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Wednesday 9 December 2015

The Sea Horse 1782-1816

The Sea Horse was a three masted, square rigged ship of 293 tons burden, built in Gravesend for the Hudson Bay Company and launched on 30 March 1782. The ship continued in their employment for ten years, trading with the Native Americans, after which she was sold to a London ship-owner, employed as a Mediterranean merchantman and re-launched with letters of mark as a privateer. The ship was soon captured by French ‘men of war’ in 1795 and carried into Cadiz. She was then renamed the Principe Fernando and fitted out for a voyage to Lima. The ship was recaptured in 1800 by British privateers and later sold in Guernsey. The new owner employed her as a troop transport ship for a couple of years until peace ‘broke out’ in 1802. The ship was then fitted out as a South Seas whaler for a couple of years, until war broke out again when she was re-employed as a troop transport. She remained a troop transport until she was wrecked in 1816. In my estimation, having traced the majority of her voyages she journeyed at least 120,000 sea miles 'made good'. For a more detailed description of the ship and a comprehensive chronology of the ship’s voyages, see my article in this year’s issue of Decies, Journal of the Waterford Archaeological & Historical Society.



Thursday 3 December 2015

Thomas Russell, the Carpenter of The Sea Horse

The only dead seamen whose names are mentioned in the contempoary newspapers are those of  the first mate John Sullivan from Cork, whose wife was drowned and the ships carpenter, Thomas Russell, whose unfortunate family were left destitute:
T Russell, the carpenter of the unfortunate Sea Horse transport, lately wrecked on the coast of Ireland, was among the number that perished, and has left a most distressed widow (a worthy women) and six children totally destitute. He was a good husband, a sober, decent man, much respected in his subordinate, but useful line; he was two years carpenter of the Adam transport, which being paid off some time ago, he could not get another ship until recently, when he joined the Sea Horse; during his being unavoidably out of employment, his little saving were expended (as he always allowed the greater part of his wages for the support of his wife and children in his absence), and the widow and children are therefore absolutely penniless.-The donations of those who feel for the suffers, by such an awful visitation of providence, will be thankfully received by the widow, at her humble home no 6 Adams-gardens, Rotherhithe; at Sir Jas Esdaile and Co.’s, Lombard Street; Messrs Merries and Co.’s St James street; Bar of Lloyd’s Coffee House and Mr J Lachlan, late Agent for the ship, 22, Great Alle Street, Goodman’s Fields.[1]




[1] The Morning Chronicle, 24 February 1816.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Numbers On Board the Sea Horse

According to Captain Gibbs, the Sea Horse took on board at Ramsgate, on the 24 January, 16 Officers, 287 men, 33 women, and 38 children and a crew 17 in number. There was also a passenger, Lieutenant Allen of the Royal Navy, which including Gibbs himself, comes to a total of 393 souls. Total losses were reported to be 12 officers, 15 seamen, 71 women and children as well as the 264 enlisted men, a total of 363. While the numbers reported to be saved were 4 officers, 23 enlisted men, one of which died shortly afterwards and 3 seamen.
      However a letter from Ramsgate dated 6 February clearly related that, ‘the statement of men on board the Seahorse is not correct-there embarked here 14 officers, 266 men, 33 woman and 34 children.’[1] While there can be little doubt that there were 16 officers on board, the number of enlisted men, women and children remains open to question. Furthermore, an investigation into the Regimental Pay List from 25 January 1816 to 24 March 1816 confirm the deaths of 4 senior enlisted staff, 4 colour sergeants, 1 drum major, 10 sergeants, 14 corporals, 15 drummers and fifers and 197 privates on 30 January 1816, a total of 245 dead men, 2 of which died at the wreck of the Lord Melville. Adding the 22 enlisted men that are listed in the pay list as having survived the wreck of the Sea Horse, the total of the enlisted men recorded to be on board comes to 265.[2] A figure much closer to the Ramsgate tally; if we take this reckoning as the more accurate of the two, then the numbers on board amount to 16 officers, 265 enlisted men, 33 woman and 34 children, 18 seamen and one passenger, a sum total of 367 souls of which 338 were lost. However, if the number of soldiers on board is incorrect in the official tally, then the number of women and children is also probably incorrect. Also, Gibbs stated that there were only 17 seamen on board, including himself. The exact figures of those on board and those lost is unknown.




[1] The Times, 8 February 1816.
[2] 59th Foot 2nd BN 1815 & 1816 War Office Regimental Pay Lists, 25 January 1816 to 24 March 1816 , WO/12/6870, The National Archives, accessed online at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/.

Thursday 19 November 2015

The Last Voyage of the Sea Horse

Ramsgate on the morning of the 25 January, would have presented a bustling scene as the troops of the 59th and 62nd regiments, marched down the Military Road to the harbour to embark on their vessels for their journey to Cork. [1] The majority of the 59th boarded the Sea Horse, Master James Gibbs, a ship registered in Lloyds as having a burthen of 295 tons, with a crew of 17.[2] She reportedly took on board five companies of the 59th regiment, consisting of 16 officers and 287 men, 33 women and 38 children and a young naval officer, travelling to meet his ship the Tonnant, a total of 393 persons.[3] The remainder of the regiment embarked on the Lord Melville, Master Thomas Arman, a ship with a burden of 351 tons. She reportedly, took on board 3 captains, 8 Lieutenants, 3 ensigns, 260 rank and file, 2 servants, 33 women and 30 children, a total of 339 of the 59th Regiment and part of the 62nd Regiment, consisting of a Colonel, 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, 75 rank and file, 1 servant, 6 women and 2 children, a total of 50.[4] The William Pitt, Master G Proctor, the largest vessel of the three, with a burden of 418 tons, took on 18 officers and 406 men of the 62nd Regiment, the remainder of that regiment, 6 officers and 80 men, embarking on the Hound, Master Chapman, a three year old ship, with of 324 ton burden and an A1 classification.[5]
Ramsgate Jan. 25. - Sailed the William Pitt, Lord Melville and Sea Horse transports, having on board the 2d battalions of the 59th and 62d regiments for Ireland; they are the finest transports we have had in this harbour for a length of time past. The Duncombe and Hound transports are still here, waiting the arrival of either the 14th or 44th regiments, also destined for Ireland. The above regiments were intended to have been embarked at Dover, but the transports taking them on board were considered to draw too much water for that port. Sailed the Good Statesman transport for Plymouth; Catherine transport for Ostend; and Exchange transport for Calais, with several freight vessels, to bring over the Blues and 3d Dragoon Guards; 5 or 6 transports remain, taking in the heavy baggage of different regiments, for hull, London and Portsmouth. Upwards of 100 sail of merchant vessels of different descriptions have got to the sea this tide, bound to the Westward.[6]

Henry Moses, Ramsgate 1816

Having sailed on 25 January, the three transports came to anchor in the Downs, an area of sea, near the English Channel off the East Kent coast, awaiting the right wind for the voyage.  Here they were joined by the Boadicea, Fox, Promise and Fancy, Martin, Mariner 2nd, Promise, Betsy, Lord Cawdor, Patriot, Elizabeth, Mariner 3rd, Triton and William troop transports that sailed from Dover on the 26 January bound for Ireland, according to Naval Intelligence.[7] The Boadicea and Fox were transporting the 82nd regiment to Cork, while the other ships were transporting the 16th and 35th regiments and the 2nd Garrison Battalion. The Harmony, John and Eleanor transports also sailed to Plymouth: the Britannia for Ostend and the Ulysses and Britannia transports with troops to Calais. Taken in tandem, with the transports, voyaging from Portsmouth and Plymouth, an estimate of 10,000 troops under sail, bound for Ireland, would be on the conservative side. The ships parted company as they made their way through the channel.
        James Gibbs, master of the Sea Horse and Thomas Arman, master of the Lord Melville, both left correspondence describing their voyage. According to Gibbs, about 11am on the morning of 26 January, the Sea Horse weighed anchor, and sailed with light breezes from the N. N. W. and by about midnight was off Dungeness, a headland further along the coast of Kent on which a 115 ft. high lighthouse was built in 1792 by Samuel Wyatt. At about midnight, they spotted the Portland Lights to the N. E.[8]
      On Sunday, 28 January they passed Start Point, with the breeze coming from the N.N.E. They then altered course in the afternoon as they passed Lizard Point at 5 o’clock and at 11 o’clock  they passed the Longships Lighthouse, Lands’ End, 1 ½ nautical miles off. At midnight, it bore N.N.E., 8 miles away. From here they sailed into the Irish Sea and set a course for Cork.
     On the morning of 29 January, there was a fine strong breeze coming from the S.S.E., a favourable wind direction in which to sail to Cork. But at noon this was getting much stronger.  As Gibbs’s account states, the Sea Horse made landfall at Ballycotton Island at 4pm with the rising wind still coming from the S.S.E. From this time onwards, it was to be ‘a constant and awful struggle with the conflicting elements’. The mate, John Sullivan, a Cork man, well acquainted with the coast, then went up the forerigging to look at the land, but fell down on the forecastle, and broke both his legs and arms, and unable to speak, died in the arms of his wife, almost three hours later.[9]  (It has been stated that he may have been the only one on board that was well acquainted with the coast. However, this is highly unlikely, as transport vessels regularly shipped troops to and from Ireland via Cork and Waterford, the Sea Horse herself having been surveyed in Cork in 1813.) Gibbs then altered his course, as the gale grew, making westward for Kinsale Light House, intending to alter course and run along the land to the entrance to Cork Harbour once it was sighted. However not having not seen the light after sailing for two hours, doubts set in and he became unwilling to proceed any further, as the weather was so thick and hazy. With the most tremendous sea running, he decided to take in the top sails and hauled close to the wind, heading in a W.S.W. direction out to sea. According to Thomas Redding, a seaman on board, ‘In consequence of the affecting loss of his chief mate, Captain Gibbs was very greatly annoyed during the night, and appeared to have lost much of that self-command so essentially necessary to the safety of the vessel, passengers, and crew’.[10]
At 8pm, the ship got blown off course and spent most of the night on another heading of S.E., the wind coming from the S.S.W. which was now on their starboard bow. The tide was setting towards the land and with a large swell they were being pushed N.E. towards the lee shore, an unadvisable course of action. According to Redding, he spotted a ‘fogbank or the land’ at about 4 o’clock in the morning and reported it to the second mate, Wilson, who first derided the idea, but then called the Captain, ‘who had been sitting for some hours on the companion, apparently lost in a reverie’. They then laughed at his report.[11] They were still drifting in an easterly direction when at five in the morning, 30 January, they sighted Minehead which was inside them to leeward, wind still coming from the S.S.W., they then let a reef out of the topsails and set the mainsail-blowing very hard in order to help get away from the land, but the wind was so strong that about 10.30am, it broke the fore topmast and it went over the side. A seaman who was in the foretop had his back and thigh broken.
        They were still being blown in the direction of Waterford, when, about an hour later, just after the wreck of the fore topmast was cleared, the mainsail then split to ribbons. By this time, Gibbs had realised his mistake, and was desperate to get out at sea, away from the lee shore, but this was not possible with the damage to the masts and the ship not responding to the steering helm. The raging sea was sending them to the shore so fast, that even though they spotted the Hook Light House under the lee bow, they could not weather Brownstown Head. They took in all sail and anchored under the head in seven fathoms of water, using both anchors, they let out 300 fathoms of cable to try and hold the vessel. [12] The cables were leading straight out in front of her, turning her bow to the sea, and her stern towards the shore, as the waves continued breaking over them. At about 12am, the anchors dragged, as the sea bottom was probably just sand. The wind and sea were still increasing, with huge waves crashing over the ship from stem to stern (from the front to the back of the ship).[13]
      At 12.10pm her stern struck. They then cut away the mizzen and main masts; all the boats connected to the masts were now washed away. As the ship struck a second time, the rudder, which was, by now of little use, broke off and the sternpost was knocked in. Redding stated that about fifty soldiers had rushed into the quarter-boats, to try and save themselves. However, the boats were rigged to the mizzenmast which was being cut down and were about to go overboard. They were ordered to leave the boats, but refused to obey orders and were dashed into the sea and drowned.
      The sea continued to break immensely over the ship and about an hour later, she split in two by the main hatchway. All the people on board were clinging to different parts of the wreck. According to Gibbs, there was not the least disturbance among the women. Mrs Baird was trying to comfort her two daughters in the great cabin, while a Serjeant’s wife huddled between decks with her three children. The other women were heard pleading with their husbands to die with them, most of them uttering prayers. However, Redding paints a more realistic scene, with women screaming for their husbands and personal preservation coming to the foremost of almost everyone’s minds.
     After the ship broke in two, all but about 30 people that were left clinging to the forerigging were washed off. According to Gibbs, about 60 people reached the shore, but for the want of assistance only 4 officers, 25 soldiers, two of whom are died shortly afterwards, and two seamen and himself were saved.
Mr Hunt, of Tramore, and his man, Mr. Duckett, jun. and two countrymen, one named Kirwan, were the persons who contributed most to save the lives of the unfortunate people. To the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Hunt, in getting us up to the cottage at the Rabbit-burrow, and sending for spirits to his own house, and lighting large fires for our accommodation, we are principally indebted for our lives.[14]




[1] In 1816 Ramsgate was a busy port, 1496 vessels were registered as having entered the harbour in the previous year.
[2] Lloyd’s Registers, Underwriters, 1816.
[3] Ramsey’s Waterford Chronicle, 1 February 1816.
[4] Cork Advertiser, 1 February 1816.
[5] 62nd Foot 1815 & 1816 War Office Regimental Pay Lists, National Archives WO 12.
[6] Cork Mercantile Chronicle, 31 January 1816.
[7] Cork Advertiser, 1 February 1816.
[8] Waterford Mirror, 5 February 1816.
[9] Waterford Chronicle, 6 February 1816.
[10] James Acland, Enemy of Corporate Despots, Memoirs and Correspodences of a Ghost, Redding’s Reminiscences. No 1, copy online at https://enemyofcorporatedespots.wordpress.com/.
[11] James Acland, Enemy of Corporate Despots, Memoirs and Correspodences of a Ghost, Redding’s Reminiscences. No 1, copy online at https://enemyofcorporatedespots.wordpress.com/.
[12] Charts of the bay record the depth of water directly inside Brownstown Head as 42 ft. or 7 fathoms.
[13] Much of this chapter is based on Walter Phelan, Master SDPO’s interpretation of James Gibbs’s narrative. All errors are the author’s own.
[14] Waterford Mirror, 5 February 1816.

Saturday 14 November 2015

Freemans Journal 30 September 1828

Tramore is looked upon as the best bathing place on the south east coast of Ireland. Its contiguity to Waterford gives it great advantages; but its invaluable superiority over every other bathing place I have seen, consists of its strand, which, when the tide is full out, leaves a space of between three and four miles in length of clear and compact sand, which may be travelled over by any vehicle. Tramore bay is of considerable extent, but exceedingly dangerous.
To any vessel coming near it with a strong south-east wind it is fatal, of which the history of this little place furnishes a most melancholy instance. A few mornings since I took an early walk to explore a large amount of sand, the accumulation of ages, situate at the extremity of the beach. My attention was arrested by the frightful sight of a quantity of human bones strewn about me. These bleached emblems of mortality seen on a barren sand-bank, with the load roaring of the sea below, presented an appalling spectacle, and left the mind to a thousand conjectures of the cause which led to such a scene.

Doubting whether to attribute it to deadly contest with Smugglers, who once carried on a considerable traffic in this bay, many of whom might have been shot, and unceremoniously thrown under the surface of the sand, or to a wreck, on my return home I made inquiry, and was asked if I had never heard of the Sea Horse Transport, which I confess I never had. My informant then gave me a detail of that awful calamity. The Sea Horse Transport was bound from Liverpool for Cork, and had on board a large portion of the 2nd battalion of the 59th regiment. On the 30th January, 1816, it was driven into the Bay Tramore by a storm, and within a mile of the shore was wrecked in the presence of hundreds of spectators, who from the violence of the storm were unable to render any assistance. By this dreadful visitation perished 12 officers, 264 privates and non-commissioned officers, 15 sailors and 71 women and children! Only four officers and 26 men were saved. Most of the bodies were cast on the beach, and carelessly buried on the sand bank to which I have alluded, a little above high water mark. The sea, it is said has since made some incursion beyond its usual limits, and exhumed the bones of these brave men. The surviving officers erected a monument in the church yard to their companions in arms, who perished in this melancholy catastrophe. This regiment was one of the most distinguished in the service. It was engaged in the memorable battles of Corunna with Sir John Moore, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, Bidassoa, Bayonne, Waterloo, Cambray, and at the second surrender of Paris. How painful to witness, and how discreditable to the Corporate Body of Waterford to allow, the bones of those to whom their country owed so much to remain so long neglected and disregarded!

Thursday 12 November 2015

Waterford Mirror, 3 February 1816.

Within memory, so melancholy a shipwreck had not happened on this coast as which occurred on Tuesday at Tramore. The Seahorse Transport, James Gibbs, Master, a ship of 350 tons, from Ramsgate for Cork, with a large part of the 59th Regiment on board, found herself on this morning locked between the heads of Tramore Bay, the wind blowing strong from S. S. E.. Her mizzen mast was swept away, and she worked hard to weather Brownstown Head, with a view of making the harbour. In vain; about one o’clock nearly at low water, when assistance was particularly impractical, she struck nearly at the middle of that extensive strand, and in a few minutes, went to pieces. From that moment, Tramore Strand, the delight of summer visitors, presented a calamitous picture of mortality.
Notwithstanding the humanity and activity of John Walsh Esq, Coast Surveyor, of Michael Kennedy, Esq, agent to the Underwriters, and of several others, few comparatively have been saved of the great number that were on board.
The crew consisted, we believe, of the Captain, the mate, and fourteen hands; of these, the captain and two seamen have been saved. Of the 59th Regiment, we understand that the Seahorse contained 16 Officers, 297 non-commissioned officers and privates, with about 30 women and 40 children. We fear that scarcely more than four Officers, one Sergeant, one drummer, and nineteen privates have been saved. Several bodies have been washed ashore, and buried at Drumcannon. We believe the following is an accurate list of the Officers lost and saved: - SAVED: Lieuts. Cowper, McPhearson, and Hartford; Ensign Seward.
LOST:- Major Douglas; Capt. McGregor; Surgeon Hagan; Assistant Surgeon Lambe; Lieutenants Dent, (Adjutant), Veale, Geddies, Scott, and Gillespie; Ensigns Ross, and Hill; Quarter Master Baird; and Mr Allen, of the Navy (Purser).
Another instance of shipwreck, but far less disastrous, occurred upon Tramore Strand, on Wednesday, near the bathing place. About noon the brig, Apollonia, of Caernarvon, J. Parry, Master, bound from London to Cork with a general cargo, was stranded, and in a short time, went to pieces- crew saved. A great part of the vessel saved, and more expected, but all in rather a perishable condition.
On Wednesday night, another brig was embayed here, but had the good fortune to weather the heads.
We have received the following letters from friends, to whom we beg to return our warmest thanks;-
Tramore, Jan 31st, 1816.
Yesterday presented a melancholy sight near this- a transport had been seen for a considerable time approaching the harbour, and at length having crossed it to anchor near the shore within the opposite land, her distressed and dangerous situation being evident, crowds gathered from Tramore and the adjoining country on the beach. After a short period, her anchors having dragged, she drifted to the beach and having struck in a tremendous surf- unspeakable horror soon followed. The ship been soon broken by the dreadful waves that assailed her, the shore became scattered with dead bodies, a few struggling survivors, planks, cordage and every species of wreck. Much exertion was made by several spirited individuals, but particularly by Mr Hunt of Tramore, who was instrumental in saving many. The severity of the day and the disadvantage of an ebb instead of a flood tide added greatly to the calamity. Benumbed with cold and overwhelmed by criminal waves, the poor sufferers, fell speedy victims to their deplorable fate; a great number of women and children were on board- not one escaped. About half the 59th Regiment had embarked in this transport at Deal, their number three hundred and upwards and of them sixteen were Officers. About 25 (including four officers) have been saved. The Regiment was coming from France, and had shared in the glories of Waterloo. Brave men, companions in arms, and dear friends stood on the deck-looked at each other- each expected his own fate and hoped for his friend’s safety- wave after wave thundered. Major Douglas, Captains, Lieutenants, whose names I have not yet learned, were swept away, never to meet their friends and social home, never to battle another time, the vain spirit of France. Women embraced their husbands, bade them farewell and died calmly. Their heroism softened the pangs of men who saw- whose brave hearts bled and could not relieve them! Children took leave of their parents, and rising above the weakness of their age wept not. The Quarter Master’s Lady behaved with great firmness- remained with her children in the cabin- said to an Officer “It is the will of Heaven,” and was seen no more. The wife of a private said “Will you die with me and your child? But you may escape and this may be of use,” and gave him her pocket with a sum of money and she took out her earrings and put them in it. Her self and child were lost. The survivor, more wretched than they, lives to tell the tale, as tears mask his manly face. The Captain of the Transport was saved; the mate fell from the mast early in the day, and was nearly killed and quite disabled. This probably occasioned the deplorable loss as he was well acquainted with the coast. Lieut. Allen, a young officer of the navy, and of great merit, (coming to Ireland), directed the ship for some time with boldness and skill; he too was swept away. Above 350 persons have perished. A great quantity of valuable things is lost, and the vessel shattered into 1000 fragments, strews two or three miles of the coast. Lieuts  MacPhearson, Hartford and Cowper and Ensign Seward, survive of the Officers, all much bruised and ill, but Mr Cowper the most severely; he now lies extremely ill at Tramore. The night of the calamity a cottager and his wife, near the fatal spot, showed every tenderness to the miserable victims. But for their humble and lonely dwelling, so many had not now lived to tell this tale. To the honour of Irish character they gave their only bed to two wounded and benumbed Officers, and lodged and comforted all the privates that were too ill to move during the night. Some reward is surely due from persons in authority to this conduct. The man’s name is Dunn. Dead bodies are now hourly throwing in.

February 1.
This day one dead officer has been cast on shore; his name is Dent. Thirty two bodies were yesterday buried in one grave, men women and children. My pen recoils- my heart trembles as I write! Brave warriors! Companions of Wellington! And liberators of the world! Was this your hoped return? Your laurels waved in triumph as you left France!- now thet wither on the lonely shore. How many an affectionate heart throbs- how many an eye fills at the hope of your return! But sorrow shall fill the warriors home and memory long bewail the horrors of the evening of the 30th January 1816!  What must the immortal Wellington feel at hearing of this fatal loss? He whose glories brightened, as the tears fell for the heroes who fell around him? I should hope that a monument may be erected for the Officers who have perished. The affecting record may simply record their deaths, and their return from France after a war so gloriously ended. I should hope, pensions to the privates, or some handsome reward, and promotion to the surviving Officers may follow. I am truly sorry to add, that another vessel was wrecked here yesterday. She was a brig with a cargo of tea, &c, &c. The crew were saved. I am Sir&co, &c
T.
From Another
Tramore, Feb. 1, 1816.
The brig which was wrecked here last night was the Apollonia, of Caernarvon, John Parry, Master, from London for Cork, with a general cargo of teas,liops, &c. &c. The vessel has gone to pieces, and the crew (seven in number), were fortunately saved by the extraordinary exertions at the risk of their lives, of the Gentlemen at foot mentioned.
I am sir, yours truly, K
Cornelius henry Bolton, Samuel Davis, Edward Courtenay, William M Ardagh, Richard Sargent, Matthew Turner, Esqrs., Rev Mr Frazer, &c, &c, &c.
Collector Wallace was on the spot and gave every assistance; he acted with the greatest humanity towards the unfortunate captain and crew.

The following melancholy intelligence from Kinsale has appeared in the Cork papers:-
On Tuesday evening last, two vessels were observed to be embayed between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Seven Heads, the wind blowing a gale from the S. E. they used every exertion and adopted every expedient, to weather the old Head, in vain; the peril of their situation increased every moment, and, towards evening, an account was brought to Kinsale, that the ship would, in a short time, be on shore, and that the brig had dropped her anchors, in the hope of riding out the gale. On the receipt of this distressing communication, Collector Meade, with a decision and promptness equally creditable to him as a public officer and a man of humanity, ordered an Officer’s party of the Limerick Militia, under the direction of Mr. Pratt, the Port Surveyor, to the Old Head, to afford every assistance and protection in their power to those unfortunate vessels. Mr. Spifler Newman, a respectable Gentleman of Kinsale, who holds a Revenue situation, generously volunteered his services, notwithstanding that he laboured under indisposition and, although the scene of the apprehended calamity was altogether out of his district, and the range of his official duty, he obeyed the call of humanity, and accompanied Mr. Pratt and the military to the Old head.
They had to cross the Ferry of Kinsale, and then march 5 or 6 miles through bye roads, to get to their destination, when they arrived there, they found that the ship had been driven ashore among the rocks- that, shortly after she struck, her boat had been launched and manned with five men- that two Officers and two Ladies, supposed to be their wives, an Assistant Surgeon, a Sergeant, his wife and child, had got into her, in the hope of gaining the shore- that, in a few minutes, she was struck by a wave and swamped; and, melancholy to relate, every soul perished, with the exception of one of the seamen, who reached the land scarcely alive. In a short time, the body of one of the Ladies was washed on shore, and although her name was sufficiently indicated by some papers found in her pockets, we forbear to mention it for the present, from obvious motives of caution, and the possibility of mistake. All the rest of the people of the ship remained in her; at low water, in the course of the night, she was left nearly dry; and at about one or two o’clock they succeeded, under Divine providence in getting safely to land, to the number of about 400 souls.
The ship was we understand a Transport, called the Lord Melville, with a detachment of the 59th and 62th Regts on board, bound for Cork. At the commencement of the night, the brig being at anchor, and farther off shore, had to all appearance much greater chance of escape than the ship.- she was distinctly seen by the Revenue officers and military party, with a light at her top mast till after midnight. The light and vessel then disappeared altogether. It still blew a tremendous gale of wind right on the shore, the sea ran mountains high, the rain poured down in torrents, and the night was pitch dark.
Under these circumstances, the most gloomy apprehensions for the fate of the brig were entertained by the party from Kinsale. When the morning dawned, these apprehensions seemed but too well grounded, as the brig had disappeared altogether. However, after a diligent search for some time along the shore, the fragments of her were discovered among the rocks, which lie between the two strands of Garrett’s Town, and where she had been driven after parting her anchors in the night. Upon approaching the wreck, a most heartrending scene of misery, desolation and death, presented itself to the view. The vessel seemed to be a confused mass of timber, planks and boards, broken to pieces, and intermixed with piles of dead bodies, men, women, and children!
 Near to the wreck was situated a rock, somewhat elevated above the surface of the water, and upon this were seen about eighty or ninety poor human creature who had scrambled to it from the vessel, and were still alive. The people from the shore communicated to them as well as they could, that their only chance of safety was in remaining where they were until low water; but, either through impatience of the misery of their situation, or from the impulse of despair, near 30 of them plunged into the sea, and endeavoured to gain the shore, but in vain, as most of them perished in the attempt. About 50 remained on the rock until low water, and were all saved. We have not yet been able to learn the name of the brig; she was a transport, and had a detachment of the 82nd on board, bound for Cork.
We have had different accounts of the number of the detachment; the Kinsale accounts make it very considerable, and other accounts, which deserve some consideration, being from persons connected with the regiment, making it much less.- For the present, while there is a possibility of mistake, we shall abstain from mentioning the particulars of either estimate. Suffice to say, that only fifty or sixty escaped from the brig. We have heard the name of one of the Officers of the 82nd who was saved- we announce it with great pleasure, for the relief of his family and friends, Lieut. Starkey. Yesterday morning the Sovereign of Kinsale Governor Browne and Collector Meade were most actively employed in procuring clothing provisions and medical assistance for the poor surviving sufferers. As soon as they made the necessary arrangements, they repaired in person to the wrecks, and from the cordial co-operation which they received from the inhabitants of the town, of all ranks and description, they have no doubt been enabled to afford the most timely and effectual relief. The brig has gone to pieces, and it was imagined, that the ship would share the same fate in the course of last night.[1]




[1] Waterford Mirror 3 February 1816.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Loss of Three Transports

The following article is from the Cork Advertiser, 1 February 1816:

The following melancholy details of the loss of two Transports off the Old Head of Kinsale, has been communicated by a Gentleman of that town, who had an opportunity of learning the dreadful particulars stated. No later intelligence has been yet received, though it is momentarily expected.
The loss of these vessels is accompanied with the afflicting further information, that they were full of troops, consisting of the 59th and 62th regiments, and it is added, in the accounts which have reached us, a detachment of the 82nd. The first information of the loss of the two former vessels reached this city yesterday, and it would be difficult to describe the sensations it created among all persons, at the melancholy fate of so many gallant men, who, after having survived all the perils of war, thus met their deaths within sight of a land where an affectionate and hospitable reception awaited them; and it may be easily supposed ,that the public regret was not lessoned when it became known, that numerous females, the wives of these poor fellows, and their companions through many a former danger, with their numerous children, shared their melancholy fate. Nothing official has yet been received relative to this disastrous event; the officers who have survived have been directed from headquarters here to transmit the detail of the loss as soon as it can possibly be made out, but at upon this day it had not arrived. In the meantime the following particulars are furnished by an intelligent Gentleman from Kinsale.
         On Tuesday evening last, two vessels were observed to be embayed between the Old Head of Kinsale and the Seven Heads, the wind blowing a gale from the S. E. they used every exertion and adopted every expedient, to weather the old Head, in vain; the peril of their situation increased every moment, and, towards evening, an account was brought to Kinsale, that the ship would, in a short time, be on shore, and that the brig had dropped her anchors, in the hope of riding out the gale. On the receipt of this distressing communication, Collector Meade, with a decision and promptness equally creditable to him as a public officer and a man of humanity, ordered an Officer’s party of the Limerick Militia, under the direction of Mr. Pratt, the Port Surveyor, to the Old Head, to afford every assistance and protection in their power to those unfortunate vessels. Mr. Spifler Newman, a respectable Gentleman of Kinsale, who holds a Revenue situation, generously volunteered his services, notwithstanding that he laboured under indisposition and, although the scene of the apprehended calamity was altogether out of his district, and the range of his official duty, he obeyed the call of humanity, and accompanied Mr. Pratt and the military to the Old head.
        They had to cross the Ferry of Kinsale, and then march 5 or 6 miles through bye roads, to get to their destination, when they arrived there, they found that the ship had been driven ashore among the rocks- that, shortly after she struck, her boat had been launched and manned with five men- that two Officers and two Ladies, supposed to be their wives, an Assistant Surgeon, a Sergeant, his wife and child, had got into her, in the hope of gaining the shore- that, in a few minutes, she was struck by a wave and swamped; and, melancholy to relate, every soul perished, with the exception of one of the seamen, who reached the land scarcely alive. In a short time, the body of one of the Ladies was washed on shore, and although her name was sufficiently indicated by some papers found in her pockets, we forbear to mention it for the present, from obvious motives of caution, and the possibility of mistake. All the rest of the people of the ship remained in her; at low water, in the course of the night, she was left nearly dry; and at about one or two o’clock they succeeded, under Divine providence in getting safely to land, to the number of about 400 souls.
        The ship was we understand a Transport, called the Lord Melville, with a detachment of the 59th and 62th Regts on board, bound for Cork. At the commencement of the night, the brig being at anchor, and farther off shore, had to all appearance much greater chance of escape than the ship.- she was distinctly seen by the Revenue officers and military party, with a light at her top mast till after midnight. The light and vessel then disappeared altogether. It still blew a tremendous gale of wind right on the shore, the sea ran mountains high, the rain poured down in torrents, and the night was pitch dark.
      Under these circumstances, the most gloomy apprehensions for the fate of the brig were entertained by the party from Kinsale. When the morning dawned, these apprehensions seemed but too well grounded, as the brig had disappeared altogether. However, after a diligent search for some time along the shore, the fragments of her were discovered among the rocks, which lie between the two strands of Garrett’s Town, and where she had been driven after parting her anchors in the night. Upon approaching the wreck, a most heartrending scene of misery, desolation and death, presented itself to the view. The vessel seemed to be a confused mass of timber, planks and boards, broken to pieces, and intermixed with piles of dead bodies, men, women, and children!
       Near to the wreck was situated a rock, somewhat elevated above the surface of the water, and upon this were seen about eighty or ninety poor human creature who had scrambled to it from the vessel, and were still alive. The people from the shore communicated to them as well as they could, that their only chance of safety was in remaining where they were until low water; but, either through impatience of the misery of their situation, or from the impulse of despair, near 30 of them plunged into the sea, and endeavoured to gain the shore, but in vain, as most of them perished in the attempt. About 50 remained on the rock until low water, and were all saved. We have not yet been able to learn the name of the brig; she was a transport, and had a detachment of the 82nd on board, bound for Cork.
            We have had different accounts of the number of the detachment; the Kinsale accounts make it very considerable, and other accounts, which deserve some consideration, being from persons connected with the regiment, making it much less.- For the present, while there is a possibility of mistake, we shall abstain from mentioning the particulars of either estimate. Suffice to say, that only fifty or sixty escaped from the brig. We have heard the name of one of the Officers of the 82nd who was saved- we announce it with great pleasure, for the relief of his family and friends, Lieut. Starkey.                
      Yesterday morning the Sovereign of Kinsale Governor Browne and Collector Meade were most actively employed in procuring clothing provisions and medical assistance for the poor surviving sufferers. As soon as they made the necessary arrangements, they repaired in person to the wrecks, and from the cordial co-operation which they received from the inhabitants of the town, of all ranks and description, they have no doubt been enabled to afford the most timely and effectual relief. The brig has gone to pieces, and it was imagined, that the ship would share the same fate in the course of last night.
             In addition to the above we have to lay before our readers another most distressing account of a similar nature, but which we trust will not be found so disastrous as the letter states, which was received here this morning from Waterford.
The following is an extract of the letter allude to;
Waterford 31st Jan 1816
              I am sorry to have to state to you, that the Seahorse transport, bound to your port, with part of the 59th Regiment on board, was lost yesterday, at Tramore, and that 379 persons perished.


Shipwrecks
From the Dublin Correspondent.

Custom House, Kinsale, January 31, 1816.
My Lord and Gentlemen,
               I beg leave to inform you, I had an Express at 5 o’clock yesterday evening, from the lieutenant at the signal tower at the Old Head, stating that a large ship and a brig were embayed in Courtmasherry Bay, and he feared from the desperate of the weather that they may be ashore; and in half an hour after, I had an account to say, that the ship was on shore near Garretstown Strand, and that the brig was lying to an anchor in the bay; that they were transports from England, with part of the 59th and 62nd and, I believe the 82nd regts on board; and that a boat coming from the ship to the shore, with two Officers, two Officer’s wives, a child and some others were upset, and all drowned.
         I lost no time in applying to the commanding Officer here, for a party of twenty men and an Officer, and although the night was most desperate and dark, yet with great difficulty, I sent the party across the ferry here, at ten o’clock with the Port Surveyor, Mr Pratt, the Coast Officer, Mr Newman, and some more Revenue Officers, to be ready to give every assistance possible both to protect the vessel and save the lives of those on board.
        An Express has just returned to me, with an account, that all of the soldiers and everyone on board the large ship, got on shore safe (except those I mentioned that were lost in the boat) at low water, about one o’clock this morning; but I am sorry to say, the brig parted from her anchors about two o’clock and swept on shore, and almost everyone on board has been lost; there are a few of them that got to the shore with broken limbs, and the whole is one of the most melancholy sights that ever happened on this coast, the strand being covered with dead bodies. The name of the ship was the Lord Melville and had six companies of the 59th and two of the 62nd, and the wives of Captains A Mancor and Fawson, both of the 59th, are the names, I understand, of those that were drowned. The brig had part of the 82nd on board from Dover. This information has been given me from a corporal of the 59th, who has just come from the wreck. I have this moment sent an express to the Commander of the Fort, Lord Forbes,  at Cork, with a particular account of this melancholy business, and I have sent another detachment of twenty men to assist in every way possible in preserving the arms and everything belonging to the vessel- and the Governor of the Fort, the Sovereign, and most of the principal gentlemen of this town are endeavouring to get there, to afford every assistance possible, and I am happy to have it in my power to tell you that the country people have as yet behaved in the most exemplary manner, and afforded every assistance in their power to the unfortunate sufferers. I have also sent every Surgeon; I could get in this town, to render assistance to those that have broken limbs, as some of them had the misfortune to have suffered this way.
       I am just setting out, myself, for the wreck, to give every direction and assistance in my power; and anything further that occurs shall be communicated to you by tomorrows post, by,
My Lord and Gentlemen,
Your faithful servant in haste,
John Meade, Collector


Cork, Feb 3.-
           We lay before our readers letters from Colonel Darley, and Collector Meade, of Kinsale, to Lord Forbes, containing official accounts of the disastrous occurrences that have taken place near Kinsale. The loss of lives, though lamentably great, falls short of the exaggerated statement that public anxiety first circulated. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the spirited and benevolent exertions of the Collector of Kinsale, throughout this arduous business; and it would be unjust to withhold the highest tribute of applause from the skill and activity displayed by lieutenant Harty.

Kinsale, 1st February, 1816.
My Lord, I have the honour of availing myself of the earliest opportunity that has been allowed me since the disaster of our unfortunate ship, the Lord Melville, to report to your lordship the arrival of his Majesty’s troops that were embarked on board her under my command, accounting for the casualties that occurred by the wreck, and a brief statement of the misfortune. Upon making the land, about 11 o’clock AM on 31st ult (having laid to the previous night) it blowing nearly a gale of wind, a heavy sea running, and the atmosphere so thick and hazy, that, upon discerning the land, we found ourselves nearly embayed.
         The master bore up to weather what was universally supposed the entrance into Cove, but which proved to be the Old Head of Kinsale, and after every assertion to weather that point, and run the ship into Kinsale harbour, he was compelled to bear away for some friendly looking strand upon which he might run up the vessel, and await the going out of the tide, in the hope of saving the lives of so many souls, very justly not holding in competition the ultimate security of the ship. In endeavouring most ardently to affect this object; the vessel was irrevocably driven upon a bed of rocks by the violence of the gale, distant from between three and four hundred yards from the shore, the tide then making in. No time was lost in passing a rope from the ship to the shore, and cutting away the fore and main masts, to ease the tremendous shocks of the ship against the rocks, by which her bottom was almost immediately stove in, and several feet of water in her cabin.
         At this time, it was about three 0’clock PM, our situation becoming most critical, by the violence of the sea breaking into the cabin and over the stern, together with her continual dashing against the rocks, a boat was manned for the ladies on board, to endeavour making the shore: two Officer’s wives, with their servants, soldiers of the 59th regiment, six of the crew, together with Captain Radford, of the 62nd Regiment (who was in a week state of health), got into the boat, and made for the shore; but; distressing to add, they had not reached half way, when the boat was swamped, and, with the exception of one sailor, all perished.
          Nothing possibly remained for those on board but to await, with hope of preservation, the falling of the tide, when, should the vessel keep together, it was determined to lash a long spar from the bow to the nearest dry rock, and pass every person over it, to make good their way across a range of rocks that extended to the shore. Between ten and eleven o’clock, the attempt appeared practicable, and to my greatest satisfaction, succeeded beyond our utmost hopes. After the lapse of some time, every individual having happily descended from the ship, without any accident, Lieut. Harty, of the neighbouring signal station, with a party of men, after the most praise worthy exertions, had arrange those men along the rocks, with lighted sticks, affording the most essential assistance, and thereby preventing the loss of the lives of several who would otherwise have certainly fallen into the many large recesses of deep water that encompassed and obstructed our progress to the main land, and over which the breakers occasionally washed.
        Every person having at last safely reached the shore, Lieutenant Harty, with equal promptitude, had arrange for their being distributed amongst the neighbouring cabins, and they were marched off accordingly, to return early next morning, for the purpose of endeavouring to get out the arms and accoutrements; nothing, however, could possibly be affected towards that end by the early return of the tide, and consequent impossibility of access to the ship.. The few men and some officers that were enabled to return on board, reported to me the near total destruction of all the baggage, from the sea it was swimming in, and the pillaging that took place after the troops were got on shore. Finding the men much in need of repose, and the day advancing, I directed their proceeding to Kinsale, leaving two officers’ parties from the 59th and 62th regiments to remain in protection of the ship, conjointly with a party from the Limerick Militia, and with instructions to commence early next morning (1st Feb), in getting from on board, the arms and accoutrements. I have since dispatched a stronger relief to those parties and shall continue using every exertion until I shall succeed in securing, I hope as many stand of arms, &c as it is possible, which I shall have the honour of reporting for your Lordships information.
       I beg leave to express to your Lordship the very great support and active assistance that have been afforded by Governor Browne, Collector Meade, and the Magistrates and Gentlemen of Kinsale. I am happy in concluding this, my Lord, by a report this moment received, that all the arms and accoutrements have been safely landed and will arrive here this evening. The troops have undergone much fatigue, and are making without necessaries; I therefore hope time may be given to recover themselves and get into some order.
From the brig that has been wrecked (Boadicea) with part of the 82nd regiment on board, I understand that out of 280, only 50 have been saved and two officers.
I have the honour, &c, &c.
Edward Darley, Lieut Colonel, and Major 62nd Regiment

Lieut General Forbes
&c &c &c.

Embarked on board the Lord Melville Transport, of the 2nd battalion 62nd Regiment.
One Colonel, 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, 75 rank and file, 1 servant, 6 women and 2 children.
Total 90;
Names of Officers
Lieutenant Colonel Darley, Capt Radford, Lieutenant Mahon, Lieutenant Whitfield, Ensigns Whitney and Sweeney.- Lost captain Radford. Total one.
Embarked on board ditto, of the 2nd battalion, 59th Regiment.
Three captains, 8 Lieutenants, 3 ensigns, 260 rank and file, 2 servants, 33 women and 30 children.
Total 339.
Officers Names
Captain Fuller, Captain Mancor, Captain Fawson, Lieutenants Duncan, Pitman, Hill, O’Hara, Edwards, Robertson, Carmichael, Assistant Surgeon Colvin, Ensigns Stewart, Ward and Proctor. Lost, Mrs Mancor, wife of Captain Mancor, Mrs Fawson, wjfe of Captain Fawson, Mrs Weld, wife of Serjeant Weld, Mary Weld, her daughter.- Privates, John Wheatly and Richard Mooney. Total 6.


Customs House, Kinsale, Feb. 1, 1816
        My Lord- As an opportunity offers going to Cork, I write to acquaint you, that, on my return from the wreck last night, I had the honour to receive your letter of yesterday, and as you may be anxious to know particulars, I beg to acquaint you, that every person on board the Lord Melville transport, of the 59th and 62nd Regiments, got safe on shore, at low water, except the eleven I mentioned to you that were upset in a boat coming from her, and were drowned.
        The other vessel  was the Brig Boadicea, No 561, J. Gibson, Master; had on board the following of the 82nd Regiment, viz. :-
Six officers
One Surgeon and his wife,
Two hundred and five non-commissioned officers and privates, fifteen women and eighteen children.
Out of her were saved- (Officers)
Captain Montague,
Lieutenant Starkey,
Ensigns Green and Field;
And I should suppose, near eighty privates, but it is impossible as yet to be exact as to the numbers, as several of them that were bruised and hurt, are in the cabins about the place.
The Officers of the 82nd drowned are, I understand-
Lieutenant Davenport,
Lieutenant Harding, and
Assistant Surgeon Scott.
The wife of the last also perished.
        The brig Boadicea lies in pieces on the rocks, covering almost all the dead bodies, and we were able yesterday to get out of her about 140 stand of arms, which I have got safe to the Custom-house, and this day they are endeavouring to get out the remainder, and bury the dead; in short every exertion is making use to save everything, and to afford relief to the unfortunate sufferers.
The detachments of the 59th and 62nd, that were on board have not as yet been able to get either their arms or any of their baggage, but as the vessel remains entire on the strand, I should hope if the weather moderates in a day or two, they may be able to save a good deal.[1]





[1] Cork Advertiser, 1 February 1816.