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STRATHNAVER
STRATHNAVER
STRATHNAVER

STRATHNAVER

Shipbuilder (Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateAugust 1865
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 200' x breadth 34' x depth 21'
gross tonnage 1017 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000543
About MeYard: William Duthie jr., Inches, Aberdeen.

Fate: Missing (supposed location Auckland Islands, New Zealand), May 1875.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 1 main deck, top gallant and poop deck, 3 masts, 3/4 female figurehead.

Owners:
22/08/1865: Registered at Aberdeen for owners;
Henry Adamson, shipowner, 40 shares; Henry Adamson, jr., clerk, 4 shares; Benjamin Moir, merchant, 8 shares; George Stuart, master mariner, 8 shares - all Aberdeen; William Challis, London, 4 shares.
21/05/1866: Henry Adamson 8 shares - John Brodie, London, shipowner.
16/08/1866: George Stuart - Commercial Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen, mortgage for £4,000 (discharged 25/08/1868).
03/04/1869: Henry Adamson 4 shares - Henry Adamson jr. and 4 to John Saunders Adamson, both London.
24/07/1872: On death of Benjamin Moir, 8 shares to Henry Adamson.
30/07/1873: On death of W. Challis, 4 shares - Executrix Harriet Challis.
26/10/1875: Registry closed, vessel not heard of since 27 April last.
(Aberdeen Register of Ships (Aberdeen City Archives))

Masters:
1866-67: Master G. Stewart
1868-69: Master Fowler
1870-75: Master J. Devey

Voyages (Lloyd's Register):
1867-68: Aberdeen - Australia
1868-75: London - Australia

General History:
08/03/1871:
STRATHNAVER, ship, from London for Sydney, 3rd. January, 10S + 31W [off coast of Brazil].
(Aberdeen Journal)

16/10/1875:
The missing ship STRATHNAVER - would it be too much to ask our worthy commodore to send one of his squadron to search the Auckland Islands. It is within the range of possibilities that the STRATHNAVER might have been cast ashore on these desolate islands (sailed Sydney for London 27 April). The boats may have been carried away and the crew deprived of all chance of reaching the mainland. It would be repugnant to every British heart to think that nothing had been done while there was even a chance of rescue (letter to Editor).
(Sydney Morning Herald)

11/05/1876:
Colonial Treasuree, Sydney, yesterday transmitted following message to Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand - ship STRATHNAVER left Sydney in April last year and not since heard of. Idea prevails she may have been wrecked on Auckland Islands and suggestion made that Government should send exploring vessel to ascertain - to oblige by replying whether you know of any recent communication with these islands.
(Sydney Evening News)

15/05/1876:
Telegram from Sir Julius Vogel, New Zealand, to Colonial Treasurer, Sydney - HMS NYMPH proceeds to Auckland Islands, chiefly to make enquiry about STRATHNAVER. We have not heard from there for some time.
(Sydney Evening News)

26/07/1876:
Intelligence from New South Wales states that HMS NYMPHE has been ordered to visit the Auckland Islands to search for any persons who have survived from the Aberdeen ship STRATHNAVER, which sailed from Sydney last year and has not since been heard of.
(Aberdeen Journal)

20/09/1879:
THE LOSS OF THE STRATHNAVER, OF ABERDEEN. We (Globe) learn from Lloyd’s that a bottle was picked up on the 16th July off the coast of New Zealand containing a small scrap paper which the following was written :—“ Strathnaver on fire off Polly Beach April ..."
(Dundee Evening Telegraph)

20/09/1879:
a bottle was picked up on the 16th July off the coast of New Zealand, containing a small scrap of paper, which the following was written .Strathnaver on fire off Polly Beach, 29th April, 1876. —W. Walker, chief officer. The Strathnaver (of Aberdeen), from Sydney with wool, was posted as a missing vessel in November
(Edinburgh Evening News)
(Thanks to Ian Whittaker for these last two references)