Barque "Mary" of New York @ 1854

[jcmac]

Last week I stumbled on a newspaper intimation of a marriage 19.3.1855 in Stranraer, Scotland of (Captain) Archibald John McLean, New York.
From @ 1852 he had been sailing out of New York - Corra Linn then (H)Uguenot and @ October 1852 had taken command of the barque Mary, "300 tons and 10 years old, bound for San Francisco and New Zealand".
He records in March 1855 -  " Commanded barque belonging to New York for 2&half years when she was unfortunately lost - have not done anything for 6 months ........... had the Mary not been lost from under me".
Within days of his marriage he was in Liverpool, England returning to USA, for what I recollect, in relation to the legal activity concerning the ship.

I have spent some time again trying to locate comment in New York newsprint of any reference connected to this "event" - to no avail - and hope that someone with better knowledge of where to search can advise. I am based in UK !
jcmac.   

[Kloumann]

I think this may be the same person

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22362613

Still looking for the shipwreck.

[jcmac]

Kloumann,
Thank you for your message.
I had details of his life and family connections (but not his DofM) but his spell in the USA has proved more difficult - particularly the end of his connection with this ship. (He next sailed on the Gray Feather).
I just can't locate what the "Mary" incident/dispute was all about.
jcmac.

[*Sandra*]

15th February 1854

Mary -    United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland British North America    - The ship was sunk by ice in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of a crew member. Survivors took to the longboat; they were rescued five days later. She was on a voyage from Liverpool, Lancashire to Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

 "Ship News". The Times (21712). London. 11 April 1854. col F, p. 9.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_February_1854

Sandra

[jcmac]

Sandra,
Thanks for your reply. I don't use The Times (or other ptv sites) but used your info to search the newspaper archive but couldn't link with your find elsewhere - Mary is not the ideal search subject !!
On my original searches years ago I had found:-
25.5.1853 Daily Alta, California. Arrived 24.5.1853 Port San Francisco. Outside - barque Mary, McLean, 201 days from New York.
and,
28.5.1853 Sacramento Daily Union. Arrived May 26. barque Mary, McLean, 212 days from New York. Coal to C.A.Burgess.
In a later letter to his brother Donald he states he had Command of ship Gray Feather due to sail to Melbourne from New York on 5.8.1855 but he took ill on 3.8.1855 and ship sailed under another master.
I don't recollect what search I made specifically on Mary's onward/return voyage - I am about to resume now !!!
jcmac.   

[hanes teulu]

Morning Courier and New York Enquirer, Tue May 2, 1854
Bark, Mary, Mclean, 24 days from New Orleans, with cotton &c to M B Litchfield. Experienced heavy weather during the passage, shifted cargo &c

New York Daily Tribune, Sat Aug 19 1854
New Orleans: Cld Aug 11, ... ..., Bark Mary, Mclean, Kanaa, Sweden for orders

Are you familiar with New York Newspapers ?  https://fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html

[jcmac]

hanes teulu,
Thank you for additional info - not for the first time you have plucked details out of the hat for which I am grateful. I have spent the last few hours trying to find info in New York and New Zealand papers to no avail !!!

I hadn't given any thought to a Sweden trip - very interesting.
I recollect the fultonhistory.com site in your post but long since slipped from memory - it's an age/memory/computer thing.
This will help to narrow down the timeframe to find how the ship was "lost".
Many thanks,
jcmac.

[hanes teulu]

Your quote "Mary is not the ideal search subject" - talk about understatement!

Good luck

[jcmac]

ht,
brill - still laughing : been on fultonhistory for last hour - still searching ?!
jcmac.