Tag Archives: shipwrecks

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2021.54.32

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Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Henry Nisbet, Tobermory Procurator Fiscal, by Finlay Fraser, Detective Constable, regarding the discovery of a human body on the shore at Sandaig on 26 January 1860. The deceased could be identified as George Murray, captain of the smack Swan of Belfast, by their appearance, the location of the body and by papers found in the deceased’s pockets. The Swan of Belfast was wrecked in January 1860.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

 

2022.21.1

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Photograph and sample of gutta-percha from a bale found embedded in the machair shore at Sandaig (NL 936 436) by visitor Jennie Hynd in September 2022. The extent of the lichen and vegetation on the bale suggests that it had been there for some time.

Gutta-percha is a stretchy, rubbery material, derived from the latex of the Palaquium gutta tree in Malaysia. During the second half of the 19th century, gutta-percha was imported into Britain in vast quanities and used as insulation for underwater electrical cables, golf balls, chewing gum and root canal treatment. Synthetic materials have since largely replaced it.

Bales of gutta-percha have been washed up on the beaches of western Europe for over 100 years, with many likely to have come from ships wrecked during WWI such as the Japanese liner Miyazaki Maru, which was sunk by a German U-boat off the Scilly Isles in 1917.

 

 

2021.54.97

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Transcript of a Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal regarding the deaths of Mathew Byrne Mate, Robert Mackay, Thomas Wedick, James Donley or Donelly, James Kehoe (all of Arklow) and Herman Hallander (of Sweden) in 1885.

The deceased were all serving on board the Brigantine ‘Nancy’ of Dublin, which sank on 8 February 1885 after striking ‘Dubhsker’ (Dugh Sgeir) an outlying rock about three miles to the North West of Craignish Point (Cràiginis or Rubha Chràiginis), Tiree. The Captain, Richard Kerrow (Arklow), was rescued.

Richard Kerrow (above), Alexander Cameron (Moss), William McNeil (fisherman, Balevullin), Murdoch MacLeod (Police Officer, Tiree) are named as witnesses.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.89

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Transcript of Inventory of Precognition submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal regarding a dead body washed ashore at Caoles, Isle of Coll, on 11 April 1873. The body was discovered at the wreck of the Brigantine ‘Richard Thomson’ of Belfast. A description is given of the clothing on the body, and the items found in the pockets.

Statements are provided by:

Alexander MacFadyen (crofter, Caoles, Coll)
Hugh MacLean (crofter, Caoles, Coll)
John MacFadyen (crofter, Caoles, Tiree)
Alexander MacDougall (son of Lachlan MacDougall, Caoles, Coll)
Hugh Campbell (cottar, Caoles, Coll)
Allan MacDonald (labourer and fisherman, Caoles, Tiree)
Lachlan MacDougall (farm manager, Caoles, Coll)

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From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.68

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Transcript of a Complaint from Archibald Campbell (Receiver of Wreck, Tiree) to Mr Colin Campbell regarding an alleged theft from the wreck of the Maria and Fanny in August 1868. Archibald Campbell requests a warrant to search the houses of Alexander McDonald, Farquhar McDonald, Hugh McArthur, John McArthur, Hugh Kennedy (all cottars, Balephuil) and Angus McArthur (crofter, Balephuil) on suspicion of plundering from the wreck of the ‘Maria and Fanny of Milford’. Campbell also writes to William Sproat Esquire on the matter.

The Maria and Fanny was wrecked near Kenavara in August 1868 with the loss of two lives. An account of this can be found in 2021.54.65.

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.65

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Transcript of Inventory of Precognition investigating the death of Joseph Evans and William James on 8 August 1868. Evans (cook and seaman on board the Maria and Fanny) and James (Master on board the Maria and Fanny) drowned on the wreck of the Maria Fanny of Milford Devon Wales. The Maria and Fanny was on a journey between Ayr and Limerick with a cargo of coals, but hit a rock – ‘bo-more’ (possibly Bogha Mòr) – near Kenavara in a storm.

The transcript contains descriptions of clothing and tattoos found on the deceased, as well as some descriptions of their bodies. Thomas Davis mentions the following locations in his account of the ship’s journey: Lamlash (Isle of Arran), ‘Torry’ Island (perhaps Tory or Toraigh Island), Skerryvore, Tiree. The transcript names Archibald Campbell as Receiver of Wrecks at Balinoe.

Statements are provided by:

Angus MacArthur (crofter, Balephuil)
Malcolm MacArthur (crofter, Balephuil)
Alexander MacDonald (fisherman, Balephuil)
Donald MacArthur (son of and residing with Angus MacArthur, Balephuil)
Duncan Cameron (Constable, Tiree)
Thomas Davis (seaman, Pembroke)
James Brown (seaman, Pembrokeshire)
William Thomas (seaman, Devon)
Donald McArthur (fisherman, Balephuil)
Archibald Brown, (farmer, Balephuil)
Archibald Brown (seaman, Mannal)

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.64

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Transcript of Precognition investigating the loss of the Barque Grav von Scheffen of Rostock (Barque Graf von Schlieffen of Rostock) in August 1868. The transcript contains an account by Arfst Baalandorf Staormon (mate on board the barque, Island of Fahr [Föhr], Schleswig-Hostein) of how the barque ran aground on a reef off the Isle of Iona while it was carrying salt and soap on a voyage from Liverpool to Halifax and back. The transcript mentions locations including: Maidens Light (possibly Maidens Lighthouse), Skerryvore, Tiree, Dhu Heartach and Iona. A record for the wreck of this barque is available on Canmore.

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From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.38

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Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses against John MacDonald on charges of fraud, October 1860.

John MacDonald (of Tobermory) was working as pilot on board the steamer Cantie Queen in August 1860 when he was approached by Roderick McKenzie and John Campbell on behalf of John MacDonald (the accused) with an offer to work as Master of the smack Mary Balfour. Later, MacDonald (of Tobermory) was asked to wreck the vessel at Barra for the sum of £20.

The report makes mention of various locations, including: Lancefield Quay, Glasgow; John Rankin’s Spirit Celler, Broomielaw; Londonderry; Jeantown, Lochcarron; Davidsons spirit Cellar near Lancefield Quay; McLachlan’s Spirit Shop, Jamaica Street; the Clyde Hotel, Broomielaw; Crinnan; the Isle of Canna; Custom House, Glasgow.

Statements are provided by: John MacDonald (seaman, Craigspure, Tobermory) and Neil Darroch (seaman, Tobermory).

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

2021.54.34

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Transcript of Precognition of Witnesses submitted to Henry Nisbet, Tobermory Procurator Fiscal, regarding the sudden deaths of Malcolm McKinnon and Ann or Nancy MacDougall or Burnett on 3 October 1860. McKinnon and MacDougall/Burnett died when a mail packet ran ashore in Glenbeg, near Loch Sunart, during a storm. Statements are provided from:

Hector Lamont (master and owner of a mail packet, Kirkapol. Brother-in-Law of Malcolm McKinnon, deceased)
Archibald McFadyen (seaman, Kirkapol)
Niel McLean (crofter, Ruaig)
Niel McKinnon (Arinagour, Coll)
Alexander Campbell (Inland Revenue Officer, Broadford, Isle of Skye. Sister-in-Law of Ann or Nancy McDougall or Burnett)

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

 

2021.54.32

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Transcript of a Police Report submitted to Tobermory Procurator Fiscal by Finlay Fraser (D.C., Tiree) regarding the discovery of a body on the shore of Sandaig. The body was possibly one of the crew of the smack Swan of Belfast, which was wrecked on 10th January 1860, and was likely the body of George Murray (Captain, Swan of Belfast).

Click to read a transcript of this item.

From the liveArgyll Archives in Lochgilphead, made available through the Written in the Landscape project.

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