Wm. McCorkell
& Co. Ltd. operated the McCorkell Line from 1778, principally carrying passengers
from Ireland, Scotland and England to the Americas.
Many thousands
of people were carried on some of the most famous sailing ships in the Western
Ocean
From
the unique collection of oil paintings held by the McCorkell family, the opportunity
exists to purchase articles of great heritage and memorabilia depicting the
ships which carried many of your ancestors to a new life.
The McCorkell family arrived in Ireland after the defeat of
Bonnie Prince Charlie following the rebellion in 1745. Three brothers named
McCorquodale, who were supporters of the Prince had to escape and rowed in
a open boat from the west coast of Scotland and landed on the Antrim coast.
Wishing to cover their tracks on arriving in Ireland they assumed the name
McCorkell. One of the brothers William, who was born in 1728, was the founder
of the shipping line in 1778.
The McCorkell Line was operated and owned by William McCorkell & Co.
Ltd. from Londonderry with the principal purpose of carrying passengers to
the Americas. The port was one of the main points for emigration to Canada
and America with passengers travelling from Scotland, England and Ireland.
From 1778, the company operated as Agents for ships sailing to and from Londonderry.
In 1800 William and Archibald, sons of the founder started to expand with
American owned ships, they traded from Canada in the North to the West Indies
in the South. The " MARCUS HILL" was the first vessel bought in 1815 at the
conclusion of the American War and she continued to cross the Atlantic until
1827. In 1824 the "PRESIDENT" was added although ships were chartered from
other owners to meet the growing demand for passage to America. With the purchase
of the "CAROLINE" in 1834 and the "ERIN" in 1836, the commencement of the
McCorkell Line art collection began. Many other vessels were under the flag
but not all were painted so records are not complete. In 1851 the "MOHONGO",
built in Canada, commenced her long service to the Atlantic trade. In her
twenty years under the McCorkell flag, she completed more than 100 crossings
with emigrants without any serious mishap.
From
that date McCorkell ships were familiar in all ports carrying passengers to
Quebec, St Johns, Philadelphia, New York and New Orleans. By 1860, speed was
becoming more important, so Bartholomew (Barry) McCorkell commissioned a new
ship to be built in Canada. The "MINNEHAHA" cost $72,000 and was able to cross
the Atlantic in all weathers and during the winter months with passengers.
Until this time all emigrants were carried in spring and summer when conditions
allowed. She was the most famous ship owned by the McCorkell's and was known
as the "Green Yacht from Derry". The "MINNEHAHA" had been named after the
William Longfellow poem "The Song of Hiawatha". Six more ships were to named
from the same poem over the next thirty years. The "MINNEHAHA" was one of
the few ships to trade in New York to the Federal side during the American
Civil War. She carried many emigrants during the war as well as much needed
supplies. After the war, Philadelphia became a regular port of call along
with New York. Records in Philadelphia show, that 5,164 passengers were carried
whose passage had been paid by relations in America to Robert Taylor & Co.,
the McCorkell agent at the port. Original tickets for these crossings still
exist today as part of the family archive. From 1873, steam liners were overtaking
the famous sailing ships and although the McCorkell Line continued to carry
passengers until 1897, the main activity now became cargo. The 
"MINNEHAHA"
was converted to a barque in 1880 to reduce the number of crew by the removal
of one set of mainsails. She served thirty-five years with the company until
she was sold in 1895. Other famous ships were the "VILLAGE BELLE" with twenty-five
years service, the "OWEENEE", the "OSSEO" and the "HIAWATHA". The " HIAWATHA"
completed twenty-one years and was the last vessel owned when sold in 1897.She
was later sunk by enemy action in 1916. This must be a credit to the wooden
ships and the men who sailed them. The family have continued to serve Londonderry
throughout the twentieth century, Dudley McCorkell was Mayor of the City from
1930 to 1933 and attended the Ottawa Conference on Trade in 1933. Dudley,
along with his nephew Michael who succeeded him, served as Harbour Board Commissioners
and as Chairmen of Wm. McCorkell. Michael's son John was the driving force
for the relocation of the port of Derry from the City to Lisahally in 1990.