THIS WAS MY HOPE
SACRED
TO THE
MEMORY
OF
OLIVER HAYDOCK, LATE OF PENNY
BRIDGE, WHO DIED AT BARROW ON THE 31ST
DAY OF JANUARY 1869, AGED 84 YEARS,
AND WAS INTERRED AT DALTON CEMETERY.
ALSO OF AGNES, HIS WIFE, WHO DIED ON
THE 28TH DAY OF AUGUST 1844
AGED 62 YEARS,
AND INTERRED HERE.
 
 THIS STONE WAS ERECTED BY THEIR SON WILLIAM OF
AUSTRALIA

There is an anchor on the top left of the stone, a Christian symbol as well as the sign of a mariner. Top right is this lighthouse.

SIR, - Having seen in your last week’s obituary the death of Oliver Haydock, I beg to send you a sketch of his life, which was written from his dictation some years ago, when we were endeavouring to get him into Greenwich Hospital: -

Oliver was born in Lancaster, on the 25th of February 1788, and in 1802, at the age of fourteen, was bound apprentice to Captain Allen, of Lindale-in-Cartmel, to the Ulverston coasting trade. When on board the Neptune, 500 tons, West Indiaman, of Lancaster, he was pressed at sea into H. M. sloop of war Argus. From her he was drafted into the Druid frigate, Capt. Philip B. V. Brooke (the same captain who commanded the Shannon in the celebrated engagement with the American Frigate, Cheaspeake (sic)). The Druid was stationed with the blockading squadron of Rochfort. Whilst engaged in the boats at night Oliver was taken prisoner, and confined two years in a French prison. He escaped with others, and crossed to England in an open boat, and begged his way to Liverpool, where he met a coasting captain who took him to Ulverston. Soon after he again entered the navy, as a volunteer on board the sloop of war the Carron, and went to America, and was at the engagement against the fort of Mobile, on the river Mississippi. He was also in an engagement at sea when the frigate Clorenda surrendered to the Carron. He ranked as captain of the foretop, and after as a gunner’s mate, and was paid off at Portsmouth on the 1st August 1815. He then went as master of his own galleott, the Commerce, which was blown up at Piel, on the 20th March 1827, which caused his ruin, having all his hard earned saving invested in the vessel. He again went to sea until 1843, when he joined the Windermere Steam Yacht Company, and retired to live with his daughter at Barrow, in 1861. The wreck of the Commerce was saved, and sold, all except the mizzen mast, which Oliver used to say was blown into the moon! His eldest son, William Haydock, I believe, is still living at Sydney, New South Wales – at least, I corresponded with him a few years ago.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

DANIEL H. BELLASIS,
BOWNESS.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION

The Commerce, dogger from Lancaster to Liverpool with cottons and general articles and 400 half barrels of gunpowder when off Piel Castle, about 3pm on Friday week was discovered to be on fire, among the cottons, near to the gunpowder. From the situation of the fire, all attempts to overcome it being instantly seen to be fruitless, the boat was lowered, and the ship being scuttled, and the water admitted through the lower tier, the crew departed, being then about six miles from the shore: A strong southerly breeze prevailing, the ship warped round, and losing the direction of the helm, sailed before the wind for about two minutes. In a few seconds after she seemed lifted by her knees out of water, and blew up with a most terrific explosion. The boat was almost lifted out of the water and but for the circumstance of the ship being to windward, they must have perished. They made for shore, which was lined by hundreds who witnessed the accident, many of whom were seriously bruised from being dashed in the ground by the force of the concussion produced by the explosion. The vessel was blown almost to atoms, scarcely a vestige of her timbers or cargo being recovered. An anchor and part of a chain were blown over another vessel, to the distance of 200 Yds. About 20 or 30 vessels were lying not far distant, all of whom escaped without damage except one, which had her boat’s bottom broken by the falling timber. Happily no lives were lost, but the damage done to the houses at Piel Castle, Backborough and the immediate vicinity of the coast was very great; several are said to have been blown down. So dreadful was the concussion and the effects so extensive, that for a distance of 100 miles, it was supposed to be an earthquake. At Lancaster, 40 miles from the place, the windows clattered and the houses and furniture shook so much, that a number of persons reeled out onto the streets, and some made for the plains outside of the town. The windows of Brougham Hall, the residence of Mr Brougham, were shattered by it. Considerable damage was done at Kendal and Lowther Castle, at Milnthorpe, Bolton on the Sands, Poulton, etc, etc.

© History of Lindal & Marton. This article was researched and written by Peter Sandbach of Dalton, and published in May 2010. 

DEATH OF VETERAN SEA CAPTAIN

We have this week to record the death of Captain Oliver Haydock, who may be fitly called the father of our Barrow captains. He died in Barrow on Saturday last, in the 84th year of his age, and, during his lengthened (sic) career in connection with the sea he must have experienced many dangers and witnessed many remarkable events. Sixty years ago he sailed as a master from the Barrow and Ulverston ports, and was connected with the Windermere Steam Packet Company from its formation. When he served his time as an apprentice, vessels used to lay up at Penny Bridge, near Mr. Machell’s house. During the war between France and England he was taken prisoner, and spent a few years in a French prison, from which, we understand, he with a few companions, escaped and made his way back to England, after a very venturesome voyage across the Channel in an open boat. A most remarkable escape he had will perhaps be remembered by our older readers. He was on board his galliot, near Foula Island, and an explosion took place, which blew the vessel to atoms, and sent him up in the air to a great height. He, however, escaped with no great serious injuries. A curious fact connected with the event may not be without interest, and worth repeating. Although within such a short distance of Rampside, the effects of the explosion were scarcely felt there, while at Lancaster many windows were shattered. At the time the assizes were being held and the sitting judge was in the act of sentencing a man for murder. So severe was the concussion and so plainly felt in court, that some alarm was felt, and a pause took place in the proceedings.