OCEAN MAIL
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Date1860
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 173.6' x breadth 31' x depth 19.8'
gross tonnage 630 tons
gross tonnage 630 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001106
Keywords
Yard Number: 218
Fate: lost near Wusong, Shanghai, China, 2 August 1863.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, 3 masts, shield figurehead.
Owners:
17/02/1860: Registered Aberdeen for original owners;
Henry Adamson, shipowner, Aberdeen, 44 shares; Geroge Milne of Kinaldie, shipowner, 8 shares; William Adam, shipmaster, Aberdeen, 6 shares; William Adamson, shipowner, Aberdeen, 4 shares; Charles Thomas Glover, shipowner, Aberdeen, 2 shares.
17/02/1860: William Adam 6 shares to Henry Adamson for £1,300 mortgage.
06/06/1862: William Adam 6 shares to his widow and executor Ann Adam (William Adam died aboard at sea off Cape of Good Hope, 28 May 1861).
20/10/1863: Vessel lost 2 August last near Woosing, China.
(Aberdeen Register of Ships (Aberdeen City Archives))
Masters:
1860-61: Master W. Adams
1862: Master J. Thomson
1863: Master Linklater
Voyages:
1860: Aberdeen - China
1861-63: London - China
General History:
28/01/1863:
To be sold by Public Roup 2 Feb. at Office of John and Robert Ligertwood, Advocates, 89 Union St., Aberdeen, 6 64th shares of ship "OCEAN MAIL" of Aberdeen, built 1860 and presently lying in the London Docks. Carries well and sails fast , is in good order and well found in stores; was yellow metalled 1862.
(Aberdeen Journal)
02/11/1863:
OCEAN MAIL was loaded with a rich cargo of teas and silk to the value of £150,000. She left Shanghai August 1 for London and on following morning she struck suddenly on a sunken rock, filled rapidly and soon afterwards went to pieces. The crew were all saved with the exception of the pilot and two apprentices.
(Liverpool Mercury)
04/11/1863:
OCEAN MAIL suddenly struck with a fearful crash and heeled over 6 or 7 streaks. Her head flew round as she sat upon the rock and she fell over several more streaks with a crash as if the whole of her bilge was carried away. The pumps were at once sounded... all hands were immediately set to them, but to no avail [...] the ship was working backwards and forwards as on a pivot and it was certain she was rapidly going down, the water being up to the deck. The crew were ordered to lower the boats and after much difficulty were got away; but unhappily one of the boats upset and the pilot and 2 apprentices perished. Capt. Linklater was the last to leave. Both sides of the YANGTSE were lined with portions of her wreck and cargo. The OCEAN MAIL had chiefly been employed in trading between England and China.
(Belfast Newsletter)
Note: Contract cost, £13251 (Builder's list in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
September 1826
