CIRCASSIAN

Shipbuildervessel built by DUTHIE (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Date1835

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD, with IRON BOLTS

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 82.9' x breadth 22.6' x depth 15.4'
gross tonnage 180 tons

Object numberABDSHIP000455

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: William Duthie & Co.

Fate: Vessel totally lost 1843, returning from Cuba

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Brigantine rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, with a standing bowsprit, square sterned, carvel built, no galleries, a woman's bust as figurehead. Length 82 feet 9 inches, breadth, taken above the main wales, 22 feet 6 inches, depth in hold 18 feet 4 inches.

Owners:
03/06/1835: Built at Aberdeen in the present year as applied by a certificate under the hand of William Duthie, Shipbuilder, there dated the 3rd Instant. [signed] Archibald Hill Tide surveyor at this port.
Certificate issued for subscribing owners:
William Duthie, shipowner 44 shares; Thomas Ritchie, shipmaster in Aberdeen 12 shares in the county of Aberdeen, North Britain.
Other owners:
James Hay, shipowner, also in Aberdeen 8 shares.
Entry dated December 1843:
Vessel totally lost with the register aboard as per declaration of managing owner lodged in registry book.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives) no 21, 1835)

Masters (from Aberdeen Register):
03/06/1835: Master Thomas Ritchie
08/06/1840: Master Alick Matthews
24/10/1840: Master John Mann
03/01/1842: Master William Wilson

Voyages (Lloyd's underwriters):
1836: Aberdeen - New York
1837-39: Aberdeen - Quebec
1840: London - Cuba
1841-43: Swansea - Cuba

General History:
Built as an emigrant carrier offering 7ft between decks as opposed to 6ft 3ins of other ships. She took 117 emigrants from Aberdeen to Quebec in 1836 but that was the only year she did that run [despite that being her route in Lloyd's for the next three years]. (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), pp. 30, 52)

19/12/1839:
Swansea, December 14 - Just arrived in the Mumble Roads, the brig CIRCASSIAN, Ritchie, from St. Jago de Cuba.
(Caledonian Mercury)