Details from an article in the Newcastle Guardian, 21st March 1846. A vessel called The Pedlar was wrecked near "Fern Island" during a voyage from Grangemouth to France, the crew took to a boat on the Tuesday and the following day the Capt, John Harforth and another crew member died. The two surviving crew were rescued later that day but heavy seas prevented the two dead bodies being recovered from the boat. The surviving crew were dropped ashore at Shields. My feeling is that as Fern Island is inland near Dumfries then the wreck happened near the Farne Islands.
There isn't a death ref for John Harforth, I'm assuming it's classed as a death at sea but not sure. Is there any way to find an indication of the age at death for him?
Although I have a few John Harforths in my tree one eludes me, I have a baptism for one in 1790 at Marske but nothing for him after that.
I also have an 1822 marriage at Whitby relating to John Harforth, sailor and Dorothy Dickson.
Whitby baptisms of children with Dickson as a forename or middle name, children of John Harforth, sailor and Dorothy in 1831 and 1833.
Returns Of Payment Of Army And Other Pensions 1852-1862 to Dorothy Harforth of Stockton, widow
1861 Middlesborough census, Dorothy Harforth b1804, widow.
A marriage at Marske of Elizabeth Harforth in 1865, aged 18, dau of John Harforth, sailor.
As you may have guessed I'm trying to see if I have the same John Harforth all the way through or not. If he is my 1790 chap he's the son of John Harforth a taylor (tailor) who I can account for in 1841 at Marske and death/probate in 1850
