Peterhead Whalers

[nelmit]

Thanks to Ellen I've had an interesting afternoon learning a bit about whale fishing in the Arctic in the 19th century.

I found this article particularly informative especially since there was mention of a George Murray - same name as my elusive g.g. grandfather.

A question though for someone who knows about these things.

I've uploaded a death entry of a William Murray (who I'm hoping may be my gg uncle) to the Gallery.

It is registered by Alexander Simpson, shipmaster of the Eclipse, 8 months after William's death. Fair enough if this was a whaling ship they could be gone from home a long time.
However according to the article referred to above the Eclipse was not built till 1866. I would have thought the newer one would have to be named something like Eclipse II even if the original had been destroyed or retired.

Kind regards,
Annette M

P.S. Does anyone know if 'The Shipwrecked Mariners Society' has an archive?

[LesleyB]

Hi Annette
You've probably seem this? Are these the same Eclipses referred to in your post?
http://www.reach.net/~sc001198/ShipsE.htm

ECLIPSE – 1853-1859
Master: Captain H. Laing (1852-55); Captain P. Mitchell (1856-58); Captain Hughes (1859)
Rigging: Ship; sheathed in yellow metal in 1852 & in felt and yellow metal in 1856
Tonnage: 425 tons using old measurements and 393 tons using new measurements
Construction: 1852 in Liverpool: repairs to damages in 1858
Owners: Darbyshire (1852-53); Friend & Co. (1854-59)
Port of registry: Liverpool
Port of survey: Liverpool
Voyage: sailed for Bahia (1853); New Zealand (1854-56); South America (1857-59)

ECLIPSE - 1866-67
Official Number: 24842
Master: Captain T. Ward-Tomlinson
Rigging: iron Barque
Tonnage: 329 tons using old measurements and 320 tons using new measurements
Dimensions: 116 feet long and 24.8 foot beam
Construction: 1849, Hull; repairs to damages in 1867
Owners: G. Laurence
Port of registry: Hull
Port of survey: Hull
Voyage: sailed for the Mediterranean Sea

But then there is also the one mentioned in the article you referenced:

Aware of the success of John Gray's "Mazinthien" the captain's brother, David Gray III, had the famous ship "Eclipse" built to his own specifications in Aberdeen, the following year.

?? Seems there were several....

best wishes
Lesley

[Hugh Stevely]

Hi all a bit of info on Peterhead Whalers.


http://www.nefa.net/archive/sailwhale/gspdwhale.htm

Good luck with your search.
Hugh.

[Hugh Stevely]

Sorry about that i see you have a link already.
Hugh.

[nelmit]

Thanks for replies Lesley and Hugh. Seems you could call your ship whatever you liked.

I'm going to try and find info on the Empress of India now.

Kind regards,
Annette M

[DavidWW]

Thanks for replies Lesley and Hugh. Seems you could call your ship whatever you liked.

I'm going to try and find info on the Empress of India now.

Kind regards,
Annette M

See http://www.greatships.net/empressindia.html !!, but it's one of several of the name............

David

[nelmit]

Hello David,

I found it along with the other ship Innuit mentioned in the Gavin Sutherland article. They were both wrecked in 1858.

http://www.explorenorth.com/whalers/fea ... wrecks.htm

Regards,
Annette M

[Andrew C.]

Does anyone if a whaler would be descirbed as a seaman on the census. I have a whole host of Cowies logged as seaman in various census, I was led to believe at least some of them where whalers could this be the case?

[nelmit]

Does anyone if a whaler would be descirbed as a seaman on the census. I have a whole host of Cowies logged as seaman in various census, I was led to believe at least some of them where whalers could this be the case?

Hello Andrew,

My ancestor (George Murray) was described as a Merchant Seaman on all his children's birth entries. It is my assumption that he sailed on the whaling ships because of where he lived and the amount of seamen who did so at the time.

Annette M

[Andrew C.]

Thanks for that. Do you have any idea what the population of Peterhead would have been at 1851 census?