LIBERATOR

Shipbuildervessel built by DUTHIE (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Date1860

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 164.6' x breadth 30.4' x depth 19.2'
gross tonnage 690.5 tons

Object numberABDSHIP000531

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Duthie & Co.
Official Number: 27580

Fate: Wrecked on the coast of Okinawa, Ryūkyū, Japan, 10 April 1876.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 1 deck and a poop deck, 3 masts, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, shield figurehead.
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Register (Aberdeen City Archives))

Owners:
10/1860: A., J. & J.Duthie, Jr. 8 shares each.
01/1864: J. Duthie, 16 shares; J. Duthie Jr. 12 shares.
10/1871: J. Duthie Jr. bought 4 shares from his father

Masters:
1861-62: Master J. Martin;
1863-69: Master G. Vollar
1869-75: Master A. Levie
1876: Master J. Vandrvra

Voyages (Lloyd's Register):
1861-62: Aberdeen coaster
1863: London - Australia
1865-66: London
1867: London - Australia
1869-73: Aberdeen - Australia

General History:
02/09/1861:
The ship LIBERATOR, 695 tons, Captain Martin, belonging to John Duthie, Esq. of Aberdeen and chartered to Munro, Mackay & Co.'s Black Ball Line of Packets, was off Plymouth on Saturday from Sydney, May 19th, bound for London. She brings 95 passengers, 1773 bales wool, 7 bales skins, 328 casks tallow, 37 casks oil, 20 bundles whalebones, 4570 hides, 507 coils lead piping, 40 bags copper ore, 49 nuggets copper, 101 cases wine.
(Daily News)

30/12/1863:
Shares of ships belonging to the Trustee on the sequestered estate of George Thompson, merchant in Aberdeen to be sold by public roup... eight 64ths of clipper ship LIBERATOR, upset price £850.
(Aberdeen Journal)

01/12/1864:
LIBERATOR, ship, from London for Sydney, 24 days out, 30 Oct., Lat. 5.40N, Long. 23.22W (Mid Atlantic between W. Africa and Brazil).
(Glasgow Herald)

31/03/1866:
LIBERATOR, ship, from Sydney for London, 54 days out, 17 Feb. Lat. 23.50S, Long. 27W (S. Atlantic off Rio).
(Glasgow Herald)

27/08/1866:
LIBERATOR, ship, from London for Sydney, 16 July, Lat. 7.19N, Long. 22.45W (off West Africa).
(Glasgow Herald)

02/08/1870:
From Sydney Morning Herald: - The ship LIBERATOR, 93 days from London, after a very tempestuous passage, arrived on Sunday morning. She sailed from the Downs 17 April, crossed the equator 19th May and the meridian of the Cape 16th June, 61 days out. From this point she had very heavy weather and variable winds from N to NW for days blowing a succession of violent gales with a terrific sea. On 24 June it blew a perfect hurricane from the NW, compelling Capt. Lovie to round his vessel to for 12 hours. During this time he lost a portion of his bulwarks... and washed the long boat from the chocks by the heavy seas breaking on board.
Hobart Mercury

11/09/1872:
Deaths - at 16 Caledonian Place, Aberdeen, Jane Rose, wife of Capt. Alex Levi, of ship LIBERATOR of Aberdeen, aged 51 years.
(Aberdeen Journal)

19/04/1876:
A telegram received from China today announces the total wreck of the ship LIBERATOR, an old trader from London to this port, on the great Loo Choo, the crew being saved. The vessel was bound from Manila to San Francisco.
(Brisbane Courier)
[Loo-Choo, or Lieu-Kieu is how the Ryūkyū islands of Japan were often spelled in the Nineteenth century]

19/04/1876:
Nagasaki, April 16 - the LIBERATOR, ship from Manila to San Francisco with sugar, went ashore at the Great Lew Chew, 1 am, 10 April. Vessel total wreck, crew saved and landed here today.
(Glasgow Herald)