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- Bethel Chapel (Independent), Queenborough, Kent
Martha Featherstone daughter of John Featherstone and Sarah his wife of the Town of Queenborough in the County of Kent was born the 27th of February 1808 and was baptized the 2nd of March 1808.
Marriage solemnized in the Parish of Minster, Isle of Sheppey in the County of Kent in the Year 1824
William Morris of this Parish Bachelor and Martha Featherstone of this Parish Spinster were married in this Church by Banns this twenty seventh Day of December 1824
Both signed in the presence of James Robinson Junr, Mary Ann Breeze and Arabella Featherstone
Burials in the Parish of Warkworth in the year 1831
The body of Martha Featherston lost in the Duke of Kent as before recorded of Queenborough Isle of Shippy, Kent March 28 age 22
American Seamen's Friend Society, 1831 Naval Journal Volumes 3-4 (Google Books) https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GNUZAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Mysterious Providence.
The following account of the total loss of the Duke of Kent, a vessel in the coasting trade, belonging to Queenborough, near Sheerness, England, of which Mr. John Featherstone was master and part owner, is extracted from a letter written to the editor by the surviving son of Mr. Featherstone, dated Dublin, September 19, 1831. It is hoped that no apologies will be thought necessary for laying the afflicting details before our readers; they abound with important instruction and admonition, to all ; but especially to the young and sanguine, who are looking forward to a long series of prosperity, enjoyment, and usefulness. May they improve them!
General Baptist Repository, for Nov. 1831. “The Duke of Kent sailed from Queenborough, on Tuesday, January 18, 1831, for Newcastle, to bring a cargo of coals to Sheerness, with a fine fair wind and every prospect of a speedy voyage. The friends of the captain and men calculated on her being at her destination on the Lord’s-day following. But it would appear that the wind was not so fair at sea as they expected. My mother receiving no letter, became uneasy; but inquiring of the merchant at Sheerness, he informed her that, though he had received no letter from his agent, he expected the vessel had reached Newcastle; and had every reason to believe she would be at home in a very few days. This gave my mother a little comfort; though, in the absence of more direct information, she had strong forebodings that some evil had befallen them. Her apprehensions were confirmed by a letter received from a brother at Newcastle, addressed to a gentleman at Queenborough, informing him that the Duke of Kent was lost, and the crew had all perished. “The melancholy intelligence cast a gloom over the whole town; the seamen being all natives. There was on board my dear father, my brother Richard, my sister Martha, and four sailors; all of whom, except my father, were in the bloom of youth; the age of the eldest not exceeding twenty-four years. On my uncle's hearing the news at Newcastle, he sent off his son and a friend to Alemouth, about eleven miles north of Newcastle ; where they ascertained the ship came on shore in the night, in a dreadful snow storm, when it blew a tremendous gale from the east. Such a gale, as it blows directly on the land, is generally destructive to the vessels that happen to be near the shore. The Duke of Kent soon became a wreck; and, when my cousin arrived there, on the 6th, she was gone to pieces, only a part of one side remaining. The deck was separated from the hull; and lay at some distance. A small part of the rigging was washed on shore ; but no account could be obtained of the bodies of my dear friends. “My cousin and his companion traversed the shore for many miles, until Monday night, the 7th, when something was discovered at the point of the rocks off Warkworth, which they thought might be a human body, but could not reach it. Early in the morning of Tuesday, it came on shore; when it proved to be the body of my dear brother. At first, my cousin did not know him, though he was not mutilated, except a little on the forehead. He was, however, much swollen and bloated; but when he was washed and laid out, his features were easily recognized. He was also known by his having on one of my striped shirts, and his stockings marked with his own name; the tops of which were cut off and brought to Newcastle. His body was decently interred in Warkworth church-yard, on Tuesday evening. The body of my dear father was not found until sometime after ; he having been buried in the sand. I did not hear whether he was mutilated or not ; but I am inclined to think he was, as my uncle was silent on that subject, in his letter. He had on his sea-boots, when found. My dear sister was found. She was entirely naked, with the exception of a small silk handkerchief round her neck. Their bodies were interred by the side of Richard, in Warkworth church-yard, near Alemouth. The bodies of the sailors were also recovered, and interred in the same ground. “As no one was left to tell the dreadful tale, I can give you no account of the sufferings they endured, but they must have been very great, for it was a most awful night. My poor, dear sister, when I think of her, it quite unmans me. But I trust that their sufferings are now all over; and that she, with my other dear relatives, are safely landed in the haven of eternal bliss. The only article my uncle got from the wreck was a small box, in which my father kept his log-book and papers. But it had been broken open, and, if there were anything of value in it, they was taken out before the agent for Lloyd's got possession of it. There was a watch of my father's and one of my sister's on board; but I cannot tell if they were in it. The wreck of the ship only brought forty pounds when it was sold. “Now, my dear, I think I have given you the outlines of this melancholy accident, as far as I know them. den death to my dear departed relatives was sudden glory, alone renders the afflicting bereavement supportable. I have every reason to know that my dear father lived and died an honest man, and a “good Christian.” After struggling with the watery element for forty five years, through many trials and temptations, I sincerely believe that he has now exchanged a world of sorrow and disappointment, for one of happiness and bliss. He was very ill at home, sometime before he went to sea; and, during his illness, he often ex. Pressed to my mother his willingness to die, should God see fit. My dear sister Martha was, I have reason to believe, a pious girl. She was a member of the Rev. Mr. Sample's church at Newcastle; and was publicly baptized about two or three years since. She first went to Newcastle on a visit to my uncle, nearly six years ago; but in consequence of ill health, she came over to Queenborough, for change of air. Two years having elapsed, and her health being re-established, at the solicitations of kind friends in the north, she had resolved to return to them; but God meant otherwise, and took her to himself from the evil to come. She was only twenty-three years of age at the time of her death. As for my much-lamented brother, I received ample testimony, when in Queenborough, of his decided piety. He was beloved by all who knew him; and took delight in doing what he could for Christ. He was a teacher in the Sunday school at Queenborough and so much was he esteemed by his fellow-laborers, that they all went into mourning for him. He was a fine youth, and not deficient in talent; and a most dutiful son.
He had not quite reached seventeen years of age when he was lost. “My wicked heart often feels disposed to question the goodness of God's providence; and to ask Why was so lovely a youth, torn from us so soon but I check my murmurings; even the loss " friends is a mercy, if it is made the means of making Christ our refuge. I endeavour to remember that all these events were permitted by a wise and gracious God; who sees what is needful for us, and” really guiding our steps in mero when all things seem to be again. us. Dear ___ pray for us all; that this very afflictive dispensation." of our heavenly Father may be overruled and sanctified to our real benefit, on earth and in eternity; and that we may enjoy all the support and consolation we need in the prospects placed before us in the Gospel"
Burial Warkworth https://sites.google.com/site/soldierssailersandstrangers/burials/burials-1800
Martha Featherstone 22 28 Mar 1831 Warkworth Lost in the Duke of Kent as before recorded, of Queenborough, Isle of Shippy, Kent about 24 28 Mar 1831 Warkworth
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1808 - 1831 (22 years)
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