COUNTESS OF KINTORE
Shipbuildervessel built by
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Date1866
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
DimensionsLength: 182.6ft x Breadth: 31.4ft x Depth: 19.4ft
Gross Tonnage: 737 tons.
Gross Tonnage: 737 tons.
Object numberABDSHIP000544
Keywords
Fate: Missing in the mid-Atlantic, September 1882.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: ship rigged clipper, 3 masts, 3 decks, a main, poop and top gallant forecastle, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, three quarter female figurehead.
Owners:
1866: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
John Cook, Aberdeen, 28 shares; George Milne, Kinaldie, 24 shares; Thomas H. Dawson, Monymusk, 4 shares; Walter Savill, London, 4 shares; James W. Temple, London, 4 shares.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1879-82: W. Thomas & Co., registered at Aberdeen (Lloyd's)
Masters:
1866-67: Master A. Catto
1868: Master W. Robertson
1869-74: Master Petherbridge
1875: Master Braddick
1876: Master J. Norrie
1877-79: Master Braddick
1880-81: Master L. Edwards
1882: Master Roberts
General History:
25/06/1869:
Death, 18 March at sea on board ship COUNTESS OF KINTORE, from New Zealand, age 26 years, Charles Guthrie Philips Esq. late lieutenant in H.M. 18th Royal Irish Regiment.
(Hull Packet)
11/08/1869:
Exmouth, 8 August - ship COUNTESS OF KINTORE passed for New Zealand.
(Dundee Courier)
12/03/1872:
Ship COUNTESS OF KINTORE has arrived from Aukland with £24,500.
(Standard)
09/01/1875:
Ship COUNTESS OF KINTORE, Captain Braddick, expected in England from New Zealand at end of this month.
(Standard)
25/10/1882:
A premium of 70 guineas has been paid for the reinsurance of the COUNTESS OF KINTORE, which sailed from Rangoon on the 15th May last, with a cargo rice. She passed St. Helena on the 14th August, and was spoken the 15th September.
(Newcastle Journal)
20/06/1883:
OFFICIAL INQUIRY, THE LOSS OF THE COUNTESS OF KINTORE.
he inquiry relating to the supposed loss of the barque COUNTESS OF KINTORE of Aberdeen, from Rangoon, bound to the Channel for orders, was resumed and concluded yesterday before Mr. Rothery, the Wreck Commissioner, and Captains Hight and Kiddie, R.N., and Mr. W. B. Robinson, assessors. Mr. Howard Smith appeared as counsel for the Board of Trade, and Mr. Nelson (Lowless and Co.) for the owners. The Countess of Kintore was a wooden barque of 737 tons, built at Aberdeen in 1866. and owned by Mr. William Thomas, of Amlwch, Anglesey. She left Rangoon on the 26th May, 1882, with a cargo of about 934 to 962 tons of rice in bags. and a crew of 17 hands, bound to the Channel for orders. On the 13th of August she put into St. Helena for water and provisions, and left on the 15th of that month. On the 15th of September she was spoken by the EARL OF DALHOUSIE, of Dundee, in lat. 33 N., long. 37 W. Since that time she has not been heard of. The EARL OF DALHOUSIE was in company with the COUNTESS OF KINTORE for several days for several days prior to the 15th, when they parted company. On the 1st of October the EARL OF DALHOUSIE encountered a heavy gale, and sustained much damage. [...]
The Wreck Commissioner, in giving judgment, said there was no reason to think that the vessel was not in a perfectly good and seaworthy condition, as regarded her hull and equipment, when she last left England and Rangoon. It was stated that her load-line had been altered without the consent of the owner and placed 3 feet 7 below the deck, and had the vessel been laden down to that mark, they were clearly of opinion that she would not have had sufficient freeboard. When the vessel left Rangoon she was drawing 18 feet 3 inches, which would give her a freeboard of about 4 feet 3, and the question was, whether that was sufficient for the cargo which she carried. The learned Commissioner referred to Lloyd's and the Board of Trade rule, and taking into consideration all the facts, the Court was of opinion that the vessel was very deeply laden - in fact, so deeply laden that it was difficult to draw a distinction between that and being overladen. [...] The cause of her loss was a matter of pure conjecture, but if, as the EARL OF DALHOUSIE did, which bad been in company with her, she had encountered bad weather, she might very well have gone down, deeply laden as she was.
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)
19/09/1883:
The COUNTESS OF KINTORE had four feet of freeboard, [...] but Mr. Romany said it should be remembered that she "was a clipper ship with sharp ends, and a considerable rise of floor" and he revived the exploded theory respecting clipper ship requirements—which even its authors at the Board of Trade have discarded—to bolster up the decision that she "was more deeply laden than she ought to have been for a voyage from Rangoon to this country—in fact so deeply laden that it would be difficult to say that she was not over laden."
Shipping and Mercantile Gazette [The article is an editorial arguing against how the Board of Trade conducted its wreck inquiries]
The following comes from the Cook papers held by the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, at the time of writing the transcription is a work in progress, it will be expanded and cleaned up in due course.
Description of the first voyage from London to New Zealand in 1866:
On the 19th of July 1866 the ship sailed from Gravesend, London, bound for Nelson, New Zealand. The voyage, which took 86 days, was far from uneventful. On the 28th of September, a severe gale set in and lasted for 2 days, during which she shipped several seas, which carried away part of the bulwarks on the port side. An apprentice, Alexander Grant was washed overboard on the 11th of October at 1pm. The ship was running 10 knots at the time but a boat was lowered on the shots??? within 6 minutes but nothing could be seen of the poor fellow following a search of 1 hour. On the 15th of October the ship anchored in Port Underwood. Passengers on the voyage were calm??? - Misses Black (2); Messers Black; J. Augaurd, M. Auguard, Miss Bate. Steerage - Mr and Mrs Palmer and Mr Steward.
On November the 6th, Captain Catto writes that the ship is much admired, and has given him much satisafaction, no other ship has made so good a passage sailing about the same time. The cargo turning out in fine order. 3 men deserted and 3 men dismissed. Ship chartered for wool for London to load at Nelson and Port Underwood. Colins??? engaged full - passage/leasage??? money £900.
On December the 28th at Port Underwood with 800 bales of wool on board.
On February the 2nd ship about loaded with only about 1,650 bales.
On February the 14th sailed from Port Underwood for London. Docked at East Indis??? dock on the 7th of May, 82 days from Port Underwood.
Description of the second voyage from London to New Zealand in 1867:
On the 4th of May chartered??? the ship with Messrs Shaw, Savile & Co. to load in the berth in London for Olego, New Zealand, for the lump sum of £2,450 Sterling.
On May the 11th engaged Captain W. Robertson late of the 'NIMMERA'??? to command the ship.
On May the 14th Captain W. Robertson took charge from Captain Catto.
On June the 6th apprentice Hutcheon, nephew of Dr. Whyte, left by steamer to join the ship.
On June the 13th Salon and steerage fully engaged, 44 passengers in all, plus 9 pure bred Merino sheep.
On June the 15th Captain Robertson signed acceptance for his half of Captain Catto's share of the ship.
On June the 19th at Gravesend to take in a quantity of gunpowder.
On June the 21st off the Isle of Wight.
On June the 22nd at 5am the pilot left??? the ship off Isle of Wight.
On September the 20th arrived at Otago, 91 days from London, 83 days land to land, longer than the last voyage. During the voyage she made good headway until she caught the N.E trade winds. After crossing the equator on July the 19th, on the 25th of August she encountered a fierce gale from the N.W. during which she smashed her port bulwarks and a heavy sea breaking on board, store in front of the poop???, filling the Cafts??? calm and saloon with water. After leaving Bergwelous??? Island on the 27th a fresh westerly breeze prevailed, with 18 cms of snow on the docks. On the passage some jars of acid, stowed on deck, became leaky. For the safety of the ship were thrown overboard, after burning part of the starboard cover.
On March the 5th 1868, 1,500 bales of wool now loaded. Only 1 passenger engaged. The chief mate, Mr Allan, was laid off and the mate of the 'WATER NYMPH' engaged.
On March the 22nd, 2,550 bales of wool now stowed working day and night. 2 passengers engaged.
On April the 4th, ship loaded with 3,094 bales in total and ship ready for sea.
On April the 7th sailed from Port Ohelmep??? for London having been in port since 20th September 1867. 6 months + 17 days - 199 days in total.
On August the 2nd, London, ship discharged and a portion of ballast taken out. Captain Robertson leaves the ship to join the 'JOHN DUTHIE'.
Description of the third voyage from London to Auckland and back in 1868:
On August the 3rd Captain Petherbridge, late of the 'CHILE', took command of the ship at a salary of £300 per annum.
On the 14th of August took 50 tons of timber on board for dead weight.
On the 20th of August bought a steam winch for £132.10/ - fit to lift from 8-10 tons.
On the 2nd of September left Gravesend for Auckland at 3pm.
On September the 10th spoke??? to the 'PARAWATTA' in Lat. 44°. 50 North. Latitude 11°. 18 West - 3 days out.
On October the 3rd spoke to the 'SOMERSETSHIRE' 2°.34 North latitude. 24°. 24 West, 26 days out.
On December the 7th arrived at Auckland, 90 days passage all well, complaints of bad storage by Barrett: sugar being stored on the top of fine goods and much damaged in consequence of it having melted and run into them.
Staff discharged on December the 24th. 10 days in port before getting a quay berth.
On January the 13th 1869 Captain Petherbridge advises having chartered the ship to Messers. Cruickshank, Somert??? & Coy, for a lump sum of £2,200. Apprentice boy Mennie??? has deserted.
January the 23rd loaded with 300 bales of hay, 100 bales of wool and 2 tons of shells???
On February the 15th about two thirds cargo on board, expected to leave in early March. 6 cabin and 4 steerage passengers engaged , apprentice boy Hutcheon deserted.
On March the 10th sailed from Auckland for London. Freight from charter £2,200, passage money £1,113.
On May the 12th spotted by the 'COSTA RICA PACKET' 0° 20 North, 28° West at Falmouth, 98 days Punta Arenas.
On June the 17th, docked this evening at 7pm after a passage of 97 days.
On July the 1st, ship discharged and ballast taken out.
Description of the fourth voyage from London to Auckland and back to London in 1869:
On the 3rd of July 1869 ship taken to dry dock to be stopped???, caulked and resheathed.
On July the 10th ordered a wool press and two screw jacks from Long and Co. Edinburgh, ordered a main Top sail and flying jif??? Rennie???, Aberdeen.
July the 15th got into a loading bay today. Remainder of ballast not out yet. When in London I bought a large iron safe for bullion from Griffiths for £7.
On July the 16th Captain Petherbridge gives up his cabins to Spear???, Savile & Temple for a 2nd cabin passenger.
On July the 20th Robert Blair, carpenter, joined ship today. Got £3 advance from Aberdeen.
On July the 30th 50 tons ballast ordered, charterers must pay for it, having ordered ours out.
August 2nd, Septimus Cornish???, apprentice engaged for four years - deposit £25.
August 5th left the docks for Gravesend.
August 11th Passed Seal???, 8th landed pilot off Exmouth, wind continuing W.S.W strong.
August 30th Spoken 5° North 20° West, 22 days out by the 'TITANIA' from Shanghai.
November 5th aarived in Auckland 89 days - 82 days land to land. On the 19th of September John Motley the cook had a fit of epilepsy and died on the 20th.
October 10th the main cap broke retarding the passage by some days.
December 22nd about half loaded. Passage money £800 engaged and expecting £100-£500 more. Freight not as good as last year. Labour bill will be rather high in consequence of desertion of sailors. Freight cost £2,000.
Jan 15th 1870 sailed for London, been 71 days in port.
April 15th 1870 arrived in east India dock, 91 days passage.
Description of fifth voyage from London to Auckland and back to London in 1870:
May 5th 1870 between 5th May and 25th June the ship was cleaned, painted, fitted rigging and stars??? and cargo loaded. Left loading dock 24th June and berthed at Gravesend to take on gunpowder. Three new apprentices joined the crew, namely Shorrington, Baker and Luke. Cornish, the previous apprentice also arrived, his 3rd voyage.
28th June boarded pilot off Seaton.
13th Sept amongst icebergs of great size and number, and quite close. 101 days from port to port.
April 1871. Docked in London 13th April all well, 97 days to the docks.
24th April ship put into Gills dry dock to undergo LLoyd's half time survey.
26th April applied for increase of class for extra materials and salting. Put additional iron knees into the lower lofts at every beam.
May 1st Ship out of dock, stripping rigging etc. Carpenters still working at iron knees. Yellow metal in good order. Coated it with Peacock and Buchan paint. The ship has got 2 years added to her original class for extra class materials and being salted while building now raised to 11 years A1 at Lloyd's.
Description of sixth voyage from London to Auckland and back to London in 1871:
May 9th Captain Petherbridge gave intimation to Messer Shaw, Savile & Co. that the ship was now ready to receive cargo. Filling it quickly with passengers, steerage full and cabins full by 31st May. Some large??? cattle on dock.
June 14th left Gravesend passengers all on board. P. W. Kengie, Friendville in one.
September 25th Arrived at Auckland all well - 102 days from port to port and 79 days from land to land, gale at the end of the pssage. Had S.W. and W. winds across the Bay of Biscay, and crossed the latitude of Madiera on the 28th June, 100 miles to the West of it: from thence light N>E trades to the Cape de Verde islands which were passed on Tuesday 4th July 100 miles distant. Crossed the equator on the 17th July, 33 days out. The first port of the S. E. trades proved very strong, with a heavy southerly sea; and on the 20th carried away the martingale and stays. On the 17th Sept the breeze gradually increased to a gale, on the 19th blowing terrific, and the vessel drifted to within about 100 miles of Norfolk Island. Passed the North Cape on the 25th at daybreak, and anchored at Rangitato the same evening coming up harbour on the 26th Sept.
November 30th loading delayed for wool sales on 13th Dec and in consequence of gum??? and flax being sent direct to New York instead of London. Four passengers only engaged £620. Captain Petherbridge urges sending the ship out later in the season next voyage, all being better for cargo and passengers.
Dec 8th Loaded up and ready to sail next day. This is the largest freight earned from Auckland £3007, cargo £849.
Dec 10th Sailed for London, having been 77 days in port.
March 9th 1872. Arrived in Channel - docked next day in Victoria dock 100 days.
March 18th Captain Petherbridge resigned the command. He recommends Capt. Reynolds, now in the 'BALLERAT' soon expected in as his succesor who was Chief Officer with him for two voyages.
