1748 HMS FOWEY STORMS

The Gentleman's Magazine June 1748 publication reported on the loss of 30 vessels off the coast of Florida:

"Carolina: Thirty vessels have lately been lost on the coast of Florida, within 60 leagues of St. Augustine; among them the Dolphin, Stevens, from Carolina for Antigua; the Elizabeth, Hutchins, and the Sea Flower, which two last were flags of truce, of and from Carolina for Cape Francois; also the Seymour, on her return with English prisoners; and the Jewery, a flag of truce, from Carolina to St. Augustine."

Severe storms and hurricanes continued into the next summer with reports of storms recorded in the minutes of the Executive Journals of Colonial Virginia in the summer of 1749.

The minutes of the Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia dated 27th September 1750 record the event of a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina on the 18th of August 1749.

"On the Petition of John Kelly, Commander of the Ship Saint Peter, belonging to Lisbon mostly English Subjects, Setting forth that he Sailed from Lisbon, May 1749, bound for Cartagena with Bale Goods, that he arrived there, reloaded with Cocoa, Dyewood, and Money, called at the Havana, from whence he Sailed in Company with Commodore Daniel Huony one of his Catholic Majesty's Ships of War, and Five more Merchant Men, on the Twenty Sixth of August he met with a violent Hurricane which Continued Seven Day's, Stove in his Stern, carried away his Boats, Six foot Water in the Hold, which Obliged him to throw overboard Several Merchandize to prevent the Vessel from foundering, all which was the Cause of his bearing away for Virginia."

and

"On the Petition of Captain Don Juan Manuel de Bonilla Commander of the Ship Nostra Siniora de Guadalupe a Subject of His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain, and one of the Fleet under the Convoy of Daniel Huony Commodore, Setting forth that on the thirty first of August last at a Place called Ocacock in North Carolina the said Ship; was drove a Shore many Miles from any Inhabitants, that it is impossible to get her off, the Place being encompassed with Small Islands, that they are now in the utmost Distress for Provisions and other Necessaries, and have been obliged to unload the said Ship and put her Cargo on Shore where it is liable to the Damage of the
Weather."

The Council "Ordered that all the Passengers who came in any of the Foreign Vessels lately arrived in Virginia have Free Liberty to go home with all their Goods and Effects in the Ship Jubilee or any other Vessel they shall think proper."