Water Witch

A clipper ship built in 1853 by Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, NH. Her dimensions were 182'6"×38'3"×21' and tonnage 1204 tons old measurement. Rigegd with Howes' double topsails and skysails. According to a painting by Butterworth also equipped with fore and main spencers.

The figurehead was "a female figure in flowing vestments, tastefully bronzed".

1853 May 6: Launched fully rigged at the shipyard of Fernald & Pettigrew, Portsmouth, NH, for Stephen Tilton & Co., Boston.
1853 July 31: Sailed from Boston for San Francisco under command of Captain Washington Plummer.
1853 September 16: Had to put into Rio de Janeiro dismasted and with four feet of water in the hold.
1853 December 31 - March 16: Sailed from Rio de Janeiro to San Francisco in 76 days.
1854: Sailed from the Chincha Islands to Hampton Roads in 64 days with a cargo of guano.
1854 December 12 - April 11: Sailed from Boston to San Francisco in 120 days.
1855 June 1: Dragged her anchor on the roadstead of Ypala, Mazatlan, half loaded with dye wood for New York and was wrecked. The wreck was later sold for $500.

Updated 1997-03-22 by Lars Bruzelius

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