The Wreck of the "Abeona Transport"

Author:

John F. Delaforce

Report:

3

Page:

38

Year:

1976

Subject Matter:

British Community and Family History

Excerpt:

In October 1820 the "Abeona Transport" sailed from Greenock in Scotland carrying settlers to the Cape of Good Hope. There were 161 persons on board, of whom 126 were migrants, mostly from Glasgow and neighbourhood.

On 25 November, when the ship was nearing the equator, fire broke out with disastrous consequences. There were only 49 survivors who were picked up by the Portuguese merchantman "Condessa da Ponte" and brought to Lisbon. One of these, the orphaned Charles Coverley, was to stay in Portugal and became a well known member of the British Community in Oporto.

The narrative of the ship's surgeon, Mr. Fisher R.N., is preserved in the Glasgow Municipal Library. It can be read here