THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN HADDOCK
At 8.45am on the morning of Tuesday 5th February 1901, a farm labourer called Richard Taylor was standing on the cliffs at Cockington. He noticed some wreckage below and went down to the shore to investigate.This was the first anyone knew that a vessel had been wrecked there. The name of the vessel was the"Goonlaze". The Captain's name was Thomas Haddock. He was my great, great grandfather.
Thomas was born in 1868 in Dutton, Cheshire, the son of Arthur and Hannah Haddock. In 1881 the family were living at 48 Surrey Street, Runcorn and Thomas, aged 13 was an errand boy. At some time over the next couple of years, Thomas turned to the Sea and started life as a Mariner. On 31 December 1890 he married Edith Watling in Phillack Parish Church, Cornwall. Three months later on 20 March 1891, my great grandmother was born, Elizabeth Hannah Haddock. At that time the family were living in Trevassack Row, in the Parish of Phillack.
Thomas
Haddock aboard the Henry Harvey
The North Devon Journal of February 7 1901 reported that "During Monday night a very heavy north-west gale blew on the coast of Bideford Bay but until late on Tuesday morning it was not known that any shipping was in danger. Then it was discovered that a small coaster named the "Goonlaze" from Hayle in ballast for one of the Welsh ports was lying under water near Abbotsham Cliffs. Her masts were gone. Later in the morning a man walking near the cliffs came upon the body of a dead seaman. The poor fellow had evidently crawled inland and no help being at hand, had there succumbed. At the foot of the cliff another body was found. Search was continued and under Peppercombe and Bucks two other bodies were picked up. There was nothing to indicate how the wreck occurred or how the sailors got ashore. Whether the schooner was driven ashore before the crew could show distress signals, or whether such signals were fired and not seen, will probably never be known, but it is certainly a most extraordinary thing that a vessel should founder so close to shore and no one be aware of the fact until too late. The "Goonlaze" was owned by Mr Hitchen J.P. of St Agnes, Cornwall."
The
Goonlaze
The St Ives Weekly Summary of 9 February 1901 reported that "The schooner Goonlaze of St Agnes, foundered during the heavy northerly gale in Bideford Bay on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning. No lights had been seen. Two bodies were found on the rocks below Westward Ho on Tuesday forenoon and another on the land above, the man having climbed there, to all appearance, for the purpose of getting help. Another body was found during the afternoon, making four in all. We regret to say that two of the crew of the ill-fated schooner were natives of St Ives, and both are drowned, viz, Thomas Paynter, of the Warren, and Edward Toman, of Virgin street. The schooner, which left Port Talbot on Monday with coal, was wrecked under Abbotsham Cliffs. Two of the bodies were washed in under Bucks and Peppercombe. The other two bodies were recovered in Abbotsham, one being about two hundred yards inland. The body was that of a finely-developed man of about 27 years of age, who evidently crawled up the cliff with the intention of getting help. This was undoubtedly Toman, who was a fine young fellow and a strong swimmer. It seems extraordinary that a schooner could be wrecked in the bay and no one be the wiser until dead bodies were discoved some hours later. In every north-west gale the Bideford Bay is fully exposed, and it is suggested that in the present instance the vessel was dismasted after roundong Hartland Point, and that she then blew around the bay past Clovelly, Bucks and Peppercombe to the Cockington Cliffs under Abbotsham, which jut out into the bay. The captain (Haddock) and mate (Thurston) were natives of Hayle, but had lived at St Agnes for some years. The sad affair has cast a gloom over St Ives, and much sympathy is extended to the bereaved widows in the terrible loss they have sustained."
Cockington
Cliffs
THE INQUEST
The following article is taken from the North Devon Journal of February 7 1901
Coroner Bromham held an inquiry at the New Inn Hotel, Abbotsham, yesterday, on the bodies of the two men picked up near the cliffs there. No evidence of identification was offered. The vessel, which lies under the Abbotsham cliffs, appears to have had a fearful buffeting by the sea. The stern was absolutely wrenched from the fore part. The shore is strewn with wreckage, an an indication of the force of the sea will be obtained when it is mentioned that the masts were split up into hundreds of fragments. The name of the vessel was plainly seen on the stern. From the evidence of the police constable it seems as if the crew did fire off distress signals. Why, if this were so, they were not seen, is a matter for conjecture. One thing is clear, that the signals would not be visible, far inland, as the cliffs are very high at this part of the coast.
The evidence given at the inquest yesterday was as follows:-
Richard Taylor, farm labourer, of Cockington, stated that at 8.45a.m. on Tuesday morning he was on the cliffs, and seeing some wreckage about, went down on the shore to see what it was. He saw that a vessel had been wrecked. Walking about twenty yards further, he saw the body of a man lying just at high-water mark. He saw that life was extinct, and after placing his coat over the face witness went for assistance. William Tallin and John Hooper helped witness carry the body up under the cliff. A lifebelt was around the dead man's body. The body was lying face downwards, the forehead resting on a large pebble.
Emma Jane Taylor stated that she was the wife of the last witness. At about 12.30p.m. on Tuesday she found the dead body of a man in a field at South Hill, Cockington, just above the beach. The body was a good distance up the field. Seeing a coastguard officer on the beach, witness went down to him and reported the matter to him.
P.C. Barnacott stated that whist on duty at Westward Ho on Tuesday morning, the coastguard informed him that a wreck had occurred at Cockington Head and that two bodies were lying on the cliff. Witness in company with P.C. Carpenter, proceeded at once to Cockington, where he saw the body of a man lying on the rocks under the cliff. He searched the body, but found nothing except a gold signet ring on the little finger of the right hand. The body was dressed in a dark suit of clothes, with canvas overall trousers; there were no boots, only stockings. From appearances the body was that of a sailor, about 5ft 7in in height, dark hair and heavy dark moustache. The face was badly bruised evidently by contact with the rocks. Witness found the second body - that referred to by Mrs Taylor - in a field about 200 yards from the cliff. He searched the body, and found only a clasp knife. The man had been wearing a blue guernsey, dark pair of trousers and overalls. There were no boots on the feet, and the stockings were all in rags and the feet were badly skinned. His hands also had skin removed. The overalls were covered in mud similar to that on the cliffs, and it appeared as if deceased had climbed to the top of the cliff. The deceased was a finely built man, and measured nearly six feet. His hair was dark and long, and a dark moustache. Witness thought the age of this man to be about 24 and that of the man found on the beach about 27. He placed the two bodies in a cart and removed them to the parish mortuary in the cemetery.
The Coroner proceeded to sum up the evidence, and asked for a verdict in order that he might give an order for burial. Rev.R.W. Sealy: One of the bodies in the mortuary at Abbotsham was identified this morning as the first mate of the vessel by a sailor of Appledore who worked with him several times. I was with him at the time and he said his name was Aleck. The Coroner: it can be stated in the verdict that the bodies were supposed to belong to the vessel. The Coroner mentioned that two other bodies had been found on the coast in Parkham parish, and an inquest would be held thereon today. A verdict was returned that two men whose identity was unknown, but who were apparently seamen, had been found dead. A rider was added asking that an inquiry should be made by the proper authorities into the matter of the watch along the coast.
Mr Bromham (County Coroner) held the second inquest on Thursday at Peppercombe Castle, on the body of J. Paynter, an able seaman of the schooner. Mr J. Bate was foreman of the jury, and Captain Nicholson and Chief Officer Pearse of the coastguard service were present.
John Hitchens, J.P. of St Agnes, Cornwall, owner of the "Goonlaze" said the vessel carried a crew of four men. She sailed from Port Talbot on Monday with a cargo of coal for St Agnes. He identified the body as that of J.Paynter, an able seaman of St Ives. By the Coroner: The vessel was stoutly built and carried a good crew. By the jury: The Board of Trade examined her about six weeks ago at Hayle. Thomas Hocking, thirteen, deposed to finding the body about 8.45 on Tuesday morning on Peppercombe beach. The Foreman: I am sure the jury would like a rider to the verdict of "Found dead" and he suggested that it should be - "And that the coroner request the Board of Trade to hold an inquiry into the cause of the wreck" - This was agreed to. The Coroner, in summing up, said they all sympathised with Mr Hitchins in his loss, not of the vessel merely, but of a good crew, and they all felt for those who would mourn the loss of those now dead.
An inquest was afterwards held at Bucks Mills on the body of Thomas Haddock, of St Agnes, the Captain of the schooner. He was identified by a telgram in his pocket. A verdict of "Found drowned" was returned, and the jury added a similar rider to that of the previous jury.
Thomas Haddock was buried in St Anne's Church, Bucks Mills.
St
Anne's Church, Bucks Mills
|
His headstone reads "In Loving Memory of Thomas
Haddock, Captain of the Schooner Goonlaze |
