had seen them that very day on the shore searching for food and eating rockweed, and so left them. Of these we can give no further account.” The survivors asked for help: “Now, besides these already mentioned that came first aboard the vessel at Londonderry, there is but 48 of us know. In brief, many died at sea and many after we came to land, the corps [corpses]of which lie many of them on the shore, through weakness we were not able to interr them.” The rescue vessel took 48 people to Pleasant Point in Cushing, and Captain Rowan and his henchmen stripped survivors of whatever money and possessions they still had, as payment for their rescue. The complaint continues saying that even some of their clothes were taken, “to leave us almost naked.” But the Cushing residents, many of whom had come from Northern Ireland themselves, were warm and generous to the new arrivals. It being winter, however, they couldn’t support 48 newcomers for long, so they sent an appeal to provincial officials, signed by Alexander Campbell and William Lunnen. The letter clearly informed them of Rowan’s abuses, and the Massachusetts House of Representatives wasted no time in authorizing provisions for the survivors. A treasurer for Massachusetts Bay Colony reported 250 pounds spent for “sundry provisions sent in the County Sloop to the poor sufferers that were cast ashore at St. George.” There is no record that Massachusetts ever sent the promised relief to the survivors, or that it sought to bring Captain Rowan to justice. Thirteen years later, Rowan turns up as governor of North Carolina." References 1760 deaths Governors of North-Carolina (1712–1776) Members of the North-Carolina Provincial Council People from County Antrim Presidents of the North-Carolina Provincial Council Year of birth missing