Loss of H.M.S. Harpooner 1816


Newspaper reports of H.M.S. Harpooner, which was wrecked off the southwest coast of Newfoundland in November 1816. George Debden, a private in the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion, was one of many who lost their lives.

MORE INFORMATION on the wreck of H.M.S. Harpooner, including articles from the Quebec Mercury and extracts of letters from T. Stott esq. (Paymaster), can be found on
The Lower Saint Lawrence Maritime History Web-Site


Source: The Times, 13 Dec 1816, pg.10

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK

The Royal Gazette of the 19th of November, published at St. John's, Newfoundland, announces the melancholy loss on that coast of the transport ship Harpooner, Joseph Briant, Master, with more than half of the unfortunate people with whom she was freighted. The Harpooner left Quebec on the 27th of October, bound for London, with invalids and detachments from the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion, and other corps stationed in Canada, and a number of women and children, in all 330. The ship struck a reef of rocks off Cape Pine, on the 10th ult. and shortly filled with water, when a number of people between decks were drowned. the vessel kept together until three o'clock in the morning of the 11th, when the wreck was hailed by the mate and four others, who had ventured on shore in a boat, at the hazard of their lives, and informed the sufferers of their situation. For the boat to return was impossible; a line was therefore fastened round a dog, which fortunately happened to be on board, and, being thrown over, he swam with it on shore, which was the means of saving the lives of the master, crew and about 160 passengers. When the vessel some time afterwards went to pieces, upwards of 100 persons were precipitated into the ocean and persished.
Cabin passengers saved - Captain Prime, 4th Royal veteran battalion, and Lady; Lieut. Milrea, ditto, eldest daughter and son; Paymaster Scott, ditto; Mrs. Wilson and eldest daughter; Miss Armstrong, Captain Wilcock, 103d regiment; Ensign Gleeson, ditto.
Cabin passengers lost - Surgeon Armstrong, 4th veteran battalion, his lady, son, and two youngest daughters; Lieutenant Wilson, ditto, son and two daughters; Mrs. Milrea, and two youngest daughters; Miss Pilmore, and three sons of Captain Prime.

Another Account, Portsmouth Dec. 11
Arrived his Majesty's ship Tiber, with Admiral Pickmore's flag, in eight days from St. John's, bringing home the Captain abd part of the officers and crew of his Majesty's late ship Comus, which was wrcked on the 24th of October, in St. Shot's Bay, on the south-west coast of Newfoundland. She also brings home the melacholy intelligence of the total loss of the Harpooner transport, with a detachment of 400 troops on board, some of the royal artillery, a detachment of the 103d regiment, and the 4th royal veteran battalion; the latter on their way home to be disbanded. She went ashore (precisely on the same spot where the Comus did, so short a time before) on the night of the 10th of November, at half-past nine at night. In about half and hour after she struck, the sea, running over her, washed all but one small boat overboard. A great many of the passengers were drowned before they could get on deck. At daylight the next morning the mate and four men volunteered to go ashore to endeavour to procure assistance. Immediately on their reaching the rocks, the boat was dashed to pieces; the mate and men succeeded in gaining to the shore; but not being able to procure any assistance, they went opposite the ship, and hailed them to send a rope on shore. after trying many ineffectual ways, Providence at last induced them to tie a rope round the body of a Newfoundland dog which they threw overboard; the dog immediately made for the shore, but was prevented from landing by the surf drawing him back five different times; at last the sailors, by lowering each other down, and by their feet succeeded in drawing the dog on shore, just on the point of sinking. The master of the ship, on board, made a large rope fast to the small one, which was hauled on shore by the mate and men: they then rigged a sling with a block to sit in, by which means all those saved were hauled on shore. Out of the 110 who were saved is a Mrs. Wilson and daughters. Her husband, Lieutenant Wilson, of the 4th veterans, and his three children, were drowned - a most melancholy event, as she has not a friend or relative left in the world. Captain and Mrs. Prime, of the same regiment, were saved, but lost all their children. Miss Armstrong lost her father, mother, brother, and two sisters. Mr. Armstrong was surgeon to the regiment. The paymaster is also saved, a nd had fortunately left his family at Quebec. Miss Milrea is among the number saved; also Captain Willcock, of the 103d, to whom great praise is due for his exertions in conducting the men, and to whom the ladies are all indebted for their safety. Mr. Greeson, of the same regiment was also fortunate in gaining the shore.
The ship went to pieces the following day, when every one that was left on board perished. The rest had all arrived at St. John's previous to the Tiber's leaving, and were to have embarked in another transport for England on the 3d instant. The greatest praise is due to the cool deliberate conduct of the master and crew of the vessel, in saving the lives of the soldiers.
Nothing could exceed the hospitality and kindness of the inhabitants of the island to the crews of these two ships. The cause of both these ships being wrecked, is from the very great indraft into the different bays of the islnd - they both went on shore in a thivk fog. The is mentioned as a caution to all ships gijg on that dangerous coast.

Source: The Times, 4 Jan 1817, pg.2

WRECK OF THE HARPOONER

RETURN OF THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAVED FROM THE WRECK OF THE HARPOONER, ON THE 11TH NOV, 1816

Officers 4th Royal Veteran Battalion - Capt. Prime, Lieutant Mylrea, Paymaster Stott.
Sergeants, ditto - Robert Forrest, Thomas Worrisley, Richard Jacques, Joseph Jackson, Sol. Sheppard, Thomas Ascot (left at St. John's)
Corporals, ditto - William Earl, Robert Haslen, and James Linfield
Privates, ditto - Francis Galsen, Wm. Cox, James Lain, Samuel Lowe, John Lunn, Thomas M'Gowan, James Dash, Wm. Broughan, Thomas Cox, Robert Young, John Poull, John Jones, Michael Mulcahy, Peter Forster, James Parker, John Church, Henry Collins, James Hampshire, Edward Hulburt, Edward Owen, Barnard Nowland, James Hinds, Joseph Morgan, Robert Major, James Doran, John Murphy, John Ford, John Dean, John Dunn, William Plowman, James Sulivan, Morris M'Carthy, Joseph Bailey, Henry Spence, Joseph Smith, James Smith, James Griff, Charles M'Geary, John Cuff, Andrew Rogers, Samuel Rogers, Wiliam Brown (1), William Brown (2), George Mills, William Batt, James O'Brion, Patrick Munro, John M'Skimmen, John M'Laughlan, Edward Carr, Joseph Kirkham, James Scott, John Hardia, John Malone, Timothy Marrah, Jas. Brady, James Wright, John Thomas, Joseph Wild, and John Haddiley (left at St. John's.)
Mrs. Primes and Mrs. Wilson
Elizabeth Morgan, Mary Lindfield, Eleanor Ascott, Elizabeth Haddleley, Ann Jones, Ann Harvey, Mary Mylrea, Frad. Mylrea, Sarah Wilson, Harriott Armstrong, John Dean, Alexnder Dean, William Harvey, Mary Acott and Henry Ascott.
Sergeants, Royal Artillery - John Jackson, Peter Moorhead, Peter Roy, and Thomas Humphrey.
Privates, ditto - James Barber, John Newton, Alex. M'Donald, James Daker, Samuel M'Doull, John Fitsgibbon, John Adams, John Bates, John Lomes, John Clark, James Little, James Shields, James Davison, Robert M'Bean, Robert Bresband, Jas. Smith, Andrew Davis, James Crawford, James Woolhouse, David Lundie, James Redley, Thomas Derbyshire, Alexander Hasloy, John Sibbings, George Hanetorth, and Walter Peterson. Sergeants, Artillery Drivers - [---]Hidden and Thomas Holoway
Privates, ditto- John Orrey, Samuel Stone, Mark Bladlord, Jos. hilton, Wm. Barley, Wm. Heart, Wm. smith, Thomas Dolphin, E. Collins, Alexander Cameron, and John Salsbury.
Privates 41st Regiment - James Connor and Cors. Buckley.
Private, 49th Regiment - John Hanlon
Sergeant , 76th Regiment - D. Redmond
Privates, ditto - James Bacon, John Booker, Patrick Dunn, Wm. Kirby, Wm. Lowe, Wm. Orling, John Tarr, and Wm. Willock.
Privates, 99th Regiment - James Irwin, Samuel Own, James Burns, and David Donahue.
103rd Regiment - Captain Willock and Ensign Gleeson.
Corporals, Robert Lang, Wm. Murray, and Wm. Marrott.
Privates, Glengary Fencibles - Wm. Rolling, John Speekman, and David Burns.
Privates, De Meuron's Regiment - David Ruskett and Geo. Shorean.
Women of the Royal Artillery - Catherine Henry, Margaret Roy, Catherine Standford, Margaret M'Doull, Ann Fitzgibbons, Catherine Holdor, Rose Hitton, and Ann Holoway.
Woman of the 99th Regiment - Ann Owen
Children of the Royal Artillery - Thomas Holoway and Wm. Henry
Child of the 99th Regiment - Elizabeth Owen

RETURN OF THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN LOST IN THE WRECK OF THE HARPOONER, ON THE 11TH OF NOV. 1816.

4th Royal Veteran Battalion - Lieutenant J. Wilson, Surgeaon Armstrong.
Sergeants - John Asher, Robert Higginson, John Chisney, Wm. Harvey. Corporals - Thomas Oxley, Thomas Keel, Patrick Conway, Joseph Whalton, James Wren, Edward Haywek, Thomas Price.
Privates - Thomas Russell, Gabriel Urey, Alex. M'Bean, Thomas M'Carthy, Thomas Street, Benjamin Ratcliff, George Debden, Francis M'Gowan, David Hulks, Lawrence M'Lean, Richard Murphy, George Kent, Samuel Bailey, W. Burke, George Barber, Wm. Crips, John (?Callow), Stephen Cole, Thomas Savage, John Cooper, T. Fulding, George Hall, T. Radditt, David Rushton, Samuel Lear, T. foster, Daniel Gorman, Michael Kelly, Joseph Miller, E. Mooney, James Shuliver, William Whiffen, Henry Williams, Sam. Thomas, Robert Jones, John Perkins, William Crumpton, Richard Holden, John Darley, James (?-latman), Edward Spinks, Edward Kenny, Francis Leadbater, Thomas Railey, George Thornhid, John Stevens, James Sarrieon, Thomas Drury, John David 1st, John Davis 2nd, Thomas Pylan, George Bennett, Dan. Goodwin, William Lane, Patrick Holland, High Hagan, William Heath, Martin Shea, Thomas Stone, Charles Golden, Patrick Whelling, James Smith, James Mathews, James Field, John Lomes, Thos. Johnson, John dillon, John Carnichan, William Quenlan, Jos. Pass, Thos. Youle.
Mrs. Mylrea and Mrs. Armstong, Officers' Wives.
Eleanor Jackson, Mary Carnichan, Jane Quenlan, Ann Smith, elizabeth Price, Eleanor Haycock, Mary Thomas, Mary Perkins, Ellen Crumpton, Elizabeth Jones, Sarah Dean, Margaret O'Brien, Susan Thomas, Sarah Pass.
Children - John Prime, James Prime, Henry Prime, Rose Mylrea, Sophia Mylrea, John Wilson, Louisa Wilson, Jane Pilmore, Peter Cuff, Sydney Armstrong, Louisa Armstrong, Frances Armstrong, George Dean, John Jacques, Robert Thomas, Ann Thomas, George Perkings, Mary Perkings, William Harvey, Sophia Harvey, Mary Harvey, Joseph Jackson, Elizabeth Sheppard, John Price, William Price, Thomas Price, David Price, William Quenlan, Mary Haycock, Thomas Haycock, Ann Thomas, William Thomas, Mary Thomas, John Asher, Mary Craig, and William Ascott. This is the loss of the Royal Veteran Battalion.
Royal Artillery - John Auchney, James Houlder, John Brown, James Pardia, John M'Leod, Richard Price, George Heartley, Thomas Gillchat, and Samuel Henry.
Artillery Drivers - Corporal John Hedenot
Privates - William M'Call, James Halam, Mark Mulion, Thomas Salsbury, Smuel Porter, William Hockney, and Joseph Shackelton.
70th Regiment - Edward Burns
76th Regiment - Corporal William Canady
Privates - F. Colman, William Frith, William Gohar, Thomas Horten, William Wayatt, William Mountain, John Nolson, James Plackett, James Snell, James Steer, Joseph Perch, and Samuel Guthrie.
99th Regiment - James Palmer, Patrick Dunn, John Lawson, and John Henry.
103d Regiment - Corporal Edward Bell
Privates - Philip Francis, Robert Rinyley, Jmes Pack, Henry Smith, George Williams, William Windsor, and Michael Brian.
Glengary Fencibles - Charles Crammer
De Meuron's Regiment - Lewis Orno
Royal Artillery , woman - Janes Jackson
Artillery Drivers - Margaret M'Call and Elizabeth Hidon
70th Regiment - Ann Burns
76th Regiment - Jane Canady, Ann Lowe, and Mary Barrett.
Children of the Royal Artillery - Sarah Jackson, Ann Jackson, Mary Jackson, Mary Henry, Julia Henry, Ellen Fitzgibbons, Ann Fitzgibbons, and Matilda M'Duell.
Children of the Artillery Drivers - William M'Call, Ann Hadinot, John hidon, Mary Hidon, and Arthur Hidon
Child of the 76h Regiment - William Canady
Children of the 99th Regiment - Bridget Owen, Catherine Owen, and Ann Owen.



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