Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.

The wreck of the Amanda at Metis, 1841.
 
  Infra-red aerial photo of Little Metis Point. 11Kb. and we'll look into an unusually strange shipwreck that happened years ago here at Little Metis Point, as you can see at the lower right corner of the photo taken in infra-red.
    While we have a considerable amount of documented evidence on the wreck from the following lines, no mention of where the Amanda was built, when she was launched, when and where was she registered, who insured her against losses, and many other related questions whose answers should have floated up years ago from the mysterious depths of brokerage and underwriters' houses. Possibly in the coming months, some of the answers will wash in with the tides.
 
 
The Quebec Mercury: Tuesday, 5 October, 1841.
 
 SHIPWRECK OF THE BARK AMANDA - 41 LIVES LOST! 
      In the Gazette of Friday last, we informed our readers that Captain Buchanan, of the ship Scotland, had seen off Metis, a ship on shore, which, to all appearance, was a total wreck. Yesterday morning the subjoined melancholy confirmation of that report was received in a letter by Messrs. W. Price & Co. of this city, from which we have been favoured with the following extract:
    Metis, 29 September, 1841 - I have to inform you of the loss of the bark Amanda, Captain Davis from Limerick, which came on shore at Little Metis Point at 5 o'clock on the 26th instant. She had 40 passengers and a crew of 18. The captain, two seamen, and two apprentices were amongst those saved. A.C. Buchanan, Esquire, emigrant agent has kindly favoured us with the following list of passengers and crew.

    List of the passengers and crew of the bark Amanda, Solomon Davis, Master, bound for Quebec, cleared on the 17 August and sailed on the 22 August from Limerick.
 
 
  Passengers

CARNEY, Daniel
CLANEY, Patrick
CONNORS, Jeremiah
CRAWLEY, Julia
CUMMINS, Ann
CUMMINS, Bridget
CUMMINS, Catherine
CUMMINS, Mary

Passengers

CUMMINS, Mary
CUMMINS, Michael
EUSTACE, Catherine
Hall, Mary (aged 60) HALL, Mary
HALL, Maurice
HALL, Michael
HANLAN, Patrick
HARDEN, Fred
HINCHEY, J.
HINCHEY, John
HINCHEY, Margaret
HINCHEY, Maria
KENNEDY, Thomas
MALONEY, Margaret
MURPHY, Timothy
MURRAY, Ann
NEVILL, James
O'BRIEN, John
O'BRIEN, Michael
O'NEILL, Ann
O'NEILL, Catherine
O'NEILL, James
O'NEILL, Patrick
RENNALS, Stephen
SARSFIELD, Phillip
SLATERY, James
Country of

Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Clare
Galway
Galway
Galway
Galway

Country of

Galway
Galway
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Kerry
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Dingle
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Limerick
Clare
Clare
Cork
Clare
Clare
Clare
Clare
Limerick
Limerick
Lost/Saved

lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost

Lost/Saved

lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
saved
saved
saved
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
saved
saved
lost
saved
lost
lost
saved
saved
saved
lost
lost
saved
lost
 
 
  Total passengers:  saved

lost



Male Adults:
Female Adults:
children:
10


11
12
  6
----
29
 
 
  Crew

ALLAN,
BEAKE,
BEHANE,
BOUNDY,
CUSACK,
DAVIS,
DONNELLY,
FOLLEY,
GRAHAM,
HARPER,
HARTE,
HAYNES,
HIGARTY,
JOHNSON,
KEEFE,
McINDRY,
O'BRIEN,
SHANNON,
Unknown


Thomas
Patrick
Timothy
Edward
James
Solomon
John
John
John
John
Thomas
John
Michael
Francis
David
James
Patrick
Patrick

Rank

Seaman
1st Mate
Seaman
2nd Mate
Apprentice
Captain
Apprentice
Steward
Seaman
Seaman
Seaman
Seaman
Cook
Apprentice
Seaman
Carpenter
Apprentice
Seaman
Seaman
Lost/Saved

lost
lost
saved
saved
lost
saved
saved
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
lost
saved
lost
saved
 
 
    The Limerick passenger ships have been particularly unfortunate this season. It was only in May last (May, 22 & 25) that we had to record the loss of the Mistral from that port with about 160 passengers when 137 of them with 11 of the crew unfortunately perished.
 
 
       The remainder of the Amanda story is found in Part 2 .
       Your interest and those of the our other visitors are greatly appreciated. Any additional evidence you would like to share with us leading to solving this mystery would be included, if relevant.
Leave your questions, comments or suggestion at:


G.R. Bossé©1999-07. Posted:
Feb. 26, 1999.
Updated:
18 February, 2007.

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