RANGER

Shipbuildervessel built by Nicol Reid & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen, Scotland, founded c.1790)

DateJune 1822

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 59 5/6' x breadth 18 3/6' x depth 10 9/12'
Registered Tonnage: 84 ton

Object numberABDSHIP001655

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Nicol Reid & Co.

Fate: Lost on Goodwin Sands, en route from Caen to Sunderland, 1 September 1833.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged; carvel built; standing bowsprit; square stern.

Owners:
03/02/1924: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
Alexander Matthew, merchant, 4 shares; John Lumsden, merchant, 6 shares; James Brebner, merchant, 6 shares.
Other owners: James Mess, merchant, 16 shares; John Catto, merchant, 4 shares; Robert Catto, merchant, 4 shares; Alexander Dalgarno, merchant, 4 shares; Alexander Duthie, Junior, merchant, 4 shares; William Maitland, merchant, 4 shares; William Reid, shipbuilder, 4 shares; James Mess, shipmaster, 8 shares.
30/04/1825: "Custom House Aberdeen, 30 April 1825, James Mess, Jnr, Shipmaster fm Aberdeen, transferred by Bill of Sale dated 29 March 1825 four sixty fourth shares to James Mess, Merchant in Aberdeen and four sixty fourth shares to Alexander Matthew in Aberdeen."
"Custom House Aberdeen, 6 April 1827? The Executors confirmed to the deceased John Catto, merchant in Aberdeen have transferred by Bill of Sale dated 16 February 1827? two sixty fourth shares to William Catto and two sixty fourth shares to John Catto, Merchants in Aberdeen."
16/02/1830: Bought outright by John Christie of Sunderland as follows - "Alexander Matthew, John Lumsden, James Brebner, Alexander Dalgarno, Robert Catto, Alexander Duthie the younger, William Maitland, William Catto and John Catto all of Aberdeen in the County of Aberdeen, merchants, William Reid of the same place, shipbuilder, and William Stewart, Advocate, only accepting Executor of the last will and testament of James Mess, late of the same place, merchant, deceased transferred by Bill of Sale date 15 February 1830 sixty four sixty fourth shares to John Christie of Sunderland near the sea in the County of Durham, Master Mariner."
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives) no. 13, 1824)

Master:
1822-32: Master J. Mess

Voyages:
1822-23: London coaster
1824-25: Leith coaster
1827-32: London coaster

General History:
03/09/1833:
"DEAL, SEPT. 1.- ...FIVE P.M.- Another crew is just landed belonging to
the RANGER, from Caen to Sunderland; the vessels were totally lost, and
I fear, from the severity of the gale, many more have suffered."
(The Morning Post (London, England), Issue 19575)

04/09/1833:
"RAMSGATE, SEPT. 2.- ... The RANGER of Sunderland, reported as riding in
a dangerous situation near the Goodwin Sands, is gone to pieces. Crew
saved. Several anchors and chains have been picked up and landed here
today."
(The Standard (London, England), Issue 1970)

The following transcript is from a copy of a letter provided by Susan Enns, independent researcher and relative of John and Barbara CHRISTIE:

'...the vessel proved to be the Ranger, a schooner from Caen to Sunderland in ballast. She was riding with two anchors ahead on the North sand head. A dangerous part of the Goodwin and owing to the incessant shifting of the ballast producing a terrible rolling of the schooner, the boat could not board her but by skilful management and after surmounting many difficulties went under her stern.

Such was the sense of desolation and distress that nothing could exceed the desperate situation of the vessel and nothing was left under providence, but the unshrinking firmness and skill of the boatmen to save the crew from destruction. A rope was speedily thrown from the vessel which secured the vessel to the boat, and afterward by means of a lead line, each of the crew consisting of four men and a boy, was dragged in succession through the waves. The boy cried bitterly before he was plunged into the water.

An accident of peculiar interest, deserves to be recorded hereafter. The boatmen had in vain sought a suitable juncture to board her and had repeatedly passed round the vessel. A seaman on board the schooner held up the boy in his arms, the appeal was irresistible, and the boatmen were resolved to face every danger to preserve the crew. Sept. 1st 1833.'

Note on associated artefact in the collection: Despite the inscription on the commemorative rummer glass, which clearly states 'Schooner Ranger lost off Aberdeen, 1st Sept. 1833', contemporary accounts have the vessel stranded on Goodwin Sands in gales.