John Airey

Official Number none

The John Airey was a schooner built at Maryport by John Peat, launched on the 8th August 1834. She was wrecked in Whitehaven harbour during a storm on the morning of Monday, 7th January, 1839.

From the Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, Tuesday, 12th August, 1834, page 3 (Marine Intelligence)1875, page 2.

"A handsome new vessel of 105 tons register was launched from the building yard of Messrs.John Peat & Co. at Maryport on Friday last, called the John Airey, and intended for the coasting trade. The vessel is well finished, and for model and symmetry is not often excelled, even in Maryport."

SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE

(Part of a larger article describing extensive storm damage across Cumberland, on land and sea).

Having already described the fury with which the storm raged we have little more to do than to turn at once to the melancholy narrative of the wreck of the John Airey, near William Pit. This unfortunate vessel, it will be remembered, was put into this port a few weeks ago, bound from Leghorn to Liverpool with a valuable cargo, consisting of palm oil, marble, crystal, wool, silk, &c., &c., dismasted, and having in the meantime undergone the necessary repairs (at an expense of five hundred pounds), she sailed for her destined port on Sunday last, but not being able to make much progress, and probably dreading the aspect of the elements, Captain Wilson put back, and moved his vessel inside the New West Pier about six o'clock on Sunday evening. Capt.W. and his wife, who was also on board, left the vessel in the course of the evening for the purpose of obtaining assistance in the town,- at least such is aid to have been the object of his leaving her. The desired assistances it would appear, had not been obtained, nor did the Captain go on board again. The vessel continued at her mooring until about three o'clock yesterday morning - the hour at which the storm reached its height, when she was forced from it by the fury of the tempest and drifted upon the rocks near William Pit.

The sea broke over the West Pier with such awful violence as to render it next to impossible to approach the vessel to render assistance, when in all probability aid was most needed. And on the other hand, had every individual in the town been assembled on the beach when she first struck, the darkness of the night and the fury with which the enraged waves broke upon the shore would have rendered their efforts perfectly useless. There were four persons on board, namely, John Miller, the mate, and his wife, John Anderson, second mate, all belonging to Dumfries, and John Twentyman, seaman, of this town. At day-break the body of Mrs.Miller was discovered washed up near Messrs.Whiteside and Scott's building-yard; and on the tide receding the wreck became approachable, where the first and second mates and Twentyman were all discovered lashed to the Chains, and though life was extinct, this would appear not to have been the case long, as the bodies were yet warm. In the course of the forenoon the corpse of Twentyman was taken to his house in New Town, where it was received by a sorrowing widow and four children.

In the course of the day a considerable quantity of the valuable cargo was secured, but much of it, of course, in a damaged state. The vessel is now a total wreck.

From The Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, Tuesday, 22nd January 1839, page 3.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

Our information relative to the unfortunate loss of the John Airey, Wilson, off this harbour, on the night of the 6th instant, we are sorry to find, was in some particulars erroneous. We stated that Capt.Wilson, after having moored his vessel left her for the purpose of procuring assistance in the town, but did not return. The vessel, it will be remembered, came within the New Pier about five in the evening, and having made her fast, Capt.W. left with a friend, and after spending about an hour and a half in the town, returned to his vessel. Not, however, apprehending any change, the Captain by way of precaution ran out extra ends. Capt.W. remained on the pier alongside until about half-past ten, when he again left, desiring his mate on the event of any change of wind taking place, or as soon as she was afloat, to call him, and he would aid them in getting her into the inner harbour, or proceed to sea, as circumstances might suggest. The tempest, however, commenced so suddenly and so furiously, that all intercourse with the shore was instantly cut off, and as we observed at the time, no aid could by any possibility be rendered her from the pier, that being unapproachable owing to the heavy seas which were continuously breaking over it. We also stated that the bodies of the mate, second mate, and that of Twentyman were found lashed to the chains when the tide receded from the wreck. The body of Twentyman was so discovered, but those of the mate and second mate have not yet been found.

Sources :

1. Information from Clive Gardener.