Sunday, April 19, 2009

What's in a name?

I've written previously here about the 'other' Tom Mortons, but a strange thing happened today at the excellent Brae Sunday Teas (and car boot sale - fundraising for Martha's school trip to...somewhere).

I was speaking to someone who had been reading a book about the Salvesen shipping line. Salvesens of Leith was hugely important to the economy of Shetland right up until the 1960s, as they employed many islanders in the South Atlantic (Antarctic) whaling.

Anyway, I was told today that Salvesens had a ship called, wait for it, the Tom Morton. At first I thought this was a joke, but no, a bit of checking revealed that in the early years of the Salvesen company, they bought a ship built in Leith by the engineers and shipbuilders S&H Morton and Co, owned by one H Morton and yes, called the Tom Morton.

Here's the only reference I can find to the vessel online:

Tom Morton 1872 S. & H. Morton & Co., Leith Ex Tom Morton built for H. Morton, Leith, 1884 purchased not renamed, 1886. Went missing at sea. 1,402 tonnes.

Slightly worrying fate. I'll need to be careful in my kayak...

6 comments:

Popdoc said...

the weight's about right though Tom, eh?

Tom Morton said...

Huh! Just hop on that Nintendo Wii again for a sec, Doc...
(says Tom, Wii age estimated at...75)

obanclipper said...

Tom
Probably be details of the 'Tom Morton' in 'From 70 North to 70 South A History of the Christian Salvesen Fleet' ISBN 10:095091990X

http://snipurl.com/g7xob

norrie said...

But more importantly what were the goodies from the car boot sale?!

Unknown said...

My Great great grandfather came to Australia on the Tom Morton, he was the ships fire chief and jumped ship when they got to Australia, changed his name and the rest is history. Have records of all this.

Unknown said...

My great great came to Australia on the Tom Morton, he was the ships fire chief, and when they got to here he jump ship changed his name and the rest is history. I have documented proof of this.