FIDELITY
Date1803
Object NameSNOW
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
DimensionsGross Tonnage: 130 ton
Depth: 12'
Depth: 12'
Object numberABDSHIP003119
Keywords
Fate: Sank near the Blackets, near Cookhaven, 20 May 1863.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Snow rig, 1 deck with beams for another, brigantine rigged from 1844.
Owners:
1818: Lumsden (1818).
1824: Hay & Co. (1824).
1833: W. Fordyce (1832).
1844: Macfee & Co. Port of registration given as Saltcoats. Registration changed to Ardrossan 1846.
Masters:
1818: A. Murray
1821: R. Lowrie
1824: J. Edwards
1833: W. Fordyce
1844: MacFee
1853: M. Stirrat
1857: P. Kennedy
1863: A. Smith
Voyages:
1818-20: Liverpool - Wismar (Germany).
1821-23: Cork.
1824-26: Leith - Lerwick
1827: Leith Coaster
1828-34: Leith - Lerwick
1836-41: Leith - Lerwick
1844: Clyde - Dublin
1845-49: Clyde - Ireland
1850-55: Clyde Coaster
1857-62: Clyde
General History:
01/02/1809:
FIDELITY, of and from this place for Sunderland, in attempting to Firth of Forth where she had been windbound, was brought up near Fifeness with wind from SE and snow showers, with both anchors down. The panic stricken crew abandoned the vessel, taking their boat and landed same night on the Isle of May. Next morning they found the FIDELITY had been taken possession of by two craill boats, who carried her in to Ely [sic. viz Elie].
(Aberdeen Journal)
19/05/1859:
16-64th SHARES of the schooner FIDELITY of Ardrossan, buthen per register 108 tons new measurement, 112 old.
For further particulars apply to Captain Peter McPhee, Harbour Master, Ardrossan.
(Glasgow Herald)
15/02/1861:
Put in at Waterford 12 February brigantine FIDELITY, Smith Master, of and from Ardrossan for Newport, with loss of foreyard, boom, bulwarks, etc. and leaky.
(Morning Chronicle)
20/02/1861:
Report of Capt. Alexander Smith, of the FIDELITY, brigantine, of and from Ardrossan with pig iron for Newport Mon., at Waterford to undergo necessary repairs (after great gale) to enable her to proceed on intended voyage [Feb 12]. Put into Lamlash through contrary winds, left there Feb 7, 8p.m., light winds. 8th - light and fine till strong at midnight, took in small sails. 9th - 2a.m., double reefed topsail, stowed main sail and furled foresale. 6a.m. sprung foreyard, laid ship to under balance - reefed main sail. Being then off Bardsey Island [near Portmadock]. Gale from ENE, with snow, heavy sea running, ship labouring very much and making water, lost bulwarks on both sides amidships, pumps kept constantly going. 8p.m. - boarded by heavy sea, with filled mainsail, broke mainsheet and mainboom, carried away all starboard bulwarks and stanchions abaft the main rigging, ship lying to under main staysail. Midnight - wind moderating, but still a heavy sea, off the Bishops. 10th - fresh wind from E, being then off the Smalls [near Milford Haven]. Ship under 2 staysails, jib and balance - reefed mainsail, heading N. Midnight - moderate wind ESE, ship under all possible sail. Sent portion of mainboom up for a foreyard, set a double-reefed topsail and topgallant sail. 2a.m. made Tuskar Light [off Rosslare], tacked ship to W. 10a.m. made Hook Tower, continued working up Waterford Harbour. 8p.m. anchored off Waterford Passage, where ship now lies.
(Glasgow Herald)
26/05/1863:
Brigantine FIDELITY, of Ardrossan, from Cardiff for Galway, was abandoned in sinking state off the Blackets 20th May. Crew landed at Cookhaven by the VESPER, of Penzance.
(Liverpool Mercury) (this report is repeated by several other newspapers)
Contradictory to the previous is:
03/06/1868, Outer Hebrides, Isle of Lewis, Eye Peninsula, Bayble; 58.12 N 06.12 W.
Voyage Wick. Brigantine made of wood. Port of registration - Inverness. Owner - Macfee & Co.. Gross tonnage 126. Built 1803 - Aberdeen. Captain - Atkins. Lloyd's Classification AEI. Stranded then sank in seven fathoms depth.
Richard &Bridget Larn (1997), 'Shipwreck Index of the British Isles' (Lloyds Register London) vol.4, section 7)
Note: to add to the confusion Lloyd's 1863 (F152) has it marked as 'wrecked [18]58'
1841
1814
March 1805
1813
1839
