Five omissions, 1779-82

Unknown French Vessel, 22 January 1779

On Friday night, a French vessel bound for Bordeaux to Martinico, laden with wine, flour, pease and a prize to the Guernsey privateer was wrecked to the westward of Tramore. The crew were lodged in jail and most of the cargo is saved, but the vessel cannot be got off.[1]

Maria Theresa, 15 January 1780,

‘Last Saturday night a Dutch vessel laden with flax feed, bound to Dublin was drove on shore on Tramore Bay. The cargo will be saved but the master, mate and 4 of the crew unfortunately perished.’^[2]

To be sold by public auction, at Tramore Strand, near Waterford, on Thursday and Friday the 27^th and 28^th January instant, for Account of the Insurers, viz. the Brig maria Theresa, with her main and foremasts, stays, shroud, boltsprit, windlass, capstain and pumps, all standing; burthen about 200 tons, old England built and uncommonly strong.

The sails, cables, anchors, yards, topmasts, rigging and materials, belonging to the said vessel, carefully taken down in good condition.

The cargo of the said ship, consisting of about 700 sasks of flaxseed, the growth of Flanders last season, part of which is perfectly sound and dry, fit for sowing, and part damaged by water, fit for being made into oil; in lots of ten casks each.

And about 500 oak staves, three feet long. Payment in cash, or approved Dublin bills, according as each article will be struck off.

The ship, at a moderate expence, may be transported to the channel of Ringneshark, very near the spot where she lies. Waterford, Jan. 22, 1780.[3]

Resolution, 3 July 1781,                  

The Resolution, Master M Cragg, a sloop of 60 tons burden, with a draught of water of 10 ft. when loaded. Built in Minehead in 1764, she was owned by Devonshire, classified as A1 and was last described as a constant trader between Wales and Cork.[4]

Waterford, 4 July yesterday, about ten o’clock in the forenoon, the sloop Resolution, of Minehead, Mathew Craig, master, with coal, bound from Swansea to Cork, was drove ashore at Rathwhelan cove, near Ballymacaw, in a violent gale.[5]

Patty, April 1782,

The Patty, Master T Scriven, was a single decked brig, 50 tons burden, British built in 1764, with a draught of water of 10 ft. when loaded. She was owned by R N Tory, classified as E1 and was last described as a constant trader between Cork and Newfoundland.[6]

The Patty was lost in a gale of wind in Tramore Bay, on a voyage from Cork to Newfoundland, master Scriven.^[7]

Vrow Christiania, 27 November 1782

The Vrow Christiania, Master A Shea, was a three masted, square rigged ship of 370 tons burden, Dutch built 1770, and a draught of 14 ft. when loaded. She was part rebuilt in 1782, held E1 classification and was described as a constant trader between Dartmouth and the West Indies.[8]

Waterford, Nov. 29. Last Wednesday, the Vrow Christiania, (a large vessel) Andrew Shea master, a Dutch ship based in Liverpool, with provisions from Cork for the West Indies was drove on shore at Tramore Bay, and is gone to pieces. The crew and a small part of her cargo were saved.[9]

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[1] Saunder’s Newsletter, 28 January 1779.

[2] Caledonian Mercury, 31 January 1780.

[3] Saunder’s Newsletter, 26 January 1780.

[4] Lloyd’s Register, 1782.

[5] Dublin Evening Post , 7 July 1781.

[6] Lloyd’s Register, 1782.

[7] Lloyd’s List, 16 April 1782.

[8] Lloyd’s Register, 1782.

[9] Dublin Evening Post, 3 December 1782.

Lifeboat Committee

1858 was a significant year in the history of Tramore, as the first lifeboat committee was established, although the first lifeboat in the bay arrived a year later in 1859. The shipwrecks after this date are already well documented.

Neptune, 10 September 1858

Shortly before four o’clock this evening (Friday), we learned that a vessel was driven into Tramore Bay about half past two o;clock, the wind blowing fresh from S.S.W., and we immediately despatched our reporter to ascertain all particulars about her. On arriving at Tramore he at once, through a telescope, saw a vessel ( a schooner), lying about half a mile or more from a point at Brownstown Head, in the channel of Rhineshark, on being for nearly an hour on the bar-after clearing which, a signal gun to anchor, from the coast guard, was fired, which was instantly attended to, and she lay there comparatively safe when we left (six o’clock). She never attempted to weather out, and with some trouble put in= without mainsail, carrying only a topsail, foresail, and jib. She lay in the channel at 6 o’clock, when our reporter left, and he was informed by an old naval gentleman that she had every chance if the wind veered round to the east or north of working her way out of the bay by the channel, she having fortunately succeeded in getting into the safest point of the bay under Brownstown Head.

     So near did she go to the Rhineshark shore that the crews of two boats there easily boarded her, and up until that time there was not the slightest danger of a wreck. Her hull is painted black, and also portions of her masts.

     We are informed that she is a Norwegian schooner, laden with ice, and consigned to Mr. Joseph S. Richardson, of this city.

Mr. James, jun., of Tramore, who rode down to the Rabbit Borough, in view of the schooner, picked up a board, about a foot square, on which were painted in black letters-“Chateau, St. Julian.”  She probably belonged to some foreign wrecked vessel, during the late tempestuous weather.

     Two boats put out from Tramore to board the schooner, and no doubt, succeeded in doing so, but they had not returned at six o’clock. The town was quite on the qui vive during the evening, the storm wall, strand and rabbit borough were thickly studded with persons of both sexes, in hourly expectation of seeing-to them a novelty-a “shipwreck.”

     The schooner lies within about 600 yards of where “La Capricieuse” was wrecked, nearly six months ago.[1]

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[1] Waterford Mail, 11 September 1858.

La Capricieuse, 25 January 1858

                                                              Wreck and loss of life at Tramore

On Monday morning last a wreck, which was unfortunately attended with loss of life, occurred at Tramore Bay. It appears from all that can be gathered on the subject, that a French vessel, La Capricieuse, laden with coals from Llanelly to St, Malo, with a crew of seven men, had been, for some time previously to the catastrophe, beating outside the bay of Tramore, the sea running mountains high at the time. Shortly afterwards, the vessel, waterlogged, drove into the bay and struck on Rhineshark point, remaining there in a most perilous condition. The coast guards put out in their boat to the relief of the vessel, but could not approach her; when a yawl, with four brave fishermen, put out and succeeded in reaching the vessel, the crew of which they took on board; but on her return, a heavy sea struck the yawl and upset it. At this time the coastguard boat, which had lain on its oars, came to the rescue, and, taking six men on board, brought them safely to the shore. She then returned, and found three men holding on by the keel of the upturned boat whom she took on board; but three who remained behind after the coastguard boat had first went to land, viz., John Fitzgerald, and Thomas Crotty, fishermen and Pierre Dubois, one of the crew, had met a watery grave. Had there been a life-boat here it is believed that all hands would have been saved. The vessel is now dry at low water. We are glad to learn that a subscription list is now in course of signature for the relief of the families of the brave fishermen, who, to save the lives of others, sacrificed their own.[1]

Wreck Sale – On Tuesday last Mr. Thomas walsh, Auctioneer, put up for sale the hull, cargo, spars, rigging, 7c., of the brig “Capriceux,” wrecked on Rhinehark Bank, Tramore. The hull sold for £5, and the cargo-over one hundred tons of Llanelly coal-for £13.[2]

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[1] Waterford News, 29 January 1858.

[2] Waterford Chronicle, 6 February 1858.

Red Deer, 10 January 1858

We perceive it is reported in the Shipping Gazette, that on the 10^th instant a jibboom and a ship’s boat, painted black outside and white within, has been washed on shore at a place called Tramore, situate between Waterford and Cork. The report further states that the letters on the stern are nearly obliterated, but as well as could be distinguished, they appear to be ‘Redbere,’ William Lumsen. We have no doubt, therefore, that she belonged to the ill fate schooner ‘Red Deer,’ of this port, William Rumson, as she has been overdue from the Mediterranean, with a cargo of corn, for several weeks. She had spofen with both off Lisbon and Oporto. The Red Deer is nearly a new vessel, having been very recently launched from the building yard of Mr. Mayn, at the Bar.[1]

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[1] Lake’s Falmouth Packet, 23 January 1858.

Neptune, December 1857

Hope On, March 1857

 A sum of £30 has been  awarded by the Admiralty Court to a boat's crew belonging to the Lady's Cove, Tramore, for preserving the brig Hope-on, now lying in this port, from becoming a toial wreck Tramore Bay. It appears that on Sunday evening, March 29, the above-named vessel.[1]

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[1] Freeman’s Journal, 27 April 1857.