The New World
and
Donald McKay’s Shipyard
East Boston, Massachusetts
By Donald Gunn Ross
Descendant of Donald McKay
Proprietor of www.eraoftheclipperships.com
(A spectacular Website!)
One spring morning in 1846 Donald McKay walked into Enoch Train's counting room at 39 Long Wharf. Enoch Train in the company of his shipbuilding supervisor Captain Alden Gifford greeted McKay. Train said "We need an exceptionally attractive-looking ship to secure the passenger service in Boston and at Liverpool, a craft not only A-1 in construction, but one which will attract cabin passengers on both sides of the Atlantic and divert the European emigrant trade to our ships. And this packet must be finished, fitted and decorated in the most modern manor. Put plenty of ornamentation upon her fore and aft; build her about one hundred tons larger than the Washington Irving. She must be fast, very fast, and able to out sail any of the New York packets."
It was a tall order to fill, but Donald McKay was up to the task and built the Anglo-Saxon. She was 162 feet, 3 inches, overall with a breadth of beam of 35 feet, 3 inches with a depth of hold of 21 feet. She was of 894 tons register. Profuse decoration ran throughout with gilded carved figures that bore a regal theme. An Anglo-Saxon monarch from the Middle Ages in full campaign gear graced her bow as a figurehead. A sword at his side, he wore a body dress similar in fashion to that of a Scottish Gael. Ornamental lions and eagles ran the length of the gangway boards. Astern, carved figures of warriors together with tree branches, flags and shields en masse greeted the eye.
Similar motifs in ornamental profusion graced her stern over the first tier of stern windows. A British lion and an American eagle guarded the shields of both countries. On the starboard side there was an Irish Warrior on horseback carrying a spear, and on the port side an English chief, also mounted, cased in mail carrying his sword. "Anglo-Saxon, Boston" was carved into the arch board with white lettering upon a black background.
All this extravagance was to make the Anglo-Saxon extremely attractive to lure lucrative business Train's way.
Below decks she was very well accommodated for large numbers of steerage passengers. Her b'tween decks were lofty and well ventilated.
For the first time Donald McKay "salt pickled" the keelson of the Anglo-Saxon. This was to preserve the keel and extend the life of the ship. She would be coppered or sheathed in Liverpool, as was the custom.
The Anglo-Saxon was launched on September 5, 1846.
Four days later the New World was launched on September 9th. Work on this monstrous 1404-ton ship had begun alongside the Anglo-Saxon. She was said to be very sharp for a packet of such a grand size, "having been intended for a Frigate," as one account had it.
The New World was built for Captain William Skiddy and Francis Skiddy. Francis was a friend of Donald McKay's from his Newburyport days where McKay had built the John R, Skiddy for the Liverpool trade.
Before the New World's first voyage she was sold to Messrs. Grinnell, Minturn & Co., owners of the Swallow Tail Line and joined their large packet fleet in the New York-Liverpool trade. Moses H. Grinnell had personally purchased the New World and would do more business with Donald McKay in the coming years.
The New World would become Donald McKay's sailing ambassador to many ports of call over the coming years and establish his reputation as a master shipbuilder.
Her launching had been anticipated for weeks and attracted large crowds from all along the coast and backcountry. Her new owners came up from New York City the day before for the event. Launchings were growing in importance as social functions along with the growing size of the ships being launched. The New World was the first three-decked merchant ship ever built in an American shipyard and was the largest sailing vessel in the United States at that time in 1846. Soon she was to bid adieu to "terra firma."
A curious mixture of old salts and marine buffs would join the invited guests of the owners and builder along with the workmen and their families at the pavilions erected to accommodated the crowds.
To Donald McKay and his workmen it was a day of anxiety until the New World was launched. So much could go wrong.
Heavy chains beneath the vessel held her in place until the moment of launching and if they snapped under the heavy pressure it could lead to a disaster.
The ways were carefully greased so that she would slide down the ways at the proper speed; not too slow or fast. Too slow and there was the danger of her toppling over on her side. Too fast and she might run into some of the excursion boats filled with picnicking water-gazers. At least at a September launch Donald McKay didn't have to worry about the tallow freezing on the ways.
In the mid-1840's it was usually the foreman of the yard that did the honors of christening the ship or another employee of some significance. A shot fired from a cannon would trigger off the sequence of fast moving events as the last blocks were cut away and the New World glided down the ways to the waiting sea.
"Thar, thar she goes." Came the cries and huzzahs from the pavilions, as the New World slid into the harbor. Workmen on board threw out the anchor after the ship had traveled twice her length. Timing was everything.
Immediately after the launch the crowds quickly made for the gates of the yard.
It was customary to give the workers a "blow out" at such affairs. Shipbuilders and owners were expected to supply the cheese and bisquets, etc., which the workers heartily washed down with Medford rum punch. The ship owners, along with their invited guests, sipped champagne in the molding loft.
Donald McKay did not approve of all this unrestrained merriment that went on at these occasions. He was concerned over the welfare of his workers' families. Many of his workmen would not show up for work the next day.
William Skiddy took command of the New World and sailed to New York and then on to Liverpool in seventeen days where she made a very favorable first impression. The Prince Consort even honored her with a visit. The New World would have a prosperous thirty-six year career at sea in the trans-Atlantic trade.
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