Maritime record FEX 483 - Wreck of the Elizabeth Sarah

1804 wreck of English cargo vessel which stranded at Felixstowe after leaking and then grounding in the vicinity. En route from Portsmouth in ballast, having been driven off course several times, she was a wooden sailing vessel.
Status: Casualty

`On Thursday last a protest was made before James Pulham, Esq., Notary Public of Yarmouth, of the loss of the ELIZABETH SARAH, of Sunderland, 256 tons, Capt. Richard James, from Portsmouth in ballast. From the time of her leaving Portsmouth she experienced the most tempestuous weather and was driven on the coast of France. On the 15th ult. she was off Ostend; on the 17th, off Dungeness; and on the 25th she had got as far down to the northward as Dunwich; when she was forced back to Hollesley Bay. The night was uncommonly dark and stormy; the water was gaining upon them, and they were obliged to work the pumps incessantly, to keep the vessel from sinking...Finding the ship waterlogged, 4 feet water in the hold, and all the pumps choked with ballast, that they cd not work them any longer, the master endeavoured on the 26th to run for Harwich harbour, but there being so much water in the hold that they could not steer, she struck on Felixstow ridge of rocks, about 2 miles to the southward of this harbour [sic] and drove about a mile westward of the ridge, when her rudder was carried away, and she drove over the rocks on the beach, where she now lies a wreck, and not likely to be got off.' (1)

Master: Richard James (1)

Date of Loss Qualifier: A