#1685 Bristow Prize

[ltwilliammowett]

Ships and the Teredo worm

What can happen when a ship catches Teredo worms and they are not detected in time. Was described in this entry written by Midshipman Jacob Bevan. In 1685 the Bristow Prize was sailing from the Comore Islands to India in convoy with the Prudent Mary and a frigate. On 4 June 1685 ,in heavy seas, the ship sprang a leak. 

The sinking of the Bristow Prize between the original lines of the entry of Midshipman Bevan The British Library (Sloane ms. 854 f. 106)

This morning. At 3 we found the Water to incres on us very much I went doune into oure Bread Roome and sent the Carpenter doune [down] into the foreroom seeking to find it [the leak] but Could not...we playing all oure pumps with all diligence as could be. [W]ebeing out of sight of the friggat [Frigate] and prudentmary we fired severall guns and made false fiers and had up our foresaile. [A]t 5 the frigate and the Prudent Mary come in sight...but the sea was so high that we did all think it was impossible for any boat to live...Capt.Tyrell seeing of oure sign and we keeping fiering of guns he commanded the boats to be hoisted out. At 7 we had the boats...and we made what we could to send oure men away having 45 English and 19 Lascars (Asian Sailors) ...Most of oure men was taken up by the boats, they left (jumped) overboard. [T]hem that could not swim had spars and oars and small yards so to go on for the boats could not come to the ship by reason the sea was very high. At 10 we had 18 Inches Water between oure decks, oure hould being full. Then we were on board, about 12 men and our captain; at 1/2 past the captain calls me to look out for the barge, which I did, and she came near our stern. The Captain stood with me at the rail, and while watching a hatch, we both got in safely.... Thank God... we all got safely aboard the frigate, except 3 or 4 sick men....[A]t noon She [the Bristow Prize] sunk, webeing about a mile from her. [O]ure men lost Most of they clothes. I lost all my instruments and spoiled all my books and lost most of my Clothes.

Excerpt from the log of the King George on 2 July 1719. The British Library (L/MAR/B 402 B)

In another case, the worm was detected in time and had not yet caused so much damage, but had to be watched by the carpenter. As it was recorded here in this logbook entry of the King George to an East Indiaman. This prevented worse from happening and the King George reached her destination safely.