S.S. Polynesian, Allan Line

Ship Data

Type Built Burden Dimensions Line / Owner
S.S. 1872 at Greenock by Robert Steele & Co. 3,983 gross 400ft x 42.5ft Allan Line , Liverpool, England
Polynesian - Allan Line steamship
The S.S. Polynesian before rebuilding and renaming
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The Polynesian as the Laurentian, Allan Line
The Polynesian as the Laurentian
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Laurentian (ex Polynesian), Allan Line steamship
Laurentian (ex Polynesian), Allan Line steamship
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Details: tonnage was 4 522 tons gross, 4 376 under deck and 2 838 net. The house on deck was 146 tons. She was constructed in iron, had 3 decks and water ballast. She had a straight stem, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail). There was a single screw, and a 2 x 2 cylinder compound inverted engine. She had new engine and boilers in 1893 when she was refitted. The new engine was a triple expansion engine with 3 cylinders of 28, 46 and 76 inches diameter respectively and stroke 54 inches. The engine could deliver 424 nominal horsepower, which gave her a speed of 13 knots. The engine was built by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd. in Belfast. This ship had a bad reputation, as she was said to "roll on wet grass" and was called "Rolling Poly". There was accommodation for 120 1st-class passengers and 850 3rd-class (steerage) passengers. Call sign: LJSV. Official registration #: 67994.

Laurentian, Allan Line steamship - cabin plan
S/S Laurentian (ex Polynesian) cabin plan
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Chronological History

Year Event
1872 Feb. 2, launched as the "Polynesian"
1872 Oct. 3, maiden voyage Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal
1872 Liverpool Oct. 3 → Quebec Oct. 13
1872 Liverpool Nov. 14 → Portland Nov. 26
1873 Liverpool May 15 → Quebec May 24. Londonderry 1873-05-16.
1873 Liverpool June 26 → Quebec July 6. Londonderry 1873-06-27.
1873 Liverpool Aug. 7 → Quebec Aug. 17. Londonderry 1873-08-08.
1873 Liverpool Sept. 18 → Quebec Sept. 29. Londonderry 1873-09-19.
1873 Liverpool Oct. 30 → Quebec Nov. 10. Londonderry.
1874 Liverpool May 14 → Quebec May 24. Londonderry 1874-05-15. Also reported arrival 1874-05-26.
1874 Liverpool June 25 → Quebec July 4. Londonderry.
1874 Liverpool Aug. 6 → Quebec Aug. 15. Londonderry.
1874 Liverpool Sept. 17 → Quebec Sept. 28. Londonderry 1874-09-18.
1874 Liverpool Oct. 29 → Quebec Nov. 9. Londonderry.
1875 Liverpool Apr. 19 → Quebec May 9. Londonderry.
1875 Liverpool June 10 → Quebec June 21. Londonderry 1875-06-11.
1875 Liverpool July 22 → Quebec Aug. 2. Londonderry.
1875 Liverpool Sept. 2 → Quebec Sept. 12. Londonderry.
1875 Liverpool Oct. 14 → Quebec Oct. 24. Londonderry 1875-10-15.
1876 Liverpool Apr. 20 → Quebec May 6. Londonderry - Montreal.
1876 Liverpool June 1 → Quebec June 13. Londonderry.
1876 Liverpool July 13 → Quebec July 23. Londonderry 1876-07-14. Montreal Ocean Steam Ship Company<BR>Also reported to arrive 1876-07-22.
1876 Liverpool Aug. 23 → Quebec Sept. 3. Londonderry.
1876 Liverpool Oct. 5 → Quebec Oct. 15. Londonderry 1876-10-06. Also reported arrival 1876-10-16.
1876 Liverpool → Portland Nov. 26
1877 Liverpool → Portland Jan. 8
1877 Liverpool → Portland Feb. 21
1877 Liverpool Mar. 22 → Portland Apr. 3. Halifax.
1877 Liverpool May 3 → Quebec May 12. Londonderry 1877-05-04 - Rimouski.
1877 Liverpool June 14 → Quebec June 23. Londonderry 1877-06-15. Also reported arrival 1877-06-25.
1877 Liverpool July 26 → Quebec Aug. 4. Londonderry 1877-08-05.
1877 Liverpool Sept. 6 → Quebec Sept. 15. Londonderry 1877-09-07.
1877 Liverpool Oct. 18 → Quebec Oct. 28. Londonderry 1877-10-26.
1878 Liverpool Jan. 3 → Halifax Jan. 23. Arrival date estimated.
1878 Liverpool Feb. 21 → Halifax Mar. 3. Arrival date estimated.
1878 Liverpool Apr. 4 → Quebec Apr. 13. Halifax.
1878 Liverpool May 23 → Quebec June 2. Londonderry 1878-05-24.
1878 Liverpool July 4 → Quebec July 14
1878 Liverpool Aug. 15 → Quebec Aug. 24. Londonderry (Moville).
1878 Liverpool Sept. 26 → Quebec Oct. 4. Londonderry 1878-09-27.
1878 Liverpool Nov. 7 → Halifax Nov. 17
1878 Liverpool Dec. 19 → Halifax Dec. 29. Arrival date estimated.
1879 Liverpool → Quebec Apr. 1
1879 Liverpool May 15 → Quebec May 25. Londonderry 1879-05-26.
1879 Liverpool June 26 → Quebec July 5. Londonderry 1879-06-27.
1879 Liverpool Aug. 7 → Quebec Aug. 16. Londonderry 1879-08-08.
1879 Liverpool Sept. 18 → Quebec Sept. 28. Londonderry 1879-09-19.
1879 Liverpool Oct. 30 → Quebec Nov. 8. Londonderry 1879-10-31.
1880 Liverpool Apr. 15 → Quebec May 9
1880 Liverpool May 27 → Quebec June 6. Londonderry.
1880 Liverpool May 27 → Quebec June 6. Londonderry.
1880 Liverpool July 8 → Quebec July 16. Londondrerry. Also reported arrival 1880-07-17.
1880 Liverpool Aug. 19 → Quebec Aug. 27. Londonderry. Also reported arrival 1880-08-29.
1880 Liverpool Sept. 30 → Quebec Oct. 8. Londonderry.
1880 Liverpool Sept. 30 → Quebec Oct. 8. Londonderry.
1880 Liverpool → Halifax Nov. 21
1881 Liverpool → Halifax Jan. 2
1881 Liverpool Feb. 3 → Halifax Feb. 11. Londonderry 1881-02-04 - <I>Feeder ship</I> from Christiania Jan. 28.
1881 Liverpool Mar. 17 → Halifax Mar. 26. Londonderry (Moville) 1881-03-18 <I>Feeder ship</I> from Christiania 1881-03-11.
1881 Liverpool Apr. 21 → Quebec May 1. Londonderry 1881-04-22.
1881 Liverpool June 2 → Quebec June 11. Londonderry 1881-06-03. Captain R. Brown.
1881 Liverpool June 2 → Quebec June 11. Londonderry 1881-06-03. Captain R. Brown.
1881 Liverpool July 14 → Quebec July 23. Londonderry 1881-08-15.
1881 Liverpool July 14 → Quebec July 23. Londonderry 1881-08-15.
1881 Liverpool July 14 → Quebec July 23. Londonderry 1881-08-15.
1881 Liverpool July 14 → Quebec July 23. Londonderry 1881-08-15.
1881 Liverpool Aug. 25 → Quebec Sept. 3. Londonderry 1881-08-26.
1881 Liverpool Oct. 7 → Quebec Oct. 16. Londonderry 1881-10-08.
1881 Liverpool Oct. 7 → Quebec Oct. 16. Londonderry 1881-10-08.
1881 Liverpool → Boston Nov. 30
1882 Liverpool Dec. 28 → Halifax Jan. 7. Londonderry - Portland.
1882 Liverpool Mar. 8 → Halifax Mar. 20. Queenstown - Boston.
1882 Liverpool Apr. 20 → Quebec May 11. Londonderry 1882-04-21 - Halifax 1882-05-05.
1882 Liverpool June 1 → Quebec June 13. Londonderry 1882-06-02.
1882 Liverpool June 1 → Quebec June 13. Londonderry 1882-06-02.
1882 Liverpool July 13 → Quebec July 21. Londonderry 1882-07-14.
1882 Liverpool July 13 → Quebec July 21. Londonderry 1882-07-14.
1882 Liverpool July 13 → Quebec July 21. Londonderry 1882-07-14.
1882 Liverpool July 13 → Quebec July 21. Londonderry 1882-07-14.
1882 Liverpool Aug. 24 → Quebec Sept. 1. Londonderry 1882-08-25. Also reported arrival Quebec 1882-09-03.
1882 Liverpool Oct. 5 → Quebec Oct. 13. Londonderry 1882-10-06.
1882 Liverpool Nov. 16 → Halifax Nov. 27. Londonderry - Baltimore.
1883 Liverpool Dec. 28 → Halifax Jan. 8. Londonderry - Portland.
1883 Liverpool May 3 → Quebec May 13. Londonderry.
1883 Liverpool June 14 → Quebec June 25
1883 Liverpool June 14 → Quebec June 25
1883 Liverpool June 14 → Quebec June 25
1883 Liverpool July 26 → Quebec Aug. 3. Londonderry 1883-07-27.
1883 Liverpool July 26 → Quebec Aug. 3. Londonderry 1883-07-27.
1883 Liverpool July 26 → Quebec Aug. 3. Londonderry 1883-07-27.
1883 Liverpool Sept. 6 → Quebec Sept. 15. Londonderry 1883-09-07. Also reported arrival Quebec 1883-09-17.
1883 Liverpool Oct. 18 → Quebec Oct. 29. Londonderry.
1883 Liverpool Nov. 29 → Halifax Dec. 8. Londonderry - Portland.
1884 Liverpool Jan. 10 → Halifax Jan. 20. Londonderry - Portland.
1884 Liverpool Feb. 21 → Halifax Mar. 3. Londonderry - Portland.
1884 Liverpool Apr. 10 → Halifax Apr. 22. Londonderry - Portland.
1884 Liverpool May 22 → Quebec May 31. Londonderry 1884-05-23.
1884 Liverpool May 22 → Quebec May 31. Londonderry 1884-05-23.
1884 Liverpool July 3 → Quebec July 11. Londonderry 1884-07-04. Also reported arrival Quebec 1884-07-13.
1884 Liverpool July 3 → Quebec July 11. Londonderry 1884-07-04. Also reported arrival Quebec 1884-07-13.
1884 Liverpool Aug. 14 → Quebec Aug. 23. Also reported arrival Quebec 1884-08-24.
1884 Liverpool Aug. 14 → Quebec Aug. 23. Also reported arrival Quebec 1884-08-24.
1884 Liverpool Sept. 25 → Quebec Oct. 5. Londonderry.
1884 Liverpool Nov. 18 → Halifax Nov. 18. Portland.
1884 Liverpool Dec. 18 → Halifax Dec. 28. Londonderry - Portland.
1885 Liverpool Jan. 22 → Halifax Feb. 5. Portland.
1885 Liverpool Mar. 5 → Halifax Mar. 14. Londonderry - Baltimore.
1885 Liverpool Apr. 23 → Quebec May 12. Londonderry.
1885 Liverpool June 4 → Quebec June 15. Londonderry.
1885 Liverpool Aug. 20 → Quebec Aug. 28. Londonderry.
1885 Liverpool Sept. 24 → Quebec Oct. 4. Londonderry.
1885 Liverpool Oct. 31 → Quebec Nov. 9. Londonderry.
1885 Liverpool Dec. 17 → Halifax Dec. 28. Londonderry - Portland.
1886 Liverpool Jan. 28 → Halifax Feb. 10. Londonderry - Portland.
1886 Liverpool Mar. 11 → Halifax Mar. 20. Londonderry - Portland.
1886 Liverpool Apr. 29 → Quebec May 10. Londonderry.
1886 Liverpool June 3 → Quebec June 12. Londonderry.
1886 Liverpool July 8 → Quebec July 18. Londonderry.
1886 Liverpool Aug. 12 → Quebec Aug. 20. Londonderry.
1886 Liverpool Sept. 16 → Quebec Sept. 25. Londonderry.
1886 Liverpool Oct. 21 → Quebec Oct. 30. Londonderry.
1886 Liverpool Nov. 25 → Halifax Dec. 6. Londonderry 1886-11-26 - Portland 1886-12-07.
1887 Liverpool Dec. 30 → Halifax Jan. 11. Londonderry - Portland.
1887 Liverpool Apr. 22 → Quebec May 2. Londonderry 1887-04-23.
1887 Liverpool May 27 → Quebec June 3. Londonderry. Also reported to arrive Quebec 1887-06-05.
1887 Liverpool May 27 → Quebec June 3. Londonderry. Also reported to arrive Quebec 1887-06-05.
1887 Liverpool July 1 → Quebec July 10. Londonderry.
1887 Liverpool Aug. 5 → Quebec Aug. 15. Londonderry Also reported arrival Quebec 1887-08-14.
1887 Liverpool Aug. 5 → Quebec Aug. 15. Londonderry Also reported arrival Quebec 1887-08-14.
1887 Liverpool Sept. 9 → Quebec Sept. 17. Londonderry 1887-09-10.
1887 Liverpool Sept. 9 → Quebec Sept. 17. Londonderry 1887-09-10.
1887 Liverpool Oct. 17 → Quebec Oct. 27
1887 Liverpool Dec. 8 → Halifax Dec. 18. Londonderry - Portland.
1888 Liverpool Jan. 19 → Halifax Jan. 29. Londonderry - Baltimore.
1888 Liverpool Mar. 29 → Halifax Apr. 7. Londonderry - Baltimore.
1888 Liverpool May 11 → Quebec May 21. Londonderry. Also reported to arrive Quebec 1888-05-18.
1888 Liverpool June 21 → Quebec July 1. Londonderry.
1888 Liverpool July 26 → Quebec Aug. 3. Londonderry.
1888 Liverpool Aug. 30 → Quebec Sept. 8. Londonderry.
1888 Liverpool Oct. 4 → Quebec Oct. 12. Montreal.
1888 Liverpool Nov. 8 → Halifax Nov. 18. Londonderry - Portland. Also reported to arrive Halifax 1888-11-16.
1888 Liverpool Nov. 8 → Halifax Nov. 18. Londonderry - Portland. Also reported to arrive Halifax 1888-11-16.
1888 Liverpool Dec. 20 → Halifax Dec. 31. Portland.
1889 Liverpool → Halifax Feb. 13
1889 Liverpool May 2 → Quebec May 10. Londonderry 1889-05-03 - Montreal. Also reported to arrive Quebec 1889-05-11.
1889 Liverpool Sept. 19 → Quebec Sept. 28. Londonderry.
1889 Liverpool Oct. 24 → Quebec Nov. 4. Londonderry - Montreal.
1889 Liverpool Dec. 5 → Halifax Dec. 19. Londonderry - St. Johns - Portland.
1890 Liverpool Jan. 16 → Halifax Jan. 28. Londonderry - Portland.
1890 Liverpool → Halifax Mar. 27
1890 Liverpool Mar. 13 → Halifax Mar. 31. Londonderry - Portland.
1890 Liverpool Apr. 24 → Quebec May 5. Londonderry 1890-04-25.
1890 Liverpool May 29 → Quebec June 7. Londonderry 1890-05-30.
1890 Liverpool July 3 → Quebec July 12. Londonderry 1890-07-04.
1890 Liverpool Aug. 7 → Quebec Aug. 16. Londonderry 1890-08-08.
1890 Liverpool Sept. 11 → Quebec Sept. 20. Londonderry 1890-09-12 - Montreal.
1890 Liverpool Oct. 17 → Quebec Oct. 25. Londonderry 1890-10-18. Also reported arrival 1890-10-27.
1890 Liverpool Nov. 25 → Halifax Dec. 7. St. Johns - Baltimore.
1891 Liverpool Jan. 15 → Halifax Jan. 25. Londonderry - Baltimore.
1891 Liverpool Feb. 26 → Halifax Mar. 7. Londonderry - Portland. Also reported to arrive Halifax 1891-03-08.
1891 Liverpool Apr. 9 → Halifax Apr. 18. Londonderry - Portland.
1891 Liverpool May 14 → Quebec May 23. Londonderry - Montreal.
1891 Liverpool June 18 → Quebec June 28. Londonderry - Montreal.
1891 Liverpool July 23 → Quebec Aug. 1. Londonderry - Montreal.
1891 Liverpool Oct. 27 → Halifax Nov. 8. St. Johns - Baltimore.
1891 Liverpool Dec. 8 → Halifax Dec. 22. St. Johns - Baltimore.
1893 Rebuilt, new tonnage: 4,522 gross, triple-expansion engines by Workman Clark & Co, 424 NHP. Passenger accommodation: 36-1st class and 1,000-3rd class (steerage). 3rd mizzenmast removed
1893 Renamed Laurentian
1893 Apr. 27, first voyage as the "Laurentian" Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal
1899 Glasgow - New York
1904 Glasgow - New York
1905 Glasgow - Boston/New York
1906 Glasgow - Boston
1909 Glasgow - Boston.
1909 Sept. 6, wrecked near Cape Race, no lives lost

Pictures

Laurentian - ex Polynesian

Laurentian - ex Polynesian

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Laurentian – image 2

Laurentian – image 2

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Polynesian

Polynesian

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