WAVE OF LIFE
Shipbuildervessel built by
Walter Hood & Co.
(Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)
Date6 May 1856
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 187' x breadth 34' 5" x depth 21'
Gross Tonnage: 887ton
Gross Tonnage: 887ton
Object numberABDSHIP000343
Keywords
Subsequent Names: HENRIQUITA (1891); IDA
Fate: Condemned and broken up, March 1897.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: ship rigged clipper, 2 decks (a poop deck and a top gallant forecastle), 3 masts, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, female figurehead.
Owners:
Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
George Thompson Jnr., William Henderson, both shipowners in Aberdeen, Stephen Thompson, shipowner in London, joint owners - 40 shares.
Other Shareholders:
Charles Stuart, master, 16 shares; Walter Hood, shipbuilder, 4 shares; James Buyers, shipowners, 4 shares. Walter Hood died intestate 27 December 1862, ownership transfers to Ann Hood, spinster 3 June 1863.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
Sold to Brazil, renamed and sailed as the IDA.
Masters:
1857-59: Master C. Steuart (Stewart).
1861: Master C. Stewart.
1862-67: Master Lawson.
1868-70: Master R. Parrott.
1869-78: Master Watt.
Voyages (Lloyd's):
1857-70: London - Australia.
General History:
07/05/1856:
Launched from yard of Messrs Walter Hood & Co. Yesterday another of those splendid clipper ships, for which this port has become so famous. WAVE OF LIFE, Capt. Stuart (late of Wooloomalloo) has been built expressly for the Australian trade, fitted out in most superior style for passengers, combining all the recent improvements.
(Aberdeen Journal)
04/12/1856:
Sydney News - ship WAVE OF LIFE, from which a rapid voyage was expected, is now out 109 days from London and nothing has been heard of her - has given rise to some anxiety.
(Maitland Mercury).
15/12/1856:
One would be inclined to believe that this noble vessel, from the time which has been expended over her voyage from London to Sydney, is not entitled to the name of clipper. Sparred on principle of comparatively short masts and square yards, she has every facility with a moderate share of fair winds and fine weather, but on this her maiden voyage has had succession of reverses. In English channel in terrific squall her fore topmast, fore and main top gallant masts went by the board, which compelled Capt. Stuart to put into Plymouth - she experienced foul winds and calms nearly all the way to the line. Successive light winds and calms until she reached meridian of Cape of Good Hope on 74th day out. From there to Cape Otway she showed her capabilities, repeatedly running 10 knots an hour. Reached Sydney yesterday, having left London 16th August.
(Sydney Empire).
02/06/1857:
Ship WAVE OF LIFE, Capt. Charles Stuart, from Sydney 14 February with wood, tallow, about 4000 ounces gold and 18 passengers, landed mail at Plymouth yesterday. She rounded Cape Horn 21 March and cross the line 1 May.
(Morning Chronicle).
25/07/1857:
Off the night, ship WAVE OF LIFE from London for Sydney.
(Morning Chronicle).
13/12/1859:
Edward Jones for drunken and disorderly conduct on board WAVE OF LIFE was fined 10 shillings or 24 hours in prison.
(Sydney Morning Herald).
21/12/1859:
Edward Jones and Jonathan Jackson, seamen from ship WAVE OF LIFE, sentenced to one week's hard labour for desertion from their ship.
(Sydney Morning Herald).
09/06/1864:
WAVE OF LIFE, from Melbourne 5 March, passed up the channel yesterday. She brings 26 cabin and large no. of steerage passengers, 5223 ounces gold (worth about £21,000) and cargo of wool, hides and tallow.
(Birmingham Daily Post, Daily News).
30/06/1873:
Shipment of 70 valuable rams and ewes arrived Melbourne 28 June in splendid condition per ship WAVE OF LIFE.
(South Australian Register).
05/-7/1878:
London 2 July - arrived WAVE OF LIFE, barque, from Melbourne, sailed 13 March.
(Melbourne Argus).
Note: The ships carpenter on two voyages to Melbourne between 1862 and 1863 was David Alexander from Aberdeen.
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