David Clark (1816)

Career (UK) East India Company
Name: David Clark
Builder: S. Teague, Clive Street Hooghly River, Calcutta
Launched: 1816
Fate: Broken up in Batavia in 1854
General characteristics
Type:Barque
Tons burthen:600 73⁄94 (bm)
Length:123 ft 9 in (37.7 m) (overall);
Beam:33 ft 3 in (10.1 m)
Draught:17 ft 2 in (5.2 m)

David Clark was the first immigrant ship to sail from the Great Britain directly to Port Phillip. It was under the command of Capt. J.B. Mills, and left Greenock on 15 June 1839 mainly Scots assisted immigrants. The ship arrived at Port Phillip on 27th October 1839.[1]

The 'David Clark', measured 608 tons, 123 feet 9 inches long (between perpendiculars) and 33 feet 3 inches beam.[2] The ship was built at Clive Street yard on the Hooghly River, Calcutta in 1816 by S. Teague.[3] for Messrs Ferguson and Company and was named after a partner in that firm.[4]

Career

The David Clark sailed between india and the Mediterranean, arriving in Malta in 1820 when a portrait was made, and then returning via Gibralta to Bengal, arriving on 27 September 1821. She was n early 1820 she was involved in the East India Company's military expedition to Burma in 1824 and 1825, and was used in the Arracan campaign as a hospital ship.[5] She continued to trade under the East India Company flag in 1830 and sailed one of the last voyages under licence by the East India Company, through Calcutta, Singapore, China, St. Helena and finally to London between 19 August 1833 to 28 June 1834. Robert Rayne was master on this voyage, the log of which has survived.[6]

The vessel was then surveyed in London on 16 August1834 when it was shown that she was built of teak with two decks and was sheathed in wood in 1829 then in coppered in 1833 at Calcutta.[7]

She next sailed the London-Calcutta and Calcutta-China routes between 1834 to 1839 but in January 1839, having left London for India, had to put in at Cowes due to leaking and discharged her cargo before going to Greenock for a refit.[8]

Her voyage to Melbourne from Scotland in 1839 with the first bounty immigrants, was notable and well recorded. Departing 13 June 1839, she was piped by John Arthur to the tune of Lochaber No More. On 15 August 1839 shee pulled in to Rio de Janeiro staying ten days and then sailed directly to Port Phillip, arriving 27 October, 1839. After a stay of about 7 weeks she departed on 19th December 1839 for Bombay.[9]

Convict transport

In 1841 the ship was turned to a convict and troop transport to Australia departing Plymouth on 7 June 1841 and arriving in Hobart on 4 October 1841 then sailing for Bombay in ballast on 17 October 1841.[10]

Demise

Her last voyage began on 7 September 1853 from Manila to London, but heavy storms forced a return to Manila, and after re-caulking, she sailed again on 23 September 1853to London via Melbourne. However, she struck a reef during a storm in the Sunda Strait and diverted yo Anjer, Java on 31 October 1853, eventually reaching Batavia on 18 November, and was condemned. Although Lloyd's List records her sailing to Singapor on 5 June 1854, she arrived in Sourabaya on that date and returned to Batavia on 17 June, where she may have been broken up.[11]

Legacy

Perhaps because of the early tranport of Scots to Australia, the David Clark has been commemorated several times. A reunion of passengers in 1939 was extensively recorded in newspapers,[12] while a ceremony marked the 175th anniversary in 2014.[13] Passenger lists for the 1839 voyage are available.[14]

Illustration

"Ship David Clark Caming (sic) into the Harbour of Malta 1820"

References

  1. ↑ Lance Pymble 'The David Clark '
  2. ↑ Hackman, Rowan, Ships of the East India Company, World Ship Society, Gravesend, Kent, 2001. p267.
  3. ↑ J. Phipps' 'Register of Ships built in India' (Calcutta 1840) p. 107
  4. ↑ State Records NSW: Colonial Secretary Papers, 1788-1825, [4/1785] p20, 1823, Apr 25. [Reel 6063].
  5. ↑ Lloyd's List, London, 1820-1854. Nos 5426 & 5575.
  6. ↑ National Archives UK: India Office Records. IOR/L/MAR/B/153A. Log of the Ship David Clark on a Voyage from Calcutta to Singapore, China and London. 19 August, 1833 to 28 June, 1834
  7. ↑ National Maritime Museum UK. Survey 764, London, 16th August 1834.
  8. ↑ Lloyd's List, London, 1820-1854. Nos 7757, 7762 & 7764.
  9. ↑ Greenock Advertiser, 14 June 1839; Syme, Marten A., Shipping Arrivals and Departures, Victorian Ports, Volume 1, 1788-1845, Roebuck Book, 1984-2006. p.39.
  10. ↑ Hawkins Nicholson, Ian, Shipping Arrivals and Departures Tasmania Volume II 1834-1842 (Parts I, II and III) and Gazetteer of Tasmanian Shipping 1803-1842 (part IV), Roebuck, Woden, A.C.T. 1983, p208.
  11. ↑ Lloyd's List, London, 1820-1854. Nos 12397, 12406, 12407, 12446, 12499, 12508, 12523, 12589, 12601 & 12602.
  12. ↑ The Age - Oct 25, 1939 p.4
  13. ↑ Mark the 175th Anniversary of the arrival of the “David Clark” in Melbourne, Victoria by Glenda Dickson on October 5th, 2014
  14. ↑ Public Records Office Victoria, Index to Assisted British Immigration 1839-1871