Shipwrecks in Tramore Bay and its Environs, 1700-1858

Mary, 20 January 1791

The Mary, Master J Dwyer, was a single decked brig, 70 tons burden, Irish built in 1787, with a draught of water of 9 ft. when loaded. She was owned by Salts & Co, classified as A1 and was last described as a constant trader between Waterford and Newfoundland.[1]

Saturday morning about five o’clock, the brig Mary, captain Dwyer master, bound from Waterford to Milford, with 150 recruits on board run aground off the bay of Tramore, but providentially none of the crew perished. In the confusion which this accident occasioned, several of the recruits who first gained the shore escaped into the country.[2]

The Mary arrived at Carrick on Tuesday 7^th June in ballast from Waterford,where she lay this good while, having been under repair there, since her being stranded at Tramore; her repairs, ‘tis said cost over £400. She came to Carrick under the command of Captain Joe Dwyer, but the command was shortly taken from him.[3]

She later voyaged to Cadiz, under a new master in 1792.

[1] Lloyd’s Register, 1791.

[2] Finn’s Leinster Journal, 26 January 1791.

[3] Michael Coady, Editor, James Ryan’s Commonplace Book, Carrick 1993, page 4.

Alfred, October 1788

The Alfred was a brig, single decked with beams, 120 tons burthen, with a draught of 12 ft. when loaded, built Newbury in 1761, owned by Teage & Co, classified as I1 and described as a constant trader between Dartmouth and Newfoundland.

The Alfred, Bailey, from Newfoundland to Dartmouth is lost in Tramore Bay.^{^[1]}

[1] Lloyd’s List, 28 October 17; Lloyd’s Register 1786.

Amiable Felicia, 1 October 1786

Extract of a letter from Dublin October 7:

Sunday last, the Amiable Felicia, Captain de Brosse from Martinico, for Rochelle, with a valuable cargo of sugar, coffee, &c. put into Tramore Bay, in the county of Waterford, in distress for water and other provisions, having been at sea since the middle of August. The crew consisting of 16, besides the officers, had been at the scanty allowance of two biscuits and four ounces of cheese in 24 hours, for the last three weeks, and had…..weight of any eatable on board, when they made the coast of Ireland. The master and crew are in miserable health, and are now supplying the vessel with a sufficiency to carry them home. This extraordinary delay was the more afflictive to the merchants concerned, as 16 per cent were offered to ensure, but refused at London, and several ports on the west coast of France.^{^[1]}

[1] Oxford Journal, 14 October 1786.

Industry, 20 January 1786

The industry was a single decked brig, 50 tons burden, with a draught of water of 9 ft. when loaded, built in Jersey in 1763, she held an E1 classification and was described as a constant trader between Waterford and Jersey.[1]

Last Friday night the brig Industry, of and from Jersey, John Heroult, master, bound for this port, laden with fish, oil, and ballast, was drove into Tramore Bay. The cargo and crew were saved, but it is thought the vessel cannot be got off.[2]

[1] Lloyd’s Register, 1786.

[2] Saunder’s Newsletter, 26 January 1786.

Hibernia, 24 December 1785

The Hibernia, Master Doyle Waterford to London, all hands perished. Four other unknown vessels were reported to be lost on the coast.[1] She was a brig, single decked with beams, of 120 tons burden, with a draught of water of 12 ft. when loaded, British built in 1777, owned by Pimm & Co, she held an A1 classification and was described as a constant trader between Waterford and London.[2]

Cork January 4…. the brig Hibernia, Captain Doyle which sailed from passage last Saturday se’ennight, laden with beef, butter, and pork, for London, was totally wrecked, in the late storm, off Tramore, and all the crew ten in number, unfortunately perished. Part of her cargo has been driven ashore at Tramore; and we hear the bodies of the captain and mate have been also washed ashore.^{^[3]}

[1] Lloyd’s List, 13 January 1786.

[2] Lloyd’s Register, 1784.

[3] The Times, 20 January 1786.

Adventure & Dartmouth, 5 December 1785

The Dartmouth, Master Tozer was a brig, 120 tons burden, single decked with beams, with a draught of water of 10 ft. when loaded, built in Biddeford in 1773, owned by Leigh & Co; she held an E1 classification and was described as a constant trader between Dartmouth and Newfoundland.[1]

Waterford, December 9, Last Monday night, the brig Adventure, of Bolton, Joshua Wiley, master, bound from Cape Fear, in North Carolina to Liverpool, with tar and staves, was entirely wrecked in the bay of Tramore, one man lost, but some part of the cargo saved.

The vessel lately put into Tramore Bay is called the Dartmouth, Henry Tozer, master, bound from Newfoundland to this city and Dartmouth with oil and passengers. Her cargo is all providentially saved by the timely interposition of Messrs O’Brien and Hunt, merchants; and the vessel got safe into Rhineshark harbour by the activity of Captain Hurly, of this city, and captain Tozer, a circumstance very uncommon for vessels in that dreadful bay.[2]

[1] Lloyd’s Register, 1786.

[2] The Times, 19 December 1785.

Dungarvan Ferry, November 1785

Last Sunday during the storm, the Dungarvan ferry-boat, with two men and one woman in it, without oars, passed by Tramore. A boat put out to their assistance, but could give them no relief, the sea ran so high. At the close of the evening they were seen going out to sea.[1]

[1] Freeman’s Journal, 26 November 1785.