SEA HORSE

Date1838

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 84' x breadth 20.8' x depth 11.275'
Registered Tonnage: 135.25 ton

Object numberABDSHIP001775

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: John Duffus & Co. (see note)

Fate: wrecked at mouth of the Tyne, 13 October 1869.

Propulsion: Steam
Description: Brig rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, round stern, carvel built, no gallery, no figurehead, wood framework.

Owners:
1851-60: Duthie & Co, registered at Aberdeen
1861-70: R. Maitland, registered at Aberdeen.
(Source: Lloyd's Register of Shipping)
20/10/1868: This registry opened, for subscribing owners;
Charles Anderson, Aberdeen, shipmaster, 32 shares; William Connon, Aberdeen, merchant, 16 shares; Robert Maitland, Aberdeen, shipowner, 8 shares; John Manson, Aberdeen, banker, 8 shares.
13/10/1869: Vessel lost at mouth of the Tyne.
29/12/1869: Registry cancelled.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives) no. 60, 1868)

Masters:
1852-54: Master W. Duthie
1855-57: Master G. Urquhart
1858-59: Master R. Johnson
1861-69: Master Charles Anderson

Voyages (Lloyd's):
1852-54: Aberdeen - Baltic
1855-57: Aberdeen - Mediterranean
1858-59: Aberdeen - Archangel (Russia)
1861-69: Aberdeen - Baltic

General History:
20/10/1869:
Wreck of two Aberdeen schooners at Shields. - On Saturday night a terrific gale broke on the north-east coast, accompanied by blinding showers of rain. The wine was exceedingly strong and gusty. About nine o'clock, a schooner from the North attempted to enter the Tyne for shelter. It proved to be the SEA HORSE, belonging to Aberdeen, which sailed from the Tyne on Saturday morning with coals for Aberdeen, and had been caught by the gale and compelled to put back. The SEA HORSE got between the piers, and was evidently in a fair way of securing a safe berth in the river, when, as she was coming up alongside the North Pier, a tremendous sea struck her on her quarter, and broke the rudder top, rendering the steering gear entirely useless. The master (Capt. Wilson) at once dropped his anchors, and for a time was held under the lea of the North Pier. Gust after gust of furious wind swept across the harbour; however, until, by the combined strength of the flowing sea and the wind, the SEA HORSE dragged her anchors, and drove towards the south side of the entrance to the harbour. The rocket apparatus was got out and put in readiness to be used; but the South Shields pilots had manned the Tyne lifeboat and were alongside the drifting vessel, which was then within a few yards of the north side of the pier, and some 400 yards from the shore. The crew, six in number, were all safely taken out of the stranded and wrecking vessel, and were landed at the Coble Landing, and well cared for.
(Aberdeen Press & Journal)

Note: The attributution of SEA HORSE to Duffus is somewhat doubtful; there is a SEA HORSE of 1838 in the Duffus builder's list held in the Aberdeen maritime museum but it is a steam tug with a tonnage of 124 1/2 tons as opposed to the brig of 154 tons in Lloyd's (though such a difference could arise between old measure and new measure, the builder's list is not clear which it uses or from what source). No other evidence for the steam tug's existance has yet been found.