FORTH PACKET

Date1805

Object NameSLOOP

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionsdepth: 9 ft.
gross tonnage 68 tons

Object numberABDSHIP003061

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Unknown.

Fate: Wrecked on the Annet bank, off Montrose, 18 December 1817.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Sloop rigged, 1 deck.

Owners:
1805-17: Catto & Co.

Masters:
1805-07: Master J. Keith.
1807-13: Master McDonald.
1813-17: Master Thomas Galloway.

Voyages:
1805-17: Leith - Aberdeen.

29/05/1806:
J. Keith Master; 7 voyages Leith to Aberdeen in 1805
(Aberdeen Journal, also 19/06/1806; 28/08/1806; 02/10/1806; 23/10/1806; 20/11/1806; 01/ 01/1806)

12/02/1806:
J. Keith Master; 6 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1806
(Aberdeen Journal, also 23/04/1806; 21/05/1806; 11/06/1806; 02/07/1806 & 30/07/1806)

08/10/1806:
Baxter Master; Voyage Aberdeen to Leith
(Aberdeen Journal)

29/10/1806:
MacDonald Master, Aberdeen to Leith
(Aberdeen Journal)

28/02/1807:
MacDonald Master 6, voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1807
(Caledonian Mercury, also 19/03/1807; 30/03/1807; 18/06/1807; 11/07/1807; 17/08/1807)

06/01/1808:
Cragie Master; Montrose to Aberdeen carrying flour
(Aberdeen Journal)

16/03/1808:
MacDonald Master; Aberdeen to Leith 4 voyages in 1808
(Aberdeen Journal, also 18/05/1808; 03/08/1808; 26/10/1808)

05/10/1808:
"Fresh oysters, in the shell, per the FORTH PACKET, expected here tomorrow: and a fresh parcel may be looked for by every ship, during the whole season" Advertisement by Robert Troup
(Aberdeen Journal)

25/11/1809:
MacDonald, Master, 7 voyages, Aberdeen to Leith in 1809
(Caledonian Mercury) also (Aberdeen Journal, 22/02/1809; 08/03/1809; 12/04/1809; 07/06/1809; 30/08/1809; 18/09/1809)

10/01/1810:
MacDonald Master, 6 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1810
(Aberdeen Journal, also 21/02/1810; 11/07/1810; 15/08/1810; 26/09/1810; 24/10/1810)

12/10/1811:
MacDonald Master, 7 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1811
(Caledonian Mercury) (also Aberdeen Journal, 02/01/1811; 13/02/1811; 15/05/1811; 26/06/1811; 24/07/1811; 21/08/1811)

04/07/1812:
MacDonald Master; 3 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1812
(Caledonian Mercury) (also Aberdeen Journal, 18/03/1812; 01/04/1812)

19/08/1812:
Joss (or Joyce) Master; 2 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1812
(Aberdeen Journal) (also 30/09/1812)

24/07/1813:
Thomas Galloway Master; 5 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1813
(Caledonian Mercury), (also 07/08/1813 and Aberdeen Journal 03/11/1813; 15/12/1813; 05/01/1814)

06/04/1814:
Thomas Galloway Master; 4 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1814
(Aberdeen Journal) (and Caledonian Mercury 04/08/1814; 29/08/1814; 28/11/1814)

29/04/1815:
Thomas Galloway Master; 1 voyage; Aberdeen to Leith in 1815
(Caledonian Mercury)

24/04/1816:
Thomas Galloway Master; 2 voyages Aberdeen to Leith in 1816
(Aberdeen Journal)

18/12/1817:
"Melancholy Loss of the FORTH PACKET"
"At nine o'clock it began to blow a violent gale. Between twelve and one o'clock today a vessel appeared in the offing, apparently driving in towards the shore. At this time the tide was scarcely half flood, and as the wind was blowing almost right inshore and a tremendous sea running, the greatest anxiety was manifested for her safety [...] The vessel which was now plainly observed from the shore, was smack rigged, and appeared (to be) making exertions to gain the harbour [...] the crew, whether from fatigue or some defect in the vessel seemed to have but little management of her, consequently after almost gaining the river, she was struck by some tremendous seas, and precipitated on the Annette, a sand bank running out of the entrance to the harbour. The situation of those on board the vessel now became perilous in the extreme - the tide forcing her inshore, and the waves breaking over her with great violence. Two fishing boats had proceeded to the mouth of the river [...] but, from heavy seas, were unable, after repeated attempts, to cross the bar. The lifeboat, which was brought to the beach and manned with greatest alacrity, now proceeded to the vessel, and, though repeatedly driven back, succeeded in getting so close to her as to throw a rope with a grappling iron on board [...] but it unfortunately gave way and the boat was driven, by the fury of the sea and wind, to leeeward of the vessel, and was unable to make up again [...] the lifeboat now rowed inshore, and came round by the deep water on the back of the Annette. The boat now made for the vessel a second time, but, melancholy to relate, before they could reach her, she was overset, and her mast giving way she was turned literally keel uppermost, and every soul on board perished. At the time the lifeboat was alongside, they spoke to those on board and ascertained the vessel to be the FORTH PACKET of Aberdeen, Thomas Galloway Master, with 20 persons on board, men, women, and children [...] From the shore the spectators beheld the agonies of those on board, each clinging desperately to whatever they could lay hold of, to preserve them from the devouring clement around; one young woman was observed among the passengers, with an infant at her breast; and now in an instant all were buried in the ocean.

Crew:
Thomas Galloway, Master of Aberdeen
Robert Sinclair, Mate, of Aberdeen
Robert Duncan, Seaman, of Aberdeen
Magnus Hiddle, Seaman, of Orkney
James Frazer, Seaman, of Montrose

Passengers: Mrs Stewart, her son and two daughters of Aberdeen; Mr A. Patterson of Edinburgh; Paul McPhail of Nova Scotia; H. Lyon; James Donegal; J. Frazer, American; W. Leslie, cooper of Peterhead; Donald Fraser, taylor of Aberdeen; Mr John Irvine, shoemaker of Aberdeen; Alexander Bain, spirit dealer of Aberdeen; Mrs McGregor of Aberdeen; Capt John Drysdale of Leith; James Kelman, mason of New Galloway".
(Caledonian Mercury)