Maritime record MWX1722 - Charles

The following three paragraphs are quoted from LL; it is not known whether the first paragraph definitively refers to the CHARLES; the latter do, however, certainly describe this wreck: `Cowes, 1st April. The QUEBEC PACKET, Atkinson, arrived here, fell in with between Portland and the Needles, a quantity of wreck, and masts and bowsprit fit for a ship of from 3 to 400 tons. `Portland, 30th March. A vessel has been wrecked here, supposed to be a brig, coal-laden; the end of her bowsprit, jib-boom, companion, capstan, and timber-heads, could be seen. On Wednesday night and Thursday morning it blew a tremendous gale with a very heavy sea. `31st March. A chest containing clothes, letters, etc. was picked up off this place by the JOHN and POLLY fishing smack; the letters were directed to Capt. John Beswick, of the brig CHARLES of Scarbro. A sail has also been taken to Portland, marked `Wm. Moses, Scarbro. (3) Scarborough, the CHARLES, foundered off Portland.(4) Source (2) gives the date of loss as the month of APR-1827, in the form of a reporting date. Source (1) gives vessel type as a brig, (2) as a snow.

Built: 1812
Master: C Donkin (2); Charles Beswick (3)
Lost in the late gale. (2)

Additional sources: DCC.05.04.1827 (not at Colindale).This vessel is only known from documentary evidence. The location given is only approximate.

<1> 1976, Dorset magazine : the county magazine vol. 50, p19 (Article in serial). SWX4560.

<2> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<3> 1745 onwards, Lloyds list, 03-APR-1827, No.6208 (Serial). SWX8434.

<4> 1836, Parliamentary papers 1836, Select Committee on Shipwreck, 1827., Page(s) 335 (715) (Monograph). SWX5216.

<5> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, 562 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<6> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 20 (Monograph). SDO16406.

Snow – Captain C. Donkin. (Larn:) – Portland. May be more information in Dorset County Chronicle: 5/4/1827 & Lloyd’s Register: 1827 No. 452(C). Trim: has Brig from Scarborough? See also: “The Brig foundered in the English Channel off Portland Bill, Dorset before 7 April with the loss of all hands.” Portsmouth, April 7 & The Morning Chronicle Issue 17960. 9 April 1827.

<7> 1817, Durham County Advertiser, 07-APR-1827, No.657 (Serial). SDO14749.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1231739 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 22 2024 1:19PM