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CRAIGENDARROCH

Date2 April 1870

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

DimensionsRegistered Tonnage: 1005 ton
length 208' x breadth 34' x depth 21'

Object numberABDSHIP001699

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: John Humphrey & Co.
Official Number: 60703

Fate: wrecked at Manila, Philippines, 21 October 1882.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, a poop and a top gallant forecastle, 3 masts, elliptical stern, carvel built, no galleries, three quarter male figurehead.

Owners:
27/04/1870: Registered at Aberdeen for owners;
Richard Connon & Alexander Rhind Dyer, shipowners, 40 shares jointly; George Milne, bank agent, 8 shares; Robert Phillips, master mariner, 8 shares.
03/07/1872: Robert Phillips 4 shares to Susan Flockhart or Hughes, wife of James Hughes of Montrose, shipmaster.
19/06/1875: On death of Dyer 40 previously joint shares go to R. Connon.
03/07/1875: Connon 4 shares to William Colville, shipmaster, Aberdeen.
26/09/1875: James Wood 8 shares to George Milne.
27/03/1879: On death of Connon, 36 shares to Milne.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1879-82: P. Spaight and Sons, registered at Limerick

Masters:
1871-73: Master J. Phillips
1874-77: Master Hughes.
1877-79: Master J. Ramsay.
1879-82: Master Robertson.

Voyages:
1871: Aberdeen - Australia.
1872-73: London - Australia

General History:
06/04/1870:
LAUNCH - there was launched on Saturday last from the building yard of Messers John Humphrey & Co., Inches, a clipper ship, gracefully named by Mrs Connon the "CRAIGENDARROCH” She is about 1200 tons register has a figurehead representing a noble Highland warrior clad in invercauld tartan, and her dimensions and symmetry give promise of a good sailing and carrying quality. This fine vessel has iron beams and Humphrey's patent iron keelson [...] built to the order of our townsman Richard Connon & Co., for the South Australian trade
(Aberdeen Journal)

31/10/1870:
CRAIGENDARROCH, ship, Robert Phillips master, arrived 29 Oct. from London
(Evening Journal (Adelaide))

15/11/1871:
CRAIGENDARROCH arrived Adelaide 15 Nov. from London 16 Aug.
(Evening Journal (Adelaide))

16/10/1872:
CRAIGENDARROCH, James Hughes master, arrived Adelaide 12 Oct. from London 22 July.
(Evening Journal (Adelaide))

06/08/1875:
CRAIGENDARROCH arrived Adelaide 5 Aug. from London 12 May after an average passage. Sighted Madeira 9th day out. Cape Verde Islands passed on the Eastern route. NE trades failed in 7 degrees of north latitude, line crossed 12 June. Soon after a SE trade set in, but so unfavourable that the ship was driven towards Brazilian coast. The prime meridian was reached 1 July & course shaped to reach the roaring forties, where heavy seas occasionally broke aboard as ship scudded before the gales. For 4 weeks decks were never dry & it was a relief to sight Cape Borde.
The crew on joining the vessel in the docks were obstreperous & on getting to sea one of the hands objected to his daily tasks. Logbook states that H. Johnson, a tar, made life rather lively for a few days. When spoken to about his inferior steering, he said he was doing his best & if master wanted ship steered better he must send someone else. Another man was sent to relieve Johnson, who was then requested to go aloft & grease down the mast as a pleasant change. Johnson objected and was ordered forward, but subsequently sent aft & locked in a cabin and fed for a week on bread and water. At the end of that time he refused to work. Master thought Johnson was not in his right senses. On 15 July there was another row because Johnson & another seaman refused to assist in reefing the mainsail. Johnson was found in bed & said he was sick. On 26 July when on the wheel he was told not to run her off & then gave the chief officer insolence. On 27 and 28 July he was laid up with a sore arm. He was ordered off the deck into the forecastle, but refused to go below before he could sniff fresh air. Master then told him he was so incorrigible that he must flog him. At noon all hands were called aft to witness the punishment. No reason has been shown for the revival aboard a merchant ship of the Barbarous custom, which should have no place amongst free men, even if they are seamen.
(South Australian Register)

11/08/1875:
Searching investigation should be made by the authorities. Captain Hughes ought not to be allowed to go unpunished. (Johnson has also been sentenced by port magistrate to 4 weeks hard labour).
(Express & Telegraph (Adelaide))

26/08/1875:
Critics have created a mighty fuss & argued Johnson should have been put in irons to be dealt with by a magistrate. However, he might have spread insubordination among the crew, leaving the ship short handed to the danger of lives and property.
(Southern Argus (South Australia))

25/07/1878:
Police Court, port Adelaide, 24 July - Josiah Sampkin, steward of CRAIGENDARROCH, charged on information of customs surveyor of illegal removal of 2 gallons whisky 23 July. He plead guilty and was remanded as case would be heard against Capt. Ramsay that day.
(Express & Telegraph)

31/07/1878:
Adelaide, 27 July - a second charge of smuggling was found proved against Capt. Ramsay, fined £25.
(Porder Watch (South Australia))

13/01/1882:
Auction of 2000 fine boards, battens, rafters, firewood, etc., the above of best quality and has just arrived Belfast ex ship CRAIGENDARROCH from Baltimore.
(Belfast Newsletter)

25/10/1882:
DESTRUCTIVE TYPHOON IN MANILA. An official despatch from Manila, dated 21st inst., states that a typhoon which swept over that city has destroyed all the wooden and thatched houses, and carried away the iron and tiled roofs of the other houses. [...] Telegrams received at Lloyd's announce that the following vessels were driven ashore: [...] CRAIGENDARROCH, British ship
(London and China Telegraph)

11/01/1883:
Letter from an Aberdeen Captain writing from Hong Kong Dec. 2 - "when the cholera in Manila was beginning to decline (having caused 26,000 deaths) there came along a hurricane which laid the whole city in ruin. We had 13 ships ashore, one an old Aberdeen ship, the CRAIGENDARROCH, which came to complete grief, being swept clean fore and aft.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)