COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD
Shipbuildervessel built by
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateApril 1848
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 140.2' x breadth 25.0' x depth 18.2'
gross tonnage 520 tons
gross tonnage 520 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000506
Keywords
Fate: wrecked on Pratas Shoal, south-west of Taiwan, 21 March 1855.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper with raised quarterdeck.
Owner:
Baillie Adamson, shipowner, Aberdeen.
Master
1848: Master W. Leask
General History:
COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD, 1848
'One of three clippers built at Aberdeen in this year, she helped materially to give Aberdeen a good name in shipping circles. Alexander Duthie launched her in April for Henry Adamson of Aberdeen who, later, owned a number of tea clippers. The Lloyd's Register surveyor wrote in his report:- 'Has a raised quarter deck 3 feet in height. Clipper Bow as termed carried to an extreme in outreach and full length figurehead'. She had a 22 foot longboat and three other boats, and also a windlass, winch and capstan. Rigged as a ship she measured 140.2ft x 25.0ft x 18.2ft. 520 old tons and 451 new tons. Her short life, spent entirely in the China trade came to an end on 21 March 1855 when she stranded on the Pratas Shoal, China Sea - off Hong Kong. She was refloated and later sold to Cantonese owners'.
(David R. MacGregor (1983), “The Tea Clippers: Their History and Development 1833-1875 (Conway Maritime, London))
22/01/1851:
'We have just learned of another voyage made by an Aberdeen-built ship, which at all events equals if it does not surpass that of this same celebrated "Oriental" [an American ship].
The "COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD," built by an Aberdeen firm [...] Duthie [...] The "COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD," which belong to our enterprising townsman, Baillie Adamson, registers 520 tons, and brings a cargo of over 700 tons of tea and silk.'
'The Countess gives the following report:
October 8, 1850 - Sailed from Woosung in company with the Blondel, bound to London
October 18, - Spoke the Reliance, from Shanghai to New York, out 13 days, off Pulo Sapata.
October 22, - The Miranda, from Hong Kong to London, out 12 days, off the Anambas Islands.
October 30, - Signalled HM 16-gun brig Arab, off the Brothers Island, in the Java Sea.
Nov. 5. - Spoke the John Bentley, from Whampoa, out 34 days, in Lat. 13.15S, long. 89 E.
Nov 14. - Signalized the Palambang, from Shanghai to London, out 65 days, lat. 25 S, long. 61 E.
Nov. 25. - Spoke the Witch of Liverpool, with loss of fore-topmast and main-top-gallant mast, from Calcutta, out 49 days, in lat. 30.50 S. long. 38.30 E.
Dec. 18. - Watered at St. Helena, and left same day in company with the Coromandel of Aberdeen, and Ben Lomond of Glasgow.
January 19, 1851 - Lay to in the Downs
- It will be seen in the above that the Countess has made the passage from St Helena to the Downs in thirty-two days - the shortest time, we believe, in which the run has ever been accomplished.'
(Aberdeen Journal)
06/06/1855:
Another tea laden vessel has been lost on the Pratas Shoal, the COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD, Captain Innes, which left Shanghai for London on the 17th March, struck off the shoal on the 21st. The Captain and part of the crew arrived here (Canton?) on the 7th April? having been picked up outside by the American ship CHALLENGE. The remainder of the crew are on the shoal and a steamer has been sent down to them.
(Aberdeen Journal)
02/06/1855:
The ship COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD which was wrecked on the Pratas Shoal has been got off and towed to Whampoa with a large portion of her cargo on board. Considerable quantities of tea have also been brought from the wrecks of other vessels of the shoal.
(The Morning Chronicle)
07/07/1855:
The COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD, wrecked on the Pratas, has been got off in tow of the ANN steamer; the ANN was chartered by people in Hong Kong to save the cargo, and, if possible, the ship. The second mate of the ANN was left on board the COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD, whilst the steamer brought part of the cargo, 3000 chests of tea, to Whampoa, with orders to keep heaving to an anchor laid out in deep water, when, lo! the ship floated on the return of the Ann. White, the second mate, claimed the salvage, but offered 12,000 dollars to tow the ship to Macao; the steamer put her in the mud, and White refuses to pay, as the steamer has not towed her within a mile of the agreement. The Portuguese Government took charge of the vessel, made a prisoner of White, and the affair is now in the hands of the Attorney-General. The Pratas lie very convenient for getting rid of vessels off the dipthong, or worm-eaten as the Countess was. It is a strange sight to see a vessel lying deserted on the Pratas with royals and studsails set; but such things have been seen. - Morning Chronicle Correspondent.
(The Morning Chronicle)
1841
