Thomas Pomery writes to his wife before sailing from Swansea to Algiers with 135 tons of coal 1834

 

Even after the introduction of steam power sailing ships continued in use and shipwrecks remained a daily 19^th century occurrence. A well-known British hymn, Eternal Father Strong to Save, dates from the steam ship era (1860) and its first verse is one that I know from childhood:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.

I doubt that Captain Pomery was the only seafarer in 1834 who made a point of writing to his wife shortly before setting out to sea. He was about to depart on a routine merchant shipping voyage from Swansea, but that involved the perils of navigating the coast of North Cornwall, the Bay of Biscay, and the Straits of Gibraltar. His ship the New Jane is in the records as a workhorse merchant vessel which carried coal and other heavy goods out of Swansea, then a fast-growing port. Despite some uncertainties in the letter’s spelling, Captain Pomery is bound for Algiers which the French were at this period developing as a military and naval base. (Algeciras, in contrast, was not at this date a significant port).

Another letter written by Pomery to his wife has been recorded (see References), and describes an 1835 inward journey from Algiers which has involved an eight-day quarantine stop in Alicante and a further quarantine stop in England, at Stangate Creek on the River Medway.

Ship names were quite often duplicated but it is probably the same New Jane which in December 1854 was driven on shore during a gale and totally wrecked close to the harbour at Newquay on the coast of north Cornwall. For a shipwreck narrative on this site go to:

https://www.otherpeoplesletters.com/2026/07/a-hurricane-in-north-sea-1836.html

*

Thomas Pomery, a Cornishman, was born in 1792 and married Elizabeth Sheeere (born around 1801) in 1823; they had seven children all of whom appear to have survived beyond childhood.

 

Transcription

Addressed: For Mrs E Pomery   No 12 Pemroke St   Devonport   Devon endorsed with speed

Datelined: Swansea April 23 // 1834

Postmarked SWANSEA  AP 23 1834

Dear Wife, having arrived safe at Swansea I write you these few lines to inform you of it, likewise I inform you on the same of my sailing from Swansea to morrow day tide and I hope by the blessing of the Lord that I shall have a prosperous Voyage, and I beg the same blessing hope that these few lines will find you n good health as it leaves your Loving and Affectionate Husband I have had uncommon good health since I left home I have on board 135 tons of Coals and I hope that I shall have a quick passage When I arrive at Alegiers I shall write to you my Love again and I hope that you will write me a letter by the time I get out Direct for the New Jane at Algeirs. My dear wife having nothing more at present I conclude so I remain your Loving Husband Thomas Pomery.

Dear Wife give my kind love to our Farther and Mother Brothers and Sisters and tell Kitty that I hope Mr Lee and Mr Wright as been to see her Give my kind Love to my Farther and tell him to give my Love to all my Friends Richard sends home his kind Love to you all and Farther and Mother having nothing more I conclude and I hope that the Lord will protect you and preserve and keep you safe under his Almighty wing is the constant prayer of  your Loving Husband Thomas Pomery and I hope by the blessing of God that I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again very soon good by God help you and keep you for your Loving Husband         T Pomery

Richard is uncommon Steady since I have been here.

 

References

V Denis Vandervelde, “The Disinfection of Mail at British Ports”, Postal History, number 337, March 2011, pages 13-21

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_of_Cornwall_(19th_century)