Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.
Ken Annett's monograph on the wreck of the Charlotte on Anticosti in 1803, published on page 20 of the SPEC, May 17, 1988, provides us with an unusual aspect rarely included in Notary deeds. |
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| Protest of the brig Charlotte, April 25, 1804. | ||
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Be it known that on the twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and four, at the City of Quebec in the Province of
Lower Canada. Before the undersigned Public Notaries, duly admitted and sworn for the Province, residing in the said City, personally came, appeared and were present Robert Cornfoot, late master on board the brig Charlotte, of the burthen of ninety tons and a half, by register, or thereabouts, George Thompson, late mate, François Lebrun, second mate and William McDougall, boatswain on board the said brig, which said persons on their several and respective corporal oaths, taken by and before us, the said Notaries, did severally and respectively declare as follow, that is to say: That on Monday the fourteenth of November now last past, at eight o'clock A.M., the said brig Charlotte whereof the said Robert Cornfoot was then Master and the said George Thompson, François Lebrun and William McDougall on board engaged therein in their several capacities aforementioned, being then tight, staunch, strong, in good order and provided with every necessary tackle, apparel, furniture and provisions for a voyage to Montego Bay in the Island of Jamaica, didst sail from the said port of Quebec, at the City of Quebec, in the said Province, on the said intended voyage. That the said brig proceeded down the River St. Lawrence in company with the ship Norval bound to Lisbon, in Portugal. At midnight, were about the Island Madame, light winds west southwest. On the fifteenth day of the said month of November at seven o'clock A.M., passed on the Brandy Pots, strong wind west southwest, the top sails single reefed and foresail handed. At eight P.M. the wind northwest. Hove-to little below Green Island, the wind blew so strong that they could not put the pilot on shore. On the sixteenth day of the said month, fine breeze from the northwest, discharged the pilot and put him on board a schooner. On the seventeenth at two o'clock A.M., strong breezes from the northeast, parted company with the Norval. Heavy gales, hazy weather with rain during the twenty four hours. On the eighteenth of the said month, at two o'clock P.M., strong gales from the east southeast, parted the larboard fore tackle, hauled the fore-sail up to save it. Laid the brig-to under a reefed top-sail, the sea being very heavy. At four o'clock P.M., a heavy sea broke which carried away three of the quarter deck stanchions, the quarter board roughtree and boat lashings. The gale increasing and the vessel making water, hove overboard some hoops to secure the boat and to get at the leak. At six o'clock P.M., wind east southeast, hard gales, stormy weather, another sea broke on board which split the main stay-sail and nearly swept the deck. Set the balance reef main sail. On the nineteenth at two o'clock P.M., the wind south, more moderate, set the fore sail and fore top-sail. At meridian, variable winds and calm. On the twentieth at meridian, a breeze sprung up from the westward, Magdelaine River by estimation, three leagues distance. Employed in securing the main mast, the chains having been broken. On the twenty first, fresh breezes from the northwest, hazy weather with snow. At eight o'clock A.M., tacked ship to the westward, the South East Point of the Island of Anticosti by estimation distant three leagues. On the twenty second of the said month, of November, at two o'clock P.M., strong gales and hazy weather. Close reefed top sails and balance reefed main sail. At eight P.M., wore ship to the eastward, took in fore top-sail. At midnight, heavy gales from the south by east, stormy weather with rain. At two o'clock A.M., the main-boom top-lift broke the gaff in three pieces, which split the main sail. The sea ran high, the wind blowing very strong from the southward. The starboard fore tackle parted which split the fore-sail. Endeavoured to wear ship but could not, having then no sail but the fore top-sail close reefed. Then endeavoured to set the fore top-mast sail, when the ship struck abaft and her stern post was broken in three pieces. Dropped two anchors but the ship filled up so fast with water, were obliged to cut both cables. At eight o'clock A.M., finding that they had no other hopes of saving themselves but in having recourse to the boat, they then hoisted it out and got it alongside the vessel, when a heavy sea carried it away with one of the crew on board and drove on shore. Being left thus destitute of the only means they had of saving themselves, they hung by the wreck. At four o'clock of the same day, they cut the foremast to try to save their lives by driving on shore upon it, but when cut away, the sea ran so high that none of them would attempt it, being then almost frozen to death. |
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| G. R. Bossé©2001-05 | Page 1 | Chapter 1804 |
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