I have a pair of binoculars that have an inscription that I am trying
to fill in the blanks. Here is the inscription: "Presented by the
British Government to CaptainJames H. Little of the shipMclaurin of
Boston usa in acknowledg of his Humanity and kindness to a portionof
the shipwrecked crew of the British Ship Harvest Queen of North
Shields"  I am looking to find out where the ship McLaurin was
wrecked, what happened to cause the wreck and why the British
Government was so thankfull.  What blanks I have been able to fill in
are "The Mclaurin was a full-rigged ship built in 1878 owned by
M.F.Pickering and Company of Boston.  In the American Lioyd's Shipping
Register of 1880 her captain is given as J. Little.  The Harvest Queen
was a bark-rigged vessel built in 1870 and owned by Arkless, Bell and
Company of North Shields. Her captains name was given as "Robinson"
She, (being the Harvest Queen ) disappears from the register after
1880, leading me to believe that she wrecked either 1880 or 1881.  If
you can fill in any other information on these ships and there crews
and wreck curcumstances it would be greatly appreciated.

My next search is I have an Octant ( instrument developed and used for
shipboard navigation that evolved into the sextant and today SatNav.)
that is hand script "Made by A. Lamb in New York, for Captain Peter
Corne 17?1. Think the ? mark is 5 (1751).  In the Peabody Museum
Collection, in the book "Navigating Instruments" page 133 gives a
detailed history of Anthony Lamb the maker of the Octant and his
checkered past in England before being transported to the british
colony in Vergina where he served his time before taking up his
skilled trade in 1749.  My question here is Who was Captain Peter
Corne, what ships had he sailed on for who and where??  I believe the
time period 1749 to 60 would have covered the french and indian war
and the american revolutionary war.  All and any details of Captain
Peter Corne will be appreciated.

My third Question deals with I dentifying a british ship that i have a
oil painting of. If you get to this point I could e-mail you a picture
or two.  The ship is flying the Red Union Jack Flag and what I think
is a company Flag high on the mast is a blue flag with initals WRW. 
The lady I got the picture from said "It has been in her family
possion for over a 100 years.  Mid to early 1800"?.  Her great grand
parents came from Gleenock Scottland, her great grand father worked
for the Gourock??? Sugar Company aboard their ship which is situated
on the Clyde River near Glasglow.  Really would like to Identify the
ship its captain its location in the world and then possibly the
Artist could be determined as it is unsigned.  You have all the
information I have now!! Good luck.

---

Request for Question Clarification by lot-ga on 17 Sep 2002 03:42 PDT

Hello,

You question seems to have 3 quite distinct components. I was thinking
'maybe' you would get more detailed research responses by splitting
the question into 3, dividing the price and allocating accordingly.
That way if a researcher knows part 1 of your question and not part 3
they can still contribute.

At the moment there is no mechanism to email researchers, however you
can upload your oil painting image to a free website somewhere.

kind regards
lot-ga

...Not a relevant answer to your question, but the 1st part is of
interest to me as I live in North Shields and my ancestors were all
mariners (3 were named Robinson!), I'll see if I can find out any more
locally and from my family about the 'Harvest Queen'. :o)

Thank you,  I appreciate your help. thank you.

I'm not sure if this has any true relevance,but I found alisting for a
"Harvest Queen" as foundered in 1888. You may have found the site
already, but here it is anyway:
http://www.msue.msu.edu/iosco/tbfulllist.htm