McCorkell Line
Encyclopedia
The McCorkell Line was operated by Wm. McCorkell & Co. Ltd. from 1778, principally carrying passengers from Ireland
, Scotland
and England
to the Americas. Notably, the McCorkell Line carried many immigrants who were fleeing the Great Irish Famine and sailed some of the most famous ships of the Western Ocean Ticket.
, part of the Clan Gunn
, arrived in Ireland after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie following the rebellion in 1745, having escaped in an open boat from the west coast of Scotland and landed on the County Antrim
Coast. Wishing to cover their tracks on arriving in Ireland they dropped the 'dale' and assumed the name McCorkell. However, recent discoveries show that the McCorkells have been in Ireland since the mid 16th Century. One of the three brothers, William, who was born in 1728, established the shipping line in 1778. Descendants of William McCorkell include Sir Dudley
and Colonel Sir Michael
.
was one of the main points for emigration to Canada
and America with passengers traveling from Scotland, England and Ireland. From 1778, the company operated as Agents for ships sailing to and from County Londonderry
. In 1800 William and Archibald McCorkell, sons of the founder started to expand the firm by using American owned ships, with voyages ranging from Canada to the West Indies. Their first ship was the "MARCUS HILL", bought in 1815, at the conclusion of the American War; she continued to traverse the Atlantic until 1827. She was followed in 1824 the "PRESIDENT". With the purchase of the "CAROLINE" in 1834 and the "ERIN" in 1836, the McCorkell's began to collect oil painting
s of each of their ships; these are still in family ownership. In 1851 the "MOHONGO", built in Canada, commenced her work in Atlantic trade, in her twenty years in the McCorkell Line, she completed more than 100 crossings with emigrants without any serious fault.
, St Johns, Philadelphia, New York
and New Orleans. Therefore, records show they were responsible for many of those fleeing the Great Irish Famine between 1845 to 1850.
Over the next 30 years six more ships were to join the fleet named after the same poem. The "MINNEHAHA" was one of the few ships to trade in New York to the Federal side during the American Civil War. She carried many emigrants during the war as well as much needed supplies. After the war, Philadelphia became a regular port of call along with New York. Records in Philadelphia show, that 5,164 passengers were carried whose passage had been paid by relations in America to Robert Taylor & Co., the McCorkell agent at the port. Original tickets for these crossings still exist today as part of the family archive.
From 1873, steam liners were overtaking the famous sailing ships and although the McCorkell Line continued to carry passengers until 1897, the main activity now became cargo. The Advert "MINNEHAHA" was converted to a barque in 1880 to reduce the number of crew by the removal of one set of mainsails. She served thirty-five years with the company until she was sold in 1895. Other famous ships were the "VILLAGE BELLE" with twenty-five years service, the "OWEENEE", the "OSSEO" and the "HIAWATHA". The " HIAWATHA" completed twenty-one years and was the last vessel owned when sold in 1897. She was later sunk by enemy action in 1916.
was the Mayor
of Derry
from 1930 to 1934 and attended the Ottawa
Conference on Trade in 1933. Sir Dudley, along with his nephew Colonel Sir Michael
, who succeeded him, served as Harbour Board Commissioners and as Chairmen of Wm. McCorkell. Michael's son John was a driving force for the relocation of the port of Derry
from the City to Lisahally in 1990. In January 2008, a set of prints of the McCorkell ships were donated to Altnagelvin Hospital, in memory of the late Colonel Sir Michael
and to mark the contributions, over the generations, of the McCorkell family to Derry.
A quote from a January 2010 BBC web article reads, Ask anybody in Derry
, and they'll say it's no secret the north west played a central role in history. Now that knowledge is to be shared with the rest of the globe, as part of a BBC
project to tell the history of the world through a digital museum. Twenty-five objects have been selected to form the basis of Northern Ireland's cyber-exhibit. One of these objects is the Figurehead of the Minnehaha, which is in the Harbour Museum, Derry
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to the Americas. Notably, the McCorkell Line carried many immigrants who were fleeing the Great Irish Famine and sailed some of the most famous ships of the Western Ocean Ticket.
Family background
It is said three brothers named McCorquodaleMcCorquodale
-People with the surname McCorquodale:*Alastair McCorquodale, Scottish athlete and cricketer.*Corky McCorquodale, professional poker player.*Joe McCorquodale, American politician.*Malcolm McCorquodale, 1st Baron McCorquodale, British politician....
, part of the Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn
Clan Gunn is a Scottish clan associated with northeastern Scotland, including Caithness and Sutherland as well as the Orkney Islands.The clan's origins stretch over the sea to Norway, and the Clan Gunn themselves claim descent from the legendary viking Sweyn Asleifsson, the progenitor of the clan,...
, arrived in Ireland after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie following the rebellion in 1745, having escaped in an open boat from the west coast of Scotland and landed on the County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
Coast. Wishing to cover their tracks on arriving in Ireland they dropped the 'dale' and assumed the name McCorkell. However, recent discoveries show that the McCorkells have been in Ireland since the mid 16th Century. One of the three brothers, William, who was born in 1728, established the shipping line in 1778. Descendants of William McCorkell include Sir Dudley
Dudley McCorkell
Sir Dudley Evelyn Bruce McCorkell, MBE, DL, JP was a Mayor of Derry , Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry and ex officio member of the Senate of Northern Ireland.-Career:...
and Colonel Sir Michael
Michael McCorkell
Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell, KCVO, OBE, TD, JP, DL was an Northern Irish soldier and British public servant, emulating the high level of British public service of successive generations of the McCorkell family, being Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry for 25 years...
.
Shipping
Londonderry PortLondonderry Port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
was one of the main points for emigration to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and America with passengers traveling from Scotland, England and Ireland. From 1778, the company operated as Agents for ships sailing to and from County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
. In 1800 William and Archibald McCorkell, sons of the founder started to expand the firm by using American owned ships, with voyages ranging from Canada to the West Indies. Their first ship was the "MARCUS HILL", bought in 1815, at the conclusion of the American War; she continued to traverse the Atlantic until 1827. She was followed in 1824 the "PRESIDENT". With the purchase of the "CAROLINE" in 1834 and the "ERIN" in 1836, the McCorkell's began to collect oil painting
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
s of each of their ships; these are still in family ownership. In 1851 the "MOHONGO", built in Canada, commenced her work in Atlantic trade, in her twenty years in the McCorkell Line, she completed more than 100 crossings with emigrants without any serious fault.
The Great Irish Famine
McCorkell ships carried passengers to QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, St Johns, Philadelphia, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Orleans. Therefore, records show they were responsible for many of those fleeing the Great Irish Famine between 1845 to 1850.
The Minnehaha
By 1860, as speed became more important, Bartholomew (Barry) McCorkell commissioned a new ship to be built in New Brunswick, Canada. For twelve years, the Minnehaha, which cost $72,000, was able to cross the Atlantic in all weathers and even during the winter months whilst carrying passengers. Until this time all emigrants were only carried in spring and summer when conditions allowed. She was the most famous ship owned by the McCorkell's and was known as the "Green Yacht from Derry". The "MINNEHAHA" was named after the William Longfellow poem "The Song of Hiawatha".Over the next 30 years six more ships were to join the fleet named after the same poem. The "MINNEHAHA" was one of the few ships to trade in New York to the Federal side during the American Civil War. She carried many emigrants during the war as well as much needed supplies. After the war, Philadelphia became a regular port of call along with New York. Records in Philadelphia show, that 5,164 passengers were carried whose passage had been paid by relations in America to Robert Taylor & Co., the McCorkell agent at the port. Original tickets for these crossings still exist today as part of the family archive.
From 1873, steam liners were overtaking the famous sailing ships and although the McCorkell Line continued to carry passengers until 1897, the main activity now became cargo. The Advert "MINNEHAHA" was converted to a barque in 1880 to reduce the number of crew by the removal of one set of mainsails. She served thirty-five years with the company until she was sold in 1895. Other famous ships were the "VILLAGE BELLE" with twenty-five years service, the "OWEENEE", the "OSSEO" and the "HIAWATHA". The " HIAWATHA" completed twenty-one years and was the last vessel owned when sold in 1897. She was later sunk by enemy action in 1916.
Recent years
The family have continued to serve Londonderry throughout the twentieth century, Sir Dudley McCorkellDudley McCorkell
Sir Dudley Evelyn Bruce McCorkell, MBE, DL, JP was a Mayor of Derry , Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry and ex officio member of the Senate of Northern Ireland.-Career:...
was the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
from 1930 to 1934 and attended the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
Conference on Trade in 1933. Sir Dudley, along with his nephew Colonel Sir Michael
Michael McCorkell
Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell, KCVO, OBE, TD, JP, DL was an Northern Irish soldier and British public servant, emulating the high level of British public service of successive generations of the McCorkell family, being Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry for 25 years...
, who succeeded him, served as Harbour Board Commissioners and as Chairmen of Wm. McCorkell. Michael's son John was a driving force for the relocation of the port of Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
from the City to Lisahally in 1990. In January 2008, a set of prints of the McCorkell ships were donated to Altnagelvin Hospital, in memory of the late Colonel Sir Michael
Michael McCorkell
Colonel Sir Michael McCorkell, KCVO, OBE, TD, JP, DL was an Northern Irish soldier and British public servant, emulating the high level of British public service of successive generations of the McCorkell family, being Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry for 25 years...
and to mark the contributions, over the generations, of the McCorkell family to Derry.
A quote from a January 2010 BBC web article reads, Ask anybody in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, and they'll say it's no secret the north west played a central role in history. Now that knowledge is to be shared with the rest of the globe, as part of a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
project to tell the history of the world through a digital museum. Twenty-five objects have been selected to form the basis of Northern Ireland's cyber-exhibit. One of these objects is the Figurehead of the Minnehaha, which is in the Harbour Museum, Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
.
External links
- Passenger Lists
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8463209.stm
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/uTSIYMljSsSxC7aJG-A1qQ
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8461237.stm