Vessel description explanation

[michaelpipe]

I have come across a ship on which on of my ancestors died of scurvy in Peru. The description of the ship is "Venus (built 1854), 741 t bm ship-rigged merchantman".
Can anyone tell me what the "bm" means?
Also I have had no luck googling for this ship, except for the shipbuilder William Patterson on Wikipedia. Just curious as to what it might have looked like.

Michael

[lawsue]

Just a mere land loving woman, but I think it has something to do with the stability of the ship in all conditions.
Google: Ship Stabilty: Notes and Examples by Bryan Barrass.........mathematical equations and all! You might understand it. I certainly can't
Sue

[Peter Goodey]

bm = Builder's (old) Measurement was a method of expressing the cargo carrying capacity, ie it was 741 tons according to the builder's old measurement. See Wikipedia for an explanation,

A ship-rigged vessel had three or more masts. Also see Wikipedia.

[michaelpipe]

Thanks Sue,
Further Googling shows that you are correct, but like yourself, I haven't quite figured it out either! It must be an indicator as to whether or not the contraption will float!
Michael

[michaelpipe]

Peter to the rescue - again. Thanks

[Master-Mariner]

Peter is correct, it is the equivalent of today's "nett tonnage" which is the earning capacity of the ship measure by volume and then translated into tonnage (I think the conversion was 100 cu ft to the ton (in old money))