Bastards and Hurricanes
More news about Robert Bastard James, good and bad. The good news is that the inimitable nodbear has discovered that James survived the wreck of the packet brig Spey on Racoon Key in November 1840. The bad news is that he and his sailing master Mr Barratt were courtmartialed for the loss of the ship in February 1841. Both were severely reprimanded and ordered to be placed at the bottom of the lieutenants' and masters' lists respectively. The rest of the officers and crew were acquitted and the gunner and master's assistant were amongst those who gave evidence. Poor James :(
John Pollexfen Bastard and Edmund Bastard
azdak also asked about James's striking middle name: "Was the House of James sufficiently eminent to keep track of its illegitimate offspring? Or did his mother have a grievance?" We haven't been able to prove this, but nodbear and I strongly suspect that James was linked to the influential Bastard family of Devon. I'll let nodbear take up the tale...
I have still to find precisely where he fits in but he is called Bastard because it is a family surname of a notable Devon/Cornwall family of that era of whom the most well known are two brothers; John Pollexfen Bastard and Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, both of whom were MPs for Devonshire constituencies and who had numerous connections with the Royal Navy. Edmund married Jane Pownall, only child of Philemon Pownall, Edward Pellew's captain and mentor and the same connection is seen in Pellew's eldest son being named Pownall Bastard Pellew. In neither case was it a comment on the parentage of the son in question - ironically the opposite, more a claiming than a denial. Edmund and Jane had several children, at least one of whom became a RN captain. But somewhere in the clan I am fairly certain Robert James belongs.
One last fascinating snippet from Robert B. James himself. From the log of the Spey and his own private journal James has left an extraordinarily vivid account of two hurricanes that hit the Caribbean in 1837.
"Barbados, July 26, A.M.- At 2 o'clock, light showers of rain, wind shifting from south to north-west, the sky dark and gloomy, with flashes of lightning in the south-east and southwest: at 4, calm, with a heavy swell rolling into the bay; lightning and thunder, sky assuming a blue-black appearance, with a red glare at the verge of the horizon; every flash of lightning was accompanied with an unusual whizzing noise, like that of a red-hot iron plunged in water: at 6 the barometer fell rapidly, the sympiesometer much agitated and unsettled, and fell at length to 28.45 inches; hoisted in the boats, sent down topgallant-masts, struck lower yards and topmasts, let go both bower anchors, veered out a long scope of cable on the moorings and both bowers: at 7.30, the hurricane burst on us in all its dreadful fury: at 8, it shifted from east-south-east to south, and blew for half an hour, so that we could scarcely stand on the deck; made preparations for battening the hatches down and cutting away the masts; the sea came rolling into the bay like heavy breakers, the ship pitching deep, bowsprit and forecastle sometimes under water: the wind shifting to the west-south-west, at 9 the barometer began to rise, and to our great joy we observed a change in the sky for the better. As the haze cleared away, we counted twenty--one sail of merchantmen driven on shore, and perfect wrecks. Her Majesty's ship Gannet drove with four anchors down, but fortunately brought up and rode out the gale. Her Majesty's steamer Alban went on shore, but in all probability will be got off. One brig foundered at her anchors, and sunk. Thank God, we rode it out so well! The Spey, the Gannet, and Fortitude merchant ship, were all that rode out the hurricane. The City of Kingston steamer put to sea, and returned next day.
St Thomas Harbour, Virgin Islands, 1850
Sunday, August 6, 1837. P.M. 2.30. Came to an anchor in St. Thomas's harbour, and landed the mails.
Here the hurricane of the 2nd appeared to have concentrated all its power, force, and fury; for the harbour and town were a scene that baffles all description. Thirty-six ships and vessels totally wrecked all around the harbour, among which about a dozen had sunk or capsized at their anchors; some rode it out by cutting away their masts, and upwards of 100 seamen drowned; but what was very extraordinary, there was not one English vessel in the port. The harbour is so choked up with wreck and sunken vessels, that it is difficult to pick out a berth for a ship to anchor. The destructive powers of this hurricane will never be forgotten. Some houses were turned regularly bottom up.
One large well-built house was carried by the force of the wind from off its foundation, and now stands upright in the middle of the street. The fort at the entrance of the harbour is levelled with the foundation, and the 24-pounders thrown down : it looks as if it had been battered to pieces by cannon-shot.
In the midst of the hurricane shocks of earthquake were felt: and to complete this awful visitation, a fire broke out in the back stores of Messrs. Stubbs and Co. Heavy tiles were flying about from the tops of the shaking and trembling houses, killing and wounding many persons. One fine American ship, 600 tons, was driven on shore under the citadel, and in an hour nothing could be seen of her but a few timbers. Several fine merchant ships and brigs are at anchor, dismasted, with cargoes ; and not a spar or rope for standing rigging to be had in the island.
No place hitherto has suffered so much from a hurricane in all the West Indies as St. Thomas's. Thank God we escaped so well out of it !
Certainly no one can deny that Robert Bastard James had an eventful life!
John Pollexfen Bastard and Edmund Bastard
azdak also asked about James's striking middle name: "Was the House of James sufficiently eminent to keep track of its illegitimate offspring? Or did his mother have a grievance?" We haven't been able to prove this, but nodbear and I strongly suspect that James was linked to the influential Bastard family of Devon. I'll let nodbear take up the tale...
I have still to find precisely where he fits in but he is called Bastard because it is a family surname of a notable Devon/Cornwall family of that era of whom the most well known are two brothers; John Pollexfen Bastard and Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, both of whom were MPs for Devonshire constituencies and who had numerous connections with the Royal Navy. Edmund married Jane Pownall, only child of Philemon Pownall, Edward Pellew's captain and mentor and the same connection is seen in Pellew's eldest son being named Pownall Bastard Pellew. In neither case was it a comment on the parentage of the son in question - ironically the opposite, more a claiming than a denial. Edmund and Jane had several children, at least one of whom became a RN captain. But somewhere in the clan I am fairly certain Robert James belongs.
One last fascinating snippet from Robert B. James himself. From the log of the Spey and his own private journal James has left an extraordinarily vivid account of two hurricanes that hit the Caribbean in 1837.
"Barbados, July 26, A.M.- At 2 o'clock, light showers of rain, wind shifting from south to north-west, the sky dark and gloomy, with flashes of lightning in the south-east and southwest: at 4, calm, with a heavy swell rolling into the bay; lightning and thunder, sky assuming a blue-black appearance, with a red glare at the verge of the horizon; every flash of lightning was accompanied with an unusual whizzing noise, like that of a red-hot iron plunged in water: at 6 the barometer fell rapidly, the sympiesometer much agitated and unsettled, and fell at length to 28.45 inches; hoisted in the boats, sent down topgallant-masts, struck lower yards and topmasts, let go both bower anchors, veered out a long scope of cable on the moorings and both bowers: at 7.30, the hurricane burst on us in all its dreadful fury: at 8, it shifted from east-south-east to south, and blew for half an hour, so that we could scarcely stand on the deck; made preparations for battening the hatches down and cutting away the masts; the sea came rolling into the bay like heavy breakers, the ship pitching deep, bowsprit and forecastle sometimes under water: the wind shifting to the west-south-west, at 9 the barometer began to rise, and to our great joy we observed a change in the sky for the better. As the haze cleared away, we counted twenty--one sail of merchantmen driven on shore, and perfect wrecks. Her Majesty's ship Gannet drove with four anchors down, but fortunately brought up and rode out the gale. Her Majesty's steamer Alban went on shore, but in all probability will be got off. One brig foundered at her anchors, and sunk. Thank God, we rode it out so well! The Spey, the Gannet, and Fortitude merchant ship, were all that rode out the hurricane. The City of Kingston steamer put to sea, and returned next day.
St Thomas Harbour, Virgin Islands, 1850
Sunday, August 6, 1837. P.M. 2.30. Came to an anchor in St. Thomas's harbour, and landed the mails.
Here the hurricane of the 2nd appeared to have concentrated all its power, force, and fury; for the harbour and town were a scene that baffles all description. Thirty-six ships and vessels totally wrecked all around the harbour, among which about a dozen had sunk or capsized at their anchors; some rode it out by cutting away their masts, and upwards of 100 seamen drowned; but what was very extraordinary, there was not one English vessel in the port. The harbour is so choked up with wreck and sunken vessels, that it is difficult to pick out a berth for a ship to anchor. The destructive powers of this hurricane will never be forgotten. Some houses were turned regularly bottom up.
One large well-built house was carried by the force of the wind from off its foundation, and now stands upright in the middle of the street. The fort at the entrance of the harbour is levelled with the foundation, and the 24-pounders thrown down : it looks as if it had been battered to pieces by cannon-shot.
In the midst of the hurricane shocks of earthquake were felt: and to complete this awful visitation, a fire broke out in the back stores of Messrs. Stubbs and Co. Heavy tiles were flying about from the tops of the shaking and trembling houses, killing and wounding many persons. One fine American ship, 600 tons, was driven on shore under the citadel, and in an hour nothing could be seen of her but a few timbers. Several fine merchant ships and brigs are at anchor, dismasted, with cargoes ; and not a spar or rope for standing rigging to be had in the island.
No place hitherto has suffered so much from a hurricane in all the West Indies as St. Thomas's. Thank God we escaped so well out of it !
Certainly no one can deny that Robert Bastard James had an eventful life!