A little about your ancestors ship and the companies that owned it.
In 1875 the Umgeni was re-rigged as a barque, in 1882
 converted into a coal hulk at Durban. 365 tonnes

Aberdeen Clipper Line of Packets / Aberdeen to Natal Direct Line / John T. Rennie, Son & Co. / John T. Rennie & Sons 1845-1911 / Harrison-Rennie Line 1911-1921

John Thomson Rennie owned his first ship the SAMSON in 1845 with his brother George and became a shipping and insurance broker in 1849. Rennies ships initially traded to India, Australia and the Cape Colony and in 1853 also to Madagascar. John T. Rennie ordered his first steamship in 1854 from the yard of Scott & Company at Greenock and the MADAGASCAR was completed in 1855, followed in 1856 by the WALDENSIAN.

In 1856 the Natal Colony became self governing and the mail contract from Natal to the Cape Colony went to John T. Rennie and the MADAGASCAR in command of his brother George sailed from Natal via Algoa Bay and East London to the Cape. John T. Rennie set up the Aberdeen Clipper Line of Packets and the first sailing from London to Natal was taken by the Iron barque L’IMPERATRICE EUGENIE in November 1858. The MADAGASCAR was wrecked in December 1858 south of East London and the WALDENSIAN in 1862 near Cape Agulhas.

In 1869 John T. Rennie started a joint service with Bullard, King & Company under the banner of the Aberdeen Clipper Line of Packets from London to Natal. The London Company was known as John T. Rennie, Son and Company.

John T. Rennie died in 1878 and his three younger sons John, Alexander and David joined their brother George to continue the business. In 1882 a new steamship the DABULAMANZI was completed by Hall, Russell & Company at Aberdeen and in 1885 the MATABELE was delivered. By 1890 the Company owned six steamers mostly with Zulu or ‘In’ names. In 1895 the last sailing vessel the QUATHLAMBA was sold.

In 1904 the first above 4,000 tons gross INANDA (2) joined the fleet. The final and largest ship built for John T. Rennie and Sons was the INTABA which was completed at the end of 1910. John T. Rennie, Son & Co.'s Aberdeen Direct Line was purchased in 1911 together with their fleet of seven ships and passenger services to Natal by the Liverpool based Thos. & Jas. Harrison. Their fleet continued to sail to South Africa as the Harrison-Rennie Line, retaining vessel names beginning 'In' a tradition retained for Harrison's passenger vessels. The first vessel built for the Harrison-Rennie Line was a cargo ship named ITOMBI in 1912 and she was followed in 1913 by the only passenger ship ordered for the Harrison-Rennie Line the 114 passenger ship INGOMA.

In May 1921 the passenger service was abandoned. The Rennie name was dropped and both ships were transferred to Harrison’s London to West Indies passenger service. Two further passenger ships with Rennie names were built for the West Indies service in 1925 and 1937, the INANDA (3) and INKOSI (2). World War 2 was the end of the passenger ships for Harrison.

Umgeni 1864 wooden ship, 1875 re-rigged as a barque, 1882 converted into a coal hulk at Durban. 365 tonnes

A barque, sometimes spelled bark, originally referred to a particular type of ship-rigged sailing vessel with a plain bluff bow and a full stern with windows square sails on the fore mast and fore and aft sails on the after mast. Generally in the range of 250 - 700 ton capacity.
HM Bark Endeavour, commanded by Captain James Cook was a famous example.

Bullard King & Company, Limited / Natal Direct Line

Bullard King & Company, Limited, was founded in 1850 with a fleet of small sailing ships trading from the Thames to the Mediterranean. In 1879 they built their first steamer and introduced the Natal Direct Line to carry passengers directly to Durban and later East African ports. In 1889 they commenced sailings from India to South Africa to carry field labourers for the sugar plantations. In 1911 immigration from India was stopped and in 1919 Bullard King & Company, Limited, was taken over by the Union-Castle Line, although keeping it's independent identity and colours. For later history see Union-Castle Line. Their last ships were merged into the Springbok Line in 1960.

Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant Ship web site.

Routes:

·         1879-1960 UK - South Africa (later added East Africa and Mauritius)

·         1889-1933 India and Ceylon - South Africa.

1885 

  1890