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The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
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Ship Robert and Betty wrecked off Madeira on October 12-13, 1750s?, with 240 passengers bound for South Carolina; only 26 survived due to captain's negligence. Sloop Ranger also lost but crew saved. Brig Hope set to sail October 18.
Merged-components note: Extract from Madeira letter including shipwreck details and additional sailing information.
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In the Night between the 12th & 13th Inst. the Wind being southerly, was drove ashore upon the Rocks here, the Ship Robert and Betty, Capt. Thomas Cotman, bound from Liverpool to South-Carolina, with about 240 Passengers on board, Men, Women & Children, who proposed to settle upon the back Frontiers of that Province ; there were only 26 People saved in all : A melancholy Instance this of the bad Consequences of trusting a Vessel with an improper Commander.-- The Captain was a worthless drunken Fellow; and during two Days he was here, before the Accident happened, never moored his Vessel, but lay at a single Anchor ; and without parting his Cable, she fairly drove in, and was upon the Rocks to the Eastward of the Bay, before they let go a second Anchor ; for though our Road was full of shipping, no Vessel that was properly moored, so much as drove excepting a small Sloop from North-Carolina with Lumber, the Ranger, Solomon Spanton, who parted an old rotten Cable of only 50 Fathom long, and driving foul of another Vessel was cut adrift and came ashore also, but all the People were saved."
The Brig Hope, Capt. Marshall was to sail about the 18th of October, for this Port.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Madeira
Event Date
Night Between The 12th & 13th Inst.
Key Persons
Outcome
only 26 people saved out of about 240 passengers on robert and betty; all people saved from ranger; ship wrecked on rocks due to poor mooring and southerly wind.
Event Details
The Ship Robert and Betty, Capt. Thomas Cotman, bound from Liverpool to South-Carolina with 240 passengers intending to settle on frontiers, drove ashore on rocks in Madeira due to southerly wind and captain's negligence in mooring at single anchor. Captain described as worthless drunken fellow. Only 26 saved. Exceptionally, sloop Ranger, Solomon Spanton, from North-Carolina with lumber, also drove ashore after parting rotten cable but all saved. Brig Hope, Capt. Marshall, to sail about October 18 for this port.