Blackadder

A fullrigged iron clipper ship built in 1870 by Maudslay, Son & Field, London. Dimensions: 216'6"×35'2"×20'5" and tonnage: 908,5 NRT and 872 1/3 tons under deck. The forecastle was 34 ft long and the poop 30 ft. She was a sister ship to same owner's Hallowe'en also built in 1870.

The Blackadder was named after the river in Berwickshire.

Rigged with double top-sails and single top-gallant sails. Later re-rigged as a barque (before 1889 according to Lloyd's Register, but not until her sale to Norway according to other sources).

1870 February 1
Launched at the shipyard of Maudslay, Son & Field, London, for John Willis & Son, London. Assigned the Official British No. 63573 and signal JLVN. Captain J. Robinson was given command of the new vessel.
1870 March 24
Left the Downs for her maiden voyage to Shanghai.
1870 May 10
Dismasted due to faulty designed lower mast trestle trees. Was able to reach the Cape under jury rig 63 days out.
1870 December 7
Collided with the French mail steamer Volga and arrived at Shanghai four days later with the forepeak waterfilled.
1871 July 23 - November 17
Sailed from Penang to London with a cargo of tea in 117 days.
1872
Captain W.F. Moore replaced Captain Robinson.
1872 January 3 - April 7
Sailed from Deal to Shanghai in the record time of 95 days.
1872 June 28 - October 27
Sailed from Foochow to London in 121 days with a cargo of tea.
1872
Captain Samuel Bissett was given command of the ship.
1872 November 21 - February 23
Sailed from London to Sydney in 83 days.
1873 May 3
Partly dismasted in a typhoon on voyage from Newcastle, NSW, to Shanghai with a cargo of coal.
1873 October 22
Sailed from Iloilo to Boston with a cargo of sugar, where she arrived after two months and eleven days after having struck an unchartered reef at the Island of Bankquey.
1875 July 19 - November 20
Sailed from Woosung to London in 120 days with a cargo of tea 1.200.300 pounds of tea under command of Captain J. Whyte. [Lubbock has 126 days to Deal]
1875 December 27 - March 20
Sailed from Deal to Sydney in 78 days
1876 August 5 - December 8
Sailed from Woosung to London in 125 days with a cargo of 1.109.500 pounds of tea. [Lubbock has Shanghai to Scilly Islands]
1877 October 26 - February 16
Sailed from Woosung to London in 113 days with a cargo of tea.
1879
Master: Captain Allan. [LLoyd's Register 1879-1880]
1880 September 26 - February 3
Sailed from Foochow to London in 130 days with a cargo of tea. Her sister ship Hallowe'en arrived the following day, 126 days out from Foochow.
1881
Captain F. More.
1881 December 18 - April 2
Sailed from Shanghai to New York in 105 days with a cargo of tea.
1882
Captain More and part of the crew were transferred to the same owner's clipper Cutty Sark.
1886 October 27 - February 23
Sailed from Newcastle, NSW, to London in 119 days with a cargo of wool.
1888 November 17 - February 15
Sailed from Newcastle, NSW, to London in 90 days with a cargo of wool.
1889
Master: Captain J. Grassam. [LLoyd's Register 1889-1890]
1890 November 27 - Febrary 26
Sailed from Brisbane to London in 91 days with a cargo of wool.
1893 December 20 - March 30
Sailed from Brisbane to London in 100 days with a cargo of wool.
1894 October 20 - February 200
Sailed from Brisbane to London in 123 days with a cargo of wool.
1900
Sold to A/S Blackadder (J. Aalborg), Kragerø, Norway.
1901
Captain John Olsen, Kragerø.
1904 December 20
Sailed in ballast from Moss to Barbados in 37 days under command of First Mate Stian Oedersen, Kragerø. Logged 346 miles in 24 hours four days out.
1905 March 4 - March 29
Sailed from Fernandina, FL, to Kragerø in 25 days with a cargo of rosin for St Petersburg.
1906 [?]
Captain C. Berntsen [Norske Seilskibe].
1905 September 11
Left Barry for Bahia with a cargo of coal.
1905 November 5
Wrecked at Bahia when entering that port. Other sources say that she was destroyed by a tornado while loading at Bahia. [April 9 according to Sea Breezes and Lubbock.]

References:


Updated 2001-10-10 by Lars Bruzelius


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