Ship Espindola, Hans E. Møller

The ship Espindola was an ex American vessel bought from Antwerp in July 1854 by Hans E. Møller of Porsgrund, Norway. The Espindola was mastered by Capt. Funnemark on the first voyage under the Norwegian flag to Skelefteå in the Baltic. From there she proceeded to London and sailed proud into Porsgrunn in December 1854, as the biggest ship registered in the town. In the following year she made two voyages with emigrants from Porsgrunn to Quebec, first in 1855, and next in 1857.

Newspaper announcements for the 1855 crossing. The announcements were printed in the "Correspondenten" Apr. 19, 1855, and Apr. 19, 1855. To Quebec. A sufficient number of passengers have now signed on the ship Espindola, 370 Commercial lasts, mastered by Capt. J. H. Funnemark, so the owners have decided that she will depart for Quebec in the end of this month, or in the beginning of the next, as soon as the water is open. This strong and solidly built ship was constructed in America, and is in all means complete equipped, comfortable and spacey fitted for passengers, it is copper hooded and has a metal bottom, has a high and nice between deck, and many good qualities and several cabin accommodations to offer. Fees and conditions are negotiated at Poulsen & Eriksen. Skien Apr. 4, 1855 Passengers on the "Espindola" are hereby informed that the ship is ready to depart and baggage will be received for loading on the 30th, the ship will depart as soon as the ice is not hindering. Skien Apr. 23rd, 1855. Poulsen & Eriksen ---------------------- When sailing with emigrants for Quebec in 1855 she did not get going before in May due to the thick ice in Friefjorden (Porsgrunn). After disembarking the passengers in Quebec she left for Plymouth. Because the National Archives of Canada [NAC] did not start the archiving of passenger lists before 1865, and the Norwegian emigration records did not start before 1867, there is no surviving passenger list for this voyage in any of those archives. Timeline to records.

From the "Correspondenten" Feb. 2, 1857: Passenger accommodation to Quebec. The copper hooded ship "Espindola", Capt J. H. Funnemark, 388 Commercial lasts, is scheduled to sail for Quebec on April 1 this year. Those who wants to take advantage of this opportunity should address the undersigned in Skien, or the master of the ship, Capt. Funnemark in East Porsgrunn, for enrolling. The ship will depart on the announced date no matter if it is fully booked or not. L. Ludvigsen.

On November 30th, 1857, the Espindola was hit by a storm from the north in the Atlantic. The crew could not manage the ship in the strong winds, and the Espindola started to take inn water. At midnight Dec. 1st, the bulwarks on the starboard side was smashed, and the sea started to wash in over the deck, washing the equipment away and filled the cabin on deck with water. By pumping out the water they were able to hold her steady until the 7th of December, when they had to signal for help. At 3o'clock in the morning they sighted a ship to the south vest, and signaled for help. It was the American ship Americana mastered by Capt Pots of St. John on way to Liverpool. A lifeboat was set out and four of the crew managed to get aboard the Americana, but the lifeboat was smashed and the ship lost sight of each other in the dark. The remaining 10 men and the Captain was rescued by the English ship Marianne, and was brought to Queenstown. The wreck was last located at 50º N 29º W, December 24th, 1857, by the S/S America on way from Boston and Havana to Liverpool.