Maritime record MDO47929 - Swift 1776 British victualler

1776 wreck of British victualler which foundered off the Bill of Portland after catching fire. Part of a convoy which had just left Portsmouth en route from London to Quebec, and laden with bread and rum, she was a wooden sailing vessel. Status: Casualty

`The SWIFT, Boyd, from London to Quebec, is burnt off Portland with the loss of 2 officers & 7 men.' (1)

`Extract of a letter from the BUTE, of Portland, March 18. "We left Portsmouth last Saturday, under convoy of the TRITON man of war, our fleet consisting of 3 victuallers, 3 transports, and the man of war. Last night we were alarmed by the SWIFT victualler being on fire. I instantly jumped out of bed, and oh! dreadful sight! saw it entirely on flames. The man of war and some other vessels hoisted out boats, which saved several of our soldiers and seamen; 11 of the former were brought on board our ship, and Mr M'Clellan, the naval officer of it. It seems it broke out in the after-hold among the bread bags; it catched the rum directly, and hopes of saving were impossible. It is thought that our two officers, Messrs Bernard and Bennet, with a corporal's wife, are drowned. I am afraid there are more. Time will discover. PS: Since writing the above I am informed the woman is saved, but 5 soldiers are drowned." ' (2)

On Board: at least 20 (2)
Lives Lost: 9 (1); 7 (2)

Date of Loss Qualifier: A

The building date for this vessel is an estimate based on an average age at wrecking of twenty years. This average is derived from those vessels wrecked on the Dorset coast whose age at wrecking is known.

<1> 1745 onwards, Lloyds list, 6-MAR-1776, No.731 (Serial). SWX8434.

<2> Cumberland Paquet, 28-MAR-1776, No.76 (Serial). SDO20624.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1396612 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 28 2024 8:04PM