General notes on this herringdrifters forum

[Glenn]

Please feel free to post any messages whatsoever to do with the British Herring Fishery, herring fishing boats or people involved in the herring fishery. It doesn't have to be related to the McIntosh boatbuilders in any way.

[brenda]

Hi came across your web site while tracing my family tree my great grandparents were involved in the fishing industry back in the 1870's perhaps earlier to early 1900's at Buckie they were Joseph & Jane (Jeannie) Jappy. They lived in New Street Buckie, I dont know if any relatives still live there, or if anybody knows of them. They had about 7 sons and 3 daughters they were also involved in the fishing industry (1 being my grandmother who was said to be a fish worker on her marriage certificate), by all accounts the sons all owned boats (steam Drifters ). Dont know if your boat builders made any of these but we have a picture of one of the boats with the markings of BCK62 on the side. This is either my great grandfathers boat or one of the sons. Not 100% sure about this but it is connected with the family. We also have pictures of my great grandparents sitting outside their house in Buckie with their fishing nets in the background. These are my great grandparents on my fathers side his father (Frank Fraser) worked on the fishing boats out of Aberdeen, my mothers family were also invoved but at Aberdeen and her father (Harry Sim) worked on a fishing boat there and other relatives in the fish market although we moved away some 35 years ago I can still remember the smell from the fish market in Aberdeen. Hope this gets others to post some messages should be interesting to find out more about the boats, people & fishing in the area from past to present. best of luck with your web site.

[Glenn]

Congratulations brenda on being the very FIRST to post on this forum. Hopefully it will become a popular place to exchange information. That is what its for.
By co-incidence, a photo of BCK 62 appears on the cover of 'Sail & Steam' by Ron Stewart, published by the Moray District Libraries in 1986. A quick search on the Moray Libindx
libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp
comes up with 'Rochomie' BCK 62 and tells us there is also a photo filed away under n160/23.
As luck would have it, Google has a hit for Rochomie
www.shipdata.nl/UK/index.php?mode=shippicture&FotoID=6215&SchipID=3880
which tells us that at one time she was owned by G.McWilliams & J.Clark of Buckie.
Is that the same photo you have by the way? It looks very much like that was taken at Yarmouth as I have another photo with that same background.
There will be more information on this vessel in 'Steam Drifters Recalled - Portgordon to Portsoy', including possibly changes of ownership involving the name Jappy - but I don't have a copy handy. Can anybody help here?
I'm not sure how common the name Jappy was in Buckie. Just looking through my list I see a Zulu BF 2002 'Hephzibah' launched in 1897 for Alexander Jappy of Buckie - here and scroll down - there is also a thumbnail albeit not very good
glennmci.brinkster.net/mcibb/listcomp.html

Why don't you also be the first to post your photos in the your contributions section and share them. Just contact me from the website and attach the images you have scanned. You don't have to be too fussy with size or anything.

[gordonw]

Glenn, congratulations on an excellent site! I've long been interested in sailing drifters - especially the Scottish varieties - and find the information so far interesting & fascinating. My own research a few years ago missed such a lot, & you've filled more than a few gaps in my records.
I especially like the human side of the story, and wish I lived closer to the Moray Firth & the seas these people lived & worked with.
I wish you all the best with your new site!

[brenda]

Many thanks for your reply I have search the internet for months looking for any information about my family and found very little, I used the link you gave me to libindx.moray. and it has thrown up quite a lot of information about them anyone looking for information about their family in moray should try here first it was excellant. The photo link at google of the steam drifter is different to ours due to the fact that we have a picture not a photo but it is the same boat and has the same identity, many thanks for this it was also good to know the name of the boat and I will try to put the picture on your site. The other boat the Zulu could have belonged to a brother/ cousin as from records their marriage was in 1880 I dont think their chidren would have been old enough, but some children from other records were out fishing the sea's at 15 some younger who knows this would have to be researched further if possible. As for the books I have found a copy of the "sail and Steam" by Ron Stewart. The other one is proving a little more elusive but I will keep on trying.
I also found a piece in the Banffshire Journal which said about families living in the east of the burn of Buckie this was dated 1916-1917 and it counted 29 Jappy families there. If you would like I could also include some photos of the Jappy family I've got. Although they dont include much of the fishing industry. Thanks once again for all your help. Was also glad to see another new member and that he enjoyed your site to hopefully more will follow.

[Glenn]

The libindx.moray helped me no end also. I got some info from an Ian Buxton on another forum about the BCK 62 Rochomie entry in the 'Steam Drifters Recalled - Portgordon to Portsoy'. It doen't throw any new light on changes of ownership though.

Built Smiths Dock 1910 for G McWilliam & J Clark, Buckie. 79grt. 22nhp engine by Maccoll & Pollock. Boom defence 1915-19, harbour service 1939-45. Sold for scrap 1945.

Share whatever photos you feel may be even remotely relevant to the subject.

[Peter Bennett]

brenda said:

Hi came across your web site while tracing my family tree my great grandparents were involved in the fishing industry back in the 1870's perhaps earlier to early 1900's at Buckie they were Joseph & Jane (Jeannie) Jappy. They lived in New Street Buckie, I dont know if any relatives still live there, or if anybody knows of them. They had about 7 sons and 3 daughters they were also involved in the fishing industry (1 being my grandmother who was said to be a fish worker on her marriage certificate), by all accounts the sons all owned boats (steam Drifters ). Dont know if your boat builders made any of these but we have a picture of one of the boats with the markings of BCK62 on the side. This is either my great grandfathers boat or one of the sons. Not 100% sure about this but it is connected with the family. We also have pictures of my great grandparents sitting outside their house in Buckie with their fishing nets in the background. These are my great grandparents on my fathers side his father (Frank Fraser) worked on the fishing boats out of Aberdeen, my mothers family were also invoved but at Aberdeen and her father (Harry Sim) worked on a fishing boat there and other relatives in the fish market although we moved away some 35 years ago I can still remember the smell from the fish market in Aberdeen. Hope this gets others to post some messages should be interesting to find out more about the boats, people & fishing in the area from past to present. best of luck with your web site.

[Ed Bayne]

Aug 5, 2006 4:36:16 GMT Glenn said:

Congratulations brenda on being the very FIRST to post on this forum. Hopefully it will become a popular place to exchange information. That is what its for.
By co-incidence, a photo of BCK 62 appears on the cover of 'Sail & Steam' by Ron Stewart, published by the Moray District Libraries in 1986. A quick search on the Moray Libindx
libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp
comes up with 'Rochomie' BCK 62 and tells us there is also a photo filed away under n160/23.
As luck would have it, Google has a hit for Rochomie
www.shipdata.nl/UK/index.php?mode=shippicture&FotoID=6215&SchipID=3880
which tells us that at one time she was owned by G.McWilliams & J.Clark of Buckie.
Is that the same photo you have by the way? It looks very much like that was taken at Yarmouth as I have another photo with that same background.
There will be more information on this vessel in 'Steam Drifters Recalled - Portgordon to Portsoy', including possibly changes of ownership involving the name Jappy - but I don't have a copy handy. Can anybody help here?
I'm not sure how common the name Jappy was in Buckie. Just looking through my list I see a Zulu BF 2002 'Hephzibah' launched in 1897 for Alexander Jappy of Buckie - here and scroll down - there is also a thumbnail albeit not very good
glennmci.brinkster.net/mcibb/listcomp.html

Why don't you also be the first to post your photos in the your contributions section and share them. Just contact me from the website and attach the images you have scanned. You don't have to be too fussy with size or anything.

[john smith]

hi
I have a couple of large photos of Unison BCK 143 taken on her maiden voyage - there are all the crew and guests visible including my grandfather john smith.
I suspect that the David cowie from British Colombia is my cousin and he might be interested in a copy
I have quite a few other photos of fishing boats in harbours from gardenstown to Buckie

[Glenn]

Hello John
Thanks for contributing. If you email me I can put you in contact with David Cowie. I'm sure your collection of fishing boat photos would be of much interest to many people. Do the Buckie District Fishing Heritage have copies?

[e-mail]

[ll590]

Hi Glen Can you check the name of the vessel built in Ianstown in 1914 Are you sure she was Eliza F Craig ?? i was wondering as Ive come across an Eliza j Craig built in Buckie in 1914 Maybe you can confirm
All best
Donald McKay

[Glenn]

Its good to hear from you again Donald.

All I have on this boat on the website is from the Moray LININDX search engine which has listed
Eliza F Craig - Steam Drifter
BA
launch of boat built by Messrs McIntosh for George Craig, fishcurer, Aberdeen
29/01/1914
5/1

This article may shed some light on exactly what this boat was - as well as the correct name. I'm living at Findochty for 6 weeks from Sept 26, so I'll definitely read this article.

'Sail & Steam' Ron Stewart 1986, has Eliza J Craig. Also as a steam drifter - so I'd think she's the same one you have.

Quite a while back I was contacted by David Mair & David Williamson who seemed quite sure that this boat wasn't a steam drifter, but a purpose built motor drifter. They've got pretty good credentials!

I'd be very interested to know what you have come across!!

Cheers
Glenn

[Shirley Smith]

[Hi, Have just read some of the messages posted, am just beginning to do our family history. Husband father David Smith boirn 1891 at Portessie worked on the boats (drifters) would love to get more information of family etc. They came to Australia in 1928 living at mortdale where there were Cowie (Jimmy) know by his gold earings. and also Jappy's came out to NSW about 1920. David died in 1933 after an appendix attack as he was fishing off the far south coast of NSW. Did not get him to shore in time. Hope this helps.
Shirley Smith

[elzo]

My grandfather went to sea as a cook when he was 12- that would have been in 1894 or so. The boys were taught simple cooking by their mothers. His son followed the same path in 1926- but he would have been 14 when he left school. The son eventually took his tickets to be a captain in the Merchant Navy- my grandfather remained on herring boats till he retired aged 67 - eventually lived to 90s.

I've only just found your forum, Glenn- thank you for setting it up- lloks excellent.

Elzo

[Douglas Paterson]

The Eliza J Craig was a 40ft motor boat registered BF 145 but owned in Aberdeen She was only in that ownership for six months and was sold to Shetland to become LK 145 Eliza J Craig. She was later named to Loyalty and was owned in Wick and Stonehaven before being broken up in the early 1960s.