IRON QUEEN

Date1841

Object NameBARQUE

MediumIRON

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 99 7/10' x breadth 25 7/10' x depth 15 2/10'
gross tonnage 349, 2006/3500 tons

Object numberABDSHIP002890

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Bowman, Vernon & Co., Aberdeen

Fate: wrecked at Jupiter, Florida, late October 1849

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Barque rigged, 1 deck, 3 masts, standing bowsprit, square stern iron clench built, no galleries, female bust figurehead.

Owners:
1841: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owner;
James McHardy, advocate, Aberdeen, 64 shares.
09/09/1848: Registration cancelled in Aberdeen, now registered in London
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping, Aberdeen City Archives)
1846-49: Robertson, registered at London (there is some inconsistency between the Aberdeen and Lloyd's registers on the date of the ownership change, Lloyd's also sometimes has it as "Robison")

Masters:
1841: Master Thomas Leisk (Aberdeen Register)
1845: Master O'Brien
1846-47: Master Pasley
1848: Master J. Jeans
1849: Master Robertson

Voyages (from Lloyd's):
1845: Liverpool - Rio de Janeiro
1846-47: London - Singapore
1848: Aberdeen - Baltic
1849: London - Jamaica

General History:
20/03/1844:
Paragraph from Liverpool Albion re. IRON QUEEN, built by and property of our townsmen Vernon & Co., Engineers and Iron Shipbuilders [...] "Lately arrived from New York. She took a valuable cargo of manufactured goods out to Rio de Janeiro, went thence to New York with the cargo of an American vessel condemned on the coast and has just delivered her cargo of cotton and hides without a spot or blemish [...] interior of her hold has more appearance of a comfortable room than of a ship, the paint being as fresh as when put on and her bottom is quite free from rust or barnacles. Considering the comparatively small cost of these vessels, their light draft and other advantages, they cannot fail to become popular with the commercial world. IRON QUEEN came here [Liverpool] from New York in 19 days, having lost 2 days while lying to, extinguishing fire caused by spontaneous combustion in the cotton of which, however, only 2 bags were destroyed. With a wooden ship the consequences might have been very disastrous.
(Aberdeen Journal)

17/12/1849:
Brig WILLIAM PRATT, at Charleston [S. Carolina], reports that on 5 November fell in with barque IRON QUEEN, of and for London for Honduras laden with mahogany, ashore on the reef near Jupiter Inlet, Coast of Florida, took on board Mr. Robertson, wife and crew, who had been in a destitute condition for 10 days: also brought off sails, chains, rigging, etc. and left mate of barque and two hands to take charge of the wreck.
(Glasgow Herald)

Note: The firm Bowman, Vernon & Co. although famous for building one of the first iron ships, is not really known as a main ship builder in Aberdeen having only a very small output, their Dee Iron Works was in York St.
(Directory for the City of Aberdeen, 1839, p.21)