Great Eyemouth Fishing Disaster of Oct 14 1881
Listing of Individuals who Perished
The names listed below are taken from a copy of the Berwickshire News October 18, 1881. I do not claim that this list is complete, as in many sections the paper just lists that men were lost but no names are given. I will also try to include any survivors who are mentioned, although most of the news was about the dead. Above each set of names will be the name of the boat they were on for your reference.
I have recently had access to a copy of Peter Aitchison's book "Children of the Sea" which is about the fishing industry in Eyemouth and has quite a lot of information on the distaster.
Peter Aitchison contacted me and has allowed me to post his email address here in case someone would like to get in touch with him. You can email him at pete@lochwinnochclan.net. I have added in names and relations where possible. The children listed came from relief rolls and only include boys under 14 years old and girls under 15 years old. Other children may have been a part of the family but over that age.
Some of the names and the ages also come from the above tapestry which is on display at the Eyemouth Museum. This picture is only a portion of the tapestry. Sorry the picture isn't larger, I haven't figured out how to change the size of the photo on my page yet. Anyone have any tips? Email me if you have any tips or additional info on any of the victims that might help others identify their ancestors.
Wikipedia.org
History Shelf
RLS.org.uk
GOOD INTENT, from Berwick
5 men survived, 2 washed overboard:
| JOHN LOUGH | 35 | left widow and children Robert, William, James, John and Richard, brothers Peter and James lost on the Margaret and Catherine |
| JAMES CRIBBES | 25 | unmarried man (or married, 3 mentions of him - 1 married, 2 not), father and brother both lost on other boats, 4 of a family |
EXCELLENT, of Burnmouth
5 men survived including skipper (MARK ANDERSON), 2 washed over board:
| ALEXANDER AFFLECK | 22 | young unmarried man |
| THOMAS MARTIN | 24 | young unmarried man |
CHRISTINA, of Burnmouth
| ROBERT LINDORS | 50 | skipper, married to Christina Kerr, s/o James & Mary Martin Lindors, son James lost on Alice |
| JOHN MARTIN | 18 | unmarried |
| WILLIAM MARTIN | 20 | unmarried |
| JOHN AITCHISON | 17 | unmarried |
ALICE, of Burnmouth
| JAMES LINDORS | 27 or 24 | son of Robert Lindors lost on the Christina |
| WILLIAM LINDORS | 22 | nephew of Robert Lindors lost on the Christina, unmarried, s/o William & Joanna Ponton Lindors of Ayton, brother James lost on the Transcendent |
| WILLIAM STRUTHERs | 18 | unmarried |
| THOMAS MACKAY | 18 | unmarried, father William an adult dependant (d. 18 Jan 1889) |
TRANSCENDENT, of Burnmouth
| THOMAS KERR | 32 | left widow Maria Kerr and young family |
| GEORGE WILSON | 29 or 32 | unmarried, s/o Thomas & Christina Kerr Wilson, buried Ayton Cemetery |
| GEORGE MARTIN | 48 | married w/ grown up family |
| JAMES LINDORES | 25 | married to Elizabeth Martin, daughter Jemima b. 25 Mar 1882, son William, s/o Thomas & Agnes Greenlaw Lindores, buried Ayton Cemetery |
| JAMES LINDORS | 24 | cousin of above, unmarried, s/o William & Joanna Ponton Lindors, brother William lost on the Alice |
| JAMES ANDERSON | 24 | left widow Janet Anderson, daughter Jemima born after the disaster, daughter Agnes |
| JOHN ANDERSON WOOD | 25 | unmarried |
Guiding Star, of Burnmouth
all on board lost:
| MARK ANDERSON | 51 | no dependants |
| JAMES JOHNSTON | 28 | left widow Helen Johnsotn, daughter Helen born after the disaster, Janet and Joan, Helen had 4 illegitimate children 1882-1896 and then remarried in 1896 |
| ROBERT ANDERSON | 53 | left widow Janet Anderson and children ELizabeth and Robert |
| THOMAS AITCHISON | 30 | left widow Jessie Aitchison (remarried 15 Dec 1883 - first disaster widow to do so) |
| WILLIAM JOHNSTON | 30 | left widow Janet Johnston and children William, Isabella and Jane |
| GEORGE ANDERSON | 30 | no dependants |
| ALEXANDER ANDERSON | 30 | no dependants |
TWO SISTERS, of Coldingham
3 men drowned:
| Charles Purves | 55 | left widow Alexandria Nobel(thanks to Davie Walker) and family, image of headstone soon to follow |
| William Thorburn | 38 | left widow Isa Thorburn and children Christina, ELizabeth and Isabella |
| James Thorburn | 42 | brother of above, left widow and children Isabella and Wilhelmina |
SNOWDON, of Cove
all on board lost:
| David Fairbairn | 34 | skipper, married, 4 young children including Robert James, buried Cockburnspath Cemetery with James and Jane Anderson Fairbairn but is not their child - perhaps a grandchild? |
| John Fairbairn | 24 | unmarried |
| Thomas Fairbairn | 24 | unmarried, brother of John |
| David Fairbairn | 17 | young lad whose father was on the Freedom |
| Robert Grieve | 24 | unmarried |
| James Gordon | 18 | single |
RENOWN, of Cove
all on board lost:
| Richard Gordon | 32 | married, 4 young children |
| John Fairbairn | 31 | left widow Margaret Crow and children George, John, Thomas and Sophia, s/o James & Janet Paterson Fairbairn |
| Thomas Fairbairn | 18 | unmarried, brother of above, s/o James & Janet Paterson Fairbairn |
PERIL/PEARL, of Cove
1 man drowned, 2 saved:
| John Fairbairn | 32 | married, 5 of a family |
| William Gray | survivor | |
| Adam Gray | brother of above, survivor |
VOLLOX/VELOX, of Cove
1 man drowned, 2 saved:
| Andrew Henderson | 23 | unmarried |
| Thomas Henderson | brother of above (survivor) | |
| James Fairbairn | 34 | (survivor)married to Alice Young, brother of Fairbairns on Renown, son of James and Janet Paterson Fairbairn ( my family) |
BLOSSOM, from Eyemouth
found with only 2 men on board, 1 alive, 1 dead, others lost at sea:
| DAVID STEVENSON | 50 | sole survivor, skipper, daughter Elizabeth married Matthew Crawford the morning of the disaster, daughter Rebecca |
| GEORGE DOUGAL | 40 | left widow and dependant son Andrew, 3 of family |
| WILLIAM CROMBIE | 26 | left widow Mary Waters, son Thomas b. 23 Jun 1882 |
| WILLIAM YOUNG | 51 | left widow Euphemia Collins and children Christina and Ann, son James lost on Fiery Cross |
| JOHN BURGON | 42 | single; brother of Charles on Lass O'Gowrie - thanks to Adrian Storrie |
| ROBERT YOUNG | 20 | single |
FORGET-ME-NOT, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| WILLIAM NISBET | 35 | left widow Euphie/Effie Dougal |
| WILLIAM SCOTT | 28 | left widow Isabella Cowe, son William Nisbet Scott b. 16 May 1882 (d. 15 Feb 1884), 3 children |
| ALEXANDER NISBET | 37 | left widow Ann Nisbet, 6 children including Alexander 12, Robert 11, William 9, Jessie b. 3 Oct 1881 |
| ALEXANDER CRIBBES | 31 | left widow Elizabeth Robertson and 2 children?, father George lost on Harmony, brother James lost on Good Intent |
| ANDREW DOUGAL | 33 | left widow Isabella Paterson, 3(?) children including John and Ann |
| ROBERT COLLIN | 41 | single |
| JAMES SIMPSON | 17 | single |
JAMES AND ROBERT, of Eyemouth
most of crew survived, 1 man drowned:
| ANDREW JAMES HARROWER DOUGAL | 24 | left widow Euphemia Lough (m. 8 Oct 1881), son Andrew Harrower Dougal b. 31 Jan 1881, s/o James Dougal who died 17 Oct 1881 |
HARMONY, of Eyemouth
all on board perished in Eyemouth Harbour as their loved ones watched helplessly from the shore:
| WILLIAM ANGUS | 35 | left widow Mary or Margaret Craig, a daughter Margaret was born 16 Jul 1882 and 6? other children - William, Matilda, Helen, George and Mary |
| PETER ANGUS | 32 | left widow, 5 children (according to Aitchison's book just one daughter Helen), brother of above |
| HENRY ANGUS | 53 | left widow Jane Owens, mostly grown up family, 1 dependant son James, uncle of William and Peter |
| JAMES WARD | 29 | brother in law of skipper, left widow Mary Angus, 1 child - daughter Sarah |
| GEORGE CRIBBES | 55 | left widow Agnes Bird, 1 dependant son George, grown up family, 2 sons lost in disaster Alexander (Forget Me Not) and James (Good Intent) |
| ALEXANDER CRAIG | 37 | single |
RADIANT, of Eyemouth
all on board perished in Eyemouth Harbour as their loved ones watched helplessly from the shore:
| JOHN WINDRAM | 57 | left widow Alison Renton, with a family mostly grown up, children Andrew, Margaret, Alexander |
| WILLIAM GRAY | 36 | left widow Mary Wilks, 4 children - John, Alice, Isabella and Mary |
| JOHN BURGON | 30 | single, son of Alex Burgon a survivor on the Ariel Gazelle |
| JAMES CROMBIE | 37 | left widow Alison Fairbairn, 2 children - John & Agnes |
| JOHN FAIRBAIRN | 35 | left widow Mary Crombie, 4 children - John, James, Alexander & Jane |
| DAVID FAIRBAIRN | 37 | single, brother of above John |
| ALEXANDER FAIRBAIRN | 28 | single, brother of above |
WAVE, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| PETER PATERSON | 43 or 49 | , skipper & owner, widower of Isabella Young, 5 children, Ann, Robert,Hugh and James orphaned |
| JOHN PATERSON | 17 | single, his son |
| JOHN HASTIE | 34 | left widow and children James, Grace, Alexander and Josephine |
| ROBERT JOHNSTON | 40 | left widow Janet Johnston, 7 or 8 children including Janet, Margaret, Georgina & Alex |
| DAVID JOHNSTON | 19 | single, eldest son of above |
| PETER BURGON | 42 | single |
PRESS HOME, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| ANDREW COLLIN | 36 | left widow Elizabeth Stott (sister of 3 Stotts on this boat), Andrew's brother James lost on Fiery Cross |
| LEONARD DOUGAL | 18 | single, brother James lost on Lily of the Valley, nephew of James Lough lost on the Lily of the Valley |
| JAMES DOUGAL | single - not listed in Aitchison's book | |
| GEORGE WINDRAM | 25 | single, 2 brothers John and James lost on Six Brothers, uncle John lost on Radiant - not listed in the paper |
| ROBERT STOTT | 26 | married a week ago, left widow Ann Ready, daughter Bridget born 17 Feb 1882 |
| JOHN STOTT | 22 | single, brother of above |
| JAMES STOTT | 20 | single, brother of above |
LILY OF THE VALLEY, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| THOMAS MILLER | 37 | left widow Catherine Waddell (d.1891), son Thomas b. 14 Mar 1882, other children Catherine, James, Jane and Maggie |
| ROBERT LOUGH | 38 | left widow Agnes Cribbes, 5? children, son Robert b. 26 Mar 1882, daughter Alice (d. 4 Nov 1887) |
| DAVID RITCHIE | 34 | left widow Margaret Pae, 5 children - Jane 13, David 9, Robert 7, Mary 5 and Emely 3 - daughter Helen/Ellen b. 1882 (thanks to Dr. David Richardson) |
| JAMES LOUGH | 40 | left widow, children James "Laffy", John 12, Euphemia (d. 19 Jan 1884), Helen 9, Mary 7, Jane 1 - James Jr. was supposed to sail but was in Edinburgh with wedding party of David Stevenson's daughter Elizabeth and Matthew Crawford |
| ALEXANDER SWANSTON jr. | 19 | single |
| JAMES DOUGAL | 23 | left widow Margaret Collins, daughter Jamesina b.16 Dec 1881, brother Leonard lost on Press Home |
JANET, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| JOHN MALTMAN | 45 | widower of Janet Windram or Burgon, children William and Jane orphans |
| ALEXANDER MALTMAN | 26 or 22 | son of above, left widow Ann Paterson, daughter Alexandrina b. 13 Feb 1882 |
| ROBERT MALTMAN | 20 | son of above John, single |
| GEORGE MALTMAN | 17 | nephew of above John, single |
| HENRY YOUNG | 47 | left widow Rosina Borthwick, son Johnston Borthwick Young b. 7 Jul 1882, other children Henry, Elizabeth, David, and John, Rosina's brother Johnston Borthwick lost on Margaret and Catherine |
| THOMAS SWANSTON | 19 | single, father William sailed and survived |
LASS O'GOWRIE, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| GEORGE WINDRAM | 60 | left widow and children Robina and Margaret |
| DAVID WINDRAM | 37 | son of above George, left widow and children Jane, Alice, Helen, David and Elizabeth |
| WILLIAM WINDRAM | 25 | son of above George, single |
| PETER COLLIN | 21 | single |
| JAMES WINDRAM | 33 | single, nephew of George |
| ROBERT KEARNEY | 30 | left widow, son Robert b. 1 Dec 1881, Gregory, Jane, Hannah and Elizabeth |
| CHARLES BURGON | 25 | single; brother of John lost on Blossom - thanks to Adrian Storrie |
ONWARD, of Eyemouth
1 man washed overboard:
| ANDREW DOUGAL | skipper (survivor) | |
| ALEXANDER WOOD DOUGAL | 21 | single, eldest son of above, first reported casualty |
| GEORGE DOUGAL | a survivor |
INVINCIBLE, of Eyemouth
1 man drowned:
| JOHN DOUGAL | 52 | left widow Jane Maltman, children John, Helen, Catherine and Ann, brother Thomas lost on the Florida |
MYRTLE, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| WILLIAM HOOD | 43 | widower of Alison Carson, son William an orphan |
| JOHN HOOD | 18 | eldest son of above, single |
| GEORGE BONE | 41 | left widow Margaret Storey, children Thomas and Isabella |
| GEORGE BONE jr. | 17 | eldest son of above, single |
| THOMAS COLLIN | 24 | left widow Helen Colston, daughter Isabella b. 20 Feb 1882, other children Alex, Helen Hastie and Margaret Hastie (last two children of Helen's first husband Joseph Hastie who drowned 1875) |
| JAMES COLLIN | 21 | brother of above, single, brother Alexander lost on the Sunshine and brother Robert lost on the Beautiful Star |
| JAMES PURVIS | 51 | left widow Jane Mack after almost 20 years of marriage, had 3 illegitimate children together before got married at Lamberton Toll, daughter Maggie, son-in-law James Lough |
ENTERPRISE, of Eyemouth
1 man drowned:
| JAMES WINDRAM | 28 | left widow Margaret Wilks, daughter Jamesina b. 1 Apr 1882, other children Margaret 5, William 3 and Mary 1, brother-in-law Robert Collin - married to sister Helen - lost on Fiery Cross |
| GEORGE PATERSON | a survivor |
ECONOMY, of Eyemouth
1 man drowned:
| Alexander Maltman | 48 | left widow Margaret Adams and children Alexander & Robert, son James lost on the Margaret and Mary |
FISHER LASSES, of Eyemouth
1 man drowned:
| William Young | 58 | left widow Margaret Lough and children Christina and Ann |
GUIDING STAR, Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| Henry Dougal | 38 | left widow and children George, Alexander, Margaret, Mary-Ann and Henry |
| John Dougal | 28 | brother of above, left widow Jessie Purves (her father was James Purves lost on the Myrtle), daughter Jessie Hood Dougal b. 9 Nov 1881 |
| William Maltman | 35 | left widow, daughter Johnsena b. 25 Jul 1882 other children Janet, David and Magiie |
| George Dougal | 25 | left widow and children Jane and Mary |
| Thomas Fisher | 30 | left widow, daughter Thomasina b. 16 Dec 1881, children William, Alice, Janet, Elizabeth and Ann |
| James Dougal | 24 or 30 | newly married or single (newspaper says one thing, Aitchison's book says the other |
| George Whillis | 39 | left widow and children Josephn & John |
BEAUTIFUL STAR, Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| George Scott | 54 | left widow Effie Scott(d. Feb 1882 of broken heart), 3 sons drowned with him |
| John Scott | 26 | son of above, single |
| George Scott | 23 | son of above, single |
| William Scott | 21 | son of above, left widow and children Jane, Alexander and Margaret |
| Robert Collin | 28 | left widow Isabella Windram, son Robert George b. 1 Dec 1881, brothers Thomas and James lost on Myrtle and brother Alexander lost on Sunshine |
| James Broomfield | 28 | left widow and children William, John and Robert, brother John lost on Sunshine |
| Edward Fisher | 24 | single |
FLORIDA, of Eyemouth
crew:
| John Paterson | 44 | left widow and son William |
| Paul Paterson | 37 | left widow Ellen Young and children Ann, John, William and Thomas, Ellen had an illegitimate child after the disaster as widows lost their relief funding if they remarried |
| John Paterson-Fairbairn | 35 | left widow Jane Dougal and children Elizabeth, Joan and Margaret |
| Thomas Fairbairn | 19 | single, 1/2 brother of above John Paterson-Fairbairn |
| Thomas Dougal | 33 | left widow Elizabeth Crombie, brother John lost on Invincible |
| William Crombie | 41 | left widow Margaret Dougal, daughters Williamina b. 13 Feb 1882, Isabella |
| John Craig | 18 | single |
INDUSTRY, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| Andrew Cowe | 52 | left widow and children Robert and Catherine, son of John (d.1853) and Jean Cowe |
| Andrew Craig | 52 | left widow Agnes Hair and children Peter, Jane, Agnes, Joan and Mary |
| James Paterson | 48 | left widow Jane Aitchison (formerly Dougal), daughter Margaret b. 14 Dec 1881, other children John Paterson, Ann Aitchison and James Aitchison (last 2 children of Jane and former husband John Aitchison who drowned in 1872), s/o William & Margaret Craig Paterson, buried Eyemouth Cemetery |
| William Paterson | 17 | single, son of above James Paterson, buried Eyemouth Cemetery |
| Thomas Spouse | 40 | left widow |
| James Dougal | 43 | left widow, daughter Jamesina b.16 Dec 1881, Mary-Ann |
| Thomas Scott | 21 | single |
SIX BROTHERS, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| Robert Collin | 46 | left widow Helen Windram and children Robert, Elizabeth, Agnes and George |
| James Collin | 21 | son of above Robert, single |
| George Collin | 41 | left widow Margaret Maltman (- thanks to Adrian Storrie) and children Agnes, William and Robert, brother of above Robert |
| James Collin | 18 | son of above George, single |
| James Windram | 40 | left widow Margaret and children Margaret, James, John and William |
| John Windram | 28 | brother of above James, left widow Margaret Aitchison, brother George lost on Press Home |
SUNSHINE, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| George Grant | 28 | left widow Elizabeth Dalglish, daughter Georgina b. 4 Nov 1881, infant son Hugh |
| Robert Scott | 28 | left widow Ann Swanston, daughter Margaret b. 15 Nov 1881 |
| John Broomfield | 22 | single, brother James lost on Beautiful Star |
| Richard Windram | 28 | left widow and children Mary, Isabella and Robert |
| Alexander Collin | 17 | single, brother Robert lost on Beautiful Star, brothers James and Thomas lost on the Myrtle |
| Robert Lough | 19 | single |
FIERY CROSS, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| Robert Collin | 45 | left widow Helen Windram, daughter Robertina b. after disaster, Ann, Helen, James, William, brother in law James Windram lost on the Enterprise |
| William Collin | 43 | brother of above, widow and daughter Ann |
| Joseph Collin | 41 | left widow Elizabeth Cormack and children James, Mary, John, ELizabeth, Joseph, Euphemia, Thomas, Margaret and Andrew, brother Andrew lost on Press Home, cousin of above Robert and William, s/o James & Mary Dougal Collin, buried Eyemouth Cemetery |
| John Cowe | 41 | left widow Euphemia Nisbet, son William b. after disaster (d. 12 Jun 1882), Euphemia, Peter and John |
| Robert Wilson | 34 | single |
| Hugh Grant | 38 | left widow Mary Robertson, son James b. 7 May 1882, Mary, Hugh, John, George amd Joseph |
| James Young | 24 | widow Margaret Stewart, father William Young lost on the Blossom |
MARGARET AND MARY, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| John Maltman | 28 | single |
| William Collin | 30 | left widow, daughter Isabella b. after the disaster (d. 18 Apr 1882), Jessie |
| Robert Gillie | 23 | single |
| John Gillie | 22 | cousin of Robert,left widow Ann Lindores and son John |
| James Maltman | 22 | cousin of above John, single, father Alexander lost on the Economy |
MARGARET AND CATHERINE, of Eyemouth
all on board lost:
| James Lough | 23 | single; death certificate shows name as John - thanks to Adrian Storrie |
| Peter Lough | 21 | brother of above, single, brother John lost on the Good Intent |
| Peter Craig | 32 | left widow Elizabeth Waddell, son b. Peter b. 17 Feb 1882 |
| Alexander Storey | 25 | left widow and daughter Janet |
| Henry Paterson | 24 | single |
| Johnston Borthwick | 17 | single, s/o David & Ann Burgon Borthwick, death registered by brother John, brother-in-law Henry Bolton Young lost on Janet, sister Elizabeth |
Alice, of Fisherrow
all on board lost:
| ALEXANDER HAMILTON | 23 | |
| WILLIAM WALKER | 39 | |
| ROBERT HALLEY | 21 | |
| WILLIAM CAIRD | 27 | |
| JOHN CUNNINGHAM | 22 | |
| THOMAS LANGLANDS | 19 | |
| GEORGE LANGLANDS | 21 | brother of Thomas |
PERSEVERANCE, of Newhaven
all on board lost:
| JOHN CARNIE | 32 | ||
| WILLIAM INGLIS | 30 | ||
| JOHNSTON WILSON | 21 | ||
| DAVID LYLE | 25 | left a widow Barbara Liston who was expecting his child; contact Jennifer for further information on this family | |
| BOREAS HALL | 31 | ||
| PETER INGLIS | 18 | ||
| WILLIAM LISTON (RUTHERFORD) | 37 | ||
| JOHN LYLE | 26 | single; brother of David; son of John Lyle and Margaret Dryburgh; was missed in the newspaper listings, but Jennifer was kind enough to include a copy of his death certificate |
STORMY PETREL, of Newhaven
| DAVID STEVENSON | 58 | |
| HUGH STEVENSON | 32 | son of David |
| PHILIP STEVENSON | 30 | son of David |
CONCORD,of Newhaven
| JOHN JOHNSTON | 37 | |
| JAMES JOHNSTON | 30 | |
| WILLIAM JOHNSTON | 23 |
ROBINAS, of Newhaven
| WILLIAM LISTON | 20 | |
| ALEXANDER NOBLE | 42 |
GEORGE NISBET of Eyemouth died trying to save some of the men by wading out into the water
SHIPS AND MEN THAT SURVIVED:
PILGRIM, of Eyemouth
all on board saved:
| THOMAS FAIRBAIRN | skipper |
AERIAL GAZELLE, of Eyemouth
all on board survived, ship found 2 days after the storm
ALEXANDER BURGON, skipper
GEORGE CRAIG
See a picture of the crew...
WHITE STAR
all on board survived
SUCCESS
all on board survived
FATHER AND SONS
all on board survived
BRITTANIA
all on board survived
ALABAHAMA
all on board survived
WATTY DOUGAL, skipper
IONA, of Burnmouth
all on board survived
PROGRESS, of Burnmouth
all on board survived
WILLIAM SPOUSE, Skipper
WILLIAM AITCHISON and 2 sons, of Burnmouth, wife Agnes/Aggie, other children Jimmie 4 and Mary 11
