Here is a fairly obscure S. Georgia wreck circa 1811----$12,000 is specie aboard
- Thread starter Jolly Mon
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Southern_Digger
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Interesting... I believe I have seen this one before, or a mention of one similar in Niles National Register. I have researched that in microfilm or microfische at one of our local Universities many years ago. I understand someone actually scanned or transcribed Niles and it is now available online. However, the cost to access is way too much considering you would pay much less for microfilm copies or on microfische.
Galleon Hunter
Full Member
1811. American schooner Elizabeth City, Captain John H. Merian, sailing in ballast from Nassau, New Providence to Charleston with $20,000 in specie on board foundered off the coast of Georgia during a storm. The Charleston Courier of October 14, 1811, reported the following “melancholy particulars” of the loss of the schooner:
On the 26th experienced a violent gale of wind in which the schooner was thrown upon her beam ends, and while in that situation her fore-mast went by the board and the gale coming with very little intermission. Captain M. concluded it most prudent to endeavor to make some port to the southward, and on the morning of the 2nd instant (October 2, 1811), finding himself off St. Simons Harbour (Georgia), and it still blowing a gale, he endeavored to run into that place; but the vessel unfortunately struck upon the North Breaker, and after beating for about three hours, during which time she knocked off her rudder, she worked over, and immediately filled and sunk in four fathoms water and about eight miles from the nearest shore. At this dreadful moment when inevitable death appeared to await them all, an attempt was made to launch the boat, but she was drawn down in the whirl-pool occasioned by the sinking vessel. Mr. Broadbrooks saw his companions sinking around him, but being a good swimmer, he determined not withstanding the fury of the storm, to attempt to reach shore; Mrs. Flemming, a lady passenger, in the act of sinking, caught him by the lapel of his jacket, and would immediately have carried him to the bottom with her, had he not the presence of mind to disengage himself, by tearing off that part of his jacket to which she had fastened herself; he saw her sink beside him, her arm extended above the water, with part of his jacket fast clenched in her hand. After swimming and drifting before the tide and wind for about twelve miles, Mr. B. landed upon the marsh, nearly up to his middle in water, in which situation he remained through the night, when he was fortunately relieved. Two Negroes likewise saved themselves by swimming, and reached the shore.” The following people perished: Captain John H. Meriam (formerly of the house of Meriam and Perry, of Charleston), master of the Elizabeth City; the widow Mrs. Flemming who had been residing in Nassau but was returning to Philadelphia; Mr. Uriah Noah (a Charleston resident and former native of Philadelphia), supercargo of the Elizabeth City; Mr. Smith (a native of Ireland, but lately a resident of New Orleans), who had about $7,000 in specie with him; and three negro seamen who were part of the crew. Mr. Broadbrooks also reported that a boat had been sent to the wreck by one of the U.S. gunboats after the gale, but nothing had been saved by the time he left.
H. Niles in his Weekly Register reported only $12,000 in specie as lost and said she wrecked on the “North Breaker.”
On the 26th experienced a violent gale of wind in which the schooner was thrown upon her beam ends, and while in that situation her fore-mast went by the board and the gale coming with very little intermission. Captain M. concluded it most prudent to endeavor to make some port to the southward, and on the morning of the 2nd instant (October 2, 1811), finding himself off St. Simons Harbour (Georgia), and it still blowing a gale, he endeavored to run into that place; but the vessel unfortunately struck upon the North Breaker, and after beating for about three hours, during which time she knocked off her rudder, she worked over, and immediately filled and sunk in four fathoms water and about eight miles from the nearest shore. At this dreadful moment when inevitable death appeared to await them all, an attempt was made to launch the boat, but she was drawn down in the whirl-pool occasioned by the sinking vessel. Mr. Broadbrooks saw his companions sinking around him, but being a good swimmer, he determined not withstanding the fury of the storm, to attempt to reach shore; Mrs. Flemming, a lady passenger, in the act of sinking, caught him by the lapel of his jacket, and would immediately have carried him to the bottom with her, had he not the presence of mind to disengage himself, by tearing off that part of his jacket to which she had fastened herself; he saw her sink beside him, her arm extended above the water, with part of his jacket fast clenched in her hand. After swimming and drifting before the tide and wind for about twelve miles, Mr. B. landed upon the marsh, nearly up to his middle in water, in which situation he remained through the night, when he was fortunately relieved. Two Negroes likewise saved themselves by swimming, and reached the shore.” The following people perished: Captain John H. Meriam (formerly of the house of Meriam and Perry, of Charleston), master of the Elizabeth City; the widow Mrs. Flemming who had been residing in Nassau but was returning to Philadelphia; Mr. Uriah Noah (a Charleston resident and former native of Philadelphia), supercargo of the Elizabeth City; Mr. Smith (a native of Ireland, but lately a resident of New Orleans), who had about $7,000 in specie with him; and three negro seamen who were part of the crew. Mr. Broadbrooks also reported that a boat had been sent to the wreck by one of the U.S. gunboats after the gale, but nothing had been saved by the time he left.
H. Niles in his Weekly Register reported only $12,000 in specie as lost and said she wrecked on the “North Breaker.”
Galleon Hunter
Full Member
Account given in Savannah on Oct. 10[SUP]th[/SUP] by the mate Joseph D. Broadbrooks
1. EC sailed Sept. 25[SUP]th[/SUP] in ballast from Nassau, New Providence for Charleston, SC
2. On Sept. 29[SUP]th[/SUP] it was blowing a gale of wind right ahead [i.e., from the NE].
3. The Captain thought it best, for the safety of the crew and passengers, to put into St. Simons. On Oct. 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] while going in EC struck on the North Breaker.
4. After striking [on the North Breaker] for about three hours she got off [also “drove over”] but sank in four fathoms water.
5. Broadbrooks was in the water nearly seven hours [also “The mate was seven hours in the water”], and at last landed on the marsh, about 12 miles from the wreck.
6. Mrs. Flemming, one of the passengers, was found about four hours [elsewhere “was found on shore four hours…”] after being drowned, and was buried on St. Simons Island.
7. Broadbrooks eventually made it to St. Mary’s and from there sailed to Savannah in the sloop Polly arriving in Savannah Oct. 10[SUP]th[/SUP]. The Captain of the Polly saw a ship and brig in distress off St. Simons (probably around Oct. 9[SUP]th[/SUP]), but the violence of the wind prevented him from assisting. The sloop Eliza sailed from Savannah around Oct. 10[SUP]th[/SUP] with Broadbrooks aboard and arrived in Charleston on Oct. 12[SUP]th[/SUP].
Account given in Charleston Oct. 12[SUP]th[/SUP] or 14[SUP]th[/SUP] by the mate Joseph D. Broadbrooks
1. EC sailed Sept. 25[SUP]th[/SUP] in ballast from Nassau, New Providence for Charleston, SC
2. On Sept. 29[SUP]th[/SUP] EC experienced a violent gale, and was thrown on her beam ends with the foremast breaking off.
3. Gale continued with very little interruption, the Captain decided to try to make for some port to the south.
4. On the morning of Oct. 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] the Captain found himself off St. Simons harbor. It was still blowing a gale, and he tried to run into the harbor.
5. The vessel struck upon the North Breaker, and after beating for about 3 hours, during which time the rudder broke off, the vessel worked over and immediately filled and sank in 4 fathoms water, about 8 miles from the nearest shore.
6. A desperate attempt was made to launch the lifeboat, but it was drawn down in the whirlpool caused by the sinking vessel.
7. Despite the fury of the storm Broadbrooks, being a good swimmer, swam and drifted before the tide and wind for about 12 miles.
8. Broadbrooks landed upon the marsh, nearly up to his middle in water, and remained in that situation through the night, when he was saved.
9. Two blacks also saved themselves by swimming and reaching the shore.
10. The body of Mrs. Flemming, one of the passengers, was found about 4 hours after she drowned and was buried on St. Simons Island.
Sources: Charleston Courier (Oct. 14, 1811); Charleston Times (Oct. 14, 1811); and numerous other newspapers accounts.
1. EC sailed Sept. 25[SUP]th[/SUP] in ballast from Nassau, New Providence for Charleston, SC
2. On Sept. 29[SUP]th[/SUP] it was blowing a gale of wind right ahead [i.e., from the NE].
3. The Captain thought it best, for the safety of the crew and passengers, to put into St. Simons. On Oct. 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] while going in EC struck on the North Breaker.
4. After striking [on the North Breaker] for about three hours she got off [also “drove over”] but sank in four fathoms water.
5. Broadbrooks was in the water nearly seven hours [also “The mate was seven hours in the water”], and at last landed on the marsh, about 12 miles from the wreck.
6. Mrs. Flemming, one of the passengers, was found about four hours [elsewhere “was found on shore four hours…”] after being drowned, and was buried on St. Simons Island.
7. Broadbrooks eventually made it to St. Mary’s and from there sailed to Savannah in the sloop Polly arriving in Savannah Oct. 10[SUP]th[/SUP]. The Captain of the Polly saw a ship and brig in distress off St. Simons (probably around Oct. 9[SUP]th[/SUP]), but the violence of the wind prevented him from assisting. The sloop Eliza sailed from Savannah around Oct. 10[SUP]th[/SUP] with Broadbrooks aboard and arrived in Charleston on Oct. 12[SUP]th[/SUP].
Account given in Charleston Oct. 12[SUP]th[/SUP] or 14[SUP]th[/SUP] by the mate Joseph D. Broadbrooks
1. EC sailed Sept. 25[SUP]th[/SUP] in ballast from Nassau, New Providence for Charleston, SC
2. On Sept. 29[SUP]th[/SUP] EC experienced a violent gale, and was thrown on her beam ends with the foremast breaking off.
3. Gale continued with very little interruption, the Captain decided to try to make for some port to the south.
4. On the morning of Oct. 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] the Captain found himself off St. Simons harbor. It was still blowing a gale, and he tried to run into the harbor.
5. The vessel struck upon the North Breaker, and after beating for about 3 hours, during which time the rudder broke off, the vessel worked over and immediately filled and sank in 4 fathoms water, about 8 miles from the nearest shore.
6. A desperate attempt was made to launch the lifeboat, but it was drawn down in the whirlpool caused by the sinking vessel.
7. Despite the fury of the storm Broadbrooks, being a good swimmer, swam and drifted before the tide and wind for about 12 miles.
8. Broadbrooks landed upon the marsh, nearly up to his middle in water, and remained in that situation through the night, when he was saved.
9. Two blacks also saved themselves by swimming and reaching the shore.
10. The body of Mrs. Flemming, one of the passengers, was found about 4 hours after she drowned and was buried on St. Simons Island.
Sources: Charleston Courier (Oct. 14, 1811); Charleston Times (Oct. 14, 1811); and numerous other newspapers accounts.
Jolly Mon
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Great stuff, Galleon Hunter.
If the mate's description is accurate---and it should be if they were aground for 3 hours---then there really aren't too many places the ship could be. 8 miles or so offshore in 4 fathoms of water just off the North Breakers---my guess it they "dove" southward and went down somewhere between Red "4" and Red "8" on the current chart, being driven south by the NE winds.
One wonders if the dredge for the modern channel got the wreck...
On the other hand...
The dredging for the modern harbor of Brunswick has greatly altered things...
This might be a VERY tough nut to crack...the tidal range here can be up to 9 feet as well...
If the mate's description is accurate---and it should be if they were aground for 3 hours---then there really aren't too many places the ship could be. 8 miles or so offshore in 4 fathoms of water just off the North Breakers---my guess it they "dove" southward and went down somewhere between Red "4" and Red "8" on the current chart, being driven south by the NE winds.
One wonders if the dredge for the modern channel got the wreck...
On the other hand...
The dredging for the modern harbor of Brunswick has greatly altered things...
This might be a VERY tough nut to crack...the tidal range here can be up to 9 feet as well...
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old man
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Thanks for the post. I have an old fishermans map. He lists a snag that caught his nets near there. It might be the wreck you are posting about. Then again, it may not.
mtholen
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My aunt and uncle live on St Simons
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