Captain Thomas Candlish This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Water of Orr and its shipping

   www.william-mcmaster-murdoch.o - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/27/2003   Last Visited: 12/28/2003

   Captain Thomas Candlish bore the palm as the doyen of the skippers sailing from the river. He was born at Palnackie, and began the sea as a boy in the sloop Henrietta, his father being the skipper. At the age of eighteen he was appointed skipper of the Jessie, built at the Scaur, and was said to be "a forbye fortunate young fellow" in getting command of a vessel at that early age. During his long career at sea he owned and commanded several fine vessels in succession - the Lucy End, the Eagle (one of the Montrose and London clippers), the Mantura, and lastly the Margaret and Mary, which was wrecked on the rocks at Rockcliffe during a heavy gale. The gallant captain, who lived until he was ninety-six years of age, had two sons, both of whom began their seafaring life in vessels belonging to the river Orr, but afterwards took to steam.

2. 2. The Story of The Scaur; And the Water of Urr Shipping.

   www.old-kirkcudbright.net/page - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/12/2006   Last Visited: 1/16/2008

   And first I must mention Captain Thomas Candlish, that splendid specimen of the ancient mariner type, who left the sea some years ago to live at Rockcliffe, where he still takes a lively interest in the yachts there, though well over 90 years of age. Hale and hearty he has ever been, and always the same, bright-eyed, alert and intelligent as when I first knew him some 65 years ago. In those days he was captain of the schooner "Lucy End," of which he was part owner at first and then owner. We boys were always pleased to see the Captain's vessel on the Scaur beach, for then we were sure to get a cabin biscuit, and the use of the boat to row about the river. There were no pleasure boats at that time on the Scaur. Even after reaching manhood's years I have sat in his cabin in a Liverpool dock munching a biscuit and listening to his wonderful stories of smuggling connected with Palnackie, many of which I have re-told in the columns of the "K.A." as the years rolled on. An ancestor of Captain Candlish was, I understand, the prototype of Lucky M'Candlish, one of the characters in Sir Walter Scott's "Guy Mannering."
   
   The gallant Captain was born in Palnackie, and began the sea as a boy in the sloop "Henrietta," his father being the skipper. At the age of 18 he was appointed skipper of the sloop "Jessie," built at the Scaur, and was said to be a "forbye fortunate young fellow" in getting command of a vessel at that early age. After selling the "Lucy End" mentioned above he bought the "Eagle," one of the Montrose and London clippers, and sailed her two or three year. Then he sold her and bought the "Rover," a large schooner, and her he swapped for another vessel and a sum of money. Afterwards he sailed the "Mantura" for many years, and in her made numerous voyages to the west of Ireland and the north of Scotland.
   
   To his credit be it said, Captain Candlish never lost a vessel , a remarkable record in such a long life, especially when one considers the dangers connected with the navigation of the Solway and other parts of our rock-bound coasts, It may be noted that the schooner "Margaret and Mary," belonging to the Captain, was lying inside Rough Isle laden with coals when a gale sprung up, caused her to drag her anchors, and threw her on the rocks at Rockcliffe, where she became a total wreck. Captain Candlish, however, was not on board at the time.
   ...
   Captain John Candlish, a brother of Captain Thomas Candlish, died at Rockcliffe several years ago after many years' life at sea as skipper of Water of Urr vessels engaged in the coasting trade.

3. 3. The Story of the Scaur

   www.buittle.org.uk/scaur.htm - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/3/2002   Last Visited: 11/13/2007

   And first I must mention Captain Thomas Candlish, that splendid specimen of the ancient mariner type, who left the sea some years ago to live at Rockcliffe, where he still takes a lively interest in the yachts there, though well over 90 years of age. Hale and hearty he has ever been, and always the same, bright-eyed, alert and intelligent as when I first knew him some 65 years ago. In those days he was captain of the schooner "Lucy End," of which he was part owner at first and then owner. We boys were always pleased to see the Captain's vessel on the Scaur beach, for then we were sure to get a cabin biscuit, and the use of the boat to row about the river. There were no pleasure boats at that time on the Scaur. Even after reaching manhood's years I have sat in his cabin in a Liverpool dock munching a biscuit and listening to his wonderful stories of smuggling connected with Palnackie, many of which I have re-told in the columns of the "K.A." as the years rolled on. An ancestor of Captain Candlish was, I understand, the prototype of Lucky M'Candlish, one of the characters in Sir Walter Scott's "Guy Mannering."
   
   The gallant Captain was born in Palnackie, and began the sea as a boy in the sloop "Henrietta," his father being the skipper. At the age of 18 he was appointed skipper of the sloop "Jessie," built at the Scaur, and was said to be a "forbye fortunate young fellow" in getting command of a vessel at that early age. After selling the "Lucy End" mentioned above he bought the "Eagle," one of the Montrose and London clippers, and sailed her two or three year. Then he sold her and bought the "Rover," a large schooner, and her he swapped for another vessel and a sum of money. Afterwards he sailed the "Mantura" for many years, and in her made numerous voyages to the west of Ireland and the north of Scotland.
   
   To his credit be it said, Captain Candlish never lost a vessel - a remarkable record in such a long life, especially when one considers the dangers connected with the navigation of the Solway and other parts of our rock-bound coasts, It may be noted that the schooner "Margaret and Mary," belonging to the Captain, was lying inside Rough Isle laden with coals when a gale sprung up, caused her to drag her anchors, and threw her on the rocks at Rockcliffe, where she became a total wreck. Captain Candlish, however, was not on board at the time.
   ...
   Captain John Candlish, a brother of Captain Thomas Candlish, died at Rockcliffe several years ago after many years' life at sea as skipper of Water of Urr vessels engaged in the coasting trade.
   ...
   Our old friend, Captain Thomas Candlish of Selma, Rockcliffe, when a boy sailed under Captain Halliday who, in his earlier days, had some exciting experiences.