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ANN DUTHIE
Shipbuildervessel built by
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateJuly 1868
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 202.8' x breadth 35.1' x depth 20.5'
tonnage 994 tons
tonnage 994 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000560
Keywords
Official Number: 60686
Subsequent Names: ALEXANDRA (1888)
Fate: wrecked Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines, 16 October 1893.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, a poop deck and a round house and a top gallant forecastle, 3 masts, ship rigged, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, demi female figurehead.
Owners:
1868: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
William Duthie junior, shipbuilder, 10 shares; John Duthie, Alexander Duthie & Robert Duthie, shipbuilders, 8 shares jointly owned; Alexander Birnie, master mariner, 4 shares; Robert Williams, cooper, 4 shares; John Webster, manager, 4 shares; Hugh Ross, merchant, 3 shares; James Haddon Bower, merchant, 2 shares; John Edmond, bookbinder, 2 shares; George Washington Wilson, photographic artist, 2 shares; Alexander Argo, farmer, 2 shares; William Melville junior, iron merchant, 1 share; Thomas Melville, gentleman, 1 share; James Bisset, insurance clerk, 1 share; Thomas Ritchie, shipowner, 1 share; Jessie Martin Duthie, spinster, 1 share. All Aberdeen. William Sinclair, farmer, Milltimber, 2 shares; David Sinclair, farmer, Nigg, 4 shares; Charles Pannell, gentleman, Upper Clapton, 4 shares; William Pannell, gentleman, London, 4 shares; Richard Seale, shipowner, London, 4 shares.
25/03/1873: Robert Williams dies, Ann Gordon, Aberdeen (widow) inherits 4 shares.
15/10/1873: For sale by public roup, 4 shares in the ANN DUTHIE.
31/10/1873: Ann Gordon sells 4 shares to the Duthie joint owners.
31/10/1874: Duthie joint owners sell: 2 shares to Christian Hogg Duthie, spouse of Alexander Duthie. 2 shares to William Duthie junior.
07/08/1874: William Duthie junior sells 2 shares to Sarah Stuart, Aberdeen widow.
05/10/1874: William Sinclair dies intestate. James Sinclair, Ceylon coffee planter, granted administration of 2 shares.
15/06/1875: James Sinclair sells 2 shares to William Cargill junior, Aberdeen (shipmaster).
05/08/1879: Thomas Melville sells 1 share to William Duthie junior, Aberdeen shipowner
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Register (Aberdeen City Archives))
1888-90: Morten Kallevig, registered at Arendal, Norway
1892-93: J. W. Prebensen, registered at Risør, Norway
Masters:
1869-75: Master A. Birnie
1876-79: Master J. MacKay
1880-83: Master G. Morgan
1888-90: Master Larsen
1892-93: Master Henriksen
Voyages:
1869-70: Aberdeen - Australia
1871-73: London - Australia
General History:
ANN DUTHIE was owned by an unusually large partnership, led by its builders, the Duthies. Like most of the Aberdeen clippers in the London-Australia trade, bookings for passengers and freight were taken by a London agent. In this case the agent was Houlder Bros and Co., which later became a major shipowner. Of the Aberdeen clipper owners only George Thompson and Co.’s White Star Line could afford its own London office. While many clippers traded to different Australian ports, ANN DUTHIE destination was invariably Sydney. Only one variation has been found, Littleton nearby in New South Wales in 1871. The masters at least must have had the opportunity of developing social contacts in Sydney. In 1869 Capt. Alexander Birnie was married at the Pitt Street Congregational Church in Sydney to Grace, daughter of a deceased manufacturer in the city.
ANN DUTHIE was a fast ship and could typically make the round voyage, including loading and unloading time, in under a year. Capt. Birnie sometimes gave a report of his voyage to the newspapers. On 28 December 1869 the vessel sailed from Sydney, took the Cape of Good Hope route, crossed the Equator on 26 February 1870 and arrived at Gravesend on 11 April. This was a very reasonable (and typical for other wool clippers) passage of around 100 days, but he felt obliged to excuse it by claiming light winds and calms had been experienced. An extended period was spent in London, presumably to secure a full cargo. On the return passage to Sydney, the Start Point Lighthouse, South Devon, was passed on 3 July, the Equator on 2 August and the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope on 22 August. Capt. Birnie again complained of unfavourable winds, the North East Trades being light and the South East trades very variable and unsatisfactory. Then, after passing the Cape meridian, there was a strong South East Gale for seven days. ANN DUTHIE passed Kings Island near Sydney on 30 September, a passage of a little under 100 days. In 1881, it made the passage from Sydney to the Lizard in Cornwall in 79 days. The time taken to beat up the English Channel, which could be lengthy, was not stated. Winds were not the only natural hazard. In 1873 Capt. Birnie reported seeing several icebergs off the Cape of Good Hope and believed that another vessel had been lost in this ice.
By the early 1880s trading conditions were worsening for Australian clippers as steamers with more economical engines could compete on even the longest voyages. In 1881 an advertisement to sell 4 shares in ANN DUTHIE indicated that it had recently been reclassed. This is the point it appears to have been reconfigured as a barque, more economical in crew but slower. It must have ceased to be profitable to the Duthies by 1883, when it was sold to Norwegian owners for £4750.
Sources (from British Newspaper Archive, accessed 25/3/2024):-
Aberdeen Free Press, 20/09 and 01/10/1881; Aberdeen Evening Gazette, 29/08/1883; Aberdeen Journal, 12/01/1870; Australian and New Zealand Gazette, 10/02/1872; Dundee Courier, 11/04/1870; Fife Herald, 05/09/1873; Littleton Times, 13/07/1871; Liverpool Daily Post, 11/04/1870; Liverpool Journal of Commerce, 24/02/1879; Newcastle Morning Herald, 19/12/1883; Sydney Morning Herald, 07/10/1870.
Newspaper extracts:
08/07/1868:
Launch - There was launched from the building yard of Messrs. Duthie & Co., Footdee, on Monday afternoon, a splendid vessel, of the following dimensions: Length, 202 feet; breadth of beam, 35 feet; depth, 20 and a half feet. Her register tonnage is 1051, and she is classed 14 years A1 at Lloyd's. She took the water in capital style, being gracefully named the "ANN DUTHIE", by Mrs Williams. The vessel is intended for the Australian and China trades, and will be commanded by Captain Binnie, and experienced navigator. Mr William Duthie is the managing owner.
(Aberdeen Journal)
21/01/1869:
Any of our readers who have recently visited the Circular Quay must have been struck by the symmetrical hull, taut masts and graceful appearance of the beautiful new clipper ship ANN DUTHIE. For years past the Aberdeen clippers have retained their pride of place amongst the most celebrated ships in the Australian trade, each vessel out-rivalling her predecessor in beauty of model, strength of construction and accommodation for passengers.
(Illustrated Sydney News)
12/01/1870:
Marriage 28 Oct. 1869, Sydney, NSW, Alexander Birnie, Commander of ship "ANN DUTHIE" of Aberdeen to Grace, 2nd daughter of late Allan A. Marshall, Bon-Accord Works, Sydney and late of Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Journal)
07/04/1870:
Ship ANN DUTHIE, Birnie Master, Sydney, for London, passed Mount's Bay [Cornwall] - has been out 99 days and has cargo of wool and copper. 2 passengers landed Penzance.
(Glasgow Herald)
26/8/1871:
Ship ANN DUTHIE has made the fastest passage recorded from the London docks.
(Adelaide Observer)
24/01/1872:
Quick sailing - we notice arrival again in London of the favourite clipper ship "ANN DUTHIE" (one of Mr. William Duthie's Australia Line) from Sydney under Capt. Birnie. Few ships show such a combination of speed and regularity, although better single passages have been made. Outward passage London - Sydney 75 days, homeward Sydney - London 77 days, vessel fully laden both ways.
(Aberdeen Journal)
15/10/1873:
For sale by public roup, Aberdeen, 4 x 64ths of ship "ANN DUTHIE" (substantial and fast sailing vessel).
(Aberdeen Journal)
31/01/1874:
Kiema. Ship ANN DUTHIE from London passed with a strong fair wind.
(Maitland Mercury)
07/06/1876:
Accidentally killed at Sydney 19th March, George Berry Tait, Carpenter, ship "ANN DUTHIE", aged 32.
(Aberdeen Journal)
29/11/1876:
ANN DUTHIE, ship, of Aberdeen, from London for Sydney, Oct 25, Lat 12.30N, Long. 20.30W [off West Africa].
(Aberdeen Journal)
08/10/1879:
Mr Linklater, a barrister of some practice and position, was arrested on board ship ANN DUTHIE on charges of bigamy and obtaining money by false pretences. He married Miss Howdy, a young and respectably connected lady. Proof has now been received that he was previously married in London.
(Gippland Times)
20/01/1883:
Captain Morgan of barque ANN DUTHIE from London 21 Oct. reports - Landed pilot start point 27 Oct. After very heavy westerly gales down channel. NW trades met 32' North (W. of Maderia), but light and only lasted 2-3 days. Equator was crossed 17 Nov. in long 29'41" west variable winds & fine weather till passing meridian of Cape of Good Hope 13 Dec. In 44' South (ship port Jackson in company 27-28 Nov.) 19 Dec. Passed between Hog Island & The 12 Apostles of the Crozet Group, the ship experiencing narrow escape of going ashore on latter. Thick weather for several days previously, so no bearings could be taken. When weather did clear it was found the ship, going at rate of 11 knots, was only a half mile from the rocks. She was promptly rounded to, easting was rune down between 45' & 46' (on fringed of southern ocean) - fine weather & moderate breezes all the way, with main sky sails set all the time. Tasmania rounded 6 Jan. & Jervis Bay sighted 17 Jan. Arrived off Sydney heads Wed. night. A melancholy occurrence cast a gloom over the ship during voyage. On 14 Nov. about 11pm, when ship was in Lat. 6'14" N, Long. 26'4" W (between NW Africa and Brazil) Major Phillips, a sailor passenger, jumped overboard from starboard bow & was not afterward seen. A lifebuoy was thrown and a boat lowered. They searched till 12:15, but to no purpose. The Major, retired from the army, was on a voyage for the benefit of his health.
(Sydney Evening News)
21/11/1893:
ALEXANDRA.— Manila, Oct. 16.—The condemned Norwegian barque ALEXANDRA, which left here for Hong Kong about three weeks ago, went ashore during a typhoon on Sept. 30, at some distance SE of Subic, Luzon, and became a total wreck: wreck sold for $365.
(Lloyd's List)
15 February 1858
1868
