Randolph (ship)

Randolph was a 664-ton ship-rigged merchant vessel constructed in 1849 in Sunderland. She was one of the First Four Ships that brought settlers to Christchurch, New Zealand (the other three were Cressy, Sir George Seymour and Charlotte Jane).

History
UK
Name:	Randolph
Owner:	D.Dunbar[1]
Builder:	Sunderland
Launched:	1849
Fate:	Wrecked on 25 June 1851
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	664[1] (bm)
Sail plan:	Full-rigged ship

Randolph memorial in Cathedral Square in front of the former Chief Post Office

The Canterbury Association chartered Randolph, with Captain William Dale serving as the ship's captain. Randolph left Gravesend on 4 September 1850, and Plymouth on the night of 7 September 1850. She arrived at Lyttelton 99 days later on 16 December 1850, with 34 cabin passengers, 15 intermediate and 161 steerage passengers.[2][3]

She departed Port Victoria (Lyttelton) on 10 January 1851, bound for the "Straights of Lombock".[4]

She was lost on 25 June 1851, on a reef off Amber Island, Mauritius. She had on board a cargo of sugar for London, a large amount of money, and 254 Indian emigrants for Port Louis. Nothing belonging to the vessel could be saved. Mr. Scott, an officer of the Madras Army, swam on shore, but died a moment after reaching it from exhaustion. Two European sailors, nine men (immigrants), ten women and three children were drowned.

Randolph's entry in Lloyd's Register for 1851 carries the annotation "Wrecked".[1]

The ship is remembered in the name of a road, Randolph Terrace, in the port of Lyttelton.

References

1. Lloyd's Register (1851), Seq.№R49.
2. "The first four ships". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
3. "THE "RANDOLPH."". Lyttelton Times (Volume 1, Issue 1). 11 January 1851. p. 2. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
4. "SHIPPING NEWS". Lyttelton Times (Volume 1, Issue 1). 11 January 1851. p. 5. Retrieved 19 January 2021. SAILED ... Jan. 10, ship Randolph, 761 tons, Dale, master, for the Straits of Lombock.