Featured image: Map from Plum Island: The Way It Was by Nancy V. Weare
The Ipswich Bar has a long history of tragic shipwrecks. Its swift currents and shallow waters are especially dangerous during storms, and many ships have gone aground. In 1802 and again in 1852 the Merrimack Humane Society of Newburyport constructed shelters at Sandy Point for shipwreck victims, and massive timbers can still be seen protruding from its dunes. Several ships that made safe passage between Sandy Point and Crane Beach went ashore at Steep Hill Beach, where the remains of two schooners can still be observed.
Records of the loss of small boats began in the 18th century. They went aground on the beach or bar in winter. The boat’s complement attempting to reach shore died in the surf or on the beach. As those buried in the sand did not stay buried a cemetery was established for them on Bar Island.

Among the disasters of greater magnitude is the wreck of the Falconer, a 360-ton brig from Belfast captained by Joseph Rolerson, of the same city. She was transporting 350 tons of coal from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to Boston when she encountered the northeaster of December 15, 1847. The ship carried 53 passengers and crew, and the wreck resulted in 17 deaths. After a funeral procession winding through town they were buried in Ipswich, except for the captain and his family, who were shipped back to Belfast.

On December 3, 1849, the Nancy with a cargo of bricks went aground on Plum Island. The crew of five were lost.
On December 24, 1850, the Argus with a cargo of worked stone foundered on Emerson Rocks. The captain and some of the crew were lost. Two were trailed through the snow to a thicket, where they were found dead.
The Genealogy of the Wilcomb Family provides continues the list of Ipswich shipwrecks.
- 1872.
- Schooner “J. R. Lawrence” went ashore on Plum Island.
- Schooners “J. A, Ford” and “Harriet Samantha” wrecked Oct. 26.
- The brig “Ida C.”‘ went ashore on the beach February 20.
- Schooner “James Freeman” sunk in Ipswich bay1875.
- 1878.
- A sand schooner was destroyed on Ipswich bar in a storm, April 20.
- Schooner “Hop Vine'” went ashore on Ipswich bar, Sept 6.
- Schooner “Sarah Ann” went ashore on Ipswich bar, November 2.
- 1879. Schooner “G. F. Higgins” was driven ashore on the point, August 20.
- 1881.
- Schooner “Alice Oakes”‘ was wrecked on Ipswich bar, June 10.
- Schooner “Lucy K. Cogswell” sunk by collision with Stmr. Wm. Crane.
- 1883. Steamship “City Point wrecked on Plum Island and is a total loss.
- 1884. Schooners “Alfaretta,” and “Ella M. Johnson,” wrecked on Plum Island.
- 1885:
- Schooner “Isabella Thompson” wrecked on Castle Neck and three drowned.
- Schooner “Beta” wrecked on Plum Island, April 7, and three drowned.
- Schooner “Lizzie” of Machias, Me., wrecked on Ipswich bar.
- Schooner “Mark Gray” seriously damaged by collision.
- Schooner “Franklin” wrecked on Plum Island, Nov. 13
- 1886.
- Schooner “Lizzie” of Machias, Me., wrecked on Ipswich bar.
- Schooner “Mark Gray”‘ seriously damaged by collision.
- Schooner “Franklin” wrecked on Plum Island, Nov. 13.
- 1887: Schooner “E. M. Branscome” wrecked in Ipswich Bay.
- 1889:
- Schooner “Isaac Chaplain” went ashore on Bar Island end, Mar. 5.
- A schooner loaded with sand for Boston sank in Ipswich river.
- 1892:
- Sand schooner W. H. V. Hackett went ashore on Little Neck, in Feb.
- The schooner Jonathan Cone went ashore on the beach, Nov. 21.
- 1893.
- The schooner Celia went ashore on Ipswich bar April 18.
- Schooner A. Baker went ashore on Ipswich bar, Dec. 15.
- 1894. Schooner E. F. Willard, of Portland, wrecked on the beach, Feb. 5.
Image from Sand Dunes and Salt Marsh by Charles Wendell Townsend, 1913

In 1802 and in 1852 the Merrimack Humane Society of Newburyport constructed shelters for cast-away mariners at Sandy Point. Only scattered stones remain. The dunes at the south end of Plum Island are strewn with massive ship timbers, some protruding from the sand at odd angles, causing visitors to speculate concerning their origin.


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Categories: History, Shipwrecks, Storms
Excellent work, Gordon. Thank you.
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