Schooner Charmian 1896 - 1962

[Peter_uk_can]

Before my maternal Grandfather, Frederick George Ahier, did a vanishing act from the Channel Island of Jersey, in about 1930, he served as a crew member on the 100ft Schooner "Charmian". It was designed by Soper and owned by a very wealthy London Stockbroker family, who were also members of the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Family legend says that it raced against the Kaiser's yacht, but I have no evidence of that. It was sold to the Thistlethwaite family, in the 1930's and then in 1942 to an American by the name of B.Smith who renamed it "Deliverance". The yacht had diesel engines added and changes to the rigging before sadly being lost in a storm of of Barbados in 1962.

I do have some photo's, but any other snippets of information would be appreciated. It was rumoured that the B. Smith was related to the Smith's of the Mormon / LDS Church, but I can't now see any link.

I did try and find a location for the wreck, but to no avail.

[v.wells]

https://www.history.navy.mil/photos/s...-c/charmn2.htm. Civilian ship. I also googled Bermuda Triangle/Devil's Triangle to see if it went down in area as Barbados is part of that I think. Any way there's a photo of it. Didn't search for Deliverance, sorry.

[Peter_uk_can]

"Charmian" This is a subject that I return to from time to time and my latest return has uncovered 2 previously unknown references.

Southampton Archives have some information in their Crew Lists and Ship's Agreements section. I have a synopsis which is interesting because it gives the Master's name W. Marret. A typical Jersey name and my grandfather was from the island.

It also gives an owners name, Atkinson of Creswell, Morpeth, Northumberland.

The second snippet is from "The New York Times" dated July 6 1896.

It mentions the owner, Atkinson, but interestingly refers to races that involved Prince Henry of Prussia.

In my first post I mention that family legend said that the "Charmian" raced against the Kaiser, and there was always suggestions that it raced against the "King's" yacht, but no one in the family could ever identify either the King, his nationality or the dates. I know that at times my Aunts and Great Aunts were historically challenged and they never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

So, in between everything else, I am now once again on the quest for the "Charmian"

I know my grandfather had his photograph taken in either Fort William or Mallaig, (the names are on the photo). Although the Caledonian Canal could have accomodated the "Charmian", my previous searches failed to reval any record of passage.

Here is the link that will take you to Southampton Archives, Crew Lists and Ship's Agreements

https://www.a2a.org.uk/search/records...43-clasa&cid=0

[Peter_NB]

Why you should never give up......I started this thread in 2007... 2024-2007= 17 years ago... I don't work on this subject or any subject every day, week month and sometimes years... but today, 13 Sept 2024, I was prompted to look at a photo.... That led to a bit of googling and that pulled up a digitised copy of "The Royal Gazette and Colonist Daily Thursday 27 Nov 1941...... In that article in very simple terms it describes how W.B Smith purchased the schooner Charmian from a wealthy American (no name) and was having it refitted... I already knew that W.B.Smith had renamed an English schooner Deliverance. The Lloyds register records the name change and photo evidence shows her wrecked off the Florida coast... For over 17 years the link between Charmian and Deliverance was 99.9% proven, today was when the .1% of doubt flew away...