853 to 1863. Captain Watson, who still commands this fine vessel, has in addition to making a rapid passage been successful in anticipating the arrival of the English' mail.
(Hobart Mercury)
10/01/1868:
[Bound for London with wool, gold and passengers] Captain Watson anticipates making a very quick run home as the vessel will then be in fine trim and the sailing qualities of the ship have already been proved to be equal to those of any ship afloat [fastest passage of season].
(Melbourne Argus)
21/12/1870:
Action by Francis Walker, managing owner of MACDUFF, against trustee of bankrupt shipbuilders A. Hall & Co. (ship's husbands and part owners of MACDUFF). Held that Halls drew from ship's bank account £494 which they did not apply to the purposes of the ship. (Trustee claimed unsuccessfully that Halls were entitled to this money as dividend on their shares).
(Aberdeen Journal)
17/05/1871:
St. Catherine's Point [Isle of Wight] 11 May - ship MACDUFF, Watson, from London for Melbourne.
(Aberdeen Journal)
13/08/1877:
Ship MACDUFF, 81 days from London, has arrived with 46 passengers. She has been detained in quarantine as 8 cases of smallpox have occurred during voyage [...] one of them being Captain Watson. An able seaman named Wm. Thomas died from smallpox on July 28 [...] a sailor was also drowned June 20.
(Melbourne Argus)
25/09/1877:
Some very strange rumours have been current relative to the ship MACDUFF... it has been stated that when running down the English Channel the MACDUFF came into collision with a fishing smack [...] and notwithstanding that cries of distress were heard. The ship was kept on her way - the Government Shipping Master has been making inquiries into the matter. The Officers of the ship are naturally very reticent and the crew have been paid off and the majority of them have been re-shipped.
(Hobart Mercury)
26/09/1877:
Melbourne, Tuesday - the charge against Captain Watson of the ship MACDUFF for running down a vessel has been postponed till Friday.
(Hobart Mercury)
09/10/1877:
Man lost at sea: An inquiry was held yesterday into the loss of an able seaman named Frederick Brun from the ship MACDUFF on 28 July. A complaint of neglect of duty was laid by two of the seamen against Capt. Watson on the ground he had not taken proper steps to save the lost man's life. A sea struck the ship and washed Brun off. The ship was running at 11 or 12 knots under plain sail. Boatswain estimated it would have taken 3/4 hr. to shorten sail, by which time the man must have dropped 8 or 9 miles astern. The lifeboat could have lived in the sea, but it was upside down on the skids and would have taken half an hour to lower. The Captain looked over the stern when the mate reported the loss and said it was impossible to save the man, so the ship stood her course. The witness admitted they were drunk on the voyage. The Board heard that there was no foundation for the charge - Chairman said in cases of this kind the Master had to choose between losing the life of the man who fell overboard or the lives of those who went in search of him.
(Melbourne Argus)
16/11/1880:
Melbourne, Oct. 2 - MACDUFF, ship, from London, lying at Williamstown, parted her stern mooring lines during a gale Sept. 21 and came into collision with the MERMERUS, ship, occupying the next berth at the pier, carrying away part of her poop rail and losing her own flying jib boom guy.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
14/08/1882:
10 seamen appeared charged with disobeying the lawful commands of the Master, Capt. Watson. The Captain insisted on their turning out every morning at 4 o'clock to wash the decks. They had refused duty for 2 days, after which Captain promised to overlook the offence, if they conducted themselved properly during remainder of voyage (which Officers acknowledged they had done). Men were sentenced to 6 hours imprisonment, except one who declinded to go back to the ship (7 days imprisonment). The men complain of being half starved and badly treated by the Captain during the voyage.
(Melbourne Argus)
01/08/1883:
MACDUFF, ship, for New Zealand, July 26, 35 miles of Start Point [Devon].
(Glasgow Herald)
23/09/1885:
Belfast - ship MACDUFF, Hall, arrived from Port Pirie [S. Australia] with wheat.
Freeman's Journal
20/03/1886:
The REGULATOR (brigantine) of Sandefjord put into Weymouth damaged, having been in collision off Portland with the ship MACDUFF from Melbourne to London.
(Glasgow Herald)
22/03/1886:
On Saturday a full rigged ship, the MACDUFF of Banff, ran ashore in fog directly under the South Foreland Lights. The Dover lifeboat and the tug LADY VITA proceeded to her and she was towed off, having sustained considerable damage. During the night the captain became greatly excited and procured a revolver with which he threatened to shoot some of those ahead.
(Daily News)
08/06/1891:
The ship MACDUFF (of Norway) from Greenock for Cienfuegas [Cuba] was left by tug FLYING OWL on Friday off Little Cumbrae Island.
(Glasgow Herald)
17/05/1900:
A Telegram from Bay Verte, dated 16th inst states that the Norwegian barque Macduff, from Belfast is ashore hard and fast. Faint prospects of getting her afloat.
(Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette)
Note: Contract cost, £20000. (Builder's list in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
