Skene (1816 ship)

Skene (or Skeene, or Skeen), was built at Leith in 1816. She made several voyages carrying emigrants from Scotland, twice to Canada and once for the Poyais scheme. She was wrecked immediately thereafter while sailing back to England from Saint Petersburg.

History
Red EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameSkene
Owner
  • 1816:L. Skeene[1]
  • 1824:S. Skene[2]
BuilderLeith[1]
Launched1816[1]
FateWrecked 1824
General characteristics
Tons burthen246,[1] or 250[2] (bm)
PropulsionSail
Sail planBrig

Career

Skeene entered Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1816 with J. Mason, master, L. Skeene, owner, and trade Leith–New York.[1]

On 16 May 1818 the "brig Skeene" arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, with 85 passengers after a voyage of 44 days from Leith.[3]

In 1819 Captain George Bishop sailed the "brig Skeene" (or Skeen) from Leith and arrived at Halifax, on 1 May with 113 passengers. She sailed on to Quebec, where she arrived on 6 June.[4]

On 2 November 1821 Skeen was sailing to Bristol from Waterford when she grounded. She was reported to be upright and expected to be got off.[5]

On 5 March 1822, Skeen, Wilson, master, ran into a severe gale that took out most of her bulwarks and split her sails. The next day she came into the Clyde. She had been sailing from Liverpool to Rio de Janeiro.[6]

Year Master Owner Trade Source
1822 Skene S.Skene Dublin–Waterford
Liverpool–Brazils		 Register of Shipping (RS)
1823 Skene S.Skene Liverpool–Brazils RS
1824 Wilson S.Skene Leith–Poyas.[2] RS

In 1823 the adventurer and fantasist Gregor Macgregor chartered Skene, John Wilson, master, to take 105 (or 109[7] emigrants from Leith to Poyais, the colony in Honduras that he was promoting. He had already dispatched Honduras Packet and Kennersley Castle. Skeen left Leith on 4 June with the settlers, together with stores and merchandise.[7] By the time Skene arrived at Black River, Honduras, on 29 July 1823 the survivors from the two previous ships had already been rescued and taken to Belize. Skene sailed to Belize and left her passengers there. Some stayed on, but the widows and orphans were eventually repatriated to Scotland.[8]

Main article: Gregor MacGregor § Poyais scheme
See also: List of ships of the Poyais scheme

The investment frenzy and subsequent debacle gave rise to a number of ballads.[9]

Fate

Skene, Skene, master, was lost on 23 or 24 August 1824 on Rottumeroog, Groningen, Netherlands. She was on a voyage from St Petersburg, Russia to London.[10]

Citations
  1. LR (1816), Supple. pages, Seq.№S74.
  2. Register of Shipping (1824), Seq.№S474.
  3. Ships to and from Nova Scotia 1815-1838.
  4. Ship arrivals in the Port of Quebec, 1819.
  5. Lloyd's List №5642.
  6. Lloyd's List №5680.
  7. "Advertisement" Times [London, England] 11 June 1823: 3. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 2 May 2018.
  8. Codd (1824), pp. 160–5.
  9. Logan (1869), pp. 204–8.
  10. Lloyd's List №5939.

References
  • Codd, Edward (1824). Proceedings of an inquiry and investigation, instituted by Major General Codd, His Majesty's Superintendent and Commander-in-chief at Belize, Honduras, relative to Poyais. Lawler and Quick.
  • Logan, W. H. (1869). "The Poyais Emigrant". A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs, with Illustrative Notes. Edinburgh: William Patterson.
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