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jwwilli
Starting member
USA
6 Posts |
 Posted - 23/12/2003 : 03:10:27
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My ancestors arrived on the Bremen Bark Marco Polo in New York on 5 October 1866. I can find no information on this ship on the web. Any information would be GREATLY appreciated.
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John Williams |
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Borge
Veteran Moderator
Norway
1297 Posts |
Posted - 23/12/2003 : 09:45:10
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| I do not know if this is the same ship, but I have records of a Ship "Marco Polo" that was in English ownership in 1874. This ship was built at St.John in 1851, registered at 1511 tons, dimensions: 188ft length x 40ft breadth x 29.4ft depth. |
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jwwilli
Starting member
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 23/12/2003 : 21:23:20
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| Thank You! Do you have more information on this ship? Picture? Might it have taken emigrants from Bremerhaven to New York around October of 1866? What does Bremen Bark signify? |
John Williams |
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Jo Anne Sadler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
1100 Posts |
Posted - 24/12/2003 : 01:03:20
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Bremen was the port of departure, don't know if there were shipyards there. Recommend you read the "Nice to Know" article on this site, it explains about the different kinds of ships, including barks.
You can rent the microfilm for this Port of New York passenger list from any Family History Center, www.familysearch.org, film #175628.
There is a picture available for sale for a Marco Polo at www.ellisisland.org but it might not be the same bark/ship. There was more than one vessel named Marco Polo. |
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jwwilli
Starting member
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 24/12/2003 : 14:45:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Jo Anne Sadler
Bremen was the port of departure, don't know if there were shipyards there. Recommend you read the "Nice to Know" article on this site, it explains about the different kinds of ships, including barks.
You can rent the microfilm for this Port of New York passenger list from any Family History Center, www.familysearch.org, film #175628.
There is a picture available for sale for a Marco Polo at www.ellisisland.org but it might not be the same bark/ship. There was more than one vessel named Marco Polo.
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John Williams |
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James E Heg
Member of honor
USA
135 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2004 : 01:19:49
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I have done a fairly extensive lookup on MARCO POLO. The only ship of that name I have found is the one mentioned by Børge. Built in New Brunswick, NS in 1851, operated by James Baines of the British Black Ball Line. My info gives her dimensions as 184' x 35.3' x 29.4" and 1625 ton (new measurement). I was surprised that my "research" turned up no other ships of that name! She could well have been in the Europe-America immigrant trade in 1866 as Baines had built up a fleet of newer and larger ships for the Australian and China trades. Also, it is very likely she was cut down to a bark rig by this time, to save manpower.
MARCO POLO was very famous in her time. She ran out to Australia and back in 142 days in 1852 and was known, for a time, as "the fastest ship in the world." If this is the ship you are looking for, there are lithographs at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich and the New Brunswick Museum |
Edited by - James E Heg on 01/01/2004 01:24:42 |
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jwwilli
Starting member
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2004 : 03:48:27
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| James, thank you for the information. Would you tell me what you mean by her "cut down to a bark rig "? What exactly does that entail? |
John Williams |
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jwwilli
Starting member
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2004 : 04:06:53
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| I found my answer on what a Bark is in the "Nice to Know" section. |
John Williams |
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Jo Anne Sadler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
1100 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2004 : 20:13:18
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This is where I searched when I made the posting stating that there was more than one Marco Polo vessel . Alot of ships had several names as they changed ownership/shipping lines; even though some of these ships were built after 1866, they can easily be confused with the one's built before 1866 .
From the Ship’s List:
Navigazione Generale Italiana Line.
(1) Marco Polo built 1863.
(2) Marco Pollo, built 1896, 1910 sold to Spain, renamed V. Puchol
Societa Venziana di Navigazione a Vapore Line.
Marco Polo, built 1921, scrapped 1934
President Wilson, built 1911 (originally Kaiser Franz Josef I), 1936 renamed Marco Polo
Niccolo Giani, built 1942, in 1947 renamed Marco Polo
Cape San Marco, built 1861, in 1885 renamed Marco Polo
Marco Polo (formerly Vita) built 1920
Nelda, built 1921, in 1924 sold to Venezia and renamed Marco Polo
Ellis Island database:
Picture of Marco Polo for sale; could be one of several ships listed here.
From Google:
Marco Polo, 3 masted clipper ship built in 1851 at Saint John, New Brunswick. Shipwrecked near Prince Edward Island in 1853. There are many websites regarding this famous ship, there was a Canadian commemorative stamp.
Ship model for sail – Marco Polo 1790.
Australian clipper ship Marco Polo, London News dated February 19, 1853, engraving for sale.
There is currently a cruise ship named Marco Polo and a lot of websites relating to it.
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James E Heg
Member of honor
USA
135 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2004 : 23:47:23
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| Jo Anne - In my "lookup" i used only sea history books and confined my efforts to ships and shipping of the era in question. I did not find the information about the 1851 clipper wrecking near Prince Edwards Island. My sources indicate that this ship made many subsequent voyages after the record run I cited. I will "google" MARCO POLO and see if I can find collaboration or discrepancies. My sources are quite well recognized - MacGregor, Lubbock, Laing, Brophy, Cutler, et al. In all the literature covering the 1850 - 1870 era, the New Brunswick ship is the only one mentioned. |
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James E Heg
Member of honor
USA
135 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2004 : 02:09:17
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Some further information. The 1851 MARCO POLO continued in the Autralian passenger trade until 1867 when she failed her passenger survey. She could well have made the 1866 Bremen-NY trip that is in question. However, records indicate she was not reduced to bark rig until 1874, though changes in rig were often seasonal, depending on route and weather.
She was purchased by Norwegian interests in 1862 and registered in Christiana. She was grounded on Prince Edward Island intentionally in July 1883 (not 1853) in sinking condition.
She was a quite famous ship, a precursor to the famed clipper ships of the 1850's. She had been elaborately refitted for the passenger trade in 1852 |
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Jo Anne Sadler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
1100 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2004 : 02:22:45
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| Hi, sorry, I meant 1883!! |
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James E Heg
Member of honor
USA
135 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2004 : 04:59:51
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| To Jo Anne - I think we have about worn this topic out. I have enjoyed the exchanges very much. I will let MARCO POLO rest in peace and meet you on another field. Warm regards Jim |
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Bremen Bark Marco Polo description
