Maritime record MWX2102 - Colville

British West Indiaman wrecked on Chesil Beach, 23 November 1824.

Dreadful effects of the late tempest:...Portland...Seventeen men belonging to the COLVILLE, Wilson, wrecked in West Bay, have been picked up and buried in Portland...A part of the wreck has been saved, viz 8 casks of rum, 1 of wine and 15 bales of cotton... (2) `One of the 17 men picked up in West Bay and buried was Henry Gosling, passenger, who had the singular presence of mind to cut off a piece of his shirt and, having written his name and London address on it, and the fact that the captains wife lived at No.53 Mount Street, Whitechapel, the poor fellow tied it round his neck and died in the sea with the rest. (3) `A most tremendous gale at about SSW was experienced on Monday night, and throughout the whole of Tuesday... (4) `Weymouth, 25th Nov. We have experienced one of the severest hurricanes that ever visited this coast - nothing but ruin and devastation surrounds us - the loss of property and lives is immense. The COLVILE, Wilson, from Demerara to London, came on shore about 3 miles to the westward of Portland on Monday, and in five minutes not a vestige was to be seen; all on board drowned; 17 bodies are already thrown up by the sea; 8 casks of rum, 15 bales of cotton, and one cask wine saved. (4) Source (1) states the date of loss as 23-NOV-1824, but 22-NOV-1824 is indicated in (4). NB: The loss of the CARVALHO (q.v.) may be a variant account of this loss, since the two vessels virtually all details in common. Additional references quoted in (6) Master: Wilson Crew: 25 Crew Lost: 25 Passengers Lost: all (at least 1) The building date for this vessel is an estimate based on an average age at wrecking of twenty years. This average is derived from those vessels wrecked on the Dorset coast whose age at wrecking is known.

Record last edited

Jan 23 2020 12:07PM