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. 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 1930/1933 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.