An account of the wreck of the barque Colborne, by the surviving
passengers and subscribers.

     On the day of the 15th October last, as you may imagine, the Colborne, carrying all sail, going before a fine breeze from the southeast, Captain Kent, supposing himself to be running up the River St. Lawrence, but to their sad misfortune, they were too far to the southward. About eight o'clock, the wind began to increase gradually until one o'clock in the morning of the 16th, when Captain William Kent, ordered them to take in studding sail, and reef topsail, the vessel having very little way, being in the act of reefing, the night being exceedingly dark and rainy and the gale continuing to increase violently, when all of a sudden, the men on the foreyard called out "land ahead", not expecting land at that time, and being so close, Captain Kent gave orders to wear the ship, but in the act of which she, of course, drifted to leeward; being an iron bound shore, she struck stem on against the rocks. By throwing the lead they found there were fourteen fathoms water, when Captain Kent ordered the vessel to be backed off, which they effected, but in going around she struck aft and unshipped the rudder and damaged her run, so that when the men went down the lazret the water poured in like a brook. On consulting the Captain, he said she would not go down (all in a fury). They knew not what to do for the best. Some considered prudent to cut away the mast, which, if had been done in time, would no doubt have been the means of saving the lives and perhaps part of the cargo; it did not occur to them to cut away and prepare the boats in time; and all sails being set, and the vessel full of water, all of a sudden she went on her beam ends. As she went over, the lashings of the long boat, being cut (by one of the hands) she went over on her bottom among the rigging and sails. In such a night and in a heavy sea, it is wonderful to imagine how those eight men got out by the masts and yards on board of her, and by some means got her clear of the wreck. Being left to the mercy of the wind and seas; not having the smallest piece of board or oar by which to manage the boat, they remained in that state until morning; when they were picked up, the boat was half full of water. When the vessel was in the act of turning over on her beam ends, eight or nine of the passengers and crew got on the weather rigging, but when entirely upset the seas went over her, in consequence of which they were all dashed from the rigging, with the exception of four persons who were taken off in the morning in a state of insensibility. After landing they found themselves awkwardly situated among the French, not being able to speak the language or understand them. The second mate, Alexander Naver, being one of the number in the long boat, proceeded to Port Daniel, where he was informed there were English settlers, being a distance of six miles or thereabouts. On reaching there, according to his expectations, he found people with whom he could converse.

     He first addressed himself to Lawrence D. Lyon (a resident of that place) and Mr. William McPherson, trader and William Carter. Being both present, Mr. Lawrence D. Lyon referred him to them. When he then stated to them the unfortunate occurence which had taken place that same morning, and that the vessel being at that time three miles from land drifting off to sea, Mr. William McPherson, there declared to him he was ready to go and take necessaries with them & use his utmost endeavours to save the ship and cargo. Mr. Lawrence D. Lyon and Mr. William McPherson persuaded William Carter, Esquire, to go also and assist, and if possible, to prevent plunder, to which, after some pursuasion, William Carter, Esquire, gave his concurrence. Mr. William McPherson then went and engaged Leger Lambert's schooner then in Port Daniel. The said vessel being aground; they immedaitely engaged Captain Painchaud's schooner, being then in the harbour, and proceeded to the wreck, the mate, Alexander Naver, giving full charge to the said Carter and McPherson. On arriving at the wreck they found she was three or four miles from land and drifting to sea, and several boats plundering sails, and ropes from her. McPherson and Carter went on board of the wreck with fire arms and succeeded in prevnting further plunder.

     They then attached Captain Painchaud's schooner to the wreck, but blowing strong from the northwest their fastening gave way and the wreck drifted off to sea; had there not been two warps and an anchor sent from Port Daniel, they in all probability would not have succeeded in getting her on shore, for even after that, being obliged to hang on with the anchor for a number of days, so that their object appeared very doubtful, so much so that they cut a whole in her side, in order to save part of the cargo, as the wreck was at that time about seven miles from land. Unfortunately on the nineteenth of said month (October) the wind came up from the northeast, blowing a good stready breeze. When Carter and McPherson, procured two schooners and all the boat they could get and the wind continuing to blow til after eight o'clock, they succeeded in getting her in, about one mile and a half below Port Daniel. Previos to this there was part of the cargo put into one of the schooners and sent to Port Daniel, where it was stored under the direction of McPherson and Carter and they still continued to protect the cargo day and night, likewise superintending the landing the same. On the second or third day after they got her ashore, in consequence of a strong gale from the northeast, a great part of the cargo was forced out at the hatches, not less than five hundred pound worth. Owing to the heavy wind & the sea, no boats could scarcely succeed in saving any part of it. Consequently, a considerable quantity of goods was picked up on the opposite side of the Bay de Chaleur in New Brunswick and sold by order of the authorities. Carter and McPherson also got five boxes of specie which they lodged in the Court Hall at New Carlisle for the owners or underwriters; the boxes supposed to contain one thousand pounds sterling, and marked as follows [C B] F X W & Co. The amount of cargo saved and sold is about five thousand pounds. The hull and remainder of the cargo sold for three hundred and sixty pounds. The purchasers have saved not less than seven thousand pounds already. The crew and passengers amounted to fifty four, forty two of which were lost including William Kent, William Simpson, (chief mate), the steward and cook, one sailor and a boy; the number of ships company lost. The other passengers, with the exception of three saved, the two oldest sons of the family of Hudson, (the whole family was fifteen in number) and one Mr. Smith, the bodies found in the wreck, seven in number.

William McPherson.

G.R. Bossé©1998.

Posted Nov. 1, 1998.

Updated Nov. 9, 2002.