Trusty, 17 January 1809

The ship Trusty, a West Indiaman, Master James White from Bristol to Tobago was totally wrecked on 17 January 1809 on the Brazen Head Rock, off Brownstown Head, at the entrance to Tramore Bay. Only 7 people out of 23 on board were saved:

     We regret to state that on Tuesday evening between two and three o’clock, the ship Trusting, of about 350 tons, James White, master, of and from Bristol, for Cork to join convoy, and from thence to proceed to Tobago, struck on a rock called the Brazen head, near the signal tower, off Brownstown, where she went to pieces in less than half an hour, and out of her crew of 21, and two passengers, only seven persons were saved, viz.-John Liston, first mate, William Gardner, second mate, Mathew Engleholm, carpenter, William Lewis, cook, John Gleeson, seaman, George Wesley, apprentice, and Peter Savage, seaman. The two passengers were Master and Miss Smith, of Tobago, who had been sent to England for the purpose of being educated, and were on their return to their parents.

      Great praise is justly due to Michael Kennedy Esq. for his humanity to the survivors and his unremitting endeavours to save as much of the cargo as possible, which consisted of dry goods, earthenware, &c. Nor should the promptitude with which Lieutenant E Thraskon, of the single tower, lent his assistance, go unnoticed.[1]

The Trusty was actually registered as a ship of 306 tons burden, with a draught of water of 17 ft., when loaded. Built in 1790 in Bristol, she was owned by a Mr Daniel and held an E1 classification in 1809. Captain White, born c 1766, was an experienced mariner, having captained the ship since 1800, when he was aged 34; he made several journeys to Demerara and Barbados, in the ensuing years. In his obituary, written in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, the cause of the wreck was said to be as a consequence of the pilot in the dark, mistaking Tramore Bay for the entrance to Cork Harbour:

During the whole time of impending destruction, Mr White remained perfectly calm, employed in encouraging the crew, and preparing means for their preservation. Though an excellent swimmer, he would not attempt to escape by himself, nor quit a boy, who was a passenger, and clung closely to him. He was a man of great integrity and firmness of mind, united with the kindest affections, and with a strong sense of religion, of the rational and cheerful kind; qualities that rendered him respected by all who knew him.

Aged 43 at the time of the wreck, White was buried in Drumcannon graveyard, the funeral service being performed by Reverend John Cooke on 22 January. The burials of the other victims were not recorded in the Drumcannon parish register.

The sloop, Appledore, of Barnstable was stranded in Tramore Bay on the same evening, but was later salvaged.

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[1] Waterford Mirror, 21 January 1809.