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.




      Other websites of interest:
      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 CRIBBES25 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 AFFLECK22 young unmarried man
      THOMAS MARTIN24 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 LINDORS27 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 STRUTHERs18 unmarried
      THOMAS MACKAY 18unmarried, father William an adult dependant (d. 18 Jan 1889)


      TRANSCENDENT, of Burnmouth
      THOMAS KERR32 left widow Maria Kerr and young family
      GEORGE WILSON 29 or 32 unmarried, s/o Thomas & Christina Kerr Wilson, buried Ayton Cemetery
      GEORGE MARTIN48 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 ANDERSON24left widow Janet Anderson, daughter Jemima born after the disaster, daughter Agnes
      JOHN ANDERSON WOOD25 unmarried


      Guiding Star, of Burnmouth
      all on board lost:
      MARK ANDERSON51no dependants
      JAMES JOHNSTON28 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 ANDERSON53 left widow Janet Anderson and children ELizabeth and Robert
      THOMAS AITCHISON30 left widow Jessie Aitchison (remarried 15 Dec 1883 - first disaster widow to do so)
      WILLIAM JOHNSTON30 left widow Janet Johnston and children William, Isabella and Jane
      GEORGE ANDERSON30 no dependants
      ALEXANDER ANDERSON30no dependants


      TWO SISTERS, of Coldingham
      3 men drowned:
      Charles Purves 55left widow Alexandria Nobel(thanks to Davie Walker) and family, image of headstone soon to follow
      William Thorburn 38left widow Isa Thorburn and children Christina, ELizabeth and Isabella
      James Thorburn 42brother 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 18single


      RENOWN, of Cove
      all on board lost:
      Richard Gordon 32 married, 4 young children
      John Fairbairn 31left 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 Graybrother 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 STEVENSON50 sole survivor, skipper, daughter Elizabeth married Matthew Crawford the morning of the disaster, daughter Rebecca
      GEORGE DOUGAL40 left widow and dependant son Andrew, 3 of family
      WILLIAM CROMBIE26left widow Mary Waters, son Thomas b. 23 Jun 1882
      WILLIAM YOUNG51left 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 YOUNG20 single


      FORGET-ME-NOT, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      WILLIAM NISBET 35left widow Euphie/Effie Dougal
      WILLIAM SCOTT 28left widow Isabella Cowe, son William Nisbet Scott b. 16 May 1882 (d. 15 Feb 1884), 3 children
      ALEXANDER NISBET 37left widow Ann Nisbet, 6 children including Alexander 12, Robert 11, William 9, Jessie b. 3 Oct 1881
      ALEXANDER CRIBBES 31left widow Elizabeth Robertson and 2 children?, father George lost on Harmony, brother James lost on Good Intent
      ANDREW DOUGAL 33left widow Isabella Paterson, 3(?) children including John and Ann
      ROBERT COLLIN 41single
      JAMES SIMPSON 17single
      -newspaper lists these last two as on Janet, but tapestry and Aitchison's book say they were on this boat

      JAMES AND ROBERT, of Eyemouth
      most of crew survived, 1 man drowned:
      ANDREW JAMES HARROWER DOUGAL24 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 36left 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
      ----The three Fairbairns are the sons of James Fairbairn and Agnes Burgon who watched them fall in and drown from the shore. (Aitchison's book also mentions another son Paul not involved in the disaster and one other son)

      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 STOTT22 single, brother of above
      JAMES STOTT 20 single, brother of above
      ---Stotts were sons of William Stott a survivor of the disaster. Bodies were never found.

      LILY OF THE VALLEY, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      THOMAS MILLER37 left widow Catherine Waddell (d.1891), son Thomas b. 14 Mar 1882, other children Catherine, James, Jane and Maggie
      ROBERT LOUGH38left widow Agnes Cribbes, 5? children, son Robert b. 26 Mar 1882, daughter Alice (d. 4 Nov 1887)
      DAVID RITCHIE34 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 LOUGH40 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 DOUGAL23left widow Margaret Collins, daughter Jamesina b.16 Dec 1881, brother Leonard lost on Press Home


      JANET, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      JOHN MALTMAN 45widower 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 47left 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 WINDRAM60left widow and children Robina and Margaret
      DAVID WINDRAM37son of above George, left widow and children Jane, Alice, Helen, David and Elizabeth
      WILLIAM WINDRAM25son of above George, single
      PETER COLLIN21single
      JAMES WINDRAM33single, nephew of George
      ROBERT KEARNEY30left widow, son Robert b. 1 Dec 1881, Gregory, Jane, Hannah and Elizabeth
      CHARLES BURGON25single; brother of John lost on Blossom - thanks to Adrian Storrie


      ONWARD, of Eyemouth
      1 man washed overboard:
      ANDREW DOUGAL skipper (survivor)
      ALEXANDER WOOD DOUGAL21 single, eldest son of above, first reported casualty
      GEORGE DOUGALa survivor


      INVINCIBLE, of Eyemouth
      1 man drowned:
      JOHN DOUGAL52left 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 41left widow Margaret Storey, children Thomas and Isabella
      GEORGE BONE jr. 17 eldest son of above, single
      THOMAS COLLIN 24left 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 WINDRAM28 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 PATERSONa survivor


      ECONOMY, of Eyemouth
      1 man drowned:
      Alexander Maltman48 left widow Margaret Adams and children Alexander & Robert, son James lost on the Margaret and Mary


      FISHER LASSES, of Eyemouth
      1 man drowned:
      William Young58left widow Margaret Lough and children Christina and Ann


      GUIDING STAR, Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      Henry Dougal 38left 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 35left 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 30left 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 39left widow and children Josephn & John


      BEAUTIFUL STAR, Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      George Scott 54left 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 28left 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 28left widow and children William, John and Robert, brother John lost on Sunshine
      Edward Fisher 24 single


      FLORIDA, of Eyemouth
      crew:
      John Paterson 44left widow and son William
      Paul Paterson 37left 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 35left widow Jane Dougal and children Elizabeth, Joan and Margaret
      Thomas Fairbairn 19 single, 1/2 brother of above John Paterson-Fairbairn
      Thomas Dougal 33left widow Elizabeth Crombie, brother John lost on Invincible
      William Crombie 41left widow Margaret Dougal, daughters Williamina b. 13 Feb 1882, Isabella
      John Craig 18 single


      INDUSTRY, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      Andrew Cowe52left widow and children Robert and Catherine, son of John (d.1853) and Jean Cowe
      Andrew Craig52left widow Agnes Hair and children Peter, Jane, Agnes, Joan and Mary
      James Paterson 48left 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 Paterson17 single, son of above James Paterson, buried Eyemouth Cemetery
      Thomas Spouse40left widow
      James Dougal43left widow, daughter Jamesina b.16 Dec 1881, Mary-Ann
      Thomas Scott21 single


      SIX BROTHERS, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      Robert Collin46left widow Helen Windram and children Robert, Elizabeth, Agnes and George
      James Collin21 son of above Robert, single
      George Collin41left widow Margaret Maltman (- thanks to Adrian Storrie) and children Agnes, William and Robert, brother of above Robert
      James Collin18 son of above George, single
      James Windram40left widow Margaret and children Margaret, James, John and William
      John Windram28brother of above James, left widow Margaret Aitchison, brother George lost on Press Home


      SUNSHINE, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      George Grant28left widow Elizabeth Dalglish, daughter Georgina b. 4 Nov 1881, infant son Hugh
      Robert Scott28left widow Ann Swanston, daughter Margaret b. 15 Nov 1881
      John Broomfield22single, brother James lost on Beautiful Star
      Richard Windram28left widow and children Mary, Isabella and Robert
      Alexander Collin17 single, brother Robert lost on Beautiful Star, brothers James and Thomas lost on the Myrtle
      Robert Lough19single


      FIERY CROSS, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      Robert Collin45left widow Helen Windram, daughter Robertina b. after disaster, Ann, Helen, James, William, brother in law James Windram lost on the Enterprise
      William Collin43 brother of above, widow and daughter Ann
      Joseph Collin 41left 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 Cowe41left widow Euphemia Nisbet, son William b. after disaster (d. 12 Jun 1882), Euphemia, Peter and John
      Robert Wilson34 single
      Hugh Grant38left widow Mary Robertson, son James b. 7 May 1882, Mary, Hugh, John, George amd Joseph
      James Young24widow Margaret Stewart, father William Young lost on the Blossom


      MARGARET AND MARY, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      John Maltman28 single
      William Collin30left widow, daughter Isabella b. after the disaster (d. 18 Apr 1882), Jessie
      Robert Gillie23 single
      John Gillie22cousin of Robert,left widow Ann Lindores and son John
      James Maltman22 cousin of above John, single, father Alexander lost on the Economy


      MARGARET AND CATHERINE, of Eyemouth
      all on board lost:
      James Lough23 single; death certificate shows name as John - thanks to Adrian Storrie
      Peter Lough21 brother of above, single, brother John lost on the Good Intent
      Peter Craig32left widow Elizabeth Waddell, son b. Peter b. 17 Feb 1882
      Alexander Storey25left widow and daughter Janet
      Henry Paterson24 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 HAMILTON23
      WILLIAM WALKER39
      ROBERT HALLEY21
      WILLIAM CAIRD27
      JOHN CUNNINGHAM22
      THOMAS LANGLANDS19
      GEORGE LANGLANDS21brother of Thomas


      PERSEVERANCE, of Newhaven
      all on board lost:
      JOHN CARNIE32
      WILLIAM INGLIS30
      JOHNSTON WILSON21
      DAVID LYLE25left a widow Barbara Liston who was expecting his child; contact Jennifer for further information on this family
      BOREAS HALL31
      PETER INGLIS18
      WILLIAM LISTON (RUTHERFORD)37
      JOHN LYLE26single; 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 STEVENSON58
      HUGH STEVENSON32son of David
      PHILIP STEVENSON30son of David


      CONCORD,of Newhaven

      JOHN JOHNSTON37
      JAMES JOHNSTON30
      WILLIAM JOHNSTON23


      ROBINAS, of Newhaven

      WILLIAM LISTON20
      ALEXANDER NOBLE42


      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
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