Activity: Master:
Coastal trader
1882 – 7 Thomas Donovan b.1831 (Courtmacsherry)* 1893 – 1900 Michael Kelly b.1856 (Youghal)*
Mate:
1882 – 3 Patrick Donovan b.1860 (Youghal)* 1884 – 7 David Donovan b.1862 (Youghal)* 1898 Thomas Glavin b.1870 (Youghal)* 1881 Thomas Coleman b.1858 (Youghal) 1882 David Donovan b.1862 (Youghal)* 1882 Robert Farrell b.1846 (Cork)* 1896 Thomas Glavin b.1870 (Youghal)*
Seaman:
Fate of ship:
Dei Gratia discovered the ghost ship Mary Celeste in 1872 (Appendix 6: Ghost Ship). The Dei Gratia was sold to Martin Fleming of Youghal in 1881. She gained the reputation of an unlucky ship, sinking twice and being re-floated twice. She operated until 1907, ended her days as a coal hulk in Cobh and was buried under one of the piers at Haulbowline Island. Her brass bell was donated to the Royal Munster (now Royal Cork) Yacht Club (Scott). She was known to have exported timber from Youghal in 1894 and traded to ports further up the Blackwater from Youghal in 1904. Captain Thomas Donovan and Mates Patrick and David Donovan served previously on another Fleming ship C itizen of Youghal 1880-81 as Master, Mate and Apprentice and were probably father and sons. Captain Thomas Donovan held significant links to the Sutton mariners; not the least being that Thomas Donovan was Mate to Captain Thomas Sutton (b.1797/98, Clonakilty) in January 1853 when their ship, the Asiatic , was rammed and sunk. Thomas Sutton went down with the ship and Thomas Donovan survived (see the Asiatic ). Other potential links existed between the Suttons, the Donovans and Courtmacsherry. Captain Nathaniel Sutton b.1794 married Joanna Donovan at Lislee in 1821 and his first two children were baptized in Courtmacsherry. Captain Robert G Sutton (b.1832: son of Captain George Sutton b.1804) was also born in Courtmacsherry, while his brother-in-law and business partner ( Sutton & Donovan, sailmakers) was Andrew Donovan (b.1834, Kinsale), whose father and brother were also master mariners.
Additional information:
Mate Patrick Donovan would pass his Master Certificate exam in 1889.
86
Powered by FlippingBook