"Almost at the end of its long voyage from Melbourne, Australia, the Royal Charter was carrying four hundred and fifty two passengers and crew and gold from the Australian goldfield valued at £320,000 and it sailed into the worst storm that had occured in the Irish Sea during the century.
After battling across the Irish Sea, the captain called for the Liverpool pilot while off Point Lynas, but the sea was too ferocious for the pilot to go aboard the Royal Charter. The captain was faced either with the prospect of making his own way to Liverpool without help, or sheltering from the severe weather in Moelfre Bay.
He chose to find shelter, but the ship's anchor chain broke under the strain and drove the Royal Charter stern first onto the rocks off Moelfre. The waves were so tumultuous that the ship struck the rocks fifty yards from the shore and broke into two sections.
Every person on board was thrown into the sea except for thirty two who perished as they were hurled against the rocks. Many of the passengers were men returning from the Australian goldfields and some had attempted to leave the ship and swim to shore with their pockets filled with gold dust.
For weeks after the tragedy bodies were washed up on the beaches, and on the clifftop there is a memorial with the words "where the Royal Charter met its end, and the memory of those who died".
Nearby, in 1939 there was another tragedy when the submarine HMS Thetis, which had been built in Birkenhead, sank during its sea trials. The vessel failed to surface in Liverpool Bay and only four men were able to escape before the emergency hatch flooded trapping ninety nine crew and civilian workers. The submarine was located and beached at Traeth Bychan and it was refitted and entered naval service during WWII as HMS Thunderbolt.
The community at Moelfre has a long history in lifeboat rescue. In about 142 years it has saved more than six hundred lives. One of the most remarkable was in October 1959 when the coaster Hindlea, with a crew of eight, was driven on to Moelfre rocks in a gale with recorded winds of more than 100 miles per hour. This occured 100 years to the day after the loss of the Royal Charter."
Find out more about the Thetis submarine disaster in this contribution by John Griffiths of Holyhead. More...
Michael R. Johnson from Newburgh, Indiana, USA says: "If anyone wishes to read an account of the Royal Charter wreck the book is called The Golden Wreck by Alexander McKee. I have a paperback edition printed in 1977 by New English Library.
I have two candlesticks in my possesion from the wreck that my parents gave me. I wonder what happened to all that gold...???"
Thanks to Raymond Agius from Greater Manchester for suggesting the following site for further information on the Royal Charter. www.agius.com
David Evans from Holyhead talks about the Rev. Roose Hughes, who attended to those killed in the Royal Charter wreck. More...
Audrey Taylor from Colwyn Bay tells us about her Royal Charter poem. More...
J Wynne Lewis from Moelfre tells us how Charles Dickens reported on the wreck. More...
your comments
Peter Day, Church Warden St. Gallgo's Church, Llan
In October 2009 the church (and village of Moelfre) will be holding events to commemorate the disaster. Would anyone with personal information or artefacts or keepsakes please consider bringing them to our talk on October 22nd, service on 25th or monologue 26th Oct. Please write to me Peter Dayc/o St. Gallgos Church, Llanallgo, LL72 8NE.
Tue Sep 1 12:27:03 2009
Helen Jones from Deeside
The Royal Charter was built and launched in Sandycroft, Deeside, North Wales. My father is part owner of the building in which it was built. He runs an engineering firm from the buildings.
Tue Aug 25 09:40:24 2009
Cyril Jones, Melbourne
As a former resident of Holyhead I have always been fascinated by the Royal Charter Story, especially as she sailed from Melbourne. There have been some requests on this site for information on passengers on the ill-fated voyage.The Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) has lists of incoming and outward passengers into Melbourne covering the period in question.Go to the PROV website, which has separate lists for incoming assisted and unassisted passengers and outgoing passengers. Simply put the name Royal Charter into the appropriate search box.
Wed Aug 5 10:12:49 2009
Geoff Whitfield from Liverpool
Just got hold of a copy of a new Royal Charter book by Chris & Lesley Holden (Calgo Publications). What a little gem! Entitled Life & Death on the Royal Charter, 290 pages of fascinating information regarding her short life, voyages and loss. Can't recommend in highly enough.
Fri Jul 31 16:00:47 2009
Simon Petty, Mossley Hill, Liverpool
Visitors to this site may be interested to hear that the first of two pamphlets has just been produced by Partneriaeth (Partnership) Moelfre, Gwelfor, Moelfre, LL72 8LH (chaired by Derlwyn R Hughes and pamphlet authored by John Hughes, a descendant of Thomas Hughes, rescuer) that they may find invaluable to their research or merely a passing interest sparked by the 150th anniversary in October 2009. All proceeds (£6) go to environmental improvement in Moelfre Bay, Anglesey.
Fri May 8 09:33:47 2009
Alan Kelly, Parys Films, Anglesey
Brian Rogers from The Wirral, could you possibly contact me? I'm currently doing some research into the Royal Charter and would be extremely interested in seeing your photographs.
Mon Apr 20 13:57:11 2009
Marie Davies
My GG Grandfather was Thomas Taylor who was the captain on the Royal Charter when it went down.
Wed Apr 1 10:16:31 2009
Hugh Evans, Gaerwen
As a 14-year-old I stood on the deck of the wreck Hindlea 50 years ago, the same as my great grandfather Thomas Hughes steped abroad the Royal Charter 100 before.
Fri Mar 13 16:35:28 2009
Ann Purton, Salt Lake City
My great great uncle Francis Rufford was killed on the wreck of the Royal Charter. I have a beautiful large petite point needlework of art done by his mother. She started the needlepoint The Cottar's Home when he left for Australia, to help keep her diverted and to help keep her from worrying about him. After eight years he was returning home on the Royal Charter. The night she found out about the wreck, she put away the needlepoint for some years. I guess it was too painful for her to work on it. Alas she finished it some years later, and it is quite a masterpiece and family treasure. They found his heavy overcoat onshore, returned it to the family and it hung on the back of his bedroom door until it was eventually given to a friend Thomas Clayton.
Mon Mar 2 09:35:16 2009
Sara Evans
A Rodgers - I am very interested in what you found in the house you bought. As stated below, I am making a documentary as part of my 3rd year course at university. I would be interested to hear more from you.
Fri Jan 16 11:04:38 2009
Sara Evans
I'm a third year filming documentry student studying in Liverpool, and at the moment I'm planning a documentry that I will be producing about The Royal Charter tragedy as part of my module. I would be very interested to hear from anyone that had any ancestors onboard the ship from Australia to Liverpool that I could possibly come to interview.
Tue Jan 13 09:18:36 2009
E Owen, Moelfre
I am a member of the local community partnership of Moelfre, Lligwy and Dulas, Anglesey. The partnership of local people has organised a 150 year commemoration of the Royal Charter shipwreck with local events throughout 2009. We would really appreciate hearing from anyone with any information or items connected with the Royal Charter.
Fri Oct 17 09:24:25 2008
Colin from Ogmore
After visiting Angelsey I recently read Dickens' report on the Royal Charter for his publication 'The Uncommercial Traveller. In the text he mentions crossing the road to the clergyman's dwelling house. Is this the little house called Ty'n Llan which is opposite the church of St Allgo.'The Shipwreck', which is Chapter 2 of The Uncommercial Traveller, is as powerful and poignant today as when it was first written.
Wed Oct 15 11:32:45 2008
Peter Day, Church Warden, Llanallgo
As we prepare for 2009, the 150th anniversary of the Royal Charter loss, another disaster looms. The obelisk memorial in the churchyard at St Gallgo's has recently started to lean. The rate of settlement indicates that the memorial will, before too long topple.We need financial assistance to have the problem rectified before the memorial falls and breaks.
Thu Oct 9 09:11:22 2008
Peter Day, Tynygongl, Anglesey
The church of St Gallgo's in the parish of Llanallgo (including Moelfre) will be a focal point during the 150th anniversary of the shipwreck. The church members will be arranging events, displays and will be on hand to explain matters concerning the Royal Charter throughout 2009.St Gallgo's is continually visited by descendants of survivors, of those lost and by people interested in the story. Many had their appetite whetted from reading the book The Golden Wreck by Alexander McKe, enthusiasts refer to the book as the Royal Charter Bible.The wreck was worked from 1972 to 2002 by the Royal Charter Salvage Expedition led by Jack Smart and his son-in-law. There was a brief interruption to operations during 1985 which resulted in High Court action against a rival group. The RCSE were successful in their action and resumed their operations.Anyone interested in visiting the church, the wreck site or events planned for 2009 should write to Royal Charter, St Gallgo's Church, Anglesey, LL72 8NE.
Fri Sep 5 14:56:13 2008
kathleen pritchard bangor,
three of the Moelfre 28, who helped in the rescue that stormy night, in conditions we cannot imagine, Richard Mathews, his brother Israel and their brother in law William Pritchard lived in Aelwyducha as their father was a farmer. Israel lived in Penbryn, he was a fisherman. they were forebears of my husband Peter,all his family went to sea, generations of Mariners. we as a family are so proud of them all.
we do not think there is a memorial to the 28 men who showed so much courage and strength that day the 26th October 1859. it would be a tribute to them, if a physical memorial of some kind were to be created in the village ,let us remember all those like the Men and Women of the R.N.L.I.,The Coastguards and civilians who give their lives to go out to Sea to save others in peril. Psalm 107.23-30.THOSE WHO GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS AND PLY THEIR TRADE IN GREAT WATERS.
Tue Jun 17 12:05:45 2008
James Williams, Leeds
I'm a medical student writing an essay on the Royal Charter and the methods employed to manage the aftermath of the disaster - namely identifying the bodies. If anyone has any advice on where I can find any relevant information I would be extremely grateful.
Fri May 30 09:39:36 2008
Angela Woodgates from Nottingham
My g-g-grandfather William Pritchard (born about 1828) was a seaman from Llanallgo and I've been told he was a salvage diver on the wreck. He married into the Mathew family of Llanallgo and three of the twenty-eight who tried to help were Richard Mathew,Israel Mathew and William Pritchard. I wonder whether they were "my" Mathews & Pritchards? I would like to know more about the salvage operations at the time.
Fri Mar 14 09:11:46 2008
John, Melbourne, Australia
My gg grandmother Mary-Ann McDuff (nee Holden) and family arrived in Australia on board the Royal Charter in July 1857. My gg grandfather William McDuff was not listed on the passenger list according to a McDuff family history. A start for you Vivienne Jago on compiling your passengers list.
Thu Mar 13 12:07:21 2008
Chris Pitcher from Rye
My great grandfather's younger brother, Mountague William Pitcher, was lost with his wife and two children in the 'Royal Charter' wreck. His son, Mansell Sotheby Pitcher, was alive when cast ashore but no resuscitation was to hand in such terrible circumstances. Mountague was in business in Geelong, Australia. The memorial in Llanallgo churchyard was raised with the balance of monies collected by my great grandfather, Henry Sotheby Pitcher, and his brother-in law, Samuel Leigh Sotheby, primarily to recompense the two clergymen who so devotedly dealt with the bodies and contacted the relatives. My wife and I visited the scene in the 1970s -a sunny, calm day making it difficult to imagine the terrible events of 1859.
Mon Mar 10 11:21:33 2008
grant sayce shropshire
Does anyone know what wood was used on the royal charter, and why some of the wood has lots of pegs in it, say every 6in apart?
Tue Mar 4 10:29:05 2008
Paul D, from Abergele
I have had passed down in the family a 3ft sword with a lion's head at the base and Royal Charter engraved on the hand protector. The wood on the handle is gone (rotted I guess). Has anyone any idea who this may have come from? A gg grandfather was a Liverpool pilot I believe.
Fri Jan 4 09:56:55 2008
Brian Rogers, Wirral
My Grandfather Edward Humphreys, started his apprentiship at 14 years with Sandycroft Foundry where the Royal Charter was built. I was told his father before him worked there allso. I have photos of the men in a group in the Top Ferning Shop around 1893. Some older members in the photos may have been workers on the ship. Also 2 postcard siqe photos very much older of workmen at the Foundry. now very faint with age who probabele were their at the ships launching in 1857, i think. Two more large photos of the interior of the workshops,all large photos with the names of the engineers on the back, also a photo of the dock where the Royal Charter was built. All handed down with over two hundred years of family history, or as my grandkids say,junk, to me historical treasures.
Thu Dec 27 10:59:17 2007
brian meeson, north wales
i was one of the team who worked on the royal charter during 1986. The site was run by Jack Smart and son in law Peter, we worked on the wreck, airlifting around four months. in this time items were recovered including a gold locket and chain also sovereigns etc. I spent many man hours working the airlift and i found the experience facinating, i beleive the team i worked with were closer to solving the mystery of the missing gold as we found parts of the wreck that had been undisturbed since october 1859 and i believe that there is still a large amount of unfound bounty. unfortunately bad weather stopped play.
Alexander the author of the golden wreck visited us on site in 1986 and then brought the golden wreck back up to date to which we all ahd a mention in the book.
Thu Dec 27 10:57:02 2007
C Williams, Llanfair PG
I have owned the book The Golden Wreck (McKee) since the 1960s, but it's only in the last few days that I noticed the names of the 28 local men who were on-shore helpers. Can anyone out there provide a house name in the village for some of these men?
Tue Nov 13 14:54:59 2007
Liz from Liverpol
Anyone interested in visiting the grave of Joe Rogers in Ford cemetery can discover his resting place by visiting Crosby Library which has microfiches of burials in Ford Cemetery. A map of the cemetery can also be obtained from the Library
Mon Oct 8 10:22:30 2007
Michael Edwards from Darnhall Cheshire
I have always had an interest in the wreck of the Royal Charter having spent a lot of my childhood in Moelfre. In 1980 I was using a metal detector on the beach close to the wreck and I found some rusted bolts. On breaking them open I found an 1843 sovereign, a George III shilling. a small copper disk and a small piece of pottery these now take pride of place in my collection, as I always wanted a momento of the wreck.
Mon Oct 1 09:58:01 2007
Vaughan Evans Bryngwran
Kevin Thomas, Llangefni.Yes i was a member of Bestspeed and remember moving tons of sand with an airlift and came across the wreck at the seabed.The charges were then laid and part of the hull was blown off and bought ashore.I dont know who took it to the seawatch.However one other memory i have is bringing up coal and giving it to a local fisherman, i wonder if he is still alive,
Mon Sep 17 10:09:12 2007
Kevin Thomas, Llangefni.
Vaughan Evans, Bryngwran - were you by any chance a member of Bestspeed Limited (as mentioned in 'The Golden Wreck'), or the Liverpool Sub-Aqua club? It seems that Bestspeed were diving on the Royal Charter around September 1985, and the Liverpool Sub-Aqua club were there around Easter 1985.
Mon Sep 10 09:44:03 2007
Vaughan evans, Bryngwran
Kevin Thomas Llangefni,The pieces of the royal charter hull outside the seawatch in Moelfre was recovered in 1985 by a team of divers from Liverpool, I was a member of that team and remember bringing it ashore on the beach opposite the village pub.Some of the other artifacts are now on display at the Holyhead maritime museum well worth a visit.
Mon Sep 3 10:27:34 2007
Kevin Thomas, Llangefni.
I've been quite regularly going to Moelfre to the wreck site itself, and the Seawatch for around 3 years, and only last week did I notice that there are two pieces of the Royal Charter's hull in the car park outside the Seawatch. They seem to have been there for quite a while - I wonder how on earth it took me so long to notice them!!
Tue Aug 28 09:59:18 2007
Web team
Jack Earnshaw, for your full crew list try the Royal Charter Records on the website listed on the right of this page. Thanks to Ron Plummer, Holywell, for suggesting this.
Tue Aug 21 09:45:58 2007
Jo Bucknall, Burton on Trent
In the Summer 1971-72 (aged 13-14) I was invited by a friend to help out on a salvage operation for the day. My friend was diving with colleagues off a pontoon which was anchored over the site of the wreck of the Royal Charter. There was a pump on the pontoon which was sucking all kinds of small matter up off the sea bed through a hose into a big square sieve and it was my task that day to sift through it in the hope of finding something of interest. I remember it was fascinating, I found lots of pieces of broken green and blue glass and got really excited when I saw a coin, but on closer inspection it was a modern penny piece which had been sent up by one of the divers below as a joke. Shortly after this I spotted another coin in the tray and thought the same thing had happened again, until I looked closely at it. To my surprise it was a strange gold coin, I think a sovereign, I don't remember much more than that other than the fact that I was told that it was treasure trove and that I couldn't keep it and that no others had been found. I often wondered what happened to it and whether any others had been found?
Fri Jun 22 11:01:39 2007
Jack Earnshaw from Wokingham
My gt gt grandfather was a ship's steward and died between 1857 and 1861. I found a reference to Joseph Gibson who drowned, along with many others, on 26 August 1859. I can only presume that this was the Royal Charter. Does anyone know if there is a Crew List available anywhere?
Mon Jun 4 09:38:34 2007
A Rogers, Liverpool
I bought a house in Liverpool a few years ago, lock, stock and barrel, and had the task of emptying the house of its contents. There were family photo albums and various other artefacts and news cutting of the Royal Charter. The family in the 18/19th century were all captains of ships and one of them was the Captain of the Royal Charter, at the time I'd never heard of it. I took my children to the Maritine Museum in Liverpool and in passing happened to ask the 'Ship in the Bottle" Man if he'd heard of it. "Ah! The Golden Wreck, there's parts of the ship in the basement of the museum and also about the book which they happen to sell in their shop". Strangely there was a piece of paper with the words written, "The captain had a bet in the Pineapple, that he would be back from Austrialia in 60 days, His slippers were being keep warm by the fire, waiting for his safe return that never happened." It begs the question, did he want to win the bet The original Pineapple was in Dingle in the middle of fields with a bowling green and apple trees surrounded by fields. There is still a pub called the Pineapple on the same spot I assume. I went to the Maritime Museum with my artefacts and Photo Album to donate to them, but they were not interested, So it's now stuck in the drawer.
Tue Apr 10 11:35:36 2007
Catherine McArdle, Central West NSW Australia
As published in an obituary of John Quinn in the Molong Argus, Friday, Nov 7,1902: "Mr Quinn was a native of Prosbery, County Galway, Ireland, and was 65 years of age. When a mere lad, he was apprenticed to Cox & Co., shipbuilders, whose establishment was situated on the river Dee in England. Mr Quinn was employed in the yards during the building of the illfated ship, Royal Charter, which was wrecked on the rocks off Holly Head, North Wales, while returning from Melbourne with 600 odd passengers. ..." I thought you would like this little snippet from the past.
Tue Mar 27 11:55:07 2007
Vivienne Jago
My ggg grandfather travelled from England to Australia on the Royal Charter and it is said that during the voyage the vessel was becalmed for a few weeks. Apparently my ggg grandfather dreamed the reason for the steam engine fault and with the captain's permission managed to get the steam engine going again. As a direct result of this event the passengers are said to have a tie pin made with the words REGARDS spelt out in precious stones: ie Ruby,emerald,garnet,amythyst,ruby,diamond and saphire. This tie pin is still in the family, handed down to the oldest son each generation. Would anyone have a record of the passengers said to have sailed onboard the Royal Charter in 1857? The family name was Jago (or Yago).
Mon Mar 12 09:48:51 2007
Mike Leach, Abergele
We have one large (oak?) beam in our home. Our home was built in 1732, but a beam used over the fireplace is clearly dated 1639. We are led to believe by other local homes/farms that several beams in other buildings were all moved there following a shipwreck off Abergele. I have no knowledge of when this might have been but would be very interested to know any information that anyone might be able to throw on my question.
Mon Mar 5 10:29:30 2007
ray lucas from caerphilly
I am a 62 year old guy who was asked at the age of about 27 to take underwater photos and a video of the Royal Charter by the person who had bought the salvage rights to the Royal Charter, the man's name was Jack Smart or Sharp, not quite sure of the surname. I do know he found the wreck before he owned the salvage of the vessel. I saw many artifacts that had been recovered including rings, there were also some photographic glass plates but I think the emulsion was peeling off the glass due to poor conservation. I am certain I saw a tv programme about this Jack a short time later.
Wed Jan 31 09:00:33 2007
Margaret Roberts Anglesey
Doreen Williams of Rhoose mentions her great uncle John Rees, a boy sailor who drowned on the Royal Charter, this adds light to the name of Thomas Rees Pistyll whose son lost his life in the tragedy. The following names were listed in verse by a Welsh poet nearer the time of the loss of the vessel as published in Cerddi Cymru cyfrol 11:- Thomas Jones and William Davies from Caernarfon, Griffith Jones Nefyn, Son of Thomas Rees Pistyll, William Hughes Amlwch, Harri Williams Cemaes, John Jones Holyhead and Issac Lewis Moelfre.
Mon Jan 29 11:03:28 2007
Margaret Roberts, Anglesey
Re Mark Simister of Liverpool enquiry about the resting place of Joe Rogers who swam ashore with a lifeline off The Royal Charter, David Evans the son of Cox Dick Evans along with his helpers have recently visited the grave of Rogers in Liverpool and are intending renovating the grave.
Thu Jan 11 09:39:06 2007
Peter John Rhys Lewis Llandudno
For those who have visited Brunnels Great Britain in Bristol you are ineffect looking at a ship very similar to the Royal Charter in size and length. The most surprising thing though was during my visit to Whitby last year.In the famous church on the headland opposite the ancient abbey is a beautifully carved chair similar to an Eisteddfodd chair,but this was carved from timbers of the Royal Charter wreck. I cannot remember how it came to be there but it was quite a surprise.
Mon Dec 11 10:56:48 2006
Jane Bradshaw Suffolk
I have a sideboard which carries a plaque with this inscription 'Royal Charter wrecked October 26 1859 DGG 1861'.
The cupboard is certainly made from ship's timbers as you can see the 'peg' holes in the wood.
May be there were many things made of the timber as it seems to have been a famous wreck.
Does any one know who DGG was?
Wed Aug 30 09:26:53 2006
Mark Simister, Liverpool.
Can anyone advise me as to where the final resting place is of able seaman Joe Rodgers of the Royal Charter, also known as Jose Rodriguez (Malta). It has been suggested he is buried in a Liverpool cemetery, can anyone confirm this, and give me any other information about this truly remarkable hero, thanks.
Tue Jul 4 09:22:20 2006
Pentre
I find it very strange that the grave to the local vicar from the church is well tended and yet the memorial to such a large loss of life is so poorly cared for, and sits folorn in a corner of the graveyard. Surely someone from Llanallgo Council or Cadw should be involved in the upkeep of this monument.
Wed May 17 09:14:07 2006
Katie Smith
I have been following my family history and have discovered that the Royal Charter took with it 2 brothers of my GGG grandfather, James and Richard Oliver, who lived in Northumberland.
I found it so interesting to find the history of this ship, but it's so sad to hear that they were so close to being home.
Wed Mar 1 08:01:57 2006
Doreen Williams - Rhoose
My Gt Uncle John Rees was a boy on the Royal Charter and was lost when she went down. He was the youngest son of Thomas Rees of Fferm Pistyll, Lleyn.
Fri Feb 24 21:57:16 2006
Bedwyr Rees, Caernarfon
Regarding Chris Jones' comments about the folk singer Tom Jones. Yes, it is a true story.
Isaac Lewis was a lad from the village who worked as a sailor aboard the Royal Charter. The ship was so close to shore that he was able to see his father on the headland and cry out -"O 'nhad, dwi wedi dod adra i farw." (Oh father, I have come home to die). The ship broke up and Isaac Lewis lost his life. After travelling half way around the world, he died within a stone's throw of his home.
Mon Jan 30 16:32:56 2006
lin ibrom from norfolk
I have had for many years a large colour-tinted picture of a Joe Rodgers who was, it says underneath, The brave seaman who with a thin cord made fast to his body, sprang from the deck of the Royal Charter, on the chance that he might be dashed on shore with life enough to fix the line from ship to shore, and which saved nearly forty lives. Has anyone heard of this man?
Wed Dec 28 15:21:49 2005
