The Wreck of the William Wilberforce

From: The North Devon Journal, 23rd October 1842

Shipwreck. On Sunday evening, during the hours of divine service, an alarm was given by a shrill whistle pealing through the aisles of the church, that a wreck had taken place. The preventive men soon left their pews, and with numerous persons proceeded to the spot which was ascertained to be at Lee, about two miles and half from this town towards the bar. On their arrival they discovered that a fine brig, the ‘William Wilberforce,’ of North Shields, had been driven ashore, and left high and dry. The vessel was immediately boarded, when it was ascertained that her injury was of such a nature as not to warrant the probability of her sailing again. Her crew, most likely being ignorant of the coast, had betaken themselves to the boat; but from the tremendous sea at that time raging, she was unable to survive, and all hands found a watery grave. The number of seamen lost is supposed to be seven, and from several articles of female apparel having been found, fears are entertained that a female was on board who must have shared a similar fate with her companions. On Monday the body of an elderly man was washed ashore, in whose pockets were found a £5 note, 10 half sovereigns, and 8s and a silver watch, (which had stopped at the hour of 3.) and around the neck was a medallion betokening the individual to be a member of the “Mariner’s Society.” His appearance bespoke a man of about 60, and from the money found on him he is conjectured to be the captain, whose name is Roger Nixon. A coroner’s inquest was held on the body on Tuesday; and in about a quarter of an hour after the coroner had left the town, news was brought from Lee that the bodies of five men had just been picked up, which with the captain’s are now lying in a stable belonging to Vye Lee, Esq