BYRON

Date1825

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 67'3" x breadth 19'5" x depth 10'4"
gross tonnage 108 14/94 tons

Object numberABDSHIP002869

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Anderson

Fate: Wrecked at Embo, near Dornoch, 15 September 1839

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, standing bowsprit, square stern, carvel built, no figurehead. Constructed of oak, larch, pine and birch.

Owners:
1825: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
Andrew Geddes, 8 shares; John Gill, 8 shares; James Souper*, 8 shares.
Other owners:
William Simpson, merchant, 16 shares; Alexander Cragie, shipmaster, 8 shares; David Gill, painter, 8 shares; John Ingram, shipmaster, 8 shares; all Aberdeen.
26/07/1830: Sold to several owners - Registered in Sunderland.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping 1825, No. 82 (Aberdeen City Archives))
1830s: Owner, Hudson

Masters:
1825: Master James Souper*
1835-37: Master G. Jackson
1837-39: Master T. Smith

Voyages:
1837-39: Newcastle coaster

General History:
01/04/1829:
For sale by public roup within Lemon Tree tavern, Aberdeen, for be hoof of creditors at greatly reduced prices, 1/8 schooner BYRON, upset price reduced to £60. (22/04/1829, £55)
(Aberdeen Journal)

18/05/1830:
Schooner BYRON, of Aberdeen, laden with stones, on entering Shields harbour was struck by a heavy sea, which carried away her mainmast. She became unmanageable & ran ashore between Mr. Wall's building ground & Clifford's Fort.
(Hull Packet)

15/01/1831:
To be sold by auction at Sunderland, schooner BYRON of Sunderland, Thomas Hunter master, built Aberdeen 1825, completely ripped in 1830, had a new keel & keelson, with other very extensive repairs to the hull; her outfit of sails and stores at the same time chiefly new to amount of nearly £600. She is now consequently abundantly found in every requisite, having made but one voyage to Bordeaux. She has delivered 80 tons hemp, 722 barrels tar, 878 quarters oats, 7 1/2 keel’s coals at 10 1/2 feet water. She it a very fast sailor, requires little ballast, shifts without any. She is a very desirable vessel for the corn, coal, Oporto or charter trade; requires nothing but provisions to send her to sea. Particulars from Munro & Bluker, Sunderland.
(Newcastle Courant)

21/09/1839:
Schooner BYRON, of Newcastle, from North Shields for Inverness with coals, was totally lost on the rocks of Embo, two miles east of Dornoch. Crew consisted of master, John R. Smith, mate William Mackay, a native of Thurso, three seamen and a boy. These with exception of mate have perished. For night & day previously it blew a perfect gale on that coast from north east with rain. When night fell the darkness was excessive, so that Tarbatness lighthouse was not observed until vessel had got to north of it & into Dornoch Firth. Attempt was then made to veer round, but this was found impracticable from fury of gale, all the canvas but the foretopsail having gone. Shortly after this the schooner struck the rocks on the Embo shore & very soon went to pieces. Mate wandered about the fields near shore till daylight when, nearly exhausted, he found his way to mansion house of Embo, residence of Mr. Brander, who treated him with the greatest kindness & attentions. He immediately proceeded to the shore with his farm servants in hope of saving remainder of crew, but no trace of them could be discovered.
(Morning Chronicle)

Note: Almost rebuilt 1837 (Lloyd's 1837 B587)