Ships in Inverness

[runmerry]

Hi,
I have been transcribing the will of an ancestor and found he had shares in two ships.
He lived in Inverness and I assume they would have been cargo vessels. Where do I
find information about ships as I haven't a clue where to start looking.

Regards
Jenny

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings Jenny.

If you type shipping register into the search box at the top of the page, you will get all the posts, on this site, discussing the subject. Several suggestions there should be of help.

Alan SHARP.

[runmerry]

Hi Allan ,

Thanks for the suggestion, though the information in the other posts wasn't a direct help it did
lead me in a roundabout way to where I hope to find something.

The Highland Council Archives shall have a visit.

Regards

Jenny

[nelmit]

Photopolis is great for photographs and info on old ships - mainly berthed at Dundee but there are others.

http://photopolis.dundeecity.gov.uk/catalog/90

Regards,
Annette

[Currie]

Hello Jenny,

The types of records that are kept of anything change as the years and centuries roll on by. You’ll have to be more specific about the year, the names of the ships, and any slight bit of detail you know about them such as port of registry, tonnage, masters name, cargo, ports of call, and the name of the owner if possible.

All the best,
Alan

[runmerry]

Hi All,
Thanks for your interest but all I know about the ships and I quote from the will:-

9. Shipping viz:
One fourth share in the John Alexander cost £165 six years ago now valued by Trustees at £150
One fourth share of the Jane McKenzie full cost price............................................ £170

As these sums are included in the estate I am assuming that each is the value of a quarter share.
I am also assuming they are registered in Inverness as I can't find mention of them anywhere else.

The will is dated 1826 so with rough calculations the John Alexander shares were purchased in 1820 and the Jane McKenzie shares are 1826. Though there is no clue as to how old the ships were.

However I did as Allan S. suggested and after looking at various websites, one leading to another, I finally ended up at SCAN and found that the HIghland Council Archives has Customs and Excise Registers of Declarations of Ownership 1811-1847 and Registers of Ships at Inverness Port 1811-1847. So I shall go and have a look and see what I can find.

Wish me luck!

Regards
Jenny

[Currie]

Hello Jenny,

In Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1834 (No. 476 half way through the book) there's a “John Alexander”, Master J. Boyle, 67 tons, belonging to Inveness. A few pages before that is No. 232, “Jane McKenzie”, Master Cong'lton, 77 tons, belonging to Inverness.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kut ... &q&f=false

There's mention in the Caledonian Mercury, Thursday, May 2, 1833, under heading of 'Leith shipping' of arrival of John Alexander, Boyle, Inverness, grain.

In the The Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday, February 18, 1835, there's arrival at Peterhead on the 11th, John and Alexander, Boyle, Inverness. Sailed on 11th Jane M'Kenzie, Congleton, Inverness, and on the 13th John and Alexander, Boyle, Newcastle.

In the The Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday, December 26, 1832, there's Peterhead arrived 24th Jane M'Kenzie, Congleton, Inverness.

There should be other scattered references. I think the port mentioned is the one they sailed from or headed to.

Best of luck with the archives,
Alan

[runmerry]

Hi Allan C,

Thanks for the information, now I know a little more about them.
I always forget to look in Google books and I never thought to look in the local papers.
Never been interested in ships before, learning all sorts of new things here.

Regards
Jenny

[Currie]

Hello Jenny,

Here’s some light reading on old shipping.
http://books.google.com.au/books?uid=21 ... shelf_list

Alan

[runmerry]

Hi All,

I've been and looked and the results are:-

The JANE MACKENZIE -- 77 &28/94 tons. Thomas Congleton, master, built at Leith in 1820 and registered there in 1824 and then registered in Inverness in August 1826.

The JOHN ALEXANDER -- 67 & 6/94 tons Thomas Bruce, master, built in 1820 at Kingston Port in the
Parish of Speymouth, County of Elgin, by William Geddie shipbuilder there and registered at Inverness the same year.

That's the bare bones. There is a lot more to digest, the helpful people at Highland Archives gave me photocopies of everything and so far it's looking very interesting especially the John Alexander.

I think I might be back with more questions!!

Regards
Jenny