Captain Samuel Delano Jr. and the wreck of the ship "Rodney"
Duxbury Beach, 25 Nov 1792
On Friday last a very severe north-east storm commenced, and continued until Sunday morning, attended we fear with much loss to the mercantile interests. In this storm, the ship "Rodney" of Lon., Capt Whytock sailed from this port on Thursday, went on shore at Marshfield, entirely lost. She rode out the gale until seven o’clock Sunday morning, when striking the ledges with great force, her upper works separated from her hull, and went on ashore, with all the ships company, who were thus providentially saved, the captain’s lady among them. \Vas loaded with lumber, and had a great number of cattle and horses upon deck which were lost. . . . The Rodney anchored in the storm off Marshfield near Branches point, to prevent being drove on shore; but the wind increased to such a violent gale that she dragged her anchor, and struck on Branches ledges.
The young men of Duxbury hastened to the relief of the sufferers, Mr Samuel Delano Jr was but a little before many others in giving assistance. Capt Gamaliel Bradford was the second man on board the Rodney from shore.
"Tribute of Gratitude."
George Whytock Commander of the Rodney fr. London of etc Nov. was shipwrecked on Duxbury beach etc takes this public method to return his most grateful thanks to the benevolent people of Duxbury, Marshfield and vicinities, for their humane, spirited and generous exertions in affording him and his ship’s crew assistance. To all this is sincerely proffered. and particularly to Captain Samuel Delano Jr of Duxbury for his singularly benevolent, noble and spirited exertion, who at the risk of his own life ventured into the boisterous waves (and providentially reached the wreck) for the kind purpose of preventing the sufferers attempting to land in their then situation, but to wait until the tide would admit of their getting safely on shore, and to infuse into their almost exhausted spirits every possible degree of fortitude, with an assurance as soon as it was possible for help to reach them from the beach Signed George Whytock
for himself, family and ship’s company
Cambridge, Dec., Monday
Sir.
I intended yesterday to have mentioned to you an affair, which I think deserves the notice of the Humane Society. You will judge. however, whether it will he proper to lay it before them You saw the account in the paper. of Whytock’s misfortune - - Samuel Delano Jr of Duxbury, exposed himself to save the people on the wreck. They would undoubtedly have perished, had he not reached the wreck, and given them some information respecting the situation, and state of the tide His life was very much endangered Many people on the beach supposed he never would reach the wreck. Yours
A Bradford
Rev John Clarke Boston
Bos Jan 4-1793
Mr Samuel Delano Jr
Sir The Trustees of the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Mass having been informed of your very signal and humane exertion in committing yourself to a rough and bostrous sea, in a most inclement season, to save the lives of the officers and crew of the ship Rodney, Capt Whytock stranded on Duxbury shore on the 25th of Nov last have ordered a Gold Medal to be struck, emblematic of the circumstances of your benevolent and very hazardous exertions and request your acceptance of the same, as a small testimony of the high sense they entertain of your merit and of the great humanity and benevolence exhibited by you on this occasion In obedience to their orders I have now the honor of transmitting you this medal together with the wishes of the Trustees that you may always enjoy the sublime pleasure arising from the consciousness of having done so much good to your fellow creatures I am, sir, in the name and behalf of the Trustees of the Humane Society of Mass your most obedient and very humble servant. S Parker, Cores. Secretary
Bos Jan 5-1793
Sir
I have the honor to receive your much esteemed favour of the 4th of January, accompanied by a most liberal compliment (through your hands) a Gold Medal, emblematical of the shipwreck of the ship Rodney The attempt I made on said morning (providentially succeeding) to aid and assist the distressed officers, &c, with the crew of the Rodney, was most amply compensated by the generous tribute of Capt Whytock and the ship’s co.; but if any action of my life has merited the generous and esteemed tribute presented me from the Hon Humane Soc, I consider myself under every principal of gratitude to return them my most grateful thanks for the honorable testimony of respect, and shall ever esteem it my greatest happiness freely to acknowledge their generous and benevolent compliment With every sentiment of respect, I remain your most obedient and very humble Servant Samuel Delano Jr.
Rev Samuel Parker Cores Sec of the Hon Humane Soc
Bos Jan 5-1793
Dear Sir
George Whytock, commander of the ship Rodney of London, stranded on Duxbury beach, on the 25th November 1792 begs leave to return his grateful thanks to the honorable Humane Society for their generous and benevolent notice of the gentleman who steped forward in the midst of danger, to aid and assist him, his family and ship’s company when they were in a most perilous and distressed situation by shipwreck. With sentiments of the sincerest respect I am your most obedient and very humble servant George Whytock
Rev S Parker Cor Sec of the Hon Humane Soc