I was anxious to learn more but could not pay that kind of money for a used book. Through some online searching I managed to find a copy of the book. It was digitized at the University of Alberta.
In reading the book, I soon learned how Lower Island Cove (Island Cove) fit into the story. A truely remarkable tale of survival.
The short book describes the voyage of the Lady Hobart Packet on June 22, 1803. The ship was leaving Halifax for England, Captained by William Dorset Fellowes. The book was Captain Fellowes first hand account of the events that lie ahead.
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| Captain William Dorset Fellowes, 1769 – 1852 |
On June 26th The Lady Hobart encountered a French schooner that Captain Fellowes felt was a threat to them. It was the L'Aimable Julie of Port Liberte, captained by Charles Rosse. It was leaving St. Pierre and was loaded with salt codfish. As it approached a warning shot was fired it surrendered and both vessel and crew were captured.
Lieutenants John Little and William Hughes of his Majesty's Navy (who were passengers on The Lady Hobart) were put in change of the captured French schooner. Captain Fellowes gave instructions to a couple of his own crew to man the newly acquired schooner along with a couple of French captives.
The same morning he fired another shot stopping two more schooners. Once discovering they were English he gave them the remained of the French prisoners to bring into St. John's. The only French that remained on the Lady Hobart was Captain Rosse, his mate, and his young nephew.
On June 28th the Lady Hobart made her way towards England and struck an "island of ice" which did significant damage to the vessel. All the crew and passengers managed to get into a cutter and a jolly-boat and away from the sinking Lady Hobart. They estimated to be 350 miles from St. John's when they ran into trouble.
The story of survival which followed is remarkable. After spending many days at sea they were finally rescued by a couple schooners out of Island Cove.
Here's a few photos I found online searching for information.
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| Black and white print of Lady Hobart on the morning of 28 June 1803 by Nicholas Pocock; Engraver R. Pollard, 1804 (TPM 2009-0014) |
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| The Loss of the Lady Hobart Packet National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, 26 January 1805 |
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| The perilous situation of the Lady Hobart Packet on an Island of Ice. [n.d., c.1810.] |
Mr. John Lilly, a planter from Lower Island Cove played a large role in the story. He received the rescued people with "attention and humanity". I found John Lilly's name mentioned in old plantation records which indicated that he lived next to the Brodericks up in the cove. That would be not too far from Jackson's Gulch. He is also mentioned in The Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland and Labrador and that he resided there in 1784.
Due to the lack of medical aid and fresh provisions in LIC they wasted no time proceeding onto St. John's. It appeared that the only food available in LIC at the time was potatoes and salt-fish.
Here's a clipping from "When was that - A Chronological Dictionary of Important Events in Newfoundland down to and including the year 1922" (page 76-77). The first part describes a terrible house fire in which claimed the lives of Garlands. The second part describes the Lady Hobart sinking 1802, but it was actually 1803 according to the original story.
The whole book can be read here. It's a great tale of survival and leadership by the Captain.
Narrative of the loss of The Lady Hobart Packet
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=aeu.ark:/13960/t9p277q1m&view=1up&seq=12
Hope you enjoyed this little writeup.
S.
