ROBERT GARDEN

DateAugust 1826

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 61.6' x breadth 19.2' x depth 10.8'
gross tonnage 95 tons

Object numberABDSHIP002973

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: George Levie

Fate: Sunk off Peterhead 25 May 1840, there is some uncertainty to this see below for details.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, standing bowsprit, square stern, carvel built, no galleries or figurehead.

Owners:
1826: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
Alexander Hay, merchant, 20 shares; Alexander Garden, merchant, 16 shares; William Crabb, baker, 4 shares, all Aberdeen.
Other shareholders:
Robert Catto, merchant, 8 shares; William Reid, flesher, 8 shares; James Hay, labourer, 8 shares; all Aberdeen.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1832-34: Owner, Catto & son
1834: Owner, Gibson, registered at Newcastle

Masters:
1827-31: Master James Walker
1831-33: Master J. Watson
1834: Master P. Milne
1835-40: Master Greenhow

Voyages:
1827-31: London coaster
1832-33: Leith coaster
1834: Aberdeen - London
1835-40: Newcastle

General History:
The ROBERT GARDEN appears to have been wrecked twice, in 1834 and 1840, see the two entries in the "Shipwreck Index" as follows:

20/10/1834:
Tynemouth, Herd Sand
"Last night and this morning, it blew a tremendous gale from NE and ENE, during which ROBERT GARDEN ... was driven upon the herd sand (Tynemouth) and is feared it will be wrecked. Crew saved by the lifeboat"; 23/10 "the ROBERT GARDEN remains on the herd sand in a wrecked state, most of her stores saved".
(Richard and Bridget Larn (1997), “Shipwreck Index of the British Isles” (Lloyd’s Register, London), vol. 3, sec. 6)

25/05/1840:
Peterhead, eastward of the Harbour
On a voyage from Sunderland to the Moray Firth, a schooner, supposed the 'ROBERT GARDEN' foundered to the eastward of Peterhead Harbour during a gale this morning; crew drowned including Captain Charles.
(Larn, "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles", vol. 2, sec. 4)

There is some dispute in the newspaper reports about quite how total the 1834 wreck was. The Aberdeen Journal and other reports suggest it was totally lost:

29/10/1834:
Schooner ROBERT GARDEN, Milne, of and for Aberdeen, with cargo of lime from Sunderland, was totally lost in trying to put into shields in heavy gale from North East. Crew saved by lifeboat.
(Aberdeen Journal)

However, others including the Durham County Advertiser suggest materials were salvageable:
31/10/1834
The ROBERT GARDEN remains on the Herd Sand in a wrecked state. Most of her stores saved.
(Durham County Advertiser)
Thus it seems that the 'New Deck and Large Repair 1834' noted for the ROBERT GARDENER (sic) in Lloyd's 1835 (R373) is an understatement covering for the complete salvage of the vessel which was then able to continue to operate for six more years until being finally and completely lost in 1840.

28/05/1840:
Peterhead, 25th May. A Schooner, supposed the ROBERT GARDEN, Charles, from Sunderland to the Moray Frith, foundered to the Eastward of the harbor during gale this morning; Crew drowned.
(Lloyd's List)

Note: A definitive account of whether the two wrecks were the same vessel is further complicated by the fact that Lloyd's Register sometimes calls this ship ROBERT GARDENER (1827-30, 1834 on), it also has entries for a "ROBERT CAROEN" 1827-1833 - same master/tonnage/year of build/owner - possibly same ship.