MARY BLAIR

Shipbuildervessel built by DUTHIE (Footdee, Aberdeen)

DateOctober 1870

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 141.6' x breadth 27' x depth 14.6'
gross tonnage 328 tons

Object numberABDSHIP000569

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: William Duthie jr & Co.
Official number: 64360

Fate: Lost in the Java Sea, 7 November 1896.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, 1 deck, raised quarterdeck 31'

Owners:
1871-75: J. Ewen & Co., registered at Sydney, Australia.
1876-80: Belbin & Dowdell, registered at Hobart, Tasmania.
1881-85: C. Dowdell & Co., registered at Hobart, Tasmania.
1885-94: R. Honey, registered at Adelaide.
1894: D. Bower, registered at Fremantle.
1896: Ang Ing Tjo, registered at Banjarmasin, Indonesia (then Dutch East Indies).

Masters:
1871-75: Master J. Carson
1876-80: Master J. Riddle
1881-85: Master H. Boon
1885-94: Master T. Asken
1896: Master Hadje Abdullah

Voyages (Lloyd's Register):
1871-72: London - Australia

General History:
13/04/1871:
3 masted schooner MARY BLAIR, built at Aberdeen to order of Messrs Fraser & Co. [Agents] and intended to the China Trade, arrived yesterday from Adelaide. She is truly a really beautiful vessel and justifies all the excellent reports made re. her admirable lines.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

21/04/1871:
Cleared Sydney 20 April - MARY BLAIR, schooner, 328 tons, Captain Carson, for Foo Chow.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

26/09/1871:
Clipper schooner MARY BLAIR (arrived Sydney 18 Sept). is now turning out her cargo of tea from Foo Chow in splendid order: not a single stained package has as yet been discovered.
(Sydney Morning Herald) (Cleared 29 Sept. for Hong Kong - Sydney Morning Herald, 30/09/1871).

15/03/1872:
MARY BLAIR, Capt. Carson, arrived Sydney 14 March from Foo Chow 11 January.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

25/03/1872:
Capt. Carson reports he followed advice of Book of Directions that a better passage could be made this time of year by coming the North Pacific route than down the China Sea. But he got nothing but light head winds and calms. What islands were seen coming and going by this route are most incorrectly laid down in the chart and almost all of them have extensive reefs lying out from them. [Planning to convert vessel to a barque].
(Sydney Morning Herald)

27/06/1873:
MARY BLAIR cleared Sydney for Calcutta 26 June, Capt. Carson. Passengers - Mrs and Miss Carson.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

19/03/1879:
Projected departure from Hobart - MARY BLAIR for Lyttleton, N.Z.
(Hobart Mercury (Tasmania))

06/12/1881:
MARY BLAIR arrived Melbourne from London.
(South Australian Register (Adelaide))

10/07/1883:
Arrived Fremantle [W. Australia] 9 July, MARY BLAIR, 328 tons, H. Boon, from Newcastle, N.S.W. 17 May.
(Perth Daily News)

22/10/1884:
MARY BLAIR, Boon, sailed Fremantle 20 Oct. for Dunedin, N.Z.
(Perth Enquirer)

05/09/1887:
MARY BLAIR, barque, arrived Fremantle from Bunbury (W. Australia).
(Perth Daily News)

18/06/1888:
MARY BLAIR cleared out from Fremantle 11 June for South Australia.
(Hobart Mercury)

17/07/1891:
Heavy rains around Perth and river running abnormally high. American schooner EVA LYNCH was blown towards the shore, unable to stand buffeting of heavy seas. She collided with schooner MARY BLAIR, inflicting severe injuries to latter's bulwarks.
(Colac (Victoria) Herald)

20/02/1892:
Barque MARY BLAIR arrived 19 Feb. from Fremantle for Albany [W. Australia].
(Western Australian (Perth))

31/08/1892:
MARY BLAIR due Perth for Singapore.
(Western Australian)

09/12/1896:
Nov. 7 - The barque MARY BLAIR, of Bandjermassin, has been totally lost between that port and Sourabaya
(Lloyd's List)

Note:
Barque rigged 1872