The bark Northcote was built in 1864 at P. M. Petersens shipyard in Porsgrunn. She was constructed from drawings by Decke of Bergen. Her burden was about 120 Norwegian Commercial lasts. She was named after the London brooker-house "Northcote & Co." of London. The Northcote was launched in August 1864, and commenced her maiden voyage to Teignmouth in England. From there she sailed to Swansea where she arrived on December 18th. From Swansea she took freight for Ibiza, and on March 27th 1865 she passed Gibraltar on her way back to Porsgrunn to be refitted for emigrant freight.

She departed from Porsgrunn on May 30th, 1865, carrying 120 adults and some children, all in all 141 passengers. They arrived at Quebec on July 29th. She departed from Quebec with a load of wood on August 11th for Weymouth in England where she arrived 1 month and 1 day after departure from Quebec. From there she sailed for Portsmouth and on to Narva in the Baltic sea to load timber. On December 2nd 1865 sailed for Bristol and then on to Bridgewater and Cardiff. On January 26, 1866 she departed Cardiff for Lisboa, and just off Lisboa (North Catchop) she sank on 15 fathoms depth. The captain and crew were rescued. She was mastered by Capt. H. Petersen. The passenger list is archived by the National Archives of Canada [NAC].

Announcement from Morgenbladet April 9th, 1865 Passenger accommodation to America. The newly built ship Northcote, owned by Mr. P. M. Petersen and others in Porsgrunn, and is expected home in April, will after unloading probably depart Porsgrunn in the early days of May with passenger for Quebec, if a sufficient number of passengers enrolls. Fees and conditions are negotiated with the undersigned, where enrolling can be done, Skien March 1865, J. Eriksen