Times of the Islands Summer 2024
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities. Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum May 29, 1785 — DELIGHT On June 17, 1785 the following appeared in Thomas Allen’s Marine List, “Arrived at this port, brig Three Brothers, Briggs, from Cape Francois and Turks Island . . . who advises that the 29th May he took on board the captain and crew of the sloop Delight, Mills, master, belonging to New Haven, who was stranded on the reef off Turks Island.” March 6, 1786 — PORGEY An extract from a letter from Charleston, SC written to a friend of or to the editor of the Pennsylvania Packet newspaper in Philadelphia reads, “March 6. The brig Porgey, Captain Dickenson, which sailed from New York for Jamaica, is lost on Turks Island. The crew were saved, and are arrived at Bermuda.” June 10, 1786 — EAGLE The following is an extract of a letter dated June 14, 1786 from a passenger aboard the brig Eagle, when she was lost, “On the 10th instant, going through the passage of Turks Island with everything we could wish favorable for that event, at about seven o’clock in the evening, without any of the least appearance of ground, struck and the vessel was dashed to pieces next morning.” November 16, 1786 — SWALLOW Two months after her loss, the following report appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper early in 1787: “ . . . the ship Swallow, Capt. Stephen Flandrin, from this port, bound to [Cape Francois], was totally lost on the Boralla Banks, a reef of rocks called the Square Handkerchief, about 15 leagues to the eastward of Turks Island, and 40 from the Cape.” January 23, 1787 — SALLY A search of records has determined that the ship Sally arrived in Kingston, Jamaica on or before September 26, 1786. She cleared from that port bound for Baltimore, MD sometime between November 3 and 10 and was lost on Turks Island soon after that. November 23, 1789 — UNION Captain Christopher Prince left New York in the brigantine Union and turned southward for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Less than two weeks later, on November 23, she ran aground at Turks Island while sailing at night. Exactly where the vessel came ashore is not stated but it is possible that she struck on the extensive reef off the northeast end of Grand Turk. January 30, 1790 — UNIDENTIFIED A letter from Grand Caicos was sent to a gentleman in New Providence [Nassau] dated January 30 which mentioned the following information relative to an UNIDENTIFIED wreck near Turks Island, “A sloop with lumber was lately wrecked near Turks Island. The cargo was saved by people from Turks Island . . . the crew must have perished.” August 28, 1790 — HMS ENDYMION The 5th rate ship HMS Endymion enroute from Jamaica to Turks Island with cannon and other stores had bad luck and good luck on her voyage. Passing through the Windward Passage, north bound, she was travelling in fair weather though the seas were reported high with a moderate wind. Without warning she struck a rocky shoal where the charts indicated there would be no problem. This became a serious situation since the stranded ship was seven miles from shore. But good fortune shined on the crew as the schooner New Hope from Philadelphia spotted her distress and in short order rescued all aboard and brought them to Turks Island. The master stayed on the island with a portion of the crew and attempted salvage of the ship but to no avail. September 27, 1790 — FAME Sometime prior to September 27, 1790 a southbound brig carrying cargo from St. John, New Brunswick to Jamaica ran into trouble in the vicinity of the Turks & Caicos Islands. A single news report reads as follows, “The brig Fame, Bowden is totally lost on Turks Island on her passage to Jamaica, from St. John’s, New Brunswick.” October 25, 1791 — DARTMOUTH On October 1, 1791, Captain Abraham Kimm advertised in the New York Daily Gazette that his brig Darmouth would sail on or before the 20th for Kingston, Jamaica. He apparently already had his cargo planned and was looking to attract some passengers. Whether or not any made the trip is not known. His ship ran hard aground on the northeast reef of Turks Island. It was reported that the crew and at least part of the cargo was saved. 74 www.timespub.tc
astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum ISTOCK June 28, 1796 — UNIDENTIFIED A French squadron arriving at Brest, France related that during a cruise they had captured three British transports and a Portuguese vessel, all of which they destroyed. They also captured an UNIDENTIFIED Bermudian sloop carrying dispatches to Barbados. Since these sloops had a reputation as being very fast sailing vessels the French manned and planned to send her to Cape Francois. She ran on the Abrolha Bank and was lost. October 25, 1791 — MARY Word of the loss of the brig Mary came from news reported at her port of destination. The report read, “Montego Bay, Nov. 26. The Mary, Telford, from New York to this port, on the 25th ult. at 5 o’clock A.M. struck on the northeast reef of Turk Island, and beat to pieces; the cargo is entirely lost.” October 19, 1792 — FELICITY A shortcoming to the reports from Lloyds List is that they don’t provide much, if any, detail. Their report with regard to the Felicity is no more than, “The Felicity, Doty, from New Brunswick, is lost near Turks Island.” Given the time for communication across the Atlantic during this period, it could be assumed that the actual disaster took place two months or more before the release of this edition. August 15, 1793 — UNIDENTIFIED In an extract from a letter from the Caicos dated August 26, “An American vessel which arrived a few days since at Turk’s Island [had met up with] the French ship America of 74 guns, bound from the Cape [Cape Francois, Santo Domingo] to France [who advised that] a Spanish vessel UNIDENTIFIED was wrecked on Turks Islands during the gale, and the captain with two of the crew drowned.” December 24, 1797 — ALICE Six weeks after her loss, the following news report appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper, “Captain Allen of the ship Flora, brought in the captain and crew of the schooner Alice, of Richmond (Virg.) Daniel Bale, master, which was wrecked on a reef off Turks Island, on the 24th December, on her passage from Martinique to Turks Island – vessel entirely lost, crew saved.” September 3, 1800 — NEUTRALITY The schooner Two Friends, Capt. Williams, set sail from Jamaica on September 5 headed northward for New York City. A person who arrived at Jamaica before Capt. Williams left brought news that the brig Neutrality was cast away on Turks Island on her outward-bound passage. a James Jenney is the director of research for the Bahamas Lost Ships Project, which is working in collaboration with the Bahamas Maritime Museum and Carl Allen of Allen Explorations. For more information, visit https://www. bahamasmaritimemuseum.com. Times of the Islands Summer 2024 75
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- Page 25 and 26: Bengt Soderqvist and his son Lars p
- Page 27 and 28: creature feature Opposite page: The
- Page 29 and 30: This close-up shows how a flounder
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- Page 40 and 41: The beginnings—Bamboo Gallery On
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- Page 44 and 45: SHUTTERSTOCK
- Page 46 and 47: ELLINGTON OSBORNE The response This
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- Page 50 and 51: ANTHONY FORBES—TRIPLE A EVENT PHO
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- Page 54 and 55: DR. DONALD H. KEITH 54 www.timespub
- Page 56 and 57: The mysterious inscription The insc
- Page 58 and 59: GIDEON JACQUES DENNY This oil paint
- Page 60 and 61: Who inscribed the epitaph? On Septe
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- Page 65 and 66: front desk; Aiesha Sealy and Romane
- Page 67 and 68: Grown on North Caicos Ocean Breeze
- Page 69 and 70: Donkeys possess several traits that
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astrolabe newsletter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turks & Caicos National Museum<br />
ISTOCK<br />
June 28, 1796 —<br />
UNIDENTIFIED<br />
A French squadron arriving<br />
at Brest, France related that<br />
during a cruise <strong>the</strong>y had<br />
captured three British transports<br />
and a Portuguese<br />
vessel, all <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong>y<br />
destroyed. They also captured<br />
an UNIDENTIFIED<br />
Bermudian sloop carrying<br />
dispatches to Barbados.<br />
Since <strong>the</strong>se sloops had a<br />
reputation as being very fast<br />
sailing vessels <strong>the</strong> French<br />
manned and planned to<br />
send her to Cape Francois.<br />
She ran on <strong>the</strong> Abrolha<br />
Bank and was lost.<br />
October 25, 1791 — MARY<br />
Word <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> brig Mary came from news<br />
reported at her port <strong>of</strong> destination. The report read,<br />
“Montego Bay, Nov. 26. The Mary, Telford, from New York<br />
to this port, on <strong>the</strong> 25th ult. at 5 o’clock A.M. struck on<br />
<strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>ast reef <strong>of</strong> Turk Island, and beat to pieces; <strong>the</strong><br />
cargo is entirely lost.”<br />
October 19, 1792 — FELICITY<br />
A shortcoming to <strong>the</strong> reports from Lloyds List is that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y don’t provide much, if any, detail. Their report with<br />
regard to <strong>the</strong> Felicity is no more than, “The Felicity, Doty,<br />
from New Brunswick, is lost near Turks Island.” Given <strong>the</strong><br />
time for communication across <strong>the</strong> Atlantic during this<br />
period, it could be assumed that <strong>the</strong> actual disaster took<br />
place two months or more before <strong>the</strong> release <strong>of</strong> this edition.<br />
August 15, 1793 — UNIDENTIFIED<br />
In an extract from a letter from <strong>the</strong> Caicos dated August<br />
26, “An American vessel which arrived a few days since at<br />
Turk’s Island [had met up with] <strong>the</strong> French ship America<br />
<strong>of</strong> 74 guns, bound from <strong>the</strong> Cape [Cape Francois, Santo<br />
Domingo] to France [who advised that] a Spanish vessel<br />
UNIDENTIFIED was wrecked on Turks <strong>Islands</strong> during <strong>the</strong><br />
gale, and <strong>the</strong> captain with two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crew drowned.”<br />
December 24, 1797 — ALICE<br />
Six weeks after her loss, <strong>the</strong> following news report<br />
appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper, “Captain Allen <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> ship Flora, brought in <strong>the</strong> captain and crew <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
schooner Alice, <strong>of</strong> Richmond (Virg.) Daniel Bale, master,<br />
which was wrecked on a reef <strong>of</strong>f Turks Island, on <strong>the</strong><br />
24th December, on her passage from Martinique to Turks<br />
Island – vessel entirely lost, crew saved.”<br />
September 3, 1800 — NEUTRALITY<br />
The schooner Two Friends, Capt. Williams, set sail from<br />
Jamaica on September 5 headed northward for New<br />
York City. A person who arrived at Jamaica before Capt.<br />
Williams left brought news that <strong>the</strong> brig Neutrality was<br />
cast away on Turks Island on her outward-bound passage.<br />
a<br />
James Jenney is <strong>the</strong> director <strong>of</strong> research for <strong>the</strong> Bahamas<br />
Lost Ships Project, which is working in collaboration with<br />
<strong>the</strong> Bahamas Maritime Museum and Carl Allen <strong>of</strong> Allen<br />
Explorations. For more information, visit https://www.<br />
bahamasmaritimemuseum.com.<br />
<strong>Times</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 75
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