Looking for 2 lost ships 1826 & 1829

[grosjean545]

Hi everybody,

I'm looking for some information about these 2 ships :

1/ The british brig Harmony wrecked in 1826 near Knysna Head.

2/ The coastal brig Thomas lost in 1829, beween Table Bay and Algoa Bay.

Every information will be very appreciated, especially about captains of these ships. I just know his name (R. Butler), but I would like to know his first name (Richard? Robert?...).

Thank you in advance.

[sandyc2]

Hi there

Sorry, I cannot find any reference giving Captain R. Butler's first name re the "Harmony". 

In a book by Margaret Parkes & V. M. Williams called "Knysna the forgotten port":
"...on 13 March, 1826 the brig "Harmony" was wrecked in the channel on her way out of the port, and under his [ex-Royal Navy Lieutenant John Mackenzie Johnson's] pilotage.  The vessel was taken aback in the narrows in a north-westerly wind near the outer bar.   The pilot boat being insufficiently manned to tow her over to safety, she was left to drift gradually, having failed to let go an anchor, until she struck well and truly on the western rocks, and become a total wreck".   [and further on it says]   "But the Master of the "Harmony", which was unfortunately not insured, wrote from Cape Town to John Rex somewhat bitterly, that he felt that the Government had regarded the disaster in a "very slight manner" ....".

This makes me wonder if the reference re "R. Butler submitting a certain account of his" for 1827 on the NAAIRS site is not perhaps your man - it might give the full name in his signature?
See www.national.archsrch.gov.za - click on RSA - key in Butler with the date 1827.  Unfortunately I am not in Cape Town so cannot look it up for you.

I started tracing the voyages of the "Thomas" in 1829 but ran out of time - do you know in which month it was lost? 

Regards
Sandy 

[grosjean545]

Thank you for your answer!

All I know about the Thomas was in Lloyd's List Marine News:
"21 / 07 / 1829 : Coasting Brig. Missing since 24 march 1829, supposed foundered."

Thank you for your help. 
Unfortunately, I can't go to Cape Town for now to check this document (I'm from France!).

[sandyc2]

Thanks for the date -  I will look for info on the "Thomas" for you on Thursday.   

Regards
Sandy

[grosjean545]

Thank you very much! 

[sandyc2]

I have had no luck finding out R. Butler's first name.   I traced his voyages for 1829:

He sailed from Table Bay on the 23 December 1828 for Algoa Bay [Port Elizabeth]
Arrived Table Bay [Cape Town] on 2 February 1829.

Sailed from Table Bay 22 February for Algoa Bay
Arrived at Port Elizabeth March 3   [says J. Butler but this must be a printing error]

then the last entry for him:
Sailed from Port Elizabeth, March 25, "Thomas", R. Butler, for Table Bay.

I carried on looking but there were no more references, not even a missing/lost at sea one.

Regards
Sandy

[grosjean545]

Thank you very much!

It seems to be difficult to find the name of this captain! 

If he died at sea in 1829, where could I find some information or death notice?

[sandyc2]

I cannot find a death notice for him on the NAAIRS site.   You need then to trace what happened to his wife - so I keyed in Marcella & Butler and there is a will filed in 1868 for Marcella wife of John Butler.  John Butler???
Do you know anything of her life after 1829 - did she remain in SA?   Could this be her?  Unfortunately I do not live in Cape Town so do not have access to the Archives.

Sandy

[grosjean545]

Unfortunately, this Marcella Butler (wife of John Butler) is not the good one, my Marcella had a new husband later and left South Africa for India et died there. 

Nevertheless, I thank you very much for your help.