BONACCORD
Date1606
Object NameBARQUE
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Object numberABDSHIP002837
Keywords
Fate: unknown, see notes
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Barque rigged
Owner: unknown
Master:
1626: Master Gilbert Anderson
Voyages:
1626: Aberdeen - France
General History:
The following is an extract from the records of the burgh of Aberdeen.
Dated 26th Februay 1606:
'The samyn day, anent the bill gewin in be Alexander Dauidsoun, tymber man in Sanct Androis, mackand mentioun that he has agreit with the honest men that hes bocht the Wod of Drum, for als mekil tymber as will big ane bark, quhilk bark he intendis, God willing, to big within this towne, and becaus the kirkyard of the Trinitie Freris, quhilk is filthilie abusit be middingis, is the maist meit and convenient place for bigging of the said bark, seing the tymber is redie in ane flott to cum to this burght, how sone the watter growis, as at mair lenth was contenit in his said bill; quhairanent in prouest, baillies, and counsall advysing, they fund the desire thairof verie reasonable, and grantit and gave licence to the said Alexander Dauidsoun to his big his schip in the pairt forsaid, viz., in the said Trinitie Freris kirkyard, conforme to the desyre of his said supplicatioun, and for that effect ordanis all these quho hes laid middingis in the said kirkyaird or thairabout, to remowe and tak avay the same within aucht dayes nixt efter the dait heirof, vnder the pane of ane vnlaw...'
Translation:
'The same day, another bill given in by Alexander Davidson, timber man in Saint Andrews, made mention that he has agreed with the honest men that he has bought the wood of Drum, for enough timber as will build a bark, which bark he intends, God willing, to build within this town, and because the churchyard of Trinity Brothers, which is filthily abused by rubbish heaps, is the most meet and convenient place for building of the said bark, seeing as the timber is ready in one flood to come to this burgh just as soon as the water grows, was at length contented in his said bill, wherein the Provost, baillies and advising council they found the desire thereof very reasonable, and granted and gave licence to the said Alexander Davidson to build his ship in the aforementioned place, viz. in the churchyard of Trinity Brothers, conform to the desire of said supplication, and to that effect ordains all those who have laid rubbish in the said churchyard or thereabouts, to remove and take away the same within eight days next after the date hereof, under the pain of law.'
The following is from The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Second Series (Edinburgh 1899, David Mason editor), Volume 1, 1625-1627, p. 669:
"A nott of the shippes belonging to the toune of Aberdene and of thair burdenis, to be presented by Gilbert Cullen, thair commissionair to the lordis the xxv day of Julij 1626: drawin up the xviij day of Julij the said yeir: Item. A Barque callit THE BONACORD, the maister under God callit Gilbert Andersoune, of Fyftie tounes in burdine, presentlie absent at hir voyage in France, whair shoe hes almost beine thie yeir bypast."
Translation:
"A Note of the ships belonging to the town of Aberdeen and of their tonnages, to be presented by Gilbert Cullen, their commissioner to the Lords [of the Privy Council] the 25 July 1626: drawn up 18 July the same year: Item a barque called THE BONACCORD, her master (under God) named Gilbert Anderson, of fifty tons burden, [is] presently absent on her voyage to France, where she has been the past year."
The entry includes nine other vessels belonging to Aberdeen but there is no evidence either way to say whether any of them were Aberdeen built.
Note: there is note of a Bon Accord wrecked in 1695 but it seems doubtful that this is the same one as it would be 89 years old.
'Wreck of a vessel named Bonaccord carrying linen and knitted goods, cast away on Louther Skerry (The Lodder in Pichland/Pentland Firth) on 10 October 1695.'
(Ian G. Whittaker (1998), "Off Scotland: A Comprehensive Record of Maritime and Aviation Losses in Scottish Waters" (C-ANNE publishing, Edinburgh), p. 90)
22 June 1872
January 1873
