James Phillips Stirling (1857 - 1894)

Born 23 Jun 1857 in 8 Tarbert Street, Glasgow, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine Douglas (Rodgers) Stirling — married 5 Nov 1879 in Stockton, New South Wales, Australia (at house of William Rodgers)

Descendants

Died 1 Apr 1894 at age 36 in At sea on board the Grecian Bend, off Napier, New Zealand

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Biography

Twin brother of Colin Stirling who died in childhood

REPORTED LOSS OF THE GRECIAN BEND

No topic in shipping circles in Sydney was dwelt upon so much yesterday as the news cabled from New Zealand to the effect that the Sydney barquentine Grecian Bend is believed to have foundered in a gale last Sunday. The captain, Mr. James Stirling, is so well known and respected here, and the vessel was believed in such capital order that the news came as a shock. Months ago this vessel, in charge of Captain Stirling was driven ashore at Woolgoolga on this coast. She then came to Sydney, was docked, and put in first class order. Captain Stirling had just cleared off his purchase of half the vessel, the other half being owned by Mr. Rogers, of Newcastle. When Captain Stirling left Sydney last he looked forward to a brighter and more prosperous times. Mrs. Stirling who usually sailed with him, did not accompany him upon his present voyage. A telegram received last night from Yamba station Clarence River, says :- “The Grecian Bend left here on the 12th March in command of James Stirling. Master and part owner. For New Zealand, having on board Will B Rush, A. T. Greenway, and Betts, also six others of crew. She was laden with timber for the New Zealand Government, and was bound for Dunedin.” Inquiries made in Sydney as to the insurance are that the vessel was covered in the National of New Zealand; but whether this has run out has not transpired. Our New Zealand correspondent mentioned that large quantities of wreckage and cabin fittings had washed ashore. A steamer had been sent to search the coast, and her report is awaited with the utmost anxiety. Captain Stirling’s family reside at Newcastle, but some of the crew have relatives in Sydney. This is the case with the mate of the vessel, Mr Betts, who has a wife and children residing at Nicholson street, Balmain. Mr. Betts strange to say, only joined the vessel at the very last moment, and it was his first trip. Hope is strong that some survivors will yet be heard from. Seen with regard to the report last night Captain Webber, Secretary to the Shipwreck Relief Society, said that both Captain Stirling and Mr. Betts are members of the society. He also thought that several of the crew were members, and he had taken steps to ascertain who left Clarence River in the barquentine on the 12th ultimo in the capacity of seamen. This he would probably know to-day.

Transcript from THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1894. Pg. 5

The Missing Schooner Grecian Bend

By the Union Company's steamer Waihora, which arrived in Sydney on April 17 from Auckland, the following particulars concerning the missing schooner Grecian Bend were received, which go to prove that the vessel has been lost.

A report says - Among the wreckage found are pieces of two deck houses; planks soft and long, 3in thick, painted white on one side and blue on the other; a mast 4ft long, skylights and cabin doors, a piece of turned bulwarks 9ft. long, a piece of docking five planks wide. Another life buoy marked " Grecian Bend " has also been found bv Maories at Wairoa. The steamer Fanny made a most minute search round the coast.

A report from Wairoa, dated April 6, says; " Constable Shaw, who just returned from Mohaka, reports that the wreckage washed ashore along the beach comprises hatches, skylights, cabin doors, one buoy marked ' Grecian Bend', Newcastle,' and a mast 48ft long. The latter has parted from the hull at the keel, and, as the sternpost of a vessel was found 12 miles further on, it is apparent that the vessel must have either broken in two or been very badly smashed. The constable brought two carved pieces, painted white, from the stern, one resemhling a piece of plaited rope, the other a spray of leaves. Part of the ornamentation of the hatches and lower timber were painted black. No small boat or gear of any kind was to be seen, and it is possible the crew may have escaped in boats. The appearance of the timbers shows the vessel to have been about 200 tons." We are informed that the above vessel was in command of Captain Stirling, who visited this port a number of times in the barque Braziliaria.

(From the 'Portland Guardian' published on 25 April 1894)

Sources

• From previously traced Family Tree