MAGNUS TRAIL

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

Date1830

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 69' 6" x breadth 20' 8" x depth 11' 8"
gross tonnage 124 tons

Object numberABDSHIP000945

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 59

Fate: sunk east of Guernsey, 20 December 1861.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, single deck, 2 chains, iron bolts added later

Owner:
1830: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owner;
Zetland Shipping Co., Lerwick
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1834-51: Yorston & Co, registered at Lerwick. (Lloyd's)
1852: Whitfield & Co, registered at Newcastle.
1853-61: N. Garrold

Masters:
1830-34: Master J. Ganson
1835-51: Master Robertson
1852-61: Master N. Garrod

Voyages (from Lloyd's):
1830-33: Leith coaster
1834-49: Leith - Lerwick
1852-53: Newcastle - France
1856: Leith - France
1857: London coaster

General History:
Ran a mail and passenger service between Shetland and the Scottish mainland for many years
26/12/1861:
The following are further particulars relating to the loss of the MAGNUS TROIL, of Newcastle, and all hands:—On the 20th, between twelve and one o'clock, a schoonerbrig was observed running before the wind at distance of about two miles or two miles and a-half from the eastern coast of Guernsey,—that is to say, within a short distance of the islets of Herm and Jethou. All seemed to be going on well, when suddenly at about one o'clock, when a little to the SW Jethou, she was seen to stop suddenly, make a half turn, immediately go down headforemost, and entirely disappear. Several boats put out for the purpose of going to the spot where she had sunk, among others the Vivid, belonging to Pilot Rouget, of St. Sampson's. Nothing was to seen either of the ship or the crew, but after short time a boat, bottom up, was picked by the Vivid, which was found to have belonged to the MAGNUS TROIL, Garrod, and no doubt is entertained that this was the ship which had disappeared in so sudden a manner, the more so it was known that the Magnus Troil had recently sailed from Newcastle (coals) for French port. Some of the persons who were watching previous to her sinking fancied that they saw the crew, when she struck, get into the boat that was on deck, but, whether this was the fact or not, there can be no reason for doubting that all hands were drowned, as even had the boat been free from its lashings, it is considered that it must have been sucked down by the ship. It is believed that the ship must have struck upon one of the rocks off Jethou, which was well known to our pilots, but with which the master the MAGNUS TROIL, although he had been several times to Guernsey, was probably not acquainted —and he had no pilot on board. She was about 160 tons, aud it presumed had a crew six or seven men.
(Newcastle Journal)

Notes:
Cost at construction £1118
Some repairs 1835; New deck & repairs 1847
Sometimes called "Magnus Troil" in Lloyd's and under that name a painting of the ship from the collection of Sheltand Museum and Archive can be seen on artuk.org