Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.


C. Columbus
 
    To help researchers locate those articles of particular interest on the C. Columbus, this file has been organized into three parts, consisting of the three Notary deeds by Martin Sheppard.
  1. Protest of 8th October, 1846, on a trip from Saint-Helier to Paspébiac.
  2. Protest of 19th May, 1848, on a trip from Liverpool to Paspébiac.
  3. Report of Survey, 20th May, 1848, relating to Protest of 19th May.
 

M42/10 Pages 2300-2304 Martin Sheppard
 
          No. ___} 8th October 1846} Protest by

    Charles LeBrun, master of the Barque
C. Columbus
of Jersey.
      By this public instrument of declaration and protest. Be it known and made manifest unto all to whom these presents shall come or whom the same may in any wise concern.
    That on this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six. Before us, the undersigned Martin Sheppard, Notary Public by Royal authority, duly admitted and sworn for that part of the now Province of Canada, formerly constituting the Province of Lower Canada and the witnesses herein after named and hereunto subscribing, personally came, appeared and were present, Charles LeBrun, master mariner and master of the brigantine or vessel called the C. Columbus, of the burthen of two hundred and fourteen tons or thereabouts, register measure, belonging to the port of Saint Helier, in the Island of Jersey in Europe, now lying at Paspébiac in the County of Bonaventure in the District of Gaspé in the said Province, and George Le Brocq, chief mate, Jean Hamon, second mate and carpenter and Jean Le Cornu, seaman, of and on board of the said vessel, who of their own free will and voluntary accord, in the presence of us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses, did and by these presents do severally and respectively and each of them for himself only, allege, affirm, declare, protest and say in manner following, that is to say.
    That the said barque or vessel called the C. Columbus, being in ballast, on Tuesday the tenth day of September, now last past, they, the said appearers, set sail on board of the said vessel from the port of Saint Helier in the Island of Jersey aforesaid, on a voyage and bound direct to Paspébiac aforesaid, and that the said barque or vessel in the prosecution of her said voyage, on Monday, the twenty first day of the said month of September, last, was overtaken by a violent storm and gale of wind which in the forepart of the day, blew from the westward and afterwards, shifted to the north westward, blowing tremendously with a heavy sea.
    At two o'clock and thirty minutes P.M., the vessel shipped a sea which shifted her ballast. Handed in sail and wore ship to the southward under her trysail double reefed and secured the ballast and water casks. At ten o'clock P.M., the wind and sea having greatly increased, and blowing tremendously, a sea struck their said vessel on her starboard quarter which carried away the ........ boat and it shattered to pieces, and carried away ........ and rendered her binnacle totally useless and unserviceable and shifted her ballast for the second time, bringing the vessel with great violence from the south to the northward. Again succeeded in replacing and securing the ballast. Wore the ship round and placed her under easy sail.
    On the next day, Tuesday, the twenty second of the same month, the wind moderated some, but the sea still continued running heavily. On the next day (Wednesday), the wind shifted to the north northwest, blowing moderately. Tried the pumps daily from time to time, but the vessels always continued free. At two o'clock P.M., perceived a vessel in distress, dismasted and presenting the appearance of a complete wreck, with the French flag flying from her spar put up for the purpose. At three o'clock, P.M., bore up to the vessel and spoke to the master, offering him any assistance, but the vessel, lying like a log on the water, destitute of mast, boat, spars or sails, and wrecked and totally unmanageable, the master and all on board determined to leave and abandon the wreck, as the only means in their power to insure their safety and preservation.
    Put out and manned the long boat and in four trips, took the crew and passengers to the number of thirty one persons on board of the said vessel, including together with such provisions and other effects as could be saved from on board of the said wreck, which they ascertained to have been the Saint Louis of Jersey, Edouard Masclet, master, but with the approach of night, lost sight of the wreck, and continued on their said voyage, without experiencing anything further, particular or extraordinary and came to an anchor in safety in the roadstead of Paspébiac aforesaid on the day of yesterday, the eighth day of October, instant, #, where she still remains.
 
  # with the crew and passengers from the said wreck of the said French vessel still on board of their said vessel       And the appearers did and do hereby further severally declare that the said barque or vessel at the time of her departure from Saint Helier in the Island of Jersey aforesaid, and during said voyage, was and still is tight, staunch and strong, and had her hatches well and sufficiently caulked and covered, and was well and sufficiently manned, provided, equipped and furnished with all things needful and necessary for the said voyage and that all and singular the injuries, losses, damages and detriments which have happened to the said vessel or the appurtenances thereof were in no way owing to or occasioned by any unseamanship, mismanagement or neglect of any of them, the said appears, or of any of the rest of the crew of the said vessel, but solely and entirely to the causes, perils and accidents before mentioned, and that during the said time, they, and the remainder of the crew of the said vessel, used their utmost endeavour and exertion to preserve the said vessel and all on board or belonging thereto from loss and damage.
    To the truth of all which the said several matters and things herein before alleged and declared, they, the said appears, have duly and severally made oath on the Holy Evangelists before us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses.
    Now therefore that these presents may enjoy full force and effect, I, the said Notary, at the request of the said Charles Le Cornu, have protested and by these presents, do most solemnly protest against all and every person and persons whomsoever whom it hath, shall or may in any wise concern, for and on account of all and all manner of damages, losses, prejudices and detriments whatsoever which the said barque or vessel called the C. Columbus and the appurtenances thereof or either of them, or any part thereof have or hath already sustained or may hereafter sustain, and also against all charges and expenses whatsoever, which the owners or freighters or any or either of them or any other person or persons whomsoever may be put to or sustain, for or by reason or means of the aforesaid accident or otherwise of relating thereto. All which matters and things were declared, alleged and affirmed, as is set forth in the presence of us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses and therefore, I have hereunto subscribed my name, being requested to testify and certify the premises.
    Thus done, protested and sworn to at Paspébiac aforesaid, in the County and District aforesaid and Province of Canada (where no stamps are used) on the day and in the month and year herein first above written, and signed by all the said appearers in the presence of Messieurs Felix Briard and John Allbeury, both at and of Paspébiac aforesaid, gentlemen, witnesses to the due execution of these presents and in the presence of and with me, the said Notary, also hereunto severally subscribing these presents, having been first duly read to all the said parties respectively, in their presence and bearing.
 
      Charles Le Cornu  
      George Le Brocq  
        John Hamon  
  Felix Briard   John Le Cornu  
  }witn ess Martin Sheppard,  
  John Allbeury   N.P.  
 



M42/10 Pages 2356-2361 Martin Sheppard

          No. ___} 19th May 1848} Protest by

         Province of Canada
         District of Gaspé
   
John Balleine, master of the Barque C. Colombus of Jersey.
 
    By this public instrument of declaration and protest. Be it known and made manifest unto all to whom these presents shall come or whom the same may in any wise concern. That on the nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
    Before us, the undersigned Martin Sheppard, Notary Public by Royal authority, duly admitted and sworn for that part of the now Province of Canada, heretofore known as Lower Canada and in the presence of the witnesses herein after and hereunto severally subscribing, personally came, appeared and were present John Balleine, master mariner and master of the barque or vessel called the C. Colombus, of the burthen of two hundred and fourteen tons or thereabout, register measure, belonging to the port of Jersey in Europe, now lying at anchor in the roadstead of Paspébiac, in the County of Bonaventure in the District of Gaspé aforesaid, and John Le Blancq, chief mate, John De St. Croix, carpenter, John Etheridge and Joshua Blanpied, seamen of and on board of the said vessel which said John Balleine, John Le Blancq, John De Le Croix, John Etheridge and Joshua Blampied, of their own free will and voluntary accord, before us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses, did and by these presents, do severally and respectively, each of them for himself only, allege, affirm, declare, protest and say.
    That the said barque or vessel called the C. Colombus, being tight, staunch and strong and in all respects in good order and fit for sea, well and properly manned, victualled, watered, and apparelled and fit for sea, and her hatches well and sufficiently caulked and covered. They, the said appearers and the rest of the crew of the said vessel, set sail on board of the said vessel from the Port of Liverpool, in England, on Sunday the second day of April, now last past, loaded with a full cargo of general cargo on a voyage to Paspébiac in this County of Bonaventure and District of Gaspé aforesaid.
 
  # except experiencing a succession of rough and squally weather.       That the said barque or vessel called the C. Colombus proceeded on her said voyage without anything particular or extraordinary occurring # until Saturday, the eighth day of the said month of April, with a strong breeze from the northwest and squalls.
    Found on sounding the pumps, as was their daily and repeated custom, that their vessel made more water than usual, with the squalls and heavy sea then running and continuing unabated. Double reef'd the topsails and spanker. Stowed the jib and main course and reefed the foresails, but the vessel laboured much and shipped a deal of water. At seven o'clock P.M., the wind increased to a strong gale. Lay their vessel to under easy sail, and at 4 o'clock A.M., again pumped the ship, found that her leak had increased. At nine o'clock A.M., still blowing as before with squalls and a heavy sea, the vessels strained and laboured so much that with a heavy pitch, she broke and carried away her jib boom and the flying jib boom, the fore topmast, the fore and main top-gallant masts and the starboard bulwarks and one stanchion. Cut the sails and rigging and succeeded in clearing the wreck.
    On the next day, the wind and sea continuing unabated, the ship strained and laboured so much, shipped such frequent and heavy seas and made so much water that in order to ease their said vessel and provide for the general safety, it was deemed advisable to throw a portion of the salt of her cargo overboard, which was accordingly done, and the vessel afterward become rather more easy & manageable.
    On the tenth, found that the vessel made less water in proportion as the wind and sea moderated. The carpenter employed getting spare topmasts ready to replace those broke and carried away as before stated. Employed on the next day repairing the spare topmast rigging and getting it ready to be fixed and put up when the weather would moderate.
 
 

#


On the fourteenth
      Thick and rainy weather and heavy rolling sea in which the vessel plunged bows under and shipped some heavy seas. # got the fore topsail yard on deck which had been sprung and spliced the jib boom. Lay the vessel-to under her main topsail and fixed and got up the spare topmast, to replace the one carried away. On the fifteenth of the same month, blowing a strong breeze with rain and fog which increased on the morrow. Employed setting up the fore topmast rigging and secured and placed it with the mast. Set fore topmast staysails and square sail & double reefed the main topsail & found that the spare fore topsail had been sprung at the time of getting it up. a heavy head sea running which broke over the vessel Pumped to ten inches of water, found that the water in her hold was more than customary, the vessel labouring much *  
  * and still making a deal of water with a heavy head sea running which broke over her.


+ on the twenty fourth day of the said month of April the foot-rope of the main topmast broke and the sail was blown off and cast off and carried away
      Laid her to, and the weather abating, on the seventeenth, continued on their course + from this time to the first day of May instant, the weather continued unabated with little intermission. and on the latter day, the wind having increased to a gale from the northward
    Employed setting the fore topmast and jib boom rigging and repairing the main staysail. On the latter day of May, the wind increased to a gale from the north westward, the fore rope of the foresail broke and gave way. Stowed the foresail and laid the ship to. At eight o'clock A.M., shipped a heavy sea and carried away part of the larboard bulwarks. Bent and set the new foresail and spanker.
    On the fifth instant, made the Great Bank of Newfoundland and sounded in forty two fathoms in latitude forty four degrees, forty four minutes north. From this time to the thirteenth, kept a sharp lookout for ice & saw several fields of ice, which they were at times obliged to sail close to and tacked and manoeuvered to avoid. At four o'clock P.M. that day, sailed through a field of ice in company with several other vessels without sustaining any perceptible damage, and on the eighteenth of May, instant, arrived and came to an anchor in the roadstead of Paspébiac aforesaid, with the said vessel still making a deal of water and requiring as before, increasing labour at the pumps, her masts, sails, rigging, bulwarks and other parts of the said vessel much damaged and broken and as they had every reason to suppose, her cargo, still unloaded, greatly diminished and damaged.
    And the said appearers did and do hereby further jointly and severally allege, affirm, declare, protest and say. That all and singular the injuries, losses, damages and detriments which have already happened or may be sustained either to the said barque or vessel called the C. Columbus or her cargo on board or to either of them, were in no way owing to or occasioned by any want of duty, unseamanship, mismanagement or neglect of any of them, the said appears or of any of the rest of the crew of the said vessel, but solely and entirely to the causes, perils and accidents before mentioned and that during the said time, they and the remainder of the crew of the said vessel, used their utmost endeavour and exertions to preserve the said vessel and her cargo from loss and damage.
    To the truth of which said several matters and things herein before alleged and declared, they, the said appearers, have duly and severally made oath on the Holy Evangelists, before us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses.
    Now therefore that these present may enjoy full force and effect, I, the said Notary, at the request of the said John Balleine and the other appearers herein before named, have protested and by these present, do most solemnly protest against all and every person and persons whomsoever whom it doth, shall or may in any wise concern, for and on account of all manner of damages, losses, prejudices and detriments whatsoever which the said barque or vessel called the C. Colombus and the cargo therein laden or either of them or any part thereof have or hath already sustained or may hereafter sustain. And also against all the charges and expenses whomsoever which the said barque or vessel called the C. Columbus and her cargo or either of them or any part thereof have or hath already sustained or may hereafter sustain, and also against all charges and expenses, whatsoever, which the owners or freighters thereof or any or either of them or any other persons or person whomsoever may be put to or sustain for or by reason or means of the aforesaid accidents or loss or otherwise relating thereto. All which matters and things were declared, alleged and affirmed by the said appearers as herein before set forth in the presence of us, the said Notary and subscribing witnesses and therefore, I, the said Notary, have hereunto subscribed my name, being requested to testify and certify the premises.
    Thus done, protested and sworn to at Paspébiac aforesaid, in the County of Bonaventure in the District of Gaspé and Province of Canada (where no stamps are used) on the day and in the month and year herein first above written.
    In faith and testimony whereof the said John Balleine, John Le Blancq, John De le Croix, John Etheridge and Joshua Blampied have to these presents, first duly read according to law, set and subscribed their respective names and signatures and affixed their respective seal, in the presence of Messeurs John Hardeley, merchant, and Felix Briard, gentleman, both at and of Paspébiac aforesaid, witnesses called for and present at the due execution of these presents and with me, the said Notary and the said appearers, also hereunto severally subscribing.
 
      John Balleine  
      John Le Blancq  
  John Handeley   John De Le Croix  
  } witnesses   John Etheridge  
  Felix Briard   Joshua Blampied  
 
 

M42/10 Pages 2362-2364 Martin Sheppard

          No. ___} 20th May 1848 } Report of Survey

         Province of Canada
         District of Gaspé
            To all to whom these presents shall come or whom the same may in any wise concern. Be it known that we, the said undersigned James Balleine of Paspébiac, master mariner and late master of the ship Dis..... of Jersey, Edward Rénouf, master mariner and master of the brig Patrius, and John Gavey, master shipbuilder, all now being at Paspébiac in the County of Bonaventure in the District of Gaspé and Province aforesaid, having been called upon by John Balleine, master of the barque or vessel called the C. Columbus of Jersey, now lying at anchor in the roadstead Paspébiac aforesaid, at the request of and accompanied by the said John Balleine, on board and alongside of the said barque or vessel called the C. Colombus, then lying in the roadstead of Paspébiac aforesaid, loaded with a .......... full cargo of salt in order to survey, examine and inspect the said vessel, and the damages she has sustained in her hull, sails, rigging, nails and spars or other damages of the said vessel in the late voyage of the said vessel from the port of Liverpool in England to Paspébiac aforesaid, and then and there, being after a minute and careful examination of the said vessel and the damages she sustained in her late voyage aforesaid, did and do hereby unanimously report that we found as follows, that is to say.
    Thirty four feet of the starboard bulwarks and eight feet of the larboard bulwarks broke and carried away.
    One stanchion on the starboard side and the saddle on the main mast carried away.
    One jib boom and one flying jib boom ........... jib boom chock and two new cat heads carried away and gone and main staybolt drawn in by the strain of the main topsail.
    Two top gallant masts and two topmasts, one topsail yard, and one topmast studding sail boom also lost and carried away.
    The foretop gallant cap and topmast cross tree carried away and cut.
    The main cap twisted during the strain on the main topmast.
    And a leak under the counter.
    We also further certify that when at the time of the falling .... and carrying away of the the mast and spars of the said vessel broke and carried away, the following sails and rigging attached and belonging thereto were cut and carried away, viz:
    The fore royal standing and running rigging.
    The fore gallant and standing rigging.
    The jib and flying jib standing and running rigging.
    The foretop sail running rigging.
    The main topmast stay.
    Two foretacks and two foresheets.
    One jib and one flying jib.
    One fore topmast staysail.
    One fore royal sail,
    and one foretop gallant sail and one coil of two inch rope for lashing, all which were cut away to clear the wreck and confusion occasioned by the falling and loss of the masts, and one fore sail and one main topsail carried away.
    We also further certify that so far as we have been enabled to ascertain from the present state of the said vessel, that the goods of her cargo still unloaded, have not sustained no injury from the leakage of the said vessel, where and except the salt only, which was found to be much damaged, has sustained great dammage and diminished.
    To the truth of all which we are ready and willing to and will make oath if thereunto required.
    In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hand and affixed our respective seals at Paspébiac in the District of Gaspé and the Province of Canada (East) where no stamps are used, this twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight, having signed three certificates of the same tenor and date.
 
        Signed, sealed and delivered
          in the presence of
 
 
  John Balleine      
  John Briard   Edward Rénouf  
  Moses F. Gibaut   John Gavey  
 
          In faith and testimony and further corroboration of the preceding written certificate of survey, I, Martin Sheppard, Notary Public duly admitted and sworn for that part of the now Province of Canada, formerly Lower Canada, do hereby certify, declare and attest unto all whom these presents shall concern or may in any wise concern, that the said preceding written certificate of survey and also the presence therein contained were thus done and passed at Paspébiac in the County of Bonaventure in the District of Gaspé in the aforesaid part of the said Province (where no stamps are used) on the day and in the month and year therein lastly written, and signed, sealed and delivered, as and for their separate act and deed by James Balleine, Edward Rénouf and John Gavey, surveyor therein mentioned at the time and place aforesaid in the presence of the witnesses whose names are set and subscribed at foot of the attestation of the said preceding certificate of survey and also that the signatures of James Balleine, (LS), Edward Rénouf, (LS), and John Gavey, (LS), respectively, set and subscribed at foot of the said preceding instrument in writing or certificate of survey, is and are the proper hand writing, signature and seal of the said James Balleine, Edward Rénouf and John Gavey respectively, set and subscribed before us, the said Notary and in the presence of the appearers in the present of Felix Briard and Moses F. Gibaut, witnesses to the said execution of the said preceding written certificate on the day and year aforesaid.
    And further that the signatures J. Briard, Moses F. Gibaut subscribed and set at foot of the attestation of the preceding certificate of survey are of the respective hand writing and signatures John Briard and Moses François Gibaut of Paspébiac aforesaid, gentlemen, set and subscribed before me, the Notary in the presence of and with said parties concerned. The said preceding written certificate of survey and in the presence of each other, on the day and in the month and year therein last written, the same having been first duly ready over according to law.
 
      Martin Sheppard  
      N.P.  

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Mar. 18th, 1999.
Updated:
July 15, 2003.

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