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MARTHA BIRNIE

Shipbuildervessel built by DUTHIE (Footdee, Aberdeen)

DateMay 1863

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 191' x breadth 32' x depth 19'
gross tonnage 751 tons

Object numberABDSHIP000540

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: William Duthie jr., Inches, Aberdeen.
Official Number: 45214
Subsequest Names: BASTØ (c. 1892)

Fate: marked "condemned 03" in Lloyd's 1904 (B83).

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 1 deck with a poop and top gallant forecastle, 3 masts, ship rigged, carvel built, demi female figurehead.

Owners:
1863-78: William Duthie Jr. registered at Aberdeen.
1879-88: J. Milne, registered at Aberdeen
1889: A. Brodersen, registered at Mandal, Norway (oddly Lloyd's 1890 shows J. Lugaro, Aberdeen)
1892-1903: Actieselskabet "Bastø" (A. Jøgensen), registered at Horten, Norway

Masters:
1865-66: Master H. McQueen.
1867-72: Master T. Norrie. (Lloyd's 1869 has T. Norris under T. Norrie, implying a correction to Norris, but newspapers suggest Norrie was correct)
1874-85: Master J. Jamieson.
1886-88: Master Keith
1888: Master White
1889-92: Master C. Simonsen
1894-1903: Master E. Olsen

Voyages:
1866-73: London - Australia.

General History:
05/11/1863:
'Arrived Hobson's Bay 3rd Nov. MARTHA BIRNIE , 831 tons, Aberdeen Clipper Line, master Hugh McQueen, from London 16th August.'
(Bendigo Advertiser (Victoria))

28/11/1863:
'The owners or agents of the ship MARTHA BIRNIE, at present at the Yarra Street Wharf here, have raised rate of freight of wool from 3/4d. per pound to 7/8d. per pound - consequence of this suicidal step will be the transmission of a quantity of the wool that should be shipped at this port to Hobson's Bay to be sent there by vessels which will take it at 3/4d. per pound.
(Melbourne Argus)

30/06/1864:
'Cape Otway, 29th June - passed inwards MARTHA BIRNIE from London 78 days out from Deal.'
(Ballarat Star)

10/03/1866: 'Melbourne, 9th March - Martha Birnie arrived from London. [15th April sailed for Calcutta].
(South Australian Register)

15/05/1867:
M'QUEEN. On the 18th March, at sea, on the homeward voyage from Colombo, Captain Hugh M'Queen, late of the ship "MARTHA BIRNIE" Aberdeen Clipper line, aged thirty-eight years.
A number of the sisters of the Dominican Order sailed from Ireland in 1867 on the
"MARTHA BIRNIE ", and after an 81 day voyage, arrived in Maitland N.S.W.,
To set up their Order, on 10th. September 1867.
(The Argus (Melbourne))
[Details courtesy of Elisabeth Burton, Newcastle, Australia]

05/09/1867:
'To Captain Thomas Norie, 3rd Sept. 1867, we the undersigned passengers of MARTHA BIRNIE cannot allow our departure to take place without tendering to you our most heartfelt thanks for kindness and courtesy during a long and interesting voyage [...] unremitting attention by you and your esteemed lady on those amongst us unaccustomed to be thrown among strangers [Dominican Sisters] who needed in a special manner protection which you kindly afforded them.' [Signed by a gentleman and Sister Mary Agnes Bourke on behalf of the Dominican nuns].
(Sydney Morning Herald)

17/09/1867:
'Ship MARTHA BIRNIE has been chartered at Sydney to load wheat at Adelaide for London at 55s per ton (sailed 30th Sept. for Adelaide).
(South Australian Register (Adelaide))

27/08/1868:
'26th August MARTHA BIRNIE, ship from London, passed Cape Otway, reports all well. (31 October 1868, loading for London, master Norie).
(Sydney Morning Herald)

23/09/1868:
'William Dunn, seaman of ship Martha Birnie, sent to gaol for one month for desertion and one month for stealing pair of trousers worth £1 belonging to one of the seamen, named Fisher.'
(Sydney Morning Herald)

11/08/1869:
'3rd Aug. MARTHA BIRNIE, ship, Norie master, arrived Sydney 90 days from Dartmouth (passengers included Mrs Norie).
(Sydney Morning Herald)

31/08/1870:
'27th Aug. MARTHA BIRNIE, Taylor master, arrived Sydney, 93 days from the Lizard, (sailed for London 5 December).
(Sydney Morning Herald)

06/09/1871:
MARTHA BIRNIE, Taylor Master, arrived Sydney, 96 days from Start Point, Devon.'
(Sydney Morning Herald)

06/10/1871:
'30th Sept. - MARTHA BIRNIE, Taylor, departed Sydney for London, 16 passengers. Cargo - 1628 carts & 3741 ingots copper, 486 bags copra, 10 hogsheads molasses, 45 casks coconut oil, 864 casks tallow, 2664 cases & 5 casks meat, 12 casks hide cuttings, 26 bags cotton seed, 127 bales leather, 125 casks pearl shell, 47 cases glue, 1277 bales wool, 50 bales cotton, 16 packages beeswax, 500 quarter sacks flour, 80 packages bone.'
(Sydney Morning Herald)

27/04/1872:
'Marriages - 10 Feb. at St Mark's Church, Middlesex, England, William Taylor, captain of ship MARTHA BIRNIE, to Fanny Close, Trevellyan, NSW.'
(Sydney Empire)

04/01/1877:
'3rd January - MARTHA BIRNIE, ship, captain Jameson, hauled out into the stream and cleared Sydney Customs P.M. for London (5 cabin passengers).'
(Sydney Morning Herald)

01/04/1878:
'London, 26th March - MARTHA BIRNIE arrived from Sydney 8th December.'
(Launceston Examiner)

Notes:
24/04/1879: altered to barque rig