CALEDONIAN

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander HALL & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Date26 February 1825

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 89' 6" x breadth 24' 9 1/2" x depth 16' 5"
Gross Tonnage 236 57/94 tons

Object numberABDSHIP000929

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co
Yard Number: 43

Fate: probably lost in the North Atlantic, 30 October 1837.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: 1 deck, 2 masts, snow rigged, standing bowsprit, carvel built, square sterned, no galleries, male bust head

Owners:
1825: Registered in Aberdeen for subscribing owners; Robert Spring, baker 24 shares; William McGregor, shipmaster, 8 shares; Lewis Gordon, merchant, 4 shares; plus other sundry owners [all of Aberdeen].
19/02/1829: Robert Spring mortgaged 16 shares to Donaldson Rose, shipowner, Aberdeen for the sum of £500.
27/08/1831: Donaldson Rose, shipowner, Aberdeen reconveyed 16 shares to Robert Spring for the sum of £500.
29/08/1833: The owners transferred by three Bills of Sale dated 26,28,29 August 64/64 shares to William Sloan, merchant, Glasgow.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))

Master:
1825-33: Master William McGregor

Voyages (from Lloyd's underwriters):
1830: Liverpool - St. Thomas
1831-33: London - "I. Frnc" (location unknown, possibly Iles de France meaning Mauritius)

General History:
16/06/1830:
1/8 of coppered brig CALEDONIAN, burden by register 236, for sale by private bargain.
(Aberdeen Journal)

09/02/1835:
Walter Hamilton arrived Aberdeen from Girgenti, Sicily, where she left brig CALEDONIAN, of Glasgow.
(Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh))

27/11/1837:
The brig CALEDONIAN, of Green dock, on voyage from Quebec to this country, became on 30 October waterlogged & on following day lost her rudder and was capsized. 2 of her people, with the whole of her provisions, were washed overboard, while the rest of the crew were left on the wreck without food for 13 days, and were ultimately to sustain life reduced to the frightful necessity of devouring their comrades as they one after another died from cold, fatigue and starvation. 3 had perished in this miserable manner when the Russian ship DYGDEN, of Bjurneborg, fell in with the wreck in lat. 55N long. 15W [off West Coast of Ireland]. Sea was at the time running so high that it appeared impossible to render the wretched survivors on the wreck the least assistance, and they must have been left to perish but for humane & brave conduct of Otto Reing Spoof, the mate of the Russian ship, who lashed a rope around his body & launching a boat, made his way on his own to the assistance of the unhappy sufferers. The attempt was hazardous in the extreme, but was happily crowned with success & 6 were rescued. They arrived safely at Bristol in the DYGDEN, testimonial to be raised for rescuer, authenticated by hand of Mr David Cock, late master of CALEDONIAN.
(Morning Post (London))

16/12/1837:
Subscriptions being raised for gallant mate of the DYGDEN and for relief of the 6 unfortunate sufferers.
(Bristol Mercury)

[Lloyd's Register 1833 shows 2 brigs named CALEDONIAN - one 358 tons built St. Johns, 18 years before and this one built Aberdeen. 1839 register shows that only the former is still registered. It therefore seems likely that the CALEDONIAN wrecked in 1837 was the one built in Aberdeen in 1825]

Note: Cost: at construction, £2745 or £11 12s. per ton (Builder's list in Aberdeen Maritime Museum)