Looking for details of a shipwreck

[grungefrog]

On the gravestone of my 4x great gramdmother Mary McMonnies is the following:
".... David their son, Master Mariner, aged 34 years, Ellen Kissock his spouse aged 28 years, and David their son aged 18 months, who were lost off the Cape of Good Hope, 20th April 1859 ...."

Is there any way I can find out the name of the ship that sank, where it had sailed from, and where it was going? I'm very curious.

Thanks in advance,
Steve Lord, New Zealand

[Valda]

Hi

Googling brings up this reference but the date given is 27th April. The account clearly states the captain of the ship, his Scottish wife and their young son aged it says a year were all lost.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13027592

The ship was the Lady Head and there were three survivors. It is believed that swans that now inhabit the bay of St Francis came from the wreck of the Lady Head. The ship was returning from Rangoon to Liverpool.


Regards

Valda

[harrywrag]

ithad a crew of 26 three suvived and the only bodies found were that of the captains wife and child they were burried in the sands

[millymcb]

Have you seen this (in yellow on right)?
http://www.themilkwoodspeaks.co.za/daily/20042012.pdf

and an ebay listing  for the London Illustrated News which mentions the sinking of the Lady Head
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1859-Issue-ILLUSTRATED-LONDON-NEWS-8790-19-/160908246727

"Shipwreck and the Loss of 23 Lives (Mentioning the Ship Lady Head Homeward Bound from Rangoon to Liverpool Lost near the Mouth of the Kroome River – there were 3 survivors named Charles Parrett Henry Gray and another"

It might be worth asking at your local library if they have access to the Illustrated London News (via Gale's Newsvault) - it doesn't appear to be included in the online version of Gale's 19th Century Newspapers.

Milly

[grungefrog]

Thanks all for finding that information. It's quite a harrowing story

[sophiea]

Thanks for all the information, I am also a descendant of Mary McMonnies (4x great grandmother) and have been researching the Houston family. Does anyone have any information about Margaret Houston (I think it mentions her on the same gravestone) who died in Italy in 1856? Would be very grateful. Thanks, Sophie Argiros

[grungefrog]

Hi Sophiea
I'm descended from William & Mary's daughter Elizabeth, born about 1810. Think we are 5th cousins. I've got a copy of Mary's death certificate from 14th February 1863 but I only know about the other sons and daughters from the gravestone. It sounds like a really interesting (and unlucky) family. I have no idea why Margaret died in Italy but would be really keen to find out.
Best wishes,
Steve

[sophiea]

Many thanks Steve. Do you know all the children of William Houston and Mary McMonnies? Would be really useful for some research I am doing.

All best
Sophie

[grungefrog]

Hi Sophie
The eldest child (as far as I know) was Elizabeth, born about 1810. According to some old family notes she was brought up at Chapel Farm just north of Tongland village. She married John Gillone who looked after the salmon fishery in Tongland. I'm descended from these two.
Other children (Robert, William, Margaret & David) I only know from the gravestone. I'm wondering if Margaret married an Italian and that's why she died in Italy, but I don't really know.
Which child are you descended from?
Best wishes,
Steve