Treasure of the 1841 Mary Scott shipwreck

[Crow]

Gidday amigos gather round with favorite brew. The following shipwreck is almost forgotten to history. Yet it was vessel carrying treasure but seem no two sources seem to agree what she was carrying. That is why diligent research is need to confirm actual cargo.

Any sit back and enjoy the yarn I am going to roll out. Its hot in my part of world today and old Crow is on his second Makers Mark Bourbon whisky so please forgive any typos.

Crow

 

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[Crow]

The MARY SCOTT was a 248ton wooden brig built at Liverpool in 1828. Lloyd's Register notes that the brig had had a new deck and some repairs in 1840.

it was owned by Little and Co, and was registered at Liverpool. Its insurance classification was A1 and it was destined for use on voyages from Liverpool to Valparaiso. The master is given as Sadler.

Master Sadler was in command of brig when it was run down off Point Lynas but the BROOKLYN on 10 May 1841 and sank with all hands. The MARY SCOTT was carrying a cargo of copper ore as well as a reputed 28,000 silver dollars.

Sources include:

Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002

Lloyds List 10 May 1841 and 11 May 1851

Lloyds Register of British and Foreign Shipping from 1st July 1840 - 30 June 1841, entry 603 in M

Crow

 

[Crow]

The official archeological records is still missing. there is only an estimation where the wreck lay?

Archaeological remains associated with the loss of this vessel are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the vicinity.

Crow

 

[Mackaydon]

Crow,
I'll be sitting on a flipped orange crate waiting for each instalment.

.
Don in SoCal

 

[Crow]

Dreadful collision in the Liverpool channel

Yesterday seven unfortunate mariners, as part of the crew of the brig Mary Scott, Capt. Sadler, inward bound from Valparaiso, were brought into the King's dock in this port (Liverpool), by a fishing boat, having been found, in a small boat without sails and only two oars, tossing about the channel in an exhausted state, without food or clothing, on Monday last, 12th of May, 1841, having been in that perilous situation with stormy weather and a heavy sea running, for 24 hours, their vessel (the Mary Scott) having been run down and sunk in consequence of one of those frightful collisions at sea which, as in the case of the Governor Fenner, has recently excited so much melancholy interest.

Here is a picture of the Mary Scott Below. Mary Scott
Wooden brig built Liverpool 1828, owned Mrs Little, 248 tons Sunk from collision with Brooklyn 10 May 1841
Approximate position: 53°27' N, 4°16' W; near Point Lynas.Captain Sadler and 15 crew; lost 9.

Mary Scott: (painting by Miles Walters of Liverpool circa 1830)

Mary Scott: (painting by Miles Walters of Liverpool circa 1830)

Captain Sadler and eight of his crew perished by the disaster, as the Mary Scott sunk in a few minutes after the collision occurred. The seven men brought into dock saved themselves by an immediate launching of the jolly-boat, into which the Captain might have leaped and saved his life but for his endeavours to save a box containing a large sum of money.

From the enquiries made relating to this shocking occurrence, it seems that between half-past 9 and 10 o'clock on the night of Sunday last, an emigrant ship, called the Brooklyn, Captain Richardson, bound for New York, when in view of the light at Point Lynas, suddenly ran down the Mary Scott, and it is supposed that the accident resulted from the recent alterations made at the Trinity House relating to the steering of ships.

At the time of the collision, the wind was from the land and the Mary Scott was closed hauled upon the starboard tack and just upon the point of altering her course, when the crew saw the ship Brooklyn coming down free, with her top gallant, sails set.

The Mary Scott had two lights on her weather bulwark, just abaft the main rigging; one of them being a regular signal light; the carpenter of the brig was steering and the mate told him to put the helm hard up, which was done.

The mate then got upon the bulwarks and called to the people in the Brooklyn. The people on board appeared to take no notice and the ship, which was going at a rate of about 7 knots an hour, in a few seconds after this struck the Mary Scott just where her lights were, upon the starboard side and stove her in.

After the unfortunate collision, the mariners of the brig who have survived, state that the Brooklyn passed on without offering any assistance. Capt. Sadler sustained serious injuries by the collision and ran about the vessel crying out that his back was broken. The right arm of the carpenter was also much injured and the mate was jammed between the round house and the bulwarks by the broken materials of the brig's starboard quarter.

Here is below a picture of Brooklyn. Brooklyn. US registered. Wooden full-rigged ship built Newcastle, Maine, 1834, 445 tons, 125 ft long

Brooklyn: (Painted off Holyhead by Duncan MacFarlane)

After the lapse of about five minutes, the mate managed to extricate himself and found that the mainmast, the main-stay and the entire brig's rigging, had been carried away by the Brooklyn and that she had five feet of water in her hold. All hands were immediately on deck and endeavoured to get out the long boat, but she was so entangled with spars and cordage, that their efforts to do so were unsuccessful.

The Captain went below, and the mate seeing that the vessel was fast sinking, ran to him in the cabin, and told him that if he wanted to save himself, now was the time.

The Captain said in reply "well, take this box of specie and I will come." The mate took the box and ran upon deck, but seeing that the brig was sinking fast, he dropped the box and jumped into the jolly-boat, with the carpenter, four of the crew, and a boy, being seven in all.

The other men who were on deck had the same chance, but the mate is of opinion that they were bewildered with the terror arising from the awful situation in which they were placed. They, with the Captain, perished; and it turned out fortunate for those who got into the boat that no more joined them, or in all probability none would have survived to tell the tale, for she prove so leaky, that had there been a greater weight, she could not have lived.

They had no sooner dropped astern of the Mary Scott than the latter went down with the rest of the hands on board, their piteous cries being heart-rending in the extreme.

The wind, at the time, was very squally and there was a heavy sea. The mate had to break the case from the chronometer in order to bale the boat of the water to keep them from being swamped. They had on board neither food nor fresh water and from the confusion of leaving the ship, they were scantily clothed.

The mate was covered only by a cotton shirt, he having thrown off his clothes under the apprehension that he should have to swim for his life. In this state, the poor men drifted towards Holyhead and after towards the Isle of Man.

The weather continued very stormy during the next 24 hours, with continual rain, and they were subsequently picked up near the island by the Manx fishing boat already mentioned. The wrecked vessel was of 300 tons burden and was the property of a lady named Little, residing of Liverpool.

She had on board a valuable cargo of wool, copper ore, and $120,000 in specie. The vessel and cargo is said to be insured to the amount of £35,000.

And that statement begins the ridding in trying to understand whats was actually onboard the vessel?

Crow

 

[Crow]

The question remains what was the $120,000 in specie? The money or alleged gold?

The particulars above stated are chiefly gathered from the individuals saved from the wreck of the Mary Scott, from which it would appear that the Captain and crew of the American vessel treated the melancholy occurrence with great indifference. The Brooklyn has since put into Liverpool, having sustained great damage: with loss of bowsprit, cut-water, etc and leaky.

Her living cargo was emigrants to New York with 195 persons in total, from different parts of England. It appears from Capt. Richardson's statement that the night was pitch dark at the time and that the collision was wholly the result of untoward accident and he accounts for the statement that the Brooklyn passed on, by stating that he was afraid for his own vessel, with the intention of putting about to go to the assistance of the Mary Scott; he heard the shrieks of those on board of her and found that she had sunk.

He certainly had a great charge, having a large number of emigrants on board. The Brooklyn will not be fit for sea again for some time.

But the story does not end there.

 

[Crow]

[from General Commercial Advertiser - Tuesday 27 August 1850]:

About nine years ago, as the brig, Mary Scott, laden with copper ore and a general cargo and having on board a large quantity of specie, was returning from Valparaiso, she was ran into, about five miles east of Point Lynas, by an American ship called the Brooklyn, and the result was that the Mary Scott sank in deep water, and six or seven persons on board perished.

Some time afterwards the brig Parana, outward bound for Montreal, was run down by the Iron Duke between Ormeshead and Point Lynas [10 Sept 1844]. No traces of either vessel were discoverable until about three weeks ago, when a Liverpool fisherman, named Richard Price, whilst trolling near to Point Lynas, found that his net had become entangled to something beneath the surface of the water, and, on examination, discovered that it had caught in the wreck of a vessel.

It is not positively known what with which of the brigs the net became entangled; but, it is supposed that it is the Mary Scott. The Liverpool of Steam Tug Company have sent out a number of divers to the place where the ship was discovered. But, in consequence of the rough state of the weather, have not yet been able to commence operations.

Nothing was heard of any follow up salvage attempt. So it is possible that theyt discoverted the wrong wreck and Mary Scott lies still undisturned on the sea floor.

 

[Mackaydon]

"Great minds thinking alike."
Don in SoCal

 

[Crow]

The Point Lynas Lighthouse (Welsh: Goleudy Trwyn y Balog) is located on a headland in Llaneilian Community, on the north-east corner of Anglesey in North Wales (at grid reference SH479936).

A pilot station was established on the point in 1766, to guide ships entering and leaving Liverpool, with an associated lighthouse added in 1779.

The present building was built on the hilltop in 1835, so does not need a tower. Built and managed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, it did not come under the care of Trinity House until 1973. By 2001 the lights were fully automated, so no resident staff were needed.

Whilst the light is retained in operational use, the building and associated lighthouse keepers cottages were returned to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board who sold them to be a private home and holiday accommodation.

Here is rough indication where archeologists suspect the remains of Mary Scot below.

Crow

 

[Crow]

"Great minds thinking alike."
Don in SoCal

Agreed

Well 28000 in silver dollars or plus 120000 in specie? or are they referring to 28000 dollars as specie? Not hundred percent sure just yet? But perhaps there was more treasure on the vessel than first thought?

Crow

 

[Crow]

Another account tells how the captain died.

Yesterday seven unfortunate mariners, as part of the crew of the brig Mary Scott, Capt. Sadler, inward bound from Valparaiso, were brought into the King’s dock in this port (Liverpool), by a fishing boat, having been found, in a small boat without sails and only two oars, tossing about the channel in an exhausted state, without food or clothing, on Monday last, 12th of May, 1841, having been in that perilous situation with stormy weather and a heavy sea running, for 24 hours, their vessel (the Mary Scott) having been run down and sunk in consequence of one of those frightful collisions at sea which, as in the case of the Governor Ferner, has recently excited so much melancholy interest.

Captain Sadler and eight of his crew perished by the disaster, as the Mary Scott sunk in a few minutes after the collision occurred. The seven men brought into dock saved themselves by an immediate launching of the jolly-boat, into which the Captain might have leaped and saved his life but for his endeavours to save a box containing a large sum of money.

She had on board a valuable cargo of wool, copper ore, and $ 120.000 in specie. The vessel and cargo is said to be insured to the amount of £ 35.000.
The dictionary defines specie money in the form of coins rather than notes.
It is interesting to note one Chilean 1840 silver 8 Reale went for nearly 41000 US Dollars.

Chile, 8 Reales, 1840, Santiago, Very rare, Silver, , KM:96.1 Chilean coat of arms surrounded by a wreath., Condor seen from 3/4, left, breaking a chain., A sublime example, with a magnificent iridescent patina with blue and gold tones. An absolute rarity due to the small number of examples known, and extremely sought-after by collectors., REPUBLICA DE CHILE / 8 - R / 1840, POR LA RAZON Y LA FUERZA

There was only 4556 of these coins minted so it possible some of those coins are on the 1841 shipwreck Mary Scot from Valparaiso.

Crow

 

[Crow]

If we pluck a figure out of that production run of 4556 coins. If the Mary Scott has 1000 of those 1840 coins on board would be worth 40million alone.

Crow

 

[Crow]

That and other coins production run.

1838 So IJ 7 403 coins. .
1840 So IJ 16 320 Coins
1841 So IJ 7 072 Coins .
1842 So IJ 11 475 Coins

With low production runs it would be interesnt to know what currency was being used Chile, 8 Reales? or some other currency?

Crow

 

[: Michael-Robert.]

Crow, have you researched insurance documents/claims?

 

[Crow]

We can confirm a few things with Lloyd's registers.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Crow, have you researched insurance documents/claims?

There is registers that is not on line at Greenwich in London England. You the last time I was there you had to physically go there..

It usually records the ship. Date of the payout and the amount. it does not give the cargo manifest.

And to make things hard you have know the name of the insurance company that insured the vessel. in their company minute books.

Lloyd's was not an physical insurance company by clearing house for insurance companies to spread or mitigate risk between companies.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Here is Lloyd's records below.

1839 Captain Scott

Here is Lloyd's records below.


1840 Captain Sadler

1840 Captain Sadler had only been captain of the Mary Scott that done the Liverpool to Valparaiso run. The vessel had for many years shipped Copper ore for processing as well as assorted goods

In 1840, Chile's copper industry was booming, with the country's copper production set to increase dramatically over the next few decades:

The British empire was booming and so was the need for copper and the British empire had the problem of dwindling resources of copper so began the need to import copper.

The coins on Bord was no doubt the payment by copper mines in transporting the ore to customers in the UK.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Little and co it appears never recovered from the loss in the following years and by the late 1848 there was cash crisis for many companies that went bust.

You can see in the picture below. You can see Richards, Little and co, east India trade failed. So if there was any attempted salvage attempt in 1850. It was most likely not financed by Little and co at least.

So you see how devastating the loss of ship can impact peoples lives?

Crow

 

[Crow]

The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston, Tas. : 1835 - 1880), Saturday 13 November 1841, page 4

Gives an account of the shipwreck.

Dreadful Collision at Sea.— 120.000 Dollars, other Valuable Cargo, and Eight lives, lost.

Information was received this morning at Liverpool, that one of the numerous fishing boats belonging to the port had fallen in with, and picked up, off the Isle of Man, seven men, who had been upwards of twenty-four hours in a Jollv boat, almost without clothing, and entirely destitute of any kind of food.
On inquiry, we found that the report was correct. The mate or the Mary Scott and six of the crew had escaped in the boat belonging to that vessel after the collision had taken place with the Brooklyn, an outward-bound vessel to New York. It appears that the brig with which the Brooklyn came in contact was the Mary Scott, inward. bound from Valparaiso, and having a valuable cargo of copper ore, As, together with 120,000 dollars in specie. The mate of the Mary Scott states that the accident happened at half-past nine or ten o'clock, the light at Point Lynas being in view.

( Note that helps narrow down the search area?)


The wind was from the land, the brig close-hauled on the starboard lack, and was just about to alter her course, when the crew saw the Brooklyn running down free, with top-gallant sails' set. The brig had two lights oh the weather bulwark, just abaft the main rigging, one of them being a regular signal light.

The carpenter was steering, and the mate told him to put the helm hard up, which was done. He got on the bulwarks, and called to the Brooklyn people for God's sake lo keep their luff, otherwise the brig would be run down ; hut they took no notice, and the Brooklyn, which was going at the rate of about seven knots an hour, struck the brig just where the lights were on the starboard side, and passed on without offering any assistance.

Captain Sadler was severely hurt by the concussion, and ran about, crying out that his back was broken ; the carpenter's arm was much injured, and the mate was jammed between the round-house and the bulwarks by the broken materials or the brig's starboard quarter. After about five minutes the mate extricated himself, and found that the mainmast, the mainstay, and all the rigging had been carried away, and with the brig bad five feet water in her hold.

All hands were on deck, and tiled to get out the long-boat, but could not succeed. The captain went below, and the mate, seeing they were in a sinking stale, ran to him in the cabin, and said, ' Captain Sadler, if you want to save your life, now is your time.' He replied-' Well, take this box of specie, and I'll come.' The mate took the box, ran upon deck, but seeing that the brig was: going down, dropped the box, and jumped into the boat, which then contained seven persons.

The other people had the same chance as himself, but were so frightened they scarcely knew what they were doing. It was fortunate for those in the boat that no more came in, for the boat proved leak;, from the hot weather having opened the seams whilst lying over the long boat; one of The planks had been staved by the collision,

And had there been a greater weight in her she could not have lived. They had no sooner dropped astern limn the brig went down. The wind was very squally, with a heavy sea, and The mate had In break the case of the chronometer, in order to bail the boat of the water, and keep them from being swamped.

There was no fresh water and no bread on board, and the mate had nothing but a white cotton shirt on, having thrown off his clothes under the apprehension I lint he should have lo swim. The weather continued very stormy during the licit twenty-four hours, with continual rain, in winch time the shipwrecked mariners were lightly clothed.

The; had no sails, and only two oars. In the morning they had drifted down to near the Skerries, off Holyhead, and then kept before the wind, in hopes of being able to reach the Isle of Man, passing one of the brig's water-casks on the way.

When the collision took place the brig had just taken a reef ill her topsails, and hauled up her courses, the captain remarking that after they had made all snug he would leave the mate in charge to dodge slowly up the channel.

Made a good look-out, or 'no look-out at all, been kept on board the Brooklyn, the crew of that vessel must have seen the 'lights of the brig ; and had the look out put her helm up, which, as the brig had the weather Gage, should have been done, she would have kept clear.

The Mary Scott was from Valparaiso, with a cargo of copper ore and wool, and 130,000 dollars in specie. She was 30 tons burthen, and her crew consisted of the captain and mate, eleven men, and two boys.

This unfortunate event, following so closely upon the loss of the Governor Ff liner, and in the continued absence of the steam ship President, has excited the most painful feeling amongst all classes of the inhabitants of Liverpool and the neighborhood, who are acquainted with the particulars. The name of the captain of the ship Brooklyn is Richardson. Globe.


Crow

 

[Crow]

Here is map below of where the collision took place and we know it was in view of the lighthouse.

Knowing the surviving crew drifted toward the Skerries and isle of man. We know the wind was coming from the south east of the land and wind and tide made them drift North west.

The lamp has an intensity of 89,900 candela and is white, occulting every 10 seconds. It has a range of 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi

So we know the collision happened with in the arc 21 miles of the light house. Judging on the catastrophic damage the ship sank quickly so the chance of drifting far away from collision point would be minimal..

Here is below a rough search zone based of distance range of the light house to have been seen.

Still a large area to search with still heavy shipping tragic today.

Crow