Yesterday’s News No. 9 – The loss of the Nancy of Dublin
From a collection of historical accounts by Dr John Holliday
2024.9.9
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Tag Archives: ships
2023.18.1
Large framed painting of the Steam Yacht ‘Beryl’ cruising past Mount Vesuvius in the Mediterranean in 1907. John MacArthur of ‘The Neuk’, Vaul, is thought to have been the yacht’s piper when it cruised the Western Isles some time between 1905 and 1911, as John was known locally as Piopaire a’Bhurns / Burns’ piper, and the owner of the Beryl was James Burns, 3rd Lord Inverclyde. Also, the painting hung in the house of Willie and Hannah MacLean in Balemartine, and John was the cousin of Willie MacLean’s father.
The painting is accompanied by notes regarding the artist and the histories of several SY Beryls (stored in filing cabinet 10, drawer 4).
2022.13.5
Scanned copies of photographs of HMS Tiree in Malta in 1957, members of Polish 304 Squadron beside their Wellington XIV and one signed by one of the aircrew, a pilot and navigator in a cockpit, a Warwick aircraft and Warwick ‘ghost’ aircraft with descriptive text. Includes the reverse sides of each photograph. *Copyright restrictions apply*
Click here to view images 2022.13.5
2021.54.67
Transcript of a copy of Criminal Libel charging Alexander MacLean and Archibald Colquhoun with breach of peace and assault in 1868.
Alexander MacLean (son of and residing with Mary Graham or MacLean, Scarinish) and Archibald Colquhoun (son of and residing with Duncan Colquhoun, Scarinish) fought on board the SS Argyll while in the harbour at Scarinish on 29 February 1868. A statement is provided by John Lamont (crofter, Ruaig). Lamont names Dr Alexander Buchanan (surgeon, Tiree) and Duncan Morrison (Captain of the SS Argyll) as being in attendance.
Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2021.54.65
Transcript of Inventory of Precognition investigating the death of Joseph Evans and William James on 8 August 1868. Evans (cook and seaman on board the Maria and Fanny) and James (Master on board the Maria and Fanny) drowned on the wreck of the Maria Fanny of Milford Devon Wales. The Maria and Fanny was on a journey between Ayr and Limerick with a cargo of coals, but hit a rock – ‘bo-more’ (possibly Bogha Mòr) – near Kenavara in a storm.
The transcript contains descriptions of clothing and tattoos found on the deceased, as well as some descriptions of their bodies. Thomas Davis mentions the following locations in his account of the ship’s journey: Lamlash (Isle of Arran), ‘Torry’ Island (perhaps Tory or Toraigh Island), Skerryvore, Tiree. The transcript names Archibald Campbell as Receiver of Wrecks at Balinoe.
Statements are provided by:
Angus MacArthur (crofter, Balephuil)
Malcolm MacArthur (crofter, Balephuil)
Alexander MacDonald (fisherman, Balephuil)
Donald MacArthur (son of and residing with Angus MacArthur, Balephuil)
Duncan Cameron (Constable, Tiree)
Thomas Davis (seaman, Pembroke)
James Brown (seaman, Pembrokeshire)
William Thomas (seaman, Devon)
Donald McArthur (fisherman, Balephuil)
Archibald Brown, (farmer, Balephuil)
Archibald Brown (seaman, Mannal)
Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2021.54.64
Transcript of Precognition investigating the loss of the Barque Grav von Scheffen of Rostock (Barque Graf von Schlieffen of Rostock) in August 1868. The transcript contains an account by Arfst Baalandorf Staormon (mate on board the barque, Island of Fahr [Föhr], Schleswig-Hostein) of how the barque ran aground on a reef off the Isle of Iona while it was carrying salt and soap on a voyage from Liverpool to Halifax and back. The transcript mentions locations including: Maidens Light (possibly Maidens Lighthouse), Skerryvore, Tiree, Dhu Heartach and Iona. A record for the wreck of this barque is available on Canmore.
Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2021.54.38
Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses against John MacDonald on charges of fraud, October 1860.
John MacDonald (of Tobermory) was working as pilot on board the steamer Cantie Queen in August 1860 when he was approached by Roderick McKenzie and John Campbell on behalf of John MacDonald (the accused) with an offer to work as Master of the smack Mary Balfour. Later, MacDonald (of Tobermory) was asked to wreck the vessel at Barra for the sum of £20.
The report makes mention of various locations, including: Lancefield Quay, Glasgow; John Rankin’s Spirit Celler, Broomielaw; Londonderry; Jeantown, Lochcarron; Davidsons spirit Cellar near Lancefield Quay; McLachlan’s Spirit Shop, Jamaica Street; the Clyde Hotel, Broomielaw; Crinnan; the Isle of Canna; Custom House, Glasgow.
Statements are provided by: John MacDonald (seaman, Craigspure, Tobermory) and Neil Darroch (seaman, Tobermory).
Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2021.54.34
Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses submitted to Henry Nisbet, Tobermory Procurator Fiscal, regarding the sudden deaths of Malcolm McKinnon and Ann or Nancy MacDougall or Burnett on 3 October 1860. McKinnon and MacDougall/Burnett died when a mail packet ran ashore in Glenbeg, near Loch Sunart, during a storm. Statements are provided from:
Hector Lamont (master and owner of a mail packet, Kirkapol. Brother-in-Law of Malcolm McKinnon, deceased)
Archibald McFadyen (seaman, Kirkapol)
Niel McLean (crofter, Ruaig)
Niel McKinnon (Arinagour, Coll)
Alexander Campbell (Inland Revenue Officer, Broadford, Isle of Skye. Sister-in-Law of Ann or Nancy McDougall or Burnett)
Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2021.54.26
Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses regarding the discovery of bodies on board the wreck of the Francis of St Ives and on the shore of the Isle of Coll, November 1860. The Francis of St Ives, a three masted vessel, was wrecked off the shore of Caoles in Coll, ‘between Ellen oare and Caol’. Descriptions are given of tattoos upon the body of the sailor on board the ship, as well as the clothes he was wearing.
Statements are provided by:
Hector Maclean (son of and residing with John Maclean, Arileod)
John Kennedy (Grimsary)
John Craig (tacksman, Crossapol)
Charles Cowan (mason, Ballyhough)
In a letter attached from James MacColl (Interim Registrar of Births and Deaths for the District of Coll) to Henry Nisbet (Tobermory Procurator Fiscal), MacColl writes that the body of Mrs Fowler, a ‘pauper’ residing at Torastan in Coll, was discovered on the 18th October 1860 at some distance from her own house.
This report contains descriptions of the bodies discovered. Click to read a transcript of this item.
From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.
2021.43.1
Hardback book ‘Scottish Sail – a forgotten era’ by Robert Simper, 1974. A photographic account of Scottish sailing ships that travelled domestic and world trade routes at the turn of the 19th century. The topsail schooner Mary Stewart is mentioned on page 35. The remains of her hull can still be seen in Scarinish Harbour.