Topic: Finding a Scottish coal boat?

[Frank]

Some letters I have refer to 'small coal' deliveries on the "Fame" to Leith Glass Works in December 1857.

Any ideas on how to get data on the boat/ship/ cargo vessel/lighter or whatever.

[Ivo]

either at the
http://www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/
or at the
http://www.scotfishmuseum.org/

[David E]

Would this have been by canal? I know there is one from Glasgow to Edinburgh, but was it linked to the rest of the UK network?

[Frank]

I doubt, I think it was coming from Charlestown. Not a huge distance! 20 miles I guess.

[David E]

This may help:

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/charlestown/charlestown/index.html

[Frank]

I have asked the maritime museum but perhaps someone knows of a site where ships are listed. I want to find out the capacity of the "Fame" as Leith Glass Works required a 'cargo' per week in 1857.

[pamela]

that's fascinating me Frank!
my grandfather could teach us alot if still alive ;o) you will not find stecknitz-fahrer online, but try kringelhöge and go from there  :angel:

[Sue C]

Frank, dont know if this will help www.mariners-l.co.uk

[Frank]

Thanks Sue, useful

So far I found that coastal trade was probably by sailing lighter and the first steam on coastal business in Scotland started one year before in 1856 centred on the Clyde - which is the other side... Glasgow etc. not the Forth (Edinburgh). That makes a steam vessel unlikely. From your link Sue I found that identifying a sailing ship is difficult as names were not controlled     

   1. Name of vessel; FAME  :chky:
   2. Rig; UNKNOWN  :spls:
   3. Name of master; Only have The Captain   :hb2:
   4. Place, either of registry, departure, call, or arrival; and Georgetown or Leith.  :cheers:
   5. A date, as precise as possible. On or before 24th December 1957  :pty:

3 out of 5 is good.

What is interesting in this trail is finding the capacity of the Fame, as it stated in the letters

...our consumption of your small coal is one cargo a week

Pamela,

  that is obscure! Also clearly a problem to translate as is Plattdeutsch derived and Carmen is a Bavarian. (My, from Flensburg, mother spoke Plattdeutsch  but that is not much help.)

[Frank]

Another nice snippet was finding a map of Leith showing Leith Glassworks with two cones and next door Edinburgh Glassworks with 3 or 4 cones. (Thanks David)