The McCorkell Line Ships

Built in New Brunswick for the McCorkell Line of Derry in 1860, she was the finest clipper they ever possessed. For twelve years she carried passengers to New York, where she was know as "The Green Yacht from Derry". Over the next fourteen years she was a Baltimore grain carrier, and then a timber drogher until she was sold in 1895.

Built in New Brunswick for the McCorkell Line of Derry in 1851. She made over one hundred crossings of the North Atlantic without any serious mishap. She carried passengers from Derry and was known in Quebec, Saint John, New York, Baltimore, New Orleans and most of all Philadelphia, the port to which she brought many thousands of Irish emigrants.

Built in Portland, New Brunswick for the McCorkell Line of Derry in 1835. She carried passengers to New York, Philadelphia, Quebec and Savannah. She suffered a series of misfortunes and in 1842 she foundered off the Bahamas. The crew and passengers were brought to safety by a Spanish brig without loss of life.

Built at Oromucto St John for the McCorkell Line of Derry in 1834. She is shown with black and white gunports in contemporary man-o-war fashion. Under her bowsprit an attractive figurehead of a girl leans out over the sea. She had a short life and was wrecked off St John in 1839.

Built in Cornwall's Nova Scotia in 1876 and entered Service in 1877 with the McCorkell Line of Derry. She completed twenty-one years and was the last vessel owned when sold in 1897. She was later sunk by enemy action in 1916.

 

A steel barque built in Londonderry for the McCorkell Line in 1889. She carried Indian corn, wheat, flour, coals and general cargo. Her trading voyages took her from Derry to Montevideo, Philadelphia, San Franciso. Tragically she was lost near Holyhead after a series of severe gales, no one survived the wreck.

 

Built in Waldbro Marine for the McCorkell Line of Derry in 1859. For twenty-five years she carried passengers from Derry to Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. A well-built able little barque, very attractive in appearance, she was as well known in Derry as the City Walls.

An iron barque built at Harrington, Cumbria for the McCorkell Line of Derry in 1879. She achieved the fastest round voyage of fifty days in 1880, with an outward passage of seventeen days and a return of fifteen days. Tragically she was lost in the spring of 1882 when it is thought she may have struck an ice floe.

 

A full list of ships owned by The McCorkell Line

YEAR BUILT	NAME	TONS	BUILDER
1811 Ship	Marcus Hill	430	Quebec
1824 Ship	President	105	Canada
1825 Ship	William & George	400	Olives, St. Johns N.B.
1830 Ship	Carouge	391	Quebec
1830 Brig	Trial	145	P.E.I.
1832 Brig	Eleanor	98	-
1834 Barque	CAROLINE	552	Wm. Scoallon, Oromucto N.B.
1836 Ship	ERIN	638	J. Wilkin Smith, St. Johns N.B.
1839 Ship	Provincialist	880	Edw. Wilson, Chamcook, N.B.
1841 Barque	Creole	445	Jacob Paul, St. Andrews N.B.
1843 Barque	Fanny	408	W. & R. Wright, Springfield N.B.
1851 Ship	MOHONGO	745	Sam. Smith, Oromucto N.B.
1854 Barque	Prima Donna	319	Canada
1856 Ship	Zered	822	Lancaster Co. N.B.
1859 Barque	VILLAGE BELLE	625	Waldobro, Maine
1860 Ship	MINNEHAHA	1127	McMorrin, St. Johns N.B.
1864 Ship	Pleiades	330	St. Johns N.B.
1864 Ship	Lady Emily Peel	853	Canada
1862 Ship	Stradacona	1080	Gingra, Quebec
1871 Barque	Harvester	754	Atkinson & Fillmore, Mass.
1872 Barque	Countess of Dufferin	563	Narcisse Rosa, Quebec
1876 Barque	HIAWATHA	926	Peter Crichton, Cornwallis, N.S.
1876 Barque	Nokomis	853	Alex. Stephen, Port Glasgow
1879 Barque	OWEENEE	1111	Williamson, Harrington
1879 Barque	Wenonah	767	Wm. Baldwin, Quebec
1889 Barque	OSSEO	1463	Chas. Biggar, Derry

________________________________________
These verses tell of the last of the McCorkell's sailors

Twas night, and lo; the storm fiend raged, the breath of winter told,
it was December, bleak and wild, the air was icy cold.
And by the fireside sat we round, dreaming not what was to be,
when oh; the dawn of morn brings forth the saddest misery.

That night, the while the tempest blew, the "Osseo" out at sea,
with a Captain bold and a crew all told, as good and as brave could be.
What dread foreboding might dull their nerve, they'd weathered such gales before,
but their voyage was run, their race was done, and theirs was the "Golden Shore".

And hear the wail of the piteous wife, for pity the mothers crave,
their dearest sons, "Old Derry's sons", had found a watery grave.
True to themselves, for life they fought, but the Storm King's not defied,
"She's rent in twain - she sinks!", thus gallantly they died.

Calm may they rest on the "Golden Shore", their voyage of life done,
they've paid their debt that nature claims, after the race is run.
As the days roll on we shall ever dwell, and loving hearts deplore,
the loss of the crew of the "Osseo", in December, ninety-four.

Top of page