Chart of Tramore Bay

Chart of Tramore Bay

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Endeavour, 2 December 1778

The Endeavour, C Reilly master, a brig of 140 tons burden, with a draught of water of 11 ft. when loaded, built in New England in 1760, she was owned by S Sprat, classified as E2 and was last described as a constant trader between Poole and Newfoundland.[1]

Waterford 4 December, last Tuesday evening, the Brig Endeavour of Poole, Cornelius Reily master, from Mortier in Newfoundland to this port, laden with fish and oil, was drove into Tramore Bay, and stranded. She landed 100 passengers in Crookhaven, the remainder and the crew, consisting of 14 men, 2 women and 3 children, happily got ashore safe. The cargo will be saved, but it is thought the vessel cannot be got off.[2]



[1] Lloyd’s Register, 1782.
[2] The Gentleman's and London Magazine; or Monthly, vol XLVIII, Dublin 1778, page 702.

The Four Sisters & The Two Brothers, 10 April 1777

Last Friday, in a hard gale of wind, the snow Four Sisters, Captain Meldall, bound from Arundel to this port, with balk and deals, was drove into Tramore; the cargo and crew were saved, but the vessel lies dry on the beach, is greatly damaged and its thought cannot be got off.
       At the same time the ship two Brothers, Peter Nelson Morck, master, bound from Dram to Ross, laden with deals, was drove into Tramore, and is since gone to pieces; the cargo and hands were likewise happily saved.[1]

To The Committee for Conducting the Free Press
Gentlemen,
                 Of all the acts of benevolence on which the human mind can exercise its powers, the extension of aid and assistance to shipwrecked mariners is certainly the foremost; a most remarkable instance of which has lately been shown to two Danish ships and their crews, forced by a storm into the bay of Tramore, six miles from this city, on Friday the 10th instant. One called the Four Sisters, Captain Mendall, master, bound from Arundel with balks and deals, 400 tons burden; the other bound from Dram, Peter Neilson Morck, master, of 300 tons, laden with deal boards only.
      When the masters of the above ships found themselves within the two heads which form the entrance to the bay, and seeing nothing before them but present death, all efforts to weather the heads proving ineffectual, they cast their anchors and cut down their masts, but the tempest was to violent, the sea so high and the ships so heavy, that their cables soon went like packthread and they ran adrift into the bay, about one o’clock in the morning of Saturday the 12th instant.
       Mr John Rogers of Tramore coast officer, seeing their situation, on the evening of Friday the 11th, and that they must inevitably be shipwrecked, continued out the whole night; when they came near the shore and struck, they vainly hoped, by the assistance of their longboats to be able to reach the beach, he rode out, at the imminent danger of his life into the sea to his saddle skirts and waved his hand to them to continue in their ships, the two ships being near each other and nigh the shore, but the captain and mate of one of them would not be persuaded to do so and they immediately leaped into the longboat, which as soon as it had quitted the ship, overset, cast them into the sea and was presently dashed to pieces.
         Mr Rogers seeing the situation the captain and mate of the Two Brothers were in, formed a line of men from a final cable he brought with him fastened to the beach, and with the utmost difficulty and danger to his own men, who waded into the sea, they brought the captain and mate on shore. The tide falling, the remainder of the crew, and the crew of the other ship, all got safe to land. The storm still continuing, and the sea running mountains high, the next tide of flood split the ship called the Two brother to pieces, and the whole strand was covered with her deals.
But bellies the humanity shown by this worthy gentleman, Mr Rogers, to the crews of each ship, ( who declared they expected to be knocked on the head by the country people, and the cargoes carried off) such has been his assiduity, his unwearied, indefatigable pains and attention, not only to the property of the unfortunate owners, but to his Majesty’s duties arising out of the cargoes, that I shall venture confidently to affirm, that not a single board, or a single piece of balk of either cargo has been rifled, or even lost. The salvage, compared with the bills of lading, prove my assertion.
        Mr Rogers having a comfortable landed property at Tramore bay, and always residing there before he came into revenue, has, from his repeated acts of humanity, distinguished himself in saving the lives of mariners and the cargoes of many ships wrecked in that bay; and he has so far civilised the inhabitants of that populous part of the sea coast, that not only the thanks of the public are due to him, (nay of the King of Denmark, if he regards the lives of near 30 of his subjects; that is, supposing Kings now a-days regarded the lives of their subjects) but his Majesty’s board of commissioners should take him into their immediate consideration, reflecting honour on the gentleman who (well knowing his merit) procured for him that trifling appointment: not that I would wish to see him ever removed from the place he is in, but he merits, if ever man merited, an ample augmentation of his salary, for I am well assured, and on enquiry it will be found, that he has for near 30 years past, ( though but four years in the revenue) saved more ships and cargoes, and the lives of more sailors, than any one man in his Majesty’s dominions.
         Perhaps, as a merchant, my regard for trade may on occasion carry me too far, but as we are a mercantile state, allowances will be made, and, in consideration thereof, the humanity, zeal, spirit and exemplary good conduct of Mr Rogers should be made known in all the public papers of this kingdom, by an extract from this letter, to urge and stimulate other coast officers by his example, to a strenuous discharge of their duty.
I am, gentlemen
      Your most obedient,
           Humble servant.
                          A.B.                                                                                                  Waterford, April 21.[2]

John Rogers was appointed coast officer in 1773, aged circa 47. He was born circa 1726, the son of Benjamin Rogers of Tramore. His father, Benjamin was one of the first individuals to promote Tramore as a tourist attraction advertising two slate lodges for rent and the availability of small plots of land to persons willing to build on them, in 1754, as there was ‘a want of proper accommodation for gentlemen, ladies and their attendants.’




[1] Saunder’s Newsletter, 17 April 1777.
[2] Freemans Journal, 22 April 1777.

Hendrik Berkel, Jan 1776; Harriot, Feb 1777

Waterford 2 February, a large foreign ship was wrecked last Wednesday night at Tramore and all on board drowned.’[1] 

Wednesday evening, a boat with a number of persons in her, was seen off Tramore in distress, but shortly after disappeared and all on board perished. It is supposed the vessel they belonged to was wrecked and that they took to the boat to save themselves. A quantity of juniper berries, some French gloces, a new gold laced hat, and a compass, hace been since washed ashore at Tramore. On the stern of the boat are these words, “Hendrik Berkel.”[2]

The Harriot, February 1777
The Harriot, Captain Eilly, a transport of 200 tuns burthen, in the service of Government, from New York, by bad weather, losing her main mast and cut away her main [……] with the rigging, which with other damage to her sails, prevented her clearing the headland, she was, after being in constant danger in Tramore Bay, got safe in Rhineshark. The captain met with the most humane and friendly assistance from Mister Alcock Esq., who was at Somerville, who put several useful hands on board, for which, he returns him thanks; and Jacob and [….] in behalf of the owners, request his acceptance of their hearty acknowledgement of such generous attention to succour the distressed.[1]



[1] Waterford Chronicle, 25 February 1777.



[1] Freeman's Journal, 7 February 1776.
[2] Freeman’s Journal, 6 February 1776.

Unknown Sloop or fishing boat, October 1775

‘During the storm last Thursday night, a fishing boat, with three persons on board, was lost off Tramore, and two of the hands perished; the other, an elderly man, was happily washed ashore alive.’[1]
Waterford October 21, Thursday last we had very high winds, attended with almost incessant rain. At night several chimneys were blown down, many houses stripped and other considerable damage done. From Passage we learn that the ferry boat that plys between that place and Ballyhack, was overset in a sudden squall, but the passengers happily swam to shore; a ship’s boat laden with fish, was sunk near the slip. And a sloop belonging to Dungarvan, dashed to pieces off Tramore and every soul on board unfortunately perished. We dread other dismal accounts from the coast.[2]




[1] Hibernian Journal, 27 October 1775.
[2] Freeman’s Journal, 4 October 1775.

King’s Weston, 25 January 1775

Waterford 31 January: Last Wednesday night the brig, King’s Weston, of Kinsale, William Loveless Master, was drove on shore to the westward of Tramore, in a violent gale of wind, the vessel was dashed to pieces and the cargo lost. She was loaded with coals, bound from Swansea to Kinsale, left Swansea on Tuesday last and sprang a leak in the storm on Wednesday morning. Two of the hands died before the vessel was drove in by fatigue of pumping. Soon as the vessel struck, a woman passenger, named Bennet, (wife of Serjeant Bennet, of the 9th Regiment) and her child were washed over-board and drowned; the master and mate got up in the fore-shrouds, and remained there till the sea ebbed far out, and then by the humane assistance of Mr John Rogers, Coast Officer and his people, they were hauled in from the wreck with ropes.[1]




[1] Hibernian Journal, 6 February 1775.

Sally, 7 February 1774

The Sally, Master Frampton, Poole to Liverpool lost in Tramore Bay on the 7th inst. crew saved.[1]

Waterford, 11 February, Monday night last, a sloop for Liverpool, with malt and barley, the sally, master Frampton was wrecked off Tramore, the master and crew were saved with much difficulty, but the vessel and cargo were entirely lost.’[2]




[1] Freeman’s Journal, 22 February 1774.
[2] Same, 12 February 1774.

St Simone Sacramento: 5 October 1772,

A Spanish ship from St. Ubes, (modern Setubal, Portugal) for Waterford. ‘Waterford  5 October 1772:
There is at anchor in Tramore, with her main mast gone, the Simone Sacramento, Antonio Simoiene, from St. Ubes to Waterford, & as the wind is south, she will not ride it out, the people quitting her, there is great assistance and if the wind comes to the west to attend her they will bring her in if she rides till then’.[1]



[1] Freeman’s Journal, 13 October 1772.

Unknown Schooner, 7 August 1772

We hear from Tramore, that a schooner, bound from Cork to Liverpool, in ballast, was during the fog on Wednesday night last, put ashore there, but it is thought she will be got off without any damage.[1]

Waterford, 11 August 1772:
A schooner in ballast, bound from Cork to Liverpool, which stranded at Tramore on Wednesday night, last, got off on Friday, without receiving the least damage.[2]




[1] Finn’s Leinster Journal, 8 August 1772.
[2] Same, 12 August 1772.

William, 5 December 1769

‘Last night was stranded the ship William, Captain Hurrow, Newfoundland, with fish, oil and passengers.’[1]
The "William" of Cork, Captain Harrow, from Newfoundland, with fish, oil, and passengers, was put on shore at Tramore Bay, Dec. 4th, and as it then blew very hard, it’s thought she will go to pieces.




[1] Freeman’s Journal7 December 1769.

Friendship, August 1769

‘Thursday morning, the Friendship, from Cork for Waterford, loaded with staves, was drove on the Tramore strand, but it is thought that she will be got off, without receiving any damage’.[1]



[1] Freeman’s Journal, 12 August 1769.

Unknown brig, June 1769

‘A brig with a lyon-head, burthen about 200 tons, bound from Dublin to some port in Munster is wrecked in Tramore Bay and the cargo entirely lost but the crew were saved.’[1]



[1] Dublin Mercury, 27 June 1769.

Two Friends, 10 March 1769

We hear from Waterford that a vessel was lost in Tramore Bay on Friday night last, her name and destination not yet known’.[1]

Kilkenny 15 March, we learn from Waterford, that on Friday last, the Two Friends, Captain Heney, on a journey from London to for that port, was drove upon a rock about two miles to the westward of Tramore, as she was making the harbour of Waterford, and unfortunately hove to pieces. The captain and eight of the crew perished, and two men only were saved; the cargo, which consisted chiefly of   tobacco, sugar, iron and hops, is entirely lost.[2]




[1] Dublin Mercury, 14 March 1769.
[2] Same, 16 March 1769; Lloyd’s List, 21 March 1769.

St Jean 1768, 31 December:

Saturday the 17th instant, the hull of a large vessel, with her masts, sails and rigging standing was drove ashore at Bonmahon, three miles westward of Tramore, on part of the estate of Lord Viscount Mount Florence; there was no living creature on board. She proves to be the St, Jean, supposed to belong to France; and, it is conjectured, the whole crew must have perished as two of the bodies have since been driven ashore.[1]




[1] London Chronicle, 5 January 1769.

The Earl of Sandwich, 30 November 1765

The ship was built in Yarmouth in 1762. She was 120 tons, single decked and owned by a Mister Polgrove.

The Earl of Sandwich, Cockran, from the Canaries for London, being drove by contrary winds up the Irish Channel, the crew rose on the 30th Ult. and murdered the captain, mate, a boy, a gentleman, his lady and daughter, passengers; after which plundered the ship and opened the ballast port with intent to sink her: since which we hear the ship was stranded in the river of Waterford.[1]

Dublin, Extract of a letter from Waterford, dated Friday the 6th instant:
Last Wednesday evening, at six o’clock, came in Captain Honeywell from Newfoundland.
(4th December) About four leagues to the SW of the Tower, he had like to have run foul of a large three mast vessel. The weather was very hazy, which prevented his seeing her. Her top gallant yards were up, and she was so deep in the water, that he could only see her rails. She had no boat on board nor could a living creature be seen.
     Upon this report, eight boats went out yesterday morning, but the sea was so high, they could not venture so far to the westward, and returned without being able to give any account of her. Yesterday morning some pipes of wine were drove on shore at the Islands of Cain, the estate of Mr Wyse; they have already saved fifty of them. Many persons imagine they came out of the above vessel; but I think she was too far from the land to have them stranded so soon. Mr Gahan, the Land Waiter, and a party of soldiers are gone to secure what is drove on shore.
        By a man who came last night from Ross, we learn that four sailors came there on Wednesday, and they were going to Dublin. They had several bags of dollars, numbered and made up after the Spanish method for the use of merchants. They were very prodigal of them at the Publick Houses, particularly to the females. They gave a large gratuity to a guide, and after purchasing a case of pistols, set off in the morning for Dublin.
     They suppose the above vessel to have been sunk on Thursday morning early, and gone to pieces, they have found part of her stern and other particulars, and yesterday they got in all 70 odd pipes of Madeira wine, capuchins, and women’s apparel; so that it is conjectured she had passengers on board. She is thought to have been a very rich ship, and from various circumstances it is believed those villains have murdered the rest of the crew, and afterwards scuttled her, and supposed she would have gone to the bottom soon after they quitted her.
     This instant a man was brought me who found on the strand of Garreras, a London cocket for a hogshead of sugar in loaves, going to the canaries, dated 10th of August 1765, and shipped on board the earl of Sandwich, signed William Bates; it was wrote on thin leather, and by that means preserved. We think it may give some light to the owners of the unfortunate vessel.
     By a gentleman just come from the Mayor, they have made out the cocket as follows: It is signed by William Bates, Comptroller of the Port of London, for one hogshead of refined sugar, containing eight hundred and eight pounds, dated the 5th of August 1765, marked O in a diamond, shipped by one Brye, on board the Earl of Sandwich, one Cochran, master, for the Canaries.
    By a tanner from Ross this day, we are informed two of the men’s faces already mentioned, were much cut, and upon being asked how they came by such wounds, they said they came from Mexico and were met by a pirate, and that they received some wounds in defending their treasure. Three of the four are English and the fourth, an Irishman.
 Inclosed I send you a copy of a letter from Ross; you may be assured the writer is a man of veracity. You cannot conceive what a noise this affair makes here.
Copy of a letter from Ross
There was an extraordinary affair happened here on Wednesday last: about ten in the morning, four tolerable well-dressed men came to a Publick House in this town, and called for a room, to which being shewed they deposited their bundles, with which they seemed very heavy loaded, and after about half an hour’s delay, three off them went off again, as they said, to bring the rest of their goods, leaving one of their company to take care of what they had brought; the three who went returned about four in the evening, and putting up what they had brought, ordered the landlady upstairs, and desired she would take the things, which they opened before her, and dry them before the fire; upon which they drew out a large quantity of necklaces, earrings, &c. which when she had dried, they made her a present of a necklace and earrings, which have been tried since and are set in gold; they changed 1250 dollars with one Moran here, and would exchange more had he gold to give them for the dollars; the landlady sewed up twelve large bags of dollars for them, and saw with them a large quantity of gold dust, and two ingots of gold.
   They set out for Dublin, yesterday morning, and were only six hours gone when there was a search made to stop them, as it appeared they came ashore at Fisherstown Marsh in a ship’s boat, in which there has been found twenty loose dollars. If you should hear in Waterford anything which gives any light into this affair, I would be obliged to you to advise me of it.
They let the boat go adrift at Fisherstown.[2]
Dublin, December 14:
         The three villains, who are in custody in Newgate for the murder of Captain Cochran, commander of the Earl of Sandwich, from Tenerife to London, Captain Glass, his wife and daughter, passengers on board, and the rest of the people in the ship, being separately examined, the purpose of their declaration was as follows: ‘They first knocked Captain Cochran's brains out with an iron bar; and then fell upon the two seamen, whom they soon dispatched; upon Captain Glass's hearing the noise, he ran up, and seeing what they were about, returned, as they imagined, for his sword; knowing him to be a very able resolute man, one of the villains followed him down the steps, and upon the captain’s returning with his sword drawn, the who went down took hold of his arms behind, and pinioned him; then called to his associates, who with a great deal of difficulty, disarmed him, run him through the body, and; upon making a second lunge, run their hellish companion through the arm.
       Captain Glass being murdered, none remained but Mrs Glass, her daughter, and two boys; they then told Mrs Glass that she must be thrown overboard, she fell on her knees and begged for mercy; the daughter hearing their resolution, the ran to her mother and clasped her in her arms, when those barbarians threw them both overboard. They then took to the longboat, expecting the ship would sink every moment, having opened the ballast port. One of the boys, being a good swimmer, leaped off the side of the vessel, and the boat being heavy laden with the money, he soon overtook her, and begged hard to be admitted; but to no purpose; he laid hold of the gunnel, when, the savages loosed his hands, and saw the creature sink just by them. The other boy, by a roll of the ship, fell overboard and was drowned.’         
        It is said they threw into the sea a large quantity of dollars to lighten the boat; that they buried a chest of money in the sands in Waterford Harbour, where they landed; and the remaining bags of dollars which they could not carry, they hid in holes in the rocks; after refreshing themselves at a village called Ballybrazil, they were robbed of 1300 Dollars. - It is said Captain Glass went from England to establish a Settlement on the Coast of Africa. George Galley, cook, the fourth villain, is secured at Carlow.
P.S. It is said the number of bags amounted to 250, each of which contained, as is supposed, 100 dollars. Two of the villains are English, one Dutch, and one Irish. They first scuttled the ship, supposing she would have soon gone to the bottom; this was about four leagues from Waterford, and she was so deep that her rails were just above water. Seventy pipes of Madeira wine floated ashore, with capuchins and women's bonnets, so that it is supposed the ship is now gone to pieces.
[3]

A part of the stolen goods were later recovered and the perpetrators were hanged and their bodies displayed on the Muglins Rock, off Dalkey Island. The ship was auctioned at the Customs House, Waterford, on 27 August 1766:
To be sold by public cant, on the Customs-house quay at Waterford, on Monday the 15th day of September next, one hundred and sixty three pipes, hogsheads and quarter casks of choice wines, of the growth of the Canary Islands, some raw silk and broad cloth, saved out of the wreck, Earl of Sandwich, stranded at Tramore, in the harbour of Waterford. The Cant to begin at eleven o’clock in the morning and to continue until all are sold.[4]

John Rogers of Tramore was said to have made a salvage claim on 23 February 1767 for the remaining 1,200 dollars that were found aboard.




[1] Lloyd’s List, 17 December 1765.
[2] Freeman’s Journal, 10 December 1765.
[3]Berrow's Worcester Journal, 26 December 1765.  
[4] Freeman’s Journal, 26 August 1766.

Providential Friends, 28 December 1763

‘We hear from Waterford, that the Providential Friends of Liverpool, Harrison, commander, bound from this port for thence, was wrecked in Tramore Bay, and but three of the crew were saved.’[1] 

The Providential Friend, Harrison, from Liverpool for Waterford, put into Drunmoor Bay the 28th instant in distress; the crew quitted her and took to their boat which overset, and out of 11 men, 8 of them perished.[2]




[1] Freeman’s Journal, 7 January 1764.
[2] Lloyd’s List, 10 January 1764.

Unknown: Dublin, 5 March 1759

Saturday se’enight, a very melancholy accident happened near the western point of Tramore Bay in the county of Waterford; a ship being forced into the bay by the late tempestuous weather, struck and went to pieces directly. Every person on board perished. It is not known where she was bound but suppose she came from London by some porter which was cast on shore by the tide and a parcel of staves, hoop & c.[1]




[1] London Daily Advertiser, 13 March 1759.

Port Glasgow, Waterford, 23 October 1756

In the storm which happened here on Wednesday night, the 6th instant, a ship, the name and master unknown, with passengers and convicts on board, was drove on shore at Ballymakaw, near Tramore Bay, and the crew, master, &c. on board her, to the number of twenty, perished in the sea, except the Super-Cargo, who had the good luck to save himself by getting ashore on a plank, but now lies dangerously ill; said vessel came from Glasgow, and was bound to Cork to complete her lading, and from whence to proceed to America; her said lading chiefly consists of wearing apparel, linens, and other dry goods. Proper persons are sent down to hinder her being plundered by the country people, and care taken to save and preserve as much cargo, hull, & c. of said ship, as is possible.[1]

Further details from Waterford, on 23 October:
Last Wednesday night, a vessel from Glasgow, bound to Cork, called the Port Glasgow, Alexander Haddington, master, was drove by the storm on a rock near Donmore, within a few miles of Tramore, near Waterford, where she was dashed to pieces: the master and twenty of the men on board, were found drowned on the strand next morning; two others had some life and were taken care of by a humane gentleman, notwithstanding which, one of them died the same day, the only man alive out of 23, is the super-cargo of the vessel. They were part of the goods saved, consisting of some linen blue and white checks, Scotch handkerchiefs, threads, stockings, & c. but the whole was very inconsiderable.[2]




[1] Pue's Occurrences, 23 October 1756.
[2] Belfast Newsletter, 29 October 1756.

The John and Marsha, 8 January 1745

On the 8th instant about 11 at night, the John and Marsha, from London bound to Dublin, laden with 470 quarters of malt, was wrecked in Tramore Bay, within five miles from Waterford. The master and men were saved but the ship went all to pieces in three hours’ time and the cargo was lost.[1]




[1] The London Post, 21 January 1745, Burney Collection.

Three Unnamed Wrecks, January 1732

The writer has not located any other wrecks in the area until three ships were wrecked on the same day in January 1732. From the London newspapers:
We hear from Tramore near Waterford in Ireland, that on Saturday morning last three ships were lost in that bay, viz. one from Harve, laden with apples, on board of which was Sir Richard Levings, who, with the crew, were saved; one from Bordeaux, laden with wine, whole crew, except two boys, were lost; and one from the west of England, laden with bark and staves, the crew saved.[1]  
   
The lack of recordings of wrecks in the bay during this time is probably due to the scarcity of newspapers and other official records from the period, as opposed to a lack of wrecks occurring in the bay. The 1732 wrecks were probably reported, because Sir Richard Levings was a baronet and one of the judges of the King’s Bench in Ireland.    

        






[1]London Evening Post, 13 January 1732, 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers.

Royal Navy Fire Ship 1703

The first ship to be recorded as wrecked in the vicinity of Tramore Bay was a navy fire ship that was driven against Brownstown Head in a raging storm on 17 November 1703:
News from Waterford, Mr Kent, Collector at Waterford in his letters to the commissioners on the 20th, says that, last Wednesday came in a ship about 50 tons, to anchor in Tramore Bay, but that night she was driven against Brownstown Head by a very violent storm and dashed to pieces. No lives were saved and the surveyor of Passage who was sent to look for wreckage, reports that nothing worth saving was found [details]. The bodies of dead men beaten to pieces against the rocks were found. Enclosed papers include a fragment of a commission to Lord Granville, Lieutenant-General of Ordnance, [details], gives rise to the belief that the vessel was a fire ship or bomb vessel belonging to the Queen.[1]          




[1] Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, Anne 1703-04, vol 2, London, page 209.

Tramore Bay

For centuries, Tramore Bay in County Waterford has held an infamous reputation as a graveyard of ships. The most famous of the wrecks being that of the Sea Horse transport, which driven into the bay and shipwrecked in a storm, almost two hundred years ago, on 30 January 1816. In 1738, William Doyle, the hydrographer surveyed the coast of the county and published a chart of Waterford Harbour and Tramore Bay. Doyle noted that the bay was notorious for shipwrecks and ought to be carefully avoided. According to Doyle, the real danger came in heavy weather when Hook Tower could be mistaken for Waterford Harbour. When the wind blows hard from SSE to SW tumbles in a great ground rolling sea which together with to a great in-draught towards Rhineshark Harbour, where the tide sets with great force and velocity, renders it almost impossible for embayed ships to weather the heads and the ground being generally as well on the east and west side, as almost over the bay foul and rocky cables are frequently cut, in this extremity such as can’t obtain Rhineshark ought if they possibly can endeavour, to run on shore between in the middle of the strand, the nearer to the  western end the better, where on a loose stony beach the water flows to a great height; by this means men and goods have been saved. The bay at the eastern third of the strand is all sandy and the tide is long approaching the shore and there flows very little, and ships are therefore at a great distance involved in great and terrible breakers. So that men are seldom saved.[1]




This blog chronicles the reports of shipwrecks, narrow escapes and other nautical occurrences of note in the bay area. Many of the references, while taken from contemporary published sources, were themselves at least second hand reports of the actual events. So while it is true to say that these events were reported on, it is a different thing entirely to say that they actually happened in the manner that they were reported. Many of the locations given are vague, some saying ‘near Tramore’ or ‘at Tramore’. It has become obvious that many of these instances actually occurred off Islandikane, Annstown and as far west as Bonmahon and to the east, off Ballymacaw and beyond. So for the purpose of completeness, the geographical area covered extends to these areas.  Many sources are drawn upon, Lloyd’s Lists and Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Bridget and Richard Larn’s, Lloyd’s shipwreck Index of Ireland, Edward J Bourke’s three volume, Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast, as well as Roy Stokes and Liam Dowling’s Irish Wrecks Database and Irish Wrecks Online. The majority of the newspaper reports are sourced from subscription websites, mainly the 17th, 18th and 19th century ‘Burney Collection of Newspapers’, the ‘British Newspaper Archive’, and the ‘Irish Newspaper Archive’.

[1] William Doyle, A new chart being an actual survey of the harbours of Rineshark and Waterford, Waterford 1738.