Ulster AncestryUlster Ancestry
   
  

 
 Ulster Ancestry
Ulster Ancestry - Ancestral and Family Research in Northern Ireland
Ulster Ancestry Free Ancestor Search - Search over 330,000 ancestors and ancestry records. Heir Hunters Association


The wrech of the Brig Dispatch

from: The Strabane Morning Post, Tuesday September 02, 1828 &c. Brig Dispatch of Workington, Captain William Lancaster, from Londonderry May 29th 1828 to Quebec – The survivors arrived at Halifax (from Port aux Basque, Newfoundland), aboard the HMS Tyne on July 26th 1828. Acadian Recorder August 2nd 1828:— HMS Tyne - with 152 men, women and children (including 10 of the crew and the mate) saved from the brig Dispatch, bound from Londonderry to Quebec, wrecked off Newfoundland. "The whole of these unfortunate people, we learn, were in comfortable circumstances, one of whom, a Scotchman, had property to the amount of £500 on board, and he is now left with a family of 13 children, entirely destitute; indeed all that any of them have saved are a few clothes which were washed on shore. " On July 10th 1828, Despatch ran aground on a reef three miles offshore from Isle aux Mort, near Port aux Basques. Attempts to launch a lifeboat ended when the captain and others were swamped by high waves and lost. Subsequent attempts by the crew were only partly successful. A few managed to make to safely on shore, and others on a nearby island while a few remained clinging to the shipwrecked vessel. Several lives were lost during the next two days. A gentleman named George Harvey, became aware of the wreck, and on July 13th, accompanied by his 17 yr-old daughter Ann and 12 yr-old son, rowed for two hours through heavy rain, surf and strong winds until they came upon the shipwrecked Despatch and its survivors. For the next three days, George and his two children risked their own lives to aid the survivors. To honour their heroic efforts, the Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Thomas Cochrane, gave George Harvey £100 sterling and a gold medal. Londonderry Journal Wednesday, August 27 1828 Loss of the Brig Dispatch The following melancholy letter, detailing the loss of the above vessel, which sailed from this Port, bound for Quebec, with passengers, in May last, has been received by Marcus S. Hill, Esq. our Londonderry collector:— H M S Tyne, 26th July, 1828 Sir.— The accompanying list contains the names of 158 men, women, and children, exclusive of the mate and all the crew, 9 in number, who were saved from the wreck of the Dispatch or Despatch, commanded by the late William Lancaster, (drowned) which sailed from Port of Londonderry, on the 29th May for Quebec— The brig was wrecked on a rock, about eighteen miles to the eastward of Cape Ray, and distant from the Main three-fourths of a mile, on the evening of the 10th of July, and it was only by watching the occasional fall of the surf for a few hours each day; till the following Tuesday, that the mate and crew with two boats, and the assistance of a fisherman in a small boats 12 feet long, saved those in the accompanying list. The mate informs me that 200 passengers were said to be on board, though he thinks several infants were not reckoned, as their passage was not paid, and the crew, master included, were eleven in number. Four men and ten children died on the rock from starvation, five children and one woman, died on the beach, four men perished in the woods, and one woman and one boy in the boats of this ship, whilst on their passage from the place of shipwreck. By a comparison of numbers, it appears that thirty-six at least were drowned; of that number two infants were washed from their mother's breast, whilst on the rock, and of one family, six were swept off after they obtained a footing. I have taken the liberty of troubling you with the list, as from your situation at the port whence the vessel sailed, you will most propably have the readiest means of making the same known, and thus quieting the feelings of relatives and friends at once. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, R. Grant ________________________________________ To the Collector of Customs at Londonderry. A list of Persons saved from the wreck of the Brig Dispatch William Lancaster the late Master, and conveyed from Port aux Basque, Newfoundland, to Halifax, in his Majesty's ship Tyne:— County of Tyrone Michael Sheils James McGonagle and Margaret his sister Edward McGowan Joseph Smiley and his wife and child John Smiley and his wife and two children Hamilton Parkhill and his wife, child, and sister, (brother lost) John McPartridge, Mary his wife and James, Archibald, John, Samuel, and Martha their children Mary McManus all of Donagheady John Henderson, Skirts John Scott, Ardstraw Robert Shaw and his wife and child John Nickson and Margaret his wife John Bagster Baxter Martha his mother and Thomas and James his sons (two sons and two sisters lost) Thomas and William, brothers of John Bagster [Baxter] George his nephew Annie and Catharine his sisters all of Cappagh County Tyrone George Boyle and James Monaghan, Kilskerry Edward Sheils and James Armstrong, Drumra Charles Cochran, Strabane, (died on board the Tyne on the morning of the 26th of July) John Williamson Wm. Moor Wm. McMonagle and C. McMonagle his mother Robert Gorman Margaret Gordon (her husband lost) Catharine Bryan all Leckpatrick. Hugh Harper, Termanamongan Alexander Kail,[Kyle] Termanamongan, and Eliza his wife. County of Donegal James Gallagher, Rathmullan James Dougherty, Turboil Charles Porter and James Roulston, Langfield Hugh M'Laughlin, Dunaghmore Mathew Fulton, Tullaghabegley Thomas McClean Alexander McCauley and Mary his wife, (one son lost) Dennis Dougan and Anne and Grace, his two daughters of Ray Letterkenny Jaffles Smyth, Ostragh Samuel Spence, Tullaghaghness John Armstrong, David O'Hara John O'Hara and Mary his wife Joseph Hart and Mary his wife, and Thomas, Margaret and Eliza, their children, (lost two sons;) Margaret Thompson Noble Kilgrace and his wife Rachael of Urney Alexander Aljoe David Hamilton Martha his sister and Robert his brother, (father, mother) and two sisters lost) of Tullybeg Hugh Dougal, Cloaghaneely William Ayers Mary Graham, (her husband lost) Rose Gallagher of Raphoe James Williams and Mary Williams his wife, Burt Donegal Anne Duncan Mary Mahaffy and her two nephews, James and John King (her father, mother, and sister lost) Mary McMonagle and her son James, (one child lost.) of Taughboyne John Brown and Isabella his wife, (one son lost) Mary McBeth of Donoughmore Charles Smullen and his wife and child, and William Cassidy, his step-son, Tullaghobegly Eleanor Johnston, Templecarn Robert Moore his wife Margaret and child Sarah, Ramelton Patrick Callaghan and his wife Lydia, Conwell County of Londonderry John McMullan and James his brother, (father, mother, two sisters, nephew, and female servant lost) of Termanveny Thomas McCleland William McCleland William White of Drumachose John McMaster Martha his sister, and William his brother; of Glendermot John Craghan, Upper Cumber James M'Ginnis, Aughaloo John Hull Robert Hull Baltreagh Benjamin M'Kay, Macquanane Patrick McManus Rose O'Neill Cumber James Marshal, Glendermot George Steel, Drumachose (his brother lost) Sarah Anne Hyndman James Robinson Glendermot James Cerrigan Robert McElhenny Faughanvale Biddy Mullens, Bannagher James M'Culloch, his wife and child, (one son lost) Kill, County Cavan Neal McTaggart Daniel Arnott and his wife and 11 children John, Daniel, and David, his sons all grown up, Duncan, aged 10, Andrew 1, Elizabeth grown up, Agnes 14, Catharine 12, Jane 8, Mary 5, and Martha 3 all of Campbeltown, Argyleshire William Frazill and Anne his wife, (one son lost) Killead, County Antrim

You are visitor number:  to Ulster Ancestry

Ulster Ancestry - Ancestral Research, Family Research Services, Genealogy Reports, Free Ancestral Research Forum and Ancestral Information

All Content is Copyright Ulster Ancestry, Family and Ancestral Research