262

WILLIAM GAY YORKE

New York/Canada/England, 1817-c. 1888

Medium clipper Mary inbound off the Skerries, England.

Signed, dated and inscribed lower right "Wm. Yorke, L'pool Dec...1859".
Provenance:
John McInnis Auctioneers, Amesbury, Massachusetts.
Acquired from the above by Richard Kelton, October 2003
.
Mary was one of only three clipper ships built at Marblehead. She was named for her owner's daughter, Mary Kimball. When launched on December 6, 1854, she was fully rigged and ballasted as she slid down the ways. Her maiden voyage, from Boston to Le Havre, France via New Orleans, commenced a month later, on January 8, 1855, under Captain William Churchill. Between 1855 and 1858 her primary route was Boston - New York - San Francisco - Calcutta. In 1857, under Captain John Bridgeo, Mary made her fastest passage between Boston and San Francisco, of 109 days, and from there to Calcutta in 83 days.
Capt. John Bridgeo had been at sea, primarily in the fishing industry, since the age of 13. In 1858, while under his command,
Mary struck a reef in the Bahamas. The local wreckers came out to salvage the ship, but Captain Bridgeo and his crew succeeded in getting her off, much against the wreckers' opposition and attempts at bribery. He brought the ship safely into New Orleans, where he received a handsome reward from the vessel's underwriters. Between 1858 and 1862, Mary was back on the transatlantic run, still under Captain Bridgeo. In 1865, she made her final voyage between Boston and San Francisco before being converted into a bulk carrier. In 1867, she was condemned at Callao, Peru, and sold to British interests, who continued to operate her as a bulk carrier until she was abandoned at sea on a voyage from Callao to Cork, Ireland, on December 11, 1869, due to heavy flooding.

From the Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts.
Oil on canvas, 26" x 36". Framed 34" x 44".

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August 13, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
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