The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The transport ship Martha, from New-York, bound to St. John's, was cast away on a ledge of rocks, at the mouth of Lobster Bay, near Mud Islands, on the 23d of September. She had on board about one hundred men, women and children, of the corps of Maryland Loyalists: out of which number 42 only were saved: There were also on board between sixty and seventy of the second battalion of Delancey's brigade, of whom 23 only escaped. The long boat was stove, as she went over the side, by the main mast falling on her: after which, the master (one Willis) went off, by the most cruel of all cheats, with the small boat, and a few seamen and six soldiers who swam after the boats, leaving the unhappy souls on board to their fate, without a prospect of relief from any quarter. Providentially, the second day after, four fishing boats came into the Bay, belonging to Marblehead, Cape Ann and Salem, and took up, from various rafts, to the number of 65 persons, who were just on the verge of perishing, and landed them safely at Yarmouth, a small settlement at the head of the Bay.

Out of twelve officers, three only survived the distress, viz. Capt. Kennedy, Capt. Sterling, and Ensign Gill, all of the corps of Maryland Loyalists. The officers of the 2d Delancy's are all supposed to have perished, viz. five in number.

For the honor of humanity, and in justice to the persons concerned, we are happy to publish the names of the masters of vessels, who exerted themselves, at the risk of their own lives, (the waves running high) to save the few who survived the distress, viz.
Joseph Melder Laurence, of schooner Josephs
Stephen Jenkins, ditto Lively Sally;
Samuel Willwitham, ditto Traveller's Wonder
Nicholas Pigot, ditto Two Brothers.

The foregoing account was written, and communicated to the Printer, by one of the unhappy persons who were taken off the wreck of the ship.