Hallo. New member here needing advice.

[Toni Bingham]

My g g grandfather was lost overboard from the SS Ettrickdale in 1879 in West Bay, Dorset on the way back from a trip to San Francisco. i know this from his death certificate and a newspaper report in which the Captain reported that the First Mate had been knocked overboard by the fore topsail brace and lost.

my questions are

what is the fore topsail brace?

Would there have been an inquest, either in Dorset or in his home port?

a record pf his effects shows that he had over £32 due. Would his family have got that?

Any help woild be greatly appreciated.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Could you initially amend the post title to his name in full, as a new member this may take sometime. IT WOULD BE THEN HELPFUL TO ADD ALL INFO YOU HOLD:

If and when you can upload all to site: the more we have to work on the better. K.

[robpage]

File:Barkskibs staende rigning2.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is probably one of the clearer pictures of rigging , basically it is a pair of ropes over a block ( Pulley ) that enables you to Brace , ( Pull on ) the spar holding the canvas sail

s possibly the he British cargo ship Ettrickdale (of 1,324 tons) which was wrecked on the Spanish coast, three miles from Gibraltar on 11 March 1886. In a dark and stormy night the crew were forced to take to the rigging. The following day two unsuccessful attempts were made by a Spanish fishing boat to reach the wreck. An attempt to rescue the crew was then made by a boat from H.M.S. Monarch. However, the boat, manned by Lieutenant John Rushworth Jellicoe (of ‘Jutland’ fame, later Admiral of the Fleet) and seven ratings, capsized in the breakers. Finally another Spanish fishing boat managed to get alongside the wreck and rescue all but one of the stranded crew.

Specification is
ETTRICKDALE

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built by Barclay Curle & Company Glasgow,
Yard No 222

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Built: 1872
Ship Type: Sailing Vessel
Owner History:
J & A Roxburgh

[Hugh]

Welcome Tony,

Rob has got the specification of the ship correct but he refers to the wrong ship in the main part of his post. Not at all surprising though as there were many ships with the same name and its easy to get mixed up. Rob refers to the wrecked ETTRICKDALE built in 1875 as GLENTRIUM official number 73399.

The ship will be ETTRICKDALE official number 63875, 1288 tons, built in by Barclay Curle & Co in Glasgow, 1872. The crew of 22 hands including the wives of the master and the mate were lost.

There was a Court of Enquiry held in Glasgow on January 27th 1885. The Court concluded that the ship encountered very heavy weather and with the shifting ballast she finally sank. The Court saw nothing in the evidence to attach blame to anyone and made no order as to costs.

Source: The Scotsman

Regards
Hugh

[Hugh]

Can you tell me what paper you have the information from and date please, also your grandfather's name? The info I have given refers to the sinking of ETTRICKDALE but your query is about another voyage and perhaps another ship.
Regards
Hugh

[Calvin Kent]

July, 1879 crewlist

ETTRICKDALE

[Doc Vernon]

Single Ship Report for "1063875"

IDNo:	1063875	Year:	1872
Name:	ETTRICKDALE	Keel:
Type:	ship	Launch Date:	15.12.71
Flag:	GBR	Date of completion:	2.72

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Tons:	1345	Link:	1377
DWT:		Yard No:	222
Length overall:		Ship Design:
LPP:	72.7	Country of build:	GBR
Beam:	11.1	Builder:	Barclay, Curle & Co
Material of build:	I	Location of yard:	Stobcross
Number of screws/Mchy/ Speed(kn):	sail

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Naval or paramilitary marking :
A:	*
End:	1884

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Subsequent History:

Disposal Data:

foundered 15nm NE Noord Hinder LV 11.10.84

Single Ship Report for "1073399"

IDNo:	1073399	Year:	1875
Name:	GLENTRUIM	Keel:
Type:	Cargo ship	Launch Date:	12.75
Flag:	GBR	Date of completion:	12.75

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Tons:	1324	Link:	1618
DWT:	0	Yard No:	8
Length overall:		Ship Design:
LPP:	74.7	Country of build:	GBR
Beam:	9.8	Builder:	W.B.Thompson
Material of build:	I	Location of yard:	Dundee
Number of screws/Mchy/ Speed(kn):	1C-

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Naval or paramilitary marking :
A:	*
End:	1886

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Subsequent History:

83 ETTRICKDALE
Disposal Data:

wrecked near Torre Nueva, 3nm E Gibraltar 1.3.86 (1*)

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hoprfully will have more time tomorrow.

K.

[Doc Vernon]

That is one damn good Crew List site Calvin
Will Bookmark it for future ref!
Thanks
Cheers

[Toni Bingham]

A report in the Sunderland Daily Echo of January 27 1879 under 'Arrivals and Sailings' (Casualties) there is a report as follows (cannot reproduce, doesn't copy well)

The Ettrickdale ship of Glasgow, from San Francisco for Hull, put into Portland Roads(?) on Friday and landed Captain Lamont(?) seriously ill, who reports that on the night of 21st inst. the chief mate was knocked overboard by the foretopsail brace and drowned.

The only Portland Roads I can find is near Weymouth, in Dorset.

I have my gg grandfather's death certificate which gives the following information :

Certified copy of entry in the Marine Register :

Ship : Ettrickdale
Official No : 63875
Date of death : 21.01.1879
Place of death : blank
Name : Alfred Whittaker
Male aged 49
Rank : 1st Mate
Cause of Death : Drowning
Member of crew.

I also have a copy of the Register of Effects of Deceased Seamen for that time which gives the place of death as West Bay, Portland and says his effects were £32.6s.1d and were disposed of by Superintendent.

I know that the Ettrickdale was eventually shipwrecked but this is obviously before that event.