Category Archives: Brimer Family – England

Shipwreck

I was contacted today by a relative of Isaiah BRIMER (1828-1871) enquiring if I had any information surrounding the circumstances of his death. Here is the information that I currently have:

Dundee Advertiser 6 January 1871:

Wreck of a North Shields Vessel near Belfast, Supposed Loss of all Hands (By Special Telegram)

SHIELDS, Thursday

Today a telegram was received in North Shields from Belfast stating that a vessel, supposed to be the brig Catherine Morrison, of North Shields, had been wrecked near Belfast, and the bodies of the crew had been washed ashore. The others of the crew, about nine in all, are also believed to be drowned. The Catherine Morrison belonged to John Morrison, North Shields and was commanded by Captain Brimer, South Shields. She was coal laden, from Ardrossan, Scotland, to Constantinople. She left Ardrossan last Thursday. The whole crew, with the exception of the captain and mate, belonged to Scotland, and shipped at Ardrossan.

Shields Daily Gazette 7 January 1871:

The Loss of the Catherine Morrison of North Shields

No doubt now exists as to the loss of the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields, portions of the wreck, bearing the name of the vessel, having washed ashore on the coast near Belfast. There is too much reason to believe that the whole of the crew have perished. The vessel was commanded by Capt. Brimer of Wellington Street, South Shields. The rest of the crew, with the exception of the mate, belonged to Scotland. Intelligence from Stranraer, of the 5th inst., states that four dead bodies, quite nude and very much maimed, have washed ashore at the place of the disaster. One of the bodies, an oldish man, was marked on the right arm with the letters “W.M.” and “G.M.”

Shields Daily Gazette 10 January 1871:

The Wreck of the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields.

Seven Bodies Washed Ashore

A Stranraer correspondent of a contemporary, writing on Saturday afternoon in reference to the wreck of the above vessel in Galdenoch Bay, Wigtownshire, which was reported in our columns last week, says that there have now been seven bodies washed ashore. There have also been large pieces of the wreck, on one of which are the words “North Shields” and on another “line Mo-.” The vessel, which, it is thought, had about 20 of a crew, is supposed to be the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields. The bodies which were washed ashore have been buried in Leswalt Churchyard by the Parochial Board. Intelligence from Campbelltown of the 8th inst., states that the staern of a longboat, marked “Catherine Morrison, North Shields,” also planking has washed ashore at Corradale.

Shields Daily Gazette 19 January 1871:

Maritime Notes

The property from the wreck of the Catherine Morrison, of North Shields, was sold by public auction, on Monday, at Galdenoch Bay, the place of the disaster. The wreckage was fast disappearing from the beach, owing to the high tides and the wildness of the weather and locality.

There is also some information, including a map of the site of the crash and Leswalt Church here:

http://canmore.org.uk/site/122496

 


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

A sad tale…

An article found in the South Shields Daily Gazette from 2 January 1911:

Fatal Fall From A Roof – Inquest at South Shields

An inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Archibald Hedley Brimer (35) who received fatal injuries from falling from a roof, was held before Mr A T Shepherd, deputy coroner, at South Shields on Saturday afternoon.

Dorothy Brimer,widow, 14 Shrewsbury Terrace, said the deceased was her son.He lost his wife and child about nine weeks ago and had been living with her since. He was originally a cook and steward but latterly had been in the employ of the South Shields Gas Co., as lamplighter. On Wednesday morning he left home saying he was going to the Seamen’s Mission. He was then in good health but depressed through having lost his work. She went out shortly after eleven to get something for dinner and returned at noon. There was a crowd of people around the house and inside she found her son lying on the couch bleeding from wounds on the head and face. He told her he had got on to the roof to open the window and had slipped and fallen into the back yard. He was taken to the Ingham Infirmary where he died the following night. She had talked about going to Newcastle and finding the doors locked he had evidently thought she had done so. It was not a difficult job for a man to get on the roof.

A woman named Mrs Rutherford, living at 9 Pembroke Terrace, said about midday on Wednesday she looked out of her kitchen window and saw the deceased climbing along the roof towards the window. His feet were in the spouting. There was snow and ice on the roof and he seemed unable to get a safe footing and eventually fell headlong off the roof. She raised an alarm.

Another neighbour, Mrs MacBeth, 12 Shrewsbury Terrace, said between 11 and 12 she saw the deceased knocking at his mother’s door but could not get in. He passed the compliments of the day and was all right. A few minutes after twelve she heard a fearful thud in the backyard and looking out saw the deceased lying in a pool of blood.

P.C. Wade deposed to rendering first aid and having the man taken to the Infirmary. There was a very large wound on his head and his wrist was severely injured. He would fall 28 or 30 feet.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

In the same paper, on the same day, the death notice was published:

Deaths

BRIMER – South Shields, Ingham Infirmary, on 29th ult. aged 35 years, Archibold Hedley Brimer, the dearly beloved son of Dorothy and the late Thomas Brimer. Interment from 14 Shrewsbury Terrace at Harton Cemetery on Tuesday 2.30 – Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother, orphan children and friends.

It appears that 14 Shrewsbury Terrace was an upstairs flat, with number 12 downstairs. The terrace is still standing and can be seen on Google Streetview


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals