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MAY QUEEN

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

DateMay 1869

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumIRON

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 178.6' x breadth 31.2' x depth 19'
gross tonnage 733 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001150

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 262
Official Number: 60694

Fate: wrecked at Camp Bay in Lyttleton Harbour, New Zealand, 26 January 1888.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, poop deck 54', forecastle 31', 3 masts, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, and demi female figurehead, iron construction.

Owners:
02/07/1869: Registered Aberdeen for owners;
William Shirras, manufacturer, 22 shares; James Laing, ironmonger, 21 shares; John Leslie, master mariner, 21 shares (all Aberdeen).
08/10/1874: On death of Laing, 5 shares to David Logan Shirras, manufacturer, Aberdeen; 8 shares to Walter Savill, shipowner and 8 shares to James William Temple, shipowner (both of Leadenham St., London); William Shirras 1 share to D. L. Shirras.
10/02/1888: Vessel became total wreck near Camp Bay in Lyttleton Harbour, New Zealand.
(Aberdeen Register of Ships (Aberdeen City Archives))

Masters:
1870-74: Master J. Leslie
1874-79: Master R. Tatchell
1880-88: Master G. Colville

Voyages:
1870-71: Aberdeen - New Zealand
1872-73: London - New Zealand

02/06/1875:
MAY QUEEN, ship, of Aberdeen, passed Prawle Point [South Devon] 28 May from Otago for London.
(Aberdeen Journal)

09/12/1875:
Queenscliff [near Geelong, Victoria] - MAY QUEEN, barque, arrived from Foochow.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

27/06/1879:
London, 24 June - arrived MAY QUEEN from Auckland 28 March.
(South Australian Register)

13/02/1880 and 19/02/1880:
Adelaide - 11 Feb. arrived MAY QUEEN, barque, from Mauritius, 16 Feb left Adelaide for Melbourne.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

10/06/1880:
St. Catherine's Point [Isle of Wight] June 9, MAY QUEEN, ship, of Aberdeen, New Zealand for London.
(Glasgow Herald)

04/09/1880:
London, 1 Sept. - arrived MAY QUEEN, barque, from Port MacDonnell, sailed 1 May.
(South Australian Advertiser)

20/07/1881:
New Zealand emigration, special settlements east coast. The favourite clipper ship MAY QUEEN to sail to Auckland about 25 August. Special arrangements made for conveying families and parties at reduced rates.
(Belfast Newsletter)

28/07/1881:
London, 23 July - arrived MAY QUEEN from Bluff Harbour [N.Z., S. Island] 16 April.
(South Australian Register)

01/07/1884:
London, 28 June - arrived MAY QUEEN from Camaru [Brazil] 10 March.
(South Australian Register)

18/06/1885:
London, 15 June - arrived MAY QUEEN from Port Chalmers [N.Z., South Island] 3 March.
(South Australian Register)

28/01/1888:
Barque MAY QUEEN, London 26 October, for Lyttleton [N.Z.] went ashore Camp Bay 26 January, having struck on a reef. She lay ashore with cargo worth £22,000 and with 9 ft. water in the hold. She is owned by Mr. Leslie of Aberdeen. As she was likely to become a total wreck she was abandoned to the underwriters.
(Bendigo Advertiser and Sydney Morning Herald) (and South Australian Weekly Chronicle, 04/02/1888)

31/01/1888:
600 tons cargo have so far been recovered from wreck of barque MAY QUEEN.
(South Australian Advertiser)

07/02/1888:
Hull of wrecked barque MAY QUEEN was sold at auction at Lyttleton for £275. Cargo auctioned for £2,000 (part of it has been saved)
(Newcastle [N.S.W.] Morning Herald)

Notes: Contract cost £11,184 (Builder’s List held in the Lloyd’s Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)