JOHN GARROW

Date1840

Object NameSHIP

MediumIRON

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 130' 1" x breadth 30' x depth 19' 6"
gross tonnage 555 tons

Object numberABDSHIP002896

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: John Vernon & Sons, Aberdeen.

Fate: Abandoned at sea, 7 December 1856.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged with standing bowsprit, square stemmed, no galleries and male figurehead. Built of iron.

Owners:
1840: John Anderson, William Garrow, Alexander Smith and Thomas Irvine, all of Liverpool, trading as Anderson, Garrow & Co., registered at Liverpool.
1847-54: Cannon & Co.
1855-56: J. Robinson

Masters:
1840-44: Master Frederick Wilson
1847-49: Master Thomson
1851-54: Master M. Hamilton
1855-56: Master J. Dyer

Voyages (from Lloyd's):
1840-44: Aberdeen - Bombay
1847-49: London - New Orleans
1855: Liverpool - Charleston

General History:
An early iron ship. On her maiden commercial voyage from the Tyne to Bombay great crowds gathered to watch her departure and three steamers accompanied her out of harbour. According to the newspaper Northern Liberator (18/04/1840) to many it was "a scarcely credible fact of a vessel nearly all built of iron gently gliding along the surface of the deep". The Morning Post (03/04/1840), noted that her standing rigging was made of wire and except for her top and decks, she was made exclusively of iron.
In December 1842 she was advertised to sail from Liverpool to New Orleans (Liverpool Mercury, 16/12/1842), it was claimed that "she is expected to sail remarkably fast and has superior accommodation for cabin passengers". A subsequent advertisement for her sale (Hull Packet, 18/05/1843) claimed this voyage "realised the most sanguine expectations" in the use of iron to build sea-going ships. It was argued that JOHN GARROW returned with its bottom clear of corrosion or barnacles, that it had proved itself a fast sailer and an admirable sea boat in stormy weather, upon a lower draft than any wooden built ship of the same tonnage. that the advertisement suggested the addition of auxiliary steam power may give a clue as to why a sale was attempted so early in its career. Possibly the additional cost of construction had not paid off for a purely sailing ship. However, she was not given a steam engine but was lengthened about that time (Lloyds Register 1847), suggesting that there was a commercial problem.
By 1850 it was in the emigrant trade, sailing from Liverpool 3 September for Galveston, Texas, where it landed 110 British emigrants (Newcastle Courant, 13/09/1850; The Standard, 18/11/1850). That it was not a happy ship by 1856 is shown by the desertion of nine seamen on arrival at Liverpool before she even moored (Liverpool Mercury, 26/07/1856).
JOHN GARROW's end came when it was abandoned at sea on 6 December 1857 in the Atlantic off Virginia, 6 days out of Savannah for Liverpool with a cargo of 2,386 bales of cotton. It sprang a leak in a furious gale and when abandoned had 19 feet of water in the hold. The crew were rescued by the American ship E.Z. It found JOHN GARROW in sinking condition and hove to at great risk to itself. Finding JOHN GARROW's lifeboat was larger and more seaworthy than its own, three trips were made to the E.Z. under superintendence of JOHN GARROW's mate, Captain Dyer being ill. E.Z. then carried JOHN GARROW's crew to New York.
Newspaper extracts:
28/08/1843:
Within the OFFICE of Mr. DAMIEL TONGUE, 7. CASTLESTREET, LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY AUGUST 31, Two O’Clock (If not previously disposed of private sale), THE splendid A 1 Iron Ship JOHN GARROW, Edward Devy, Commander; burthen tons per register 680 tons O.M., and 911 tons N.M. Dimensions; Length aloft 146 feet 2-10ths ; breadth midships, 30 feet 1-10th; depth midships, 21 feet 8-10ths. This fine vessel, after being put into the most perfect order, at great expense, performed a voyage to and from New Orleans, and realised the most sanguine expectations which bad been formed of the of iron, applicable the construction of seagoing ships, returning with her bottom perfectly free from corrosion, and clear barnacles, having proved herself a remarkably fast sailer, and in most tempestuous weather an admirable sea boat. She carries a large cargo, and upon draught of water greatly less than any wooden-built ship of afloat, and from her great strength would admit of the application of auxiliary steam power, if thought desirable a purchaser, at a very small outlay, and within a space, including twenty days’ supply of coals, of not over twenty feet in the lower hold. For particulars apply to Messrs. Cannon, Miller, and Co., Merchants; Messrs. Highfield and Withers, Brokers; or D. TONGE, 7. Castle-street, Liverpool.
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)

21/09/1850:
IMPORTANT TO EMIGRANT SETTLERS AND LABOURERS. EMIGRATION TO TEXAS. THE UNIVERSAL EMIGRATION AND COLONIZATION COMPANY having, on the 3d instant despatched their first party of settlers to their land in Milam County, Texas, per the splendid ship "JOHN GARROW," 844 tons register, from Liverpool to Galveston, and one of their Directors having preceded them, via New York to secure their comfortable reception upon the settlement, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applieations are now being received at the Offices of the company and their Provincial Agents, for allotments of land, and accommodation in their second Ship, intended to sail on the 15th of October. Parties who ars desirous of availing themselves of the advantages offered to early Settlers upon these lands, and of direct passage to GALVESTON, are requested to make early application to
F. SABEL
Shipping Agent to the above Company,
28, Moorfields, Liverpool
(Liverpool Mail)

21/11/1850:
22nd of October, 1850: The fine ship JOHN GARROW arrived on Friday with 117 English emigrants, dispatched by the Universal Emigration and Colonisation Company, London
(Morning Advertiser (London))

23/01/1857:
LOSS BRITISH SHIP.—NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CREW. The ship E. Z. of New York, belonging to Zerega & Co., arrived at New York on the 30th ult., [December 1856] from Liverpool, having board the officers and crew of the British (iron) ship JOHN GARROW, [...] Captain Jonah Dyer, sailed from Savannah, Tuesday Nov. 25, with a cargo of cotton, for Liverpool. On Sunday the 30th they first discovered that the ship had sprung a leak, [...]. The pumps were immediately manned, and worked vigorously by the crew, but by the greatest exertions they were unable reduce the water. A series of heavy gales followed each other in rapid succession, [...] The constant tax upon the crew reduced their strength, and, with severe cold weather, soon disabled three or four of their number—one being frost-bitten. On the 6th of December, lat. 37 , lon. 57 deg. 10m , in tho midst of a severe gale from the N.W., the vessel had been put before the wind under a maintopsail, but was waterlogged as to be past steering. In this situation, with decks nearly level with the water, and driven at the mercy of the sea, which was running mountains high, and with the hourly prospect of being capsized, a sail was descried the starboard quarter, [...]. A signal of distress was displayed in the rigging, and in the course of an hour they were hailed by the ship E. Z., Captain Hodges, of New York, when Captain Dyer requested to be taken off. They were not long in clearing away the lifeboat of the John Garrow, and, despite the heavy sea which was running, succeeded in transferring themselves to the E. Z., the captain's wife and child taking the second boat, and the officers and crew all reaching the vessel In safety, but without saving anything but the clothes they had on. [...] The ship was built in Aberdeen in 1840, was 685 tons, and belonged to Joseph Robinson, of Liverpool. Her cargo was mostly insured in Wall Street, tha vessel probably in Liverpool. She was engaged in the New Orleans and Liverpool cotton trade.
(Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser)

14/08/1857:
Presentation of a Testimonial to an American Captain.— ln December last, the American ship E. Z. fell in with the British ship JOHN GARROW, and rescued the crew of the latter, under circumstances of considerable peril. [...] The Board of Trade has shown its approval of the captain's (Hodges) conduct, by presenting him with a handsome testimonial. The presentation look place on Wednesday afternoon [12 August] at the Liverpool Sailors' Home, when the; chairman (Mr. S. R. Graves) addressing Captain Hodges, said— We are called together to-day for the purpose of conveying to you the opinion of the British Government, or rather [...] — the Board ofTrade— of your generous and humane conduct in rescuing the crew of the British ship JOHN GARROW. It appears that, about midway across the Atlantic, you fell in with this vessel, and by the aid of your officers and crew — your chief officer especially— you were the instrument in the hands of Providence of rescuing 24 persons from the JOHN GARROW when in a sinking condition. This was not done without risking life and property to a considerable extent. You received them on board your ship, and brought them to New York. [...] The Board of Trade, anxious that your owners should not, [...] suffer pecuniary loss, have instructed this board to convey through you to them the sum of £60. which we believe to be abcut the sum they would be out of pocket. To you we have the pleasure of conveying, as a mark of tbe approval of the Board of Trade, this magnificent telescope.
(Morning Post)