Sinking of the Gloucester
Sinking of the Gloucester is in 1660-1684 Restoration.
On 03 May 1682 the Duke of York (age 48) and his retinue including John Churchill 1st Duke Marlborough (age 31) and George Legge 1st Baron Dartmouth (age 35) were seen off on their journey north by King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland from Margate Roads, Kent [Map]. James (age 48) was possibly travelling to Edinburgh to collect his six months pregnant wife Mary of Modena (age 23) to ensure their child was born in England.
On 06 May 1682 The Gloucester sank during a strong gale when it struck a sandbank twenty-eight miles off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk [Map] on a journey from Portsmouth to Edinburgh. Of the estimated 330 people on board it is believed between 130 and 250 sailors and passengers perished.
The Duke of York (age 48) [the future King James II] and John Churchill 1st Duke Marlborough (age 31) were rescued in the ship's boat.
Robert Ker 3rd Earl Roxburghe (age 24) drowned. His son Robert Ker 4th Earl Roxburghe (age 5) succeeded 4th Earl Roxburghe.
John Hope of Hopetoun drowned. He gave up his seat in a lifeboat to the future King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 48) for which his son was rewarded with an Earldom twenty-one years later when he came of age.
Richard Hill drowned.
The pilot James Ayres was blamed for the disaster. The Duke of York (age 48) wished him to be hanged immediately. He was court-martialled and imprisoned.
Evelyn's Diary. 25 May 1682. The Duke (age 48) and King James II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 48) and Duchess of York (age 23) were just now come to London, after his escape and shipwreck, as he went by sea for Scotland.
On 15 Apr 1703 Charles Hope 1st Earl Hopetoun (age 22) was created 1st Earl Hopetoun by Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 38) in recognitions of his father having given up his seat in a lifeboat to the Duke of York during the Sinking of the Gloucester; his father subsequently drowned.
In 2007 the wreck of The Gloucester was discovered by Norfolk-based printer brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell, together with their late father, friend James Little and another unnamed friend.
The shipwreck is split down the keel, with remains of the hull submerged in sand, and it is not known how much of it is intact. There are no plans to raise any part of it.
The finds included glasses found in the original case, clothes, shoes, navigational equipment, personal possessions and unopened wine bottles. One of the wine bottles bears a glass seal with the crest of the Legge family.
In 2012 the bell of the The Gloucester was raised to the surface providing evidence of the identity of the vessel.
