1829 wreck of English craft which stranded on the Black Middens en route from Sunderland to London; a wooden sailing vessel. `North Shields 3rd December: This morning during a heavy sea the CONCORD, Wright, for London, and the JAMES, Bartlett, for Exeter, both from Sunderland, in endeavouring to get in this harbour, were driven in the Black Middens and bilged. The crew saved by life boats. A part of the materials are saved.'

'The CONCORD, Wright, for London, and the JAMES, Bartlett, for Exeter, both from Sunderland, in endeavouring to get into Shields harbour on the 3rd inst. were driven on the Black Middens and bilged. The crew saved by the life boats. A part of the materials saved.'

Master: Wright

`The CHARLES, Moss, of & from Yarmouth, in ballast, and the THOMAS...in attempting to enter Shields 7th inst. got upon the rocks at the entrance of the harbour; and have gone to pieces. The crews and passengers saved.' (1)

Source (2) quotes the following, but replaces "Moss, of and from Yarmouth" with "owned by Moss of Yarmouth" - this source consistently assumes that the name given is that of the owner, not the master:

`The CHARLES, Moss, of and from Yarmouth, in ballast, and the THOMAS, Thompson, from Hull, in attempting to enter Shields on the 7th inst. got upon the rocks at the entrance of the harbour; since which both vessels have gone to pieces. The crews and passengers were all saved.' (3)

`Last Friday afternoon, the brig CHARLES, of Yarmouth, Wm. Moss, master, was driven upon the Black Middens, at the entrance of Shields harbour. Great apprehension was entertained for the safety of the crew, five in number, as it was impossible for the lifeboat to render them assistance, and after various fruitless attempts to get a rope on shore, one was at length made fast to the boat, which fortunately succeeded, when the men singly made themselves fast to a rope, and were dragged through a tremendous sea amongst rocks to the shore, which they all reached much exhausted, but without any particular injury, except one man who was wounded on the head. The vessel, in less than half an hour after they had left her, went to pieces.' (4)

Master: Moss (1)(3); William Moss (4)
Crew: 5 (4)
Owner: Moss, Great Yarmouth (2)

1811 wreck of English packet which stranded on the Black Middens during a storm; a wooden sailing vessel. `The CADIZ PACKET, of Newcastle; TELEMACHUS...and GOODINTENT...were driven on shore 31st ult. near Tynemouth, but it is expected will be got off.' (1)

`The CADIZ PACKET, went to pieces on the Black Meddings, 9th inst.' (2)

`In the gale of the 31st ult. mentioned in our last the ship CADIZ PACKET, of Newcastle, was thrown upon the Black Middings, at Tynemouth...' (4)

`Sunday last...Same night, the CADIZ PACKET went to pieces on the Black Middings...' (5)

1883 wreck of an English brig which stranded on the Black Middens, after grounding on the Bar, whilst trying to seek shelter from a gale in the Tyne. En route from Blyth to Gravesend with a cargo of coal, she was a wooden sailing vessel. 7th February 1883. Brig CACTUS wrecked on Black Middens. Captain Baxter and crew rescued by the lifeboat TOM PERRY. (1)

The following may refer to the CACTUS, although the date is one day earlier:

...the gale of 6th-10th February put both North and South Shields Brigades, and Lifeboatmen, back on watch, bringing with it casualties on both sides of the harbour. The first casualty was on the 6th February, wrecked on the Black Midden rocks... (2)

Here is the report from the Shields Gazette, Wednesday 7th February, 1883:-

"Yesterday a strong breeze blew from the southward, and the sea became very rough. Toward nightfall the wind backed to eastward, which increased the sea and caused a considerable extent of white water on the Black Middens. A little after 9pm, the firing of the Spanish Battery guns announced that a vessel had come to grief at the north side of the harbour...The vessel was on the Middens, the tide was exceptionally low, and a long journey across the slippery rocks and seaweed was necessary before anything could be done...It was seen that it was useless to attempt to launch the Battery lifeboat, owing to the state of the tide...The vessel was seen to be a brig, stuck fast, with all sails set. She lay with her stern seawards, and the waves were breaking clean over her. A rocket was fired and it fell apparently a little seaward, and another was sent off, and it dropped apparently right 'twixt the fore and mainmasts. There was, however, no response, and the Brigadesmen waited patiently for some time, considerable shouting being heard. Meanwhile, in the neighbourhood of the wreck, tugs, by their lights, could be seen going round the vessel, but it was too dark to make out whether a lifeboat was at hand. The Brigade burned a blue light to try to discover whether anyone was on board, but without result. There was still no response...and the Brigade party withdrew to the Brigade station. Just as they got there, a message from North Shields came, and informed the coastguard that the lifeboats had been out, but had failed to rescue the crew from the vessel, and that they were in peril...another rocket was fired over the vessel. There was again no response, and after a long wait, it was concluded that the men had been taken off by one of the South Shields lifeboats...

"The vessel proved to be the brig CACTUS of Whitby. She was coal-laden, and running for shelter in the Tyne, when she was disabled on the Bar." (3)

"North Shields
A Brig on the Black Middens : During Tuesday a gale from the southwest prevailed off the Tyne, and towards night it veered round to the southeast, with a strong sea running. About half-past nine o'clock the brigg CACTUS of Whitby, Capt. Baxter, coal laden from Blyth for Gravesend, in running for shelter to the Tyne struck the bar, and becoming disabled, drove on the Black Middens below the Spanish Battery, Tynemouth. Alarms guns were fired and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and the North and South Shields lifeboats were quickly ready for action. In a few minutes the brigade fired a rocket which went straight through the body of the mainsail, where the crew could not get it. The brigade, not being aware of this, continued to fire, and there not being any response fears were entertained that some casualty had occurred to the crew, especially as the North Shields lifeboat had returned without any account of the crew. Considerable anxiety was evinced at Tynemouth, and crowds of persons congregated near the watch-house making earnest inquiries, but at that time no information could be obtained respecting them and in hopes they might still be aboard other rockets were fired, but still there was no response, it being thought that they might be landed at South Shields a mounted messenger was sent thither, and on his return it was ascertained that they had been taken from the vessel by the TOM PERRY, lifeboat, and landed at South Shields." (4)


Master: Baxter (1) (4)

1805 wreck of English cargo vessel which stranded on the Black Middens; a wooden sailing vessel. 'The ROYAL SOVEREIGN, Graydon; PERSEVERANCE, Adamson; BURTON, Hedley, of Sunderland; & LEANDER, Gurney, of Yarmouth, were driven on shore near Shields 13th instant. The ROYAL SOVEREIGN and another have since gone to pieces; crews saved.' (1)

The LEANDER was got off, as described in a local paper, while the PERSEVERANCE is not mentioned:

'The LEANDER, Gurney, which went on shore on the Black Middens on Sunday last, got off yesterday, and came into Shields. The BURDON, Hedley, and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, Graydon, which went on shore at the same time and place, are totally wrecked.' (2)

'On Sunday last...The same day four sail came on shore on the Spanish Rocks, near the Blackmiddings, at the entrance of Shields harbour, viz: the ROYAL SOVEREIGN, Graydon of Sunderland; the BURDON...all coal laden. The NORTHUMBERLAND life-boat, and after the South Shields boat, were launched, and well manned. Though the breakers were awful to the spectators, yet the boats saved three of the crews...About midnight the vessel [the ROYAL SOVEREIGN] went into a thousand pieces. The PERSEVERANCE and the LEANDER are got off, but the remains of the BURDON yet lie on the Blackmiddings.' (4)

'To be sold by auction (by W Smith) for the benefit of the underwriters, at Mr Craster's Upper Dock, South Shields, on Wednesday, January 23, 1805: All the materials and stores saved from the wrecked ship BURDON (about 9 keels), consisting of anchors, cables, sails, masts, yards, boats, standing and running rigging, etc. Sale to begin at 10 o'clock, forenoon.' (2)

'To be sold by auction (by W Smith) for the benefit of the underwriters, at Mr Craster's Upper Dock, South Shields, on Monday the 28th day of January, 1805: All the materials and stores saved from the wrecked ship BURDON, about 9 keels, consisting of anchors, cables, sails, masts, yards, boats, standing and running rigging, etc. Sale to begin at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.' (3)

'To be sold by auction, on Thursday, the 21st of February, 1805, on the Low Lights Quay, North Shields: All the wreck of the ship BURTON, consisting of timber, plank, beams, etc. with a quantity of new plank, fit for colliery and other uses. The sale to begin at 10 o'clock in the morning. Any part of the above wreck will be sold by private contract, previous to the sale, on application to Joseph Common, Lowlights.' (5)

Master: Hedley (1)(2)

26th November 1846: BRITAIN of Newcastle wrecked on Black Middens.

`The BOUNTIFUL, Lock, from London to Newcastle, is on shore off Tynemouth.' (1)

A description of the vessel before the wreck is as follows:

`To be sold by private contract, the new ship BOUNTIFUL, burthen 165 register tonnage, - Tindale, master, now lying at Shields. This vessel has just arrived from Whitby, where she was built, is a complte well built ship, shifts without ballast at an easy draft of water, and well adapted for any trade her burthen may suit. Further particulars may be had on application to Plummer and Blackbird, brokers. Newcastle, 7th October, 1803.' (3)

`Newcastle, January 14...On Monday last, in a most tremendous gale from the south by east, about high water, a new vessel, called the BOUNTIFUL, of London, Capt. William Lock, laden with a valuable cargo of merchant goods for this port, was unfortunately driven on the rocks near the Spanish Battery, at the entrance of Shields, where she now lies apparently a wreck. The crew and passengers were saved, and, it is hoped, a great part of the cargo will be got out unhurt; but the sugar, of which there was a quantity on board, will be much damaged.' (4)

This vessel also appears in the arrivals list for Newcastle in the same issue: `BOUNTIFUL, Locke (on the Black Middens).' (4)

`On Monday morning...the wind blew so strong from the south...The snow BOUNTIFUL, Captain Jonathan Tindle, about the same time, in taking the bar, was driven upon the rocks near the Spanish Battery. Her cargo, consisting of tea, sugar, coffee, etc. we are apprehensive will be considerably damaged. The vessel being entirely new, and the violence of the sea abating, it is probable she will be got off. The brig HOPE was also driven on shore, and fortunately she ran close alongside of the BOUNTIFUL; the crew of the HOPE (the vessel being old) fearful of her going to pieces, took the opportunity of removing on board the new ship. Great praise is due to the Commander of the Royal Artillery at Tynemouth, for his spirited exertions to assist the seamen, who were all landed in safety on the ebbing of the tide.' (6)

`To be sold by auction (by W Smith) for the benefit of the underwriters, on the Low-Light Quay, North Shields, on Wednesday first, the 26th day of January, 1804: All the materials saved from the wreck of the brig BOUNTIFUL, one year old, and about 12 keels of coals, consisting of anchors, cables, warps, sails, boats, standing and running rigging, etc. etc. Sale to begain at 11 o'clock in the forenoon.' (5)

NB: Source (2) expresses the date of loss as a reporting date of 17-JAN-1804, based on the issue date of source (1).

Built: late 1802 to early 1803 (5); before October 1803 (3)
Where Built: Whitby (3)
Master: ex. Tindale (3); Lock (1)(2); William Lock (4); Locke (4); Tindle (6)

1785 wreck of English cargo vessel which stranded on the Black Middens while laden with coal; a wooden sailing vessel. `Newcastle, Dec. 31, 1785...Yesterday se'nnight, at night, a violent storm of wind, accompanied with a great fall of snow, came on from the NE which continued at intervals till Tuesday morning; and on Sunday morning, the BIDDY, Sharp, of Sunderland, laden with coals, was drove on the rocks to the north of this harbour, as was the TRUSTY...the former is gone to pieces; the crews of both vessels are saved...'

Master: Sharp

1827 wreck of English collier which stranded on the Black Middens on her departure from South Shields for London and Hamburg with coal. This wooden sailing vessel went down in contemporary legend as having been the ship that had brought William of Orange over during the Glorious Revolution of 1688, although this does not appear to actually have been the case. Ex.PRINCESS MARY; ex.KING WILLIAM OF ORANGE; ex.QUEEN ANNE; ex.GEORGE I. (1)(3)

She began her career as the PRINCESS MARY in the King's Yard in 1699 and served as the Royal Yacht during the reigns of William III, Anne and George. In the mid 18th century as BETSY CAIRNS she sailed the West Indies and at the turn of the century was used as a Tyne collier until her destruction in 1827.

On 17-FEB she set sail from the Tyne for Hamburg in a heavy south easterly gale, but had to turn back the next day. She hit Tynemouth Bar and was driven back onto the rocks near the Spanish Battery, where she was smashed to pieces. Her crew were saved by the NORTHUMBERLAND. (2)

There is something of a mystery concerning this vessel. A newspaper account in the Northumberland area Herald Express of 23.03.1973 states that this was an old frigate, purchased by a Mr Walters of London, who changed her name to BETSY CAIRNS, and who sold her on again to Messrs. Carllow of London, who in turn sold her to a Mr G W Wilson of South Shields. The same article states that when in service as a Royal Navy frigate, this was the vessel that brought the Prince of Orange to Brixham in 1689, but this is not true. Supporting evidence can only be found in SRN.Vol.2, the PRINCESS MARY being a royal yacht [NB: This reference not found]. The newspaper account states she lasted until 1827 as a mercantile vessel named BETTY CAIRNS. (3)

Source (3) indexes the vessel as BETSY CAIRNS.

`North Shields, 18th Feb. Yesterday afternoon the wind shifted from NW to SE and blew a heavy gale, with thick showers of snow. This morning the BETSEY CAINES, Wilson, which sailed yesterday morning, put back; struck upon the Bar and afterwards got upon the rocks near the Spanish Battery and bilged. Crew saved by the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND lifeboat. Most of the materials saved, but it is feared the vessel will be wrecked. It continues blowing a hard gale from ESE.' (4)

`N Shields, 22nd Feb. The BETSEY CAINS, -, bound to Hambro, which was driven on the rocks near the Spanish Battery 17th instant, it is expected will be got off, as her apparent damage is inconsiderable.' (5)

`On the 17th inst., the BETSY CAINS sailed from this port with a cargo for Hambro', but in a heavy gale from the East South East the following morning, was obliged to bear up for Shields harbour; and when on Tynemouth Bar (where the sea was breaking exceedingly heavy) she struck, and was afterwards driven upon the rocks, near the Spanish Battery. The crew were taken out of the vessel by the NORTHUMBERLAND lifeboat, which went off to her through the breakers in a most gallant style. In 1688, the BETSEY CAINS brought over to England William, Prince of Orange, and was then called the PRINCESS MARY; for a number of years she was one of Queen Anne's Royal yachts, and at the same time was considered a remarkably fast sailing vessel.' (10) [Quoted in (6) with the spelling BETSEY CAIRNS throughout and other transcription errors.]

`Thursday 22nd, noon. The weather is very severe, with frost and snow; the sea is high; yet should it shortly moderate, hopes are entertained of the BETSY CAINS being got off, her apparent damage being inconsiderable.' (10)

`The BETSY CAINS, bound to Hamburgh, which was driven on the rocks near the Spanish Battery, at the mouth of the Tyne, on the 17th ult. has been sold as a wreck; great part of her cargo has washed out of her bottom.' (11)

`The BETSY CAINS, noticed in our last as being on the rocks near Tynemouth, has since gone to pieces, the weather to the present, being very tempestuous. In relating the loss of this (supposed to be the oldest) British vessel, we cannot refrain from remarking the excitement of curiosity, not only to have a view of her, as she laid in a wrecked state, but to obtain some part of her, in token of the event for which she was most remarkable (the bringing over of William III). Individuals in Shields have received letters from Orange Lodges, requesting to procure them a piece of the vessel.' (12) [Quoted in (6) with the spelling BETSEY CAIRNS throughout and other transcription errors.]

Source (13) is similar to the above, also with the spelling BETSY CAINS.

For many years it was believed that the BETSEY CAIRNS was the vessel which brought over William of Orange, but eventually the facts were discovered, and G B Hodgson, in his `History of South Shields', 1903, writes: `One curious feature of the Shields sailing collier fleet, was the number of old vessels it contained. One of these possessing a romantic history was the BETSEY CAIRNS, which an old and hardy tradition of the port insisted was the vessel in which William of Orange came over at the time of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to assume the crown, her name being originally the PRINCESS MARY.

`Unfortunately the irrefutable evidence of Lloyd's shows this to have been a pleasant fiction, since the vessel was not in existence at that date. Macaulay, whose knowledge of all questions relating to William III, must be regarded as absolute, also exploded the tradition, for in a letter to a Tyneside correspondent who had called his attention to the story, he says, under date January 31st 1856, "There must be some mistake about the ship you mention. It is quite certain that the voyage of William from Helvoetsluys to Torbay in 1688 was performed, not in a yacht, but on a man of war named the BRILL."

`The vessel however was certainly a Royal yacht during the reigns of William, Anne, and George. About the middle of the eighteenth century she was sold to the Messrs Walter of London, rechristened the BETSEY CAIRNS, and engaged in the West Indies trade, being famous as a lucky ship and a fast sailer. She subsequently came into possession of Messrs Carlens of London, who employed her as a Tyne collier, and about 1825 was purchased by Mr George Finch Wilson of South Shields, by whom she continued to be employed in the Tyne coal trade, until her loss on the Black Middens, in a gale accompanied by a severe frost and snowstorm on the 17th February 1827, when she was 137 years old. She is described in Lloyd's Register for 1811-12:

`BETSEY CAIRNS, ship 176 tons, Captain N Carter. Owners, Captain and others, built at King's Yard 1690, crew 12, rebuilt 1722, raised and thoroughly repaired 1802, some repairs 1807, four twelve cannonades [sic], Class A1, surveyed 1809 in Plymouth transport service. She had two masts, and a trysail, and was square rigged with a standing bowsprit. The remnant of the original ship was of very fine oak, richly and profusely carved, and with age it was nearly as black as ebony. The fragments were literally scrambled for by the population, and sold at exorbitant prices by the lucky possessors. Nearly all the Orange Lodges in the kingdom applied for portions. Each member of the Newcastle Corporation was presented with a snuff box made from her timbers, and similar snuff boxes were also numerous in the coal trade.' (6)

`North Shields, 26th Feb. The BETSEY CAINES, -, bound to Hambro, which was driven on the rocks near the Spanish Battery 17th inst., has been sold as a wreck. Great part of her cargo has washed out of her bottom.' (7)

`[North Shields], 3rd March. The BETSEY CAINS has gone to pieces.' (8)

`On Friday last, the ship BETSY CAINS, coal laden, left Shields harbour for London, but a storm coming on, and she proving leaky, returned, and on Sunday morning, in attempting to regain the port, got upon the Black Middings, where, it is feared, she will become a total wreck. The life-boat, after considerable exertions, saved the crew.' (9)

According to this court case the BETSY CAINS had been involved in a collision with another vessel some two months prior to her loss:

`In the Admiralty Court, on Tuesday, before Lord Stowell, the owners of a fishing smack, named the MINERVA, failed in an action against the owners of the ancient ship BETSEY CAINES (lately wrecked at Tynemouth) which ran down the MINERVA in the night of the 23d of December last off Shields, when she was towing a vessel. Lord Stowell and the Trinity House Gentlemen decided, that the MINERVA ought to have had lights on board, and the suit was dismissed, but without costs.' (14)

Source (2) indicates a date of loss of 18-FEB-1827, as does (4); but (5) states 17-FEB-1827, followed by (3) and (7).

Master: Wilson (3)
Owner: G W Wilson, South Shields (3); G F Wilson (6)

1802 wreck of English brig which stranded on the Black Middens on entering Shields from Whitehaven with slate; a wooden sailing vessel. `Newcastle, Saturday, December 11, 1802...The brig BERRY, Jeremiah Bowman, master, from Whitehaven, loaden with slates, went on shore on the Black Middens on Friday last, and has since gone to pieces. The crew and part of the cargo are saved.' (2)

`The brig BERRY, of Liverpool, Jonathan Bowman, master, from Whitehaven, laden with slates, came on shore on the Black-middens on Friday last, and has since gone to pieces. Crew saved.' (3)

Master: Jeremiah Bowman (2); Jonathan Bowman (3)