The Pegasus Paddle Steamer Wreck

Amongst the collection of 4,500 printer proofs from William Davison’s Printing Shop in Alnwick , there are four posters each offering a reward for the recovery of the body from the Pegasus shipwreck which happened off the coast of Holy Island on 20th July 1843.

The Pegasus was a large wooden paddle steamer, the first boat of the newly created Hull and Leith Shipping Company, the vessel was to run a weekly passenger and cargo service between the two ports. It was launched from Glasgow and after completing sea trials had its first voyage, Leith to Hull in February 1836, with the return trip being completed days later. Between 1836 and 1841 the Pegasus was involved in a number of incidents hitting rocks at sea and being run ashore, so much so that it began to develop a reputation as a ‘problem ship’. In January 1843 the ship was taken out of service for an overhaul with the potential of being sold. When it did not sell, it was returned to service in the spring of the same year. Its last voyage left Leith on Wednesday 19th July 1843 at 5.40 pm. Aboard were 15 crew, 18 passengers and 23 cabin passengers. At 12.20 am the following morning it hit Goldstone Rock near Holy Island. At 5am Pegasus’ sister ship the Martello came across the scene of unimaginable devastation; a ship wrecked, bodies and little evidence of any survivors. Local fishermen also came out to assist with the rescue, however there were only six survivors, two of whom were passengers.

The four reward posters represent the loss of a loved one in tragic circumstances; three adults and two children. What do we know about the individuals mentioned in these posters? Unfortunately, there are no miraculous happy endings to report.

Miss Sarah Briggs is mentioned in the image attached. Her brother Mr. Briggs, who offered the reward, travelled to Holy Island and stayed at Bamburgh for 8-days. Her workbox, which contained items of a sewing kit was found and identified.

Mrs. C.O. Edington, aged 28 described as being 5 foot 5, a small figure with long thick auburn hair was sought by her husband. He too travelled to Holy Island and stayed for a short time on Bamburgh. He identified and claimed a satin cloak lined with fur as being part of her belongings.

Mr. James Richard Elliott, aged 38 was described as dark complexion, bushy black whiskers, an aquiline nose and a missing tooth. He was a solicitor with the firm Messrs. Elliott and Stott in Rochdale, Lancashire. He had been visiting his brother Captain Elliott in Dundee and was making the return journey with his nephew, the Captain’s eldest child.

It is the missing children that we know the most about. Master Field Flowers, aged 13 with fair hair and projecting upper teeth and his younger sister Miss Fanny Maria Flowers, aged 11 with fair hair, regular white teeth and ‘hands large for a child’. The 1841 census shows them living in Tealby, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire with their parents Mr. Field Flowers, aged 36, a clergyman and Frances Flowers, aged 35, younger sister Mary aged 3 and two female domestic servants. Master Flowers’ body was picked up by the crew of a French boat, ‘Lloyd’s weekly Newspaper’ reported that they “nobly refused to accept the award of £3 offered by his uncle until they were earnestly pressed to do so” explaining that “the master of the French boat stated that he had only performed an act of humanity”. Field Flowers was buried in the churchyard at St Mary the Virgin, Holy Island on 12th August 1843. Others from the shipwreck are buried there too. It would appear that the body of his sister, like the other victims of the tragedy mentioned in the reward posters, was never found. Her French teacher wrote a poem which originally appeared in a French journal and was published in French in the ‘Caledonian Mercury’ on 4th September 1843 lamenting her loss. Belongings of Miss J.M. Flower, a possible travel companion, including a handkerchief, frock and mits were later identified. The 1851 Census shows that their parents went on to have more children, two were named after the elder siblings they never met, William Field born c. 1844 and Elizabeth Fanny Maria born c. 1847.

If you are interested in learning more about the subject why not look at the Exhibitions section of the Northumberland Archives website which has exhibitions relating to both maritime history and Davison’s print shop. A more detailed history of the Pegasus paddle steamer can be found on the website www.islandshirearchives.org.uk. The reward posters referenced are ZMD 167/22/118; ZMD 167/22/119; ZMD 167/22/120; ZMD 167/22/138.