An expert on Wales’ most famous shipwreck which sunk 150 years ago has traced the descendants of one of the victims.
Richard Williams, aged 34, from Nefyn, perished when the Royal Charter smashed against the rocks in a ferocious storm just yards from the shore near Moelfre on Anglesey.
Two of his great-great grandsons, Hugh and Charles Williams, from Flintshire, were tracked down by Chris Holden.
Chris, a member of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), has written a highly-acclaimed book about the tragedy which happened on a fearful night in October, 1859.
He revealed details of their ancestor’s last sea voyage at a fascinating talk hosted by the Chester branch of BSAC.
The heart-rending story of how the crewman died aboard the Royal Charter has been passed down through generations of the Williams family.
Hugh and Charles knew their great-great grandfather was among the 500 people who died when the steam clipper came to grief in a Force 12 hurricane.
Chris has dived on the wreck for almost 30 years and was extremely pleased that he was able to tell Hugh and Charles more about the maritime disaster.
It was such a big story at the time that the novelist Charles Dickens, then a working journalist, came to cover the tragedy.
Hugh, 63, a retired teacher and father-of-one from Ewloe Green, Flintshire, said: “It is just so sad to think he was so close to home when it happened, having gone all that way to Australia and back.
“He was probably able to see beaches from the ship that he would have known since being a young boy. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for my great-great grandfather on that ship but it must have been truly awful.”
Very little is known about the crewmen aboard the ship, which was laden with gold and returning from Melbourne bound for Liverpool when the tragedy happened.
No crew list exists but Hugh’s younger brother Charles, 60, of Pen-y-Ffordd, Flintshire, has been conducting his own research into his family’s story.
He has unearthed some interesting evidence to back up the belief that Richard Williams was indeed aboard.
The father-of-three and grandfather-of-two said: “Richard’s wife was called Elizabeth, nee Roberts, who was born in 1823 and died in 1887. They had five children; Ann, John, Hugh, Elizabeth and John Richard. The first born, John, died young. Hugh is my great grandfather.
“In the 1851 census Elizabeth is down as a mariner’s wife and there is no mention of Richard so he must have been at sea.
“By the 1861 census she is down as a widow, which would tie in with the fact that Richard was killed on the Royal Charter.”
He added: “It must have been a hard life working at sea and Elizabeth would have been at home, waiting for his return and probably the wages he would have brought with him. Instead she was left alone with five children to look after, including my great-grandfather, Hugh.”
Chris Holden co-wrote the book, Life and Death on the Royal Charter, with his wife, Lesley.
The talk at the Grosvenor Museum in Chester was the second sell out lecture. It featured haunting underwater video footage of the wreck shot by Chris himself which had never been seen before until the first talk at the same venue last month.
Chris, a retired computer engineer, from Higher Kinnerton, Flintshire, has been a member of BSAC since 1971 and a member of the Chester sub-aqua club since 1976.
Mary Tetley, BSAC chief executive, who attended the first talk, said Chris’ dedication to exploring the wreck site was a prime example of the valuable work carried out by BSAC divers.
She said: “Chris’ work has brought the tragic story of the Royal Charter alive more than 150 years after she sunk and claimed the lives of so many loved men, women and children.
“It is really fascinating to hear that family members like Hugh and Charles who are descended from those tragic victims have heard about the talks and have come to understand more about their relative’s fate.
“I suppose it keeps the story in safe hands for future generations too and the memory of those who perished will not be forgotten.”
Chris added: “Having descendents of the crew members here for the talk has been terrific because it helps me with a side of the story we know very little about.
“We have got a passenger list, although it is not perfect, but very little is known about the crewmen apart from Joseph Rogers who was one of the survivors who swam ashore and was so brave in helping others to safety.
“We don’t even know how many crew were on board, we think possibly 100 but with so little information to go on, it makes it very difficult.
“What should be remembered is these men were an essential part of the story and were the guys who probably made their way six times round the world on the Royal Charter.”
Hugh and Charles went away with several copies of Chris’ book on the subject which they will share with family at Christmas to ensure the story of their crew man is not forgotten.
To get your copy of Life and Death on The Royal Charter, by Chris and Lesley Holden, and of two volumes about diving in North Wales, written by Chris, go to www.calgopublications.co.uk
To contact BSAC to find out about diving in your area, go to www.bsac.com or call free on 0500 947 202.
