Only two four masted barques were built in the Maritimes and both were constructed in Nova Scotia. The first, the John M. Blaikie, was built in 1885 at Great Village and the second, the Kings County, was built at Kingsport in 1890.
The John M. Blaikie was named after its builder and owned by him and Archibald W. McLellan who at that time was Minister of Finance in Ottawa. The vessel's dimensions were: length, 245 feet; breadth, 43.6 feet; depth, 24 feet and measured 1778 tons. As you can see the vessel is square rigged on the fore, main, and mizzen mast and fore and aft rigged on the fourth or jigger mast.
This painting by W.H. York, is dated 1885 and shows the vessel under full sail. She is carrying double topgallants as well as royals and sky sails at the very top. The signal letters W.K.N.D. fly on the jigger mast below the red ensign.
The vessel was wrecked in the Sunda Straight, on May 4, 1892.
Courtesy: Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S.
