Hi... I've read with great interest the postings about the couple of Raynes generations discussed in this forum and thought you may all like to see the following extracts from Irish newspapers confirming the relationship between John Raynes Esq. and Captain James Raynes murdered onboard the Mary Russell on the 22nd of June 1828, and how Francis Rayanes, also a captain, met his end.
Freeman’s Journal – Monday 24 September 1855
LOSS OF THE NEW CITY OF CORK – By a telegraphic despatch received yesterday, we perceive that the New City of Cork, belonging to the city, was lately lost in Barbados in one of those hurricanes which are such a frequent occurrence in the West Indies. We regret to add that the master, who is also the owner, Mr. Francis Raynes, a native of this city, was unfortunately washed overboard during the hurricane and drowned. Captain Raynes was nephew to the late Captain Raynes, who coming as a passenger from the West Indies in 1828, was murdered with seven or eight of the crew of the Mary Russell, by Captain Stewart, for alleged mutiny, - Cork Reporter.
Cork Examiner – Wednesday 26th September 1855
WRECK OF THE “NEW CITY OF CORK” (From the Barbados Globe of August 27.)
It has become our painful duty to state for the information of our readers “at Home” and in the Sister Colonies, that this Island, since our last issue, has been visited by a very heavy gale of wind, which has been attended with the loss of three vessels and of four valuable lives. The morning of Friday was excessively sultry, and a dead calm prevailed; by twelve o’clock the excellent barometer at the commercial Hall clearly foretold what was about to happen; the wind got up in the afternoon and blew fresh from the South and by West, and from then till one o’clock in the morning of Saturday it continued to increase in violence; at that hour it had become almost a storm – the rain falling in torrents – and an awful sea rolling in from the South-West. Shortly before two the brig New City of Cork, Raynes, master, partly loaded, dragged both anchors and went on shore on the Pier Head. By the exertions (as we learned on our reaching the scene of the disaster) of Captain Kirby of the Peri, Mr. Police Magistrate Clarke and few others, a rope thrown from the Brig and secured on the shore, by which the Mate and all the crew, except the Boatswain, were got safely to land. On the boatswain’s attempting to follow he was washed from his hold, and was instantly overwhelmed by the waves and perished. Captain Raynes, now the last on board, was standing on the counter of his vessel, which was lying broadside on the rocks, when a tremendous sea struck her – broke up in a moment every portion of her, from the foremast aft, and swept him off in the wreck of his much beloved ship; his death was probably instantaneous, for when found the next afternoon, the back of his head was ascertained to be dreadfully fractured. The remains of this much-lamented gentleman – the soul of honour and integrity – one of the most generous hearted of men, and the universal favourite of everyone who knew him –after a Coroner’s inquest had sat on him, were next morning conveyed to their last resting place in the Roman Catholic burying ground, from the Pier Head Stores of Messr. Michael Cavan & Co., followed by the survivors of his crew, and by a large number of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. The boatswain’s remains were discovered the next day and decently interred in St. Mary’s.
The Barque William Large, which was discharging, and the schooner Kohinoor, the property of Charles Leatham, Esq., of Dominica, came on shore about the same time with the ill-fated New City of Cork, but on a less rocky part of the coast. The William Large will, however, prove a total wreck, but it is probable that the Kohinoor may be got off by taking out her masts and ballast. In the latter of these vessels life was also unfortunately lost, a black sailor belonging to this Island having been washed off the deck and instantly drowned, his body was found in the morning.
You can read an account of the Mary Russell murders on the following link:
http://www.historyireland.com/18th-19th-century-history/forced-from-this-world-massacre-on-the-mary-russell/kind regards,
Michael Raines