Sinking of the Gem, River Usk, Newport MON June 1861 (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Monday, January 23, 2012, 09:09 (4699 days ago) @ ivan_elsmore

Grabbing the 2009 update posted on Rootschat http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,416045.0.html

.... the demise of a smack, a fishing vessel, named 'Gem' who sunk on 25th June 1861.
It was actually being used for movement of goods in the Bristol channel at that time.

I am interested in John Reynolds and his 2 sons from Awre/Blakeney.
John was the Master at the time of the tragedy! All three lost their lives when the boat went down.
I am led to believe they may have been transporting treated iron for Trefil Mine, near Tredegar, which was the Tredegar Iron Company.

1. I have recently received a report from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales,
what a mouthful, on Gem and now have reference numbers. The vessel sank in the river usk or near-by. It was 88 nt
wooden sailing smack built 1842 carrying iron ore caught in a southerly gale, it foundered in the usk estuary.

2. Confirmed Gem sank in the river usk near the pylons which cross over the river usk south of Newport.
You can see it on google, close to the lock gates,bear in mind they say estimated position.

3. If you look at the 1861 census for our John he is in Newport as Captain
of vessel Gem and he gives the names of the crew on board, this was in
April as well as a name of John Phelps or Philips born.1802 in Awre in
gloucestershire is given. The report on the enquiry into the tradgedy refers to one survivor as an old man no name given,
so assumed to be name given in census 2 Months earlier. I have since tried to trace
this man and his family, He was born c1802 this makes him older than John Reynolds ie c1804
I believe the old man is John Phelps.

1861 Vessel Gem

John Reynolds abt 1806 Newnham, Gloucestershire, England Master Vessels, Monmouthshire
John Philps abt 1804 Awra, Gloucestershire, England Mate Vessels, Monmouthshire
Thomas Reynolds abt 1844 Newnham, Gloucestershire, England Boy Vessels, Monmouthshire

1851
John Phelps abt 1802 Awre, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire Water Pilot
Hannah Phelps abt 1797 East Dean Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire
Ann Phelps abt 1835 East Dean Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
William Phelps abt 1836 East Dean Son West Dean, Gloucestershire

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>