Hugh Matthie

Official Number none

The Hugh Matthie was a ship built by Kelsick Wood & Sons at Maryport, launched on the 18th March 1843. She was registered at Liverpool and was first commanded by Capt.Joseph Sparks (see Source 1).

The Hugh Matthie was wrecked upon the reefs at Port Louis, Mauritius, during a hurricane on the 4th January,1844 (see Source 1, 2 & 3). The vessel remained on the reef until a further storm on the 21st February seems to have put an end to her. It was subsequently reported (see Source 4) that the hull of the vessel had been sold for 1,500 dollars.
 

Sources :

1. BoT Transcripts of Liverpool Shipping Register No.100 for 1843 (at Merseyside Maritime Museum).
2. For further details of the wreck see extracts from Le Mauricien newspaper (10th Jan. & 24th Feb.1844) at Paul Benyon's website Mauritius Shipping - The Late Gales .
3. The Cumberland Pacquet newspaper, 9th April, 1844, page 3 - states that the "fine new ship" Hugh Matthie, Sparks, of Workington, was driven ashore during a hurricane on the 15th January, had her masts cut away, and was straight away got off again.
4. The Times newspaper, Saturday, 4th May 1844, page 6.