In July 1845, a fishing boat overturned off Big Cape, Lot 42. The Royal Gazette reported six deaths and described one boy being brought ashore alive. The loss touched several neighbouring families.

A fishing trip ends in tragedy

The notice, published on 15 July, said Angus Macdonald went fishing with four of his sons, a son of John Macintyre aged about fourteen, and a son of Donald M’Donald. A change in the wind brought a heavy sea that overturned their boat.

Angus, three of his sons and the two other boys were reported drowned. The fourth son of Angus was found unconscious on the shore and taken home in a precarious condition. Four bodies had been recovered when the report was written. The notice does not give the sons’ first names.

Hugh MacIntyre is remembered by name

In Genealogy of St. Margaret’s Parish, Jenny (O’Hanley) McQuaid records Hugh MacIntyre (1831–1845), son of John MacIntyre and Flora MacIntyre, as having drowned while fishing off Big Cape. His age, father’s name and place of death make him a possible match for the fourteen-year-old boy in the newspaper account, although the notice does not name that boy.

The accounts differ on the number lost. McQuaid says Hugh drowned with six neighbours, implying seven deaths. The contemporary newspaper reports six deaths among seven people aboard, with one survivor. That difference remains unresolved.

A possible name for the survivor

On the following page, McQuaid records that Patrick, known as “Long Paddy” MacDonald, survived the 1845 drowning accident. He later married Mary MacKinnon. This offers a possible identification for the unnamed surviving son in the newspaper, but the connection still needs confirmation.

The names still missing

The notice preserves the names of three fathers—Angus Macdonald, John Macintyre and Donald M’Donald—but leaves most of the boys unnamed. Further family records may help identify them and clarify the differences between the two accounts. The newspaper itself does not state where the victims were buried.

Sources

Royal Gazette, Charlottetown, 15 July 1845, “Boat Upset and Six Lives Lost,” the report describes the accident as occurring on “Friday last,” corresponding to 11 July 1845. The original newspaper image was not inspected for this article.

Jenny (O’Hanley) McQuaid, Genealogy of St. Margaret’s Parish, Chapter 3, printed pages 34–35.