Information about the steam ferry ‘SS Chieftain’s Bride’ which was saved from sinking between Tiree and Mull in 1867 by the efforts of Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish, but in which he sustained internal injuries leading to his death and burial in Capetown, South Africa. Captain MacKinnon was master of the ‘Taeping’, which won the Great China Tea Race of 1866.
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Framed oil painting of the tea-clipper ‘Taeping’, which was commanded by Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish (1827-1867), to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1886. The painting was probably made in Hong Kong by artist Lai-Sung, who created many similar paintings of sailing ships during 1850-1885.
The two images are of the painting before and after restoration by Egan, Matthews & Rose, Dundee (© Egan, Matthews & Rose 2022).
Framed oil painting of the tea-clipper ‘Demerara’ captained by Colin MacKinnon, Heanish, brother of Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish. Colin MacKinnon obtained his Master’s Certificate on 28 June 1860, after which he captained the Demerara from 1860 to 1863. In 1864, he became Captain of the Ellen Roger, on which he died on 7 September 1965. The painting was probably painted by Lai-Sung, Hong Kong, in the 1860s. The cracked and discoloured varnish appears to show ‘hidden’ Chinese characters.
Image © Egan, Matthews & Rose 2022
Framed original newsprint poster commemorating the life of Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish, 1887, from the estate of Robert Nisbet, Heanish.
photograph of the text:
Framed oil painting of Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish (1827-1867), who sailed the ‘Taeping’ to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1866. It was painted by the artist Lai-Sung, based in Hong-Kong, who painted many paintings of sailing ships during 1850-1885.
The two images are of the painting before and after restoration by Egan, Matthews & Rose, Dundee (© Egan, Matthews & Rose 2022).
Ornate glass walking stick presented to Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish, in recognition of his achievement in winning the great China Tea Race of 1866. From the estate of Robert Nisbet, Heanish. The silk ribbons were added later to hang the walking stick.
Transcripts of maritime records of the MacKinnons of Heanish, particularly Captain Donald MacKinnon who sailed the Taeping to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1866. Researched by Robert Nisbet, Heanish. (1) ‘Captain Donald MacKinnon Timeline’, 1866-1867: dates and summaries of key events from the start of Great China Tea Race to Captain MacKinnon’s death in South Africa, (2) log of RMS Roman, 1867, detailing death of Captain MacKinnon and listing the belongings found in his cabin, (3) details of the estate of Captain Donald MacKinnon, 1867, (4) details of Tiree mariners, 1808-1886, (5) photocopied voyages record of Captain Donald MacKinnon, 1851-1867, from the National Archives in Kew, (6) details from the seaman’s tickets of Angus MacKinnon (b. 1831) and Colin MacKinnon (b. 1834).
Genealogy material relating to people of Heanish, 1793-2012, from the belongings of Robert Nisbet, Heanish: (1) handwritten family tree for descendents of James Nesbit and Sarah Fritt, (2) printed family tree for the descendents of Neil MacKinnon (1793-1872) and Marion Munn (1800-1887), (3) printed family trees for the descendents of ? MacKinnon, Donald MacKinnon (1803-1871) and Mary Sinclair (1824-1873), Donald (Red) MacKinnon (b.1773) and Mary McColl (b.1773), Alexander MacKinnon (b. 1846) and Jessie MacDonald (b.1859), Effie MacKinnon (1809-1891) and Coll MacDonald (1806-1883), and Marion Munn (1803-1872) and Neil MacKinnon (1794-1872), (4) family group sheet for Neil MacKinnon (1793-1872) and Marion Munn (1800-1887), (5) printed extract from the 1881 British Census, giving the names and details of 109 inhabitants in 21 houses at Heanish Farm, (6) collection of annotated photocopied birth, marriage and death certificates for Marion MacKinnon, Donald MacKinnon and Margaret Anne Murray (1855), Angus MacKinnon and Catherine Brown (1866), Neil MacKinnon (1872), Euphemia MacDonald (1891), Edward John MacKinnon (1954), (7) notes on other census and genealogy material for family of Neil MacKinnon and Marion Munn (1841), Brown (1861), Coll MacDonald and Euphemia MacKinnon.
Small, round, brass ‘Aneroid’ barometer belonging to Robert Nisbet, Heanish, and thought to have come from the tea clipper ‘Taeping’ that was sailed to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1866 by Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish.
Collection of fliers, information and letters about a presentation titled ‘Captain Donald MacKinnon, Clippers and the China Tea Trade’ given by Lloyd Pitcher in Australia on 7th March 2017. Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish, sailed the tea clipper ‘Taeping’ to victory in the Great China Tea Race of 1866.
