NINEVEH
Shipbuildervessel built by
Walter Hood & Co.
(Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)
DateMarch 1864
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 209' 9" x breadth 36' 5" x depth 22' 7"
gross tonnage 1176 tons
gross tonnage 1176 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000359
Keywords
Fate: Caught in a storm, suffered a leak that the crew pumped unsuccessfully so setting fire to the ship to avoid a hazard to navigation, 27 January 1896. The crew was rescued by the schooner COMPEER.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, a poop deck and a top gallant forecastle, 3 masts, round stern, carvel built, man figurehead.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
Owners:
Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
George Thompson Jr, William Henderson, George Thompson youngest, Stephen Thompson, 40 shares jointly; James Bayers, 4 shares; Alexander Nicol, 4 shares; James Donald, 12 shares; Isaac Merchant, 4 shares.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1882: J. H. Goodlet, registered in Sydney
02/1896: Goodlet and Smith, Sydney
Masters:
1865-66: Master J. Donald
1867-73: Master T. Barnet
1877: Master Kemball
1878-81: Master J. Ross
1882-84: Master J. Clulow
General History:
[paraphrased] - A lucky ship - made a lot of money - Captain Barnett entertained by owner at Holborn Restaurant.
1896 abandoned in North Pacific (February)
1872 left London February 11, arrived Sydney 79 days later.
Pages 356-359 gives details of times taken by NINEVEH as part of the wool fleet to Australia.
(Basil Lubbock (1948 edn), "The Colonial Clippers" (James Brown & Son, Glasgow)).
21/10/1865:
NINEVEH, Donald, loading for London. [Sydney Empire, 15/12/1865: Sailed 14 Dec].
(Sydney Morning Herald)
05/09/1866:
NINEVEH, Capt. Barnet, arrived Sydney 4 Sept. from The Downs 26 May.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
12/09/1867:
NINEVEH sailed 11 Sept. for London.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
19/05/1869:
NINEVEH, Barnet, loading for London.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
09/06/1873:
NINEVEH, Barnet, sailed 7 June for London.
(Sydney Empire)
10/11/1876: Vessel name NINEVEH. William, 33, described as a miner, originally from Suffolk. Also Hannah 28, Thomas 8, Richard 4, and Elizabeth 2, all from Durham. Parents could read and write, Thomas could read. All Wesleyan.
(Source: State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships (Agent's Immigrant Lists); Series: 5316; Reel: 2140.)
[Ancestry.com.au has an arrival of NINEVEH to New South Wales for 10th Nov. 1876, and a follow up search on Ancestry.co.uk lists a NINEVEH as arriving in January 1875 in New South Wales. Initial information found by Mr. Phillip Sinclair of Australia searching for ancestors who arrived on this ship.]
24/09/1877:
Ship NINEVEH, from Plymouth, has come into port with Government immigrants after very favourable passage of 86 days, 423 persons brought to the colony - 72 married couples, 109 single men, 46 single women, 134 children and infants. Passage has been a fine weather one and ship has come into port in exceptionally good order. Dr Harris is in charge of the immigrants, who appear a healthy lot of people. Mortality of 12 (all infants), 2 births.
(Sydney Evening News)
03/09/1880:
NINEVEH passed Wilson's Promontory 2 Sept. 79 days out from London.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
30/10/1883:
NINEVEH departed Sydney 29 Oct. for Port Townsend [USA]?
(Sydney Morning Herald)
31/12/1884:
NINEVEH projected to depart 31 Dec for Puget Sound [Washington State, USA].
(Sydney Morning Herald)
23/11/1887:
NINEVEH projected to depart 23 Nov. for Wilmington [California]?
(Sydney Morning Herald)
05/12/1889:
NINEVEH projected to depart Sydney 5 Dec. for San Diego [California] via Newcastle [NSW]; 17/10/1894: Departed 16 Oct. on same voyage.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
07/02/1896:
News well known clipper ship NINEVEH, owned by Goodlet & Smith, Sydney, had become total wreck on voyage from Puget Sound with lumber [...] for many years traded to this port under White Star flag of George Thompson & Co., Aberdeen. She was noted for her remarkable sailing capabilities [...] some of her passages rank among fastest recorded [...] for years very popular as a passenger ship. Sold in 1883 and has been in lumber trade for Goodlet & Smith ever since. Had left Sydney 1 Oct (after lie-up and subsequent overhaul) for Puget Sound to load timber for Sydney and was returning fully loaded when she was lost.
(Sydney Evening News)
29/02/1896:
Report on wreck by Mr. Raeder, Mate - after they left Vancouver 10 Jan. were struck 24 Jan. by huge storm. A big sea shifted the deck cargo and broke the pump handle. Capt. Broadfoot had his head injured and several seamen were hurt. The ship began to leak and water gained fast. Ship was rolling heavily and taking waves over both rails. Men had pumped for 3 days and nights, stopping only for meals. Water was 12ft. in hold. They hoisted a signal of distress and were rescued by the compeer. They fired the vessel so it should not be danger to navigation. They arrived 5 Feb. at Oakland [California].
(Adelaide Advertiser)
03/03/1896:
Crew arrived Auckland, NZ, 3 March, Capt. Broadfoot recovering from his injuries.
(Wagga Wagga Advertiser)
Under the English flag, was assigned to the London Australia line carrying many immigrants. Under Australian flag, was used to transport lumber from North America. 15/01/1896: left Moodyville (British Columbia) to Sydney 25/01/1896. Caught in a storm, suffered a leak that the crew pumped unsuccessfully. 27/01/1896. The crew was rescued by the schooner COMPEER which crossed her way, setting fire to the ship to avoid a hazard to navigation. (Source: Wrecksite. )
Note: This ship appears under conflicting name spellings. It is the NINEVEH (according to Lloyd's Register 1865) and the NINEVAH (according to Hood list).
