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An 18th Century Snow
Certain ships during the great age of sail tended to lend themselves to only one specific task: the man-of-war, the bomb ketch, the coal barge. Their names even tell you what they are up to. But Snow, the origin of whose name is anyone’s guess, could just about do it all. The Snow worked hard in the merchant service for more than four hundred years beginning in the 16th century with the last of her kind retiring in 1909. But her talents were such that she found herself working for more than one master.
By the 18th century the general type of the snow had been perfected. She was a two-masted brig-type ship, usually of no more than 1,000 tons. Her hold was not remarkably large but, if her cargo was stowed correctly, she could carry a lot of merchandise and deliver it quickly. Merchants also favored her for her economy; she could be manned by a very sparse crew of as few as 35 hands. Her speed and ease of handling was due in large part to her slim lines, relatively shallow draft (about 10 feet) and the unusual set of her masts and sails.
The snow carried square rigging on both of her masts with a trysail on her main. Originally this last was loose-footed but around 1800 the trysail was routinely fitted with a boom at the bottom, allowing for a larger sail and more speed. Another unique feature of the snow was the bracings of her mainmast. These were led forward and made fast to her foremast rather than backward as in most brigs. Finally, and perhaps most unique of all, the snow had a smaller third mast which became known as a “snow mast”.
The first entry found for the
Mary is the 1783 entry on the Lloyds Shipping register. This records the Mary
as a Brig (Bg) under Captain Andrews. It is 300 tonnes, a single deck vessel
with beams. (SDB) built in Scarborough in 1783, i.e. newly built. The owner is
stated as being the Captain. However, the Will of John's father, Richard Andrew
(1714-1783), states that Richard only has a one quarter share in the vessel. It
has a 14' draught, is in A1 condition, as would be expected and is sailing
between Wyburg (Vyborg), Russia, (north of St. Peterburgh) & London
(Baltic route) and London & Virginia, which is confirmed by the Sound List
newspaper cutting of August 30th, below.
1783
1784
The Lloyds entry for 1784
repeats the same information as previously stated, except the vessel is now
recorded as a 'Snow' and the Captain is confirmed as J. Andrews. John's father
Richard died in 1783 and his Will leaves his quarter share in the Mary, to
John. The Will also states that John is currently the Master of the Mary.
1785
The Lloyds entry for 1785 is
missing but this newspaper listing refers to the Mary as sailing from Hull to
London.
1786
The Lloyds entry for 1786
repeats the entry of 1784 and the Ship News of December 7th, reports the Mary passing by
Gravesend from Maryland, presumably bound for London.
1787
The Lloyds entry for 1787
shows a change of Captain. John Andrews is deleted and replaced by J. Downie.
Other changes detail that damage to the ship was repaired in 1787 (D.rprs) and
that the owners are now T. Gallillee & Co. In addition to London - Virginia,
it is also sailing between London and St. Kitts.
Once again the Mary is recorded on October 10th, as passing by Gravesend en-route from Virginia to London (presumably).
The Mary is recorded on March 16th as passing Gravesend, destination Virginia.
1788
No entries have been found for 1788.
1789
The Lloyds entry for 1789 shows a major change. The ship's tonnage has been reduced from 300 to 191 and it is now classed as a Ship. (S). All other details are unchanged except to note that guns are now carried. J. Downie is still Captain although the newspaper report below shows the Mary arriving in Hull from St. Peterburgh, with iron, deals and hemp etc., and then on-sailing to London on November 9th. (Reported again on the 14th), under Captain Andrews.
One can only assume that the damage repaired in 1787 was substantial and has resulted in a major re-design of the vessel. 87 in the second column denotes the year its re-designation from a Snow to a Ship occurred. i.e., when the substantial repairs were done.
1790
The Lloyds entry for 1790, once again records J. Andrews as the Captain and in addition to the damage repairs carried out in 1787, further repairs were carried out in 1789. It is sailing from Petersburgh to Hull as well as London to Virginia but significantly the condition has reduced from A1 to E1. It is still a sound vessel but presumably showing evidence of wear & tear.
1791
The Mary arrives in Liverpool from Ireland, with butter, oats, cattle, linen, etc.
The Lloyds entry for 1791 has the vessel re-designated as a Snow from 1786? and confirms the condition as E1. There is also a small increase in tonnage to 195 tonnes.
1792
The Lloyds entry for 1792 remains unchanged.
This newspaper report shows the Mary, of London arriving at Stromness, in the Orkney Islands from Memel, loaded with logs, en-route to Newry, Ireland.
1793
The Lloyds entry for 1793 remains unchanged, other than a survey in the previous September (9 in the condition column)
1794
This newspaper cutting reports the Mary arriving in Kingston Jamaica from Baltimore.
The Lloyds entry for 1794 largely unchanged except that the small increase in tonnage to 195 tonnes is clearly the result of the boat being lengthened, when further damage repairs were carried out in 1793. (len.&Drp.93). This does show on the 1793 entry but it is partly illegible.
1795
The Lloyds entry for 1795 shows that it is now sailing between London & Genada. Other details unchanged.
1796
The Lloyds entry for 1796 shows her sailing between London & Hmbr (Hamburg?) and London & Dominica. There is also an entry in column 3 which is illegible. Possibly a new Captain. John Andrews is age 45. He died in 1813 age 61
