TAURUS

Shipbuildervessel built by Walter Hood & Co. (Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)

Date1841

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD - BEECH, LARCH, OAK, ELM, PART FIR PLANKING

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 84 9/12' x breadth 20 3/6' x depth 13 5/12'
registered tonnage: 184 ton

Object numberABDSHIP000301

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Walter Hood & Co.

Fate: driven ashore in Dungeness Bay, 21 October 1874.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: schooner rigged with clipper hull, 1 deck and a roundhouse, 2 masts, standing bowsprit, square stern, carvel built, no galleries, bull figurehead.

Owners:
1841: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
James Nesbit and David Robertson, Aberdeen shipowners carrying on business under the firm, Nisbit & Robertson 38 shares, William Carnagie, farmer, Newton of Auchinclick Skene, 4 shares.
Other shareholders:
Thomas Wallace, farmer, Tipperty, Ellon, 4 shares; James Bruce, Mains of Slains, 4 shares; Alexander Mitchell, farmer, Fiddesbeg, Foveran, 2 shares; John Kidd, farmer, Hilltown of Turnerhall, Ellon, 2 shares; George Lumsden, farmer, Keir, Belhelvie, 2 shares; David Crighton, farmer, Stracathro, Forfar; David Elliot, cattle salesman, London, 4 shares.
31/03/1849: Registration cancelled in Aberdeen, now registered in London.
( Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1851: Hendry & Co.

Masters:
1841-43: Master J. Martin
1844-45: Master J. Tindal
1846: Master Henderson
1850-51: Master Crombie
1852: Master T. Craigie
1873: Master Henderson

Voyages:
1843-45: Baltic
1850-51: Leith - Odessa
1852: Shields - Copenhagen

General History:
Built to carry cattle from Aberdeen to the London meat market, hence the name TAURUS.

28/04/1841:
For Quebec and Montreal - the very fine new clipper-built schooner 'TAURUS', 300 tons burthen, A1, will be upon berth for above ports to be despatched about beginning of June. Superior accommodation for passengers. Freight or passage apply David Robertson, 47 Marischal St.
(Aberdeen Journal).

06/1841:
The TAURUS conveyed 134 passengers to Quebec. The Master was John Martin.
(Lucille H. Campey (2002), "'Fast Sailing and Copper-Bottomed': Aberdeen Sailing Ships and the Emigrant Scots they carried to Canada 1774-1855" (Natural Heritage Books, Toronto), p. 33)

1842:
Sailed for Quebec; Master Captain J. Martin
(Aberdeen Journal)

17/04/1843:
To emigrants for Quebec and Montreal - fine clipper schooner "TAURUS", John Martin Commander, will be laid upon berth here for Quebec, to be despatched 1st June. Having 6 feet height twixt decks she will afford excellent accommodation for passengers. If sufficient inducement offcers she will call at a port on Moray Firth. For freight or passage apply Nisbet & Robertson, 47 Marischal St.
(Aberdeen Journal)

06/01/1869:
Crew of "RENSHAW" of Montrose, foundered off Montrose, rescued by schooner "TAURUS" (Capt. Henderson) and brought to Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Journal)

22/10/1873:
"TAURUS", schooner, of Aberdeen, Stephen, from Fecamp for Newcastle in ballast, put in here with loss of bowsprit, sternsplit, decks started and other damage, having been in collision with a screw steamer off the South Foreland, which proceeded without stopping.
(Aberdeen Journal)

21/10/1874: The sailing vessel TAURUS was driven ashore in Dungeness Bay and lost in wind conditions SW force 6-9.
(Richard and Bridget Larn (1997), “Shipwreck Index of the British Isles” (Lloyd’s Register, London), vol. 2, section 4)

Notes:
1850: Repairs
1851: Damage Repairs
1853: Repairs and sheathed in zinc