ROBERT TODD

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aukepalmhof
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ROBERT TODD

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:25 pm

When in 1863 Captain Robert Todd won the contract simultaneaously to carry the mail and parcel service bi-monthly from Venezuelan ports via Curacao to St Thomas, at that time Danish Virgin Islands, the need arose to acquire a vessel.

A screw steam sailing vessel was ordered by the Laird Bros in Birkenhead, U.K.
Built as an iron hulled packet vessel under yard No 306 by Laird Bros, Birkenhead for Leech, Harrison & Forwood, Liverpool, at that time they were the managers of the West-India & Pacific SS Co. in Liverpool.
04 May 1864 launched as the ROBERT TODD.
Tonnage 314 gross, 218 net, dim. 47.97 x 7.31 x 3.87m. (draught).
One 80 hp. steam engine.
Two masts, schooner rigged.
1864 completed. Some sources give that Captain Todd was the owner, but the yard list of Laird Bros give that she was built for Leech, Harrison & Forwood. Most probably Todd was a shareholder in the ship.

26 June 1864 the ROBERT TODD arrived on her maiden voyage in St Thomas from Liverpool. On 29 June 1864 she cleared for La Guairá, Venezuela, via Curacao and Port Cabello under command of Captain Todd. At that time she sailed under Venezuelan flag and registry. The distance between St Thomas and Curacao is ca. 440 miles and took the ROBERT TODD about 60 hours.
Thereafter she maintained the two-monthly service between this ports.
Around July 1867 Todd sold his ship and the mail contract to the merchant and ship-owner Messrs. J.A. Jeserun & Son, Curacao. The ROBERT TODD continued in service until 29 October 1867 when the ROBERT TODD was anchored in the harbour of St Thomas and the port was hit by a severe hurricane, the ROBERT TODD was driven ashore and filled with water. During that hurricane around 80 vessels were lost and 800 people killed in St Thomas. I think the crew of the Robert Todd were all rescued, can’t find any fatalities for the ship.
21 February 1868 advertised for sale by auction, that it looks that she was salvaged and repaired.
In June 1868 Lamb & Co. St Thomas announced the sailing of steamer ESTRELLA for la Guaira, which according to Venezuelan newspapers report was the former ROBERT TODD purchased by Lamb & Co.
21 December 1868 the ESTRELLA was wrecked on the Rocas Reef, Brazil a total loss, passengers and mail were saved.

Stamps used by Todd were printed to his order and his successor for the payment of postage on mail to be carried on the ROBERT TODD. They were valued for prepayment of postage in Venezuela in both directions, only the issue used till 1869 depict a two mast schooner rigged steamship and shows us the ROBERT TODD, the issues from 1869 shows us a three mast vessel, and can’t be the ROBERT TODD, till so far she has not been identified.

La Guairá 1864 Local Post Issues. Various stamps and colours.
Source: Log Book 4/68 and 14/194.
Attachments
1864 robert todd 1.jpg

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