More information : Wreck Site and Archaeological Remains:
The wreck was found in 1973 in 10m, on a clean sandy seabed, by divers working for Mr R Cowan. Extensive air-lifting of sand revealed ship's timbers and a number of artefacts, as well as a considerable quantity of silver 8, 4 and 2 reale coins. (4)
The wreck was relocated in February 1973 by R Cowan and yielded numerous artefacts including iron cannon and timber as well as a small quantity of coin but she had obviously been heavily salvaged at the time she sank. (6)
In 1970 a Dutch officer of marines, Luitenant Jan Verkuyl, discovered information about the PRINSES MARIA in Dutch archives and collaborated with Rex Cowan; the wreck was found in 1973. Apart from silver reales 20 kilograms of mercury were also found (a contemporary treatment for syphilis). (8)
Bricks recovered from this wreck, Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly. (Droit A/223). (9)
A complete pewter bottle top recovered from this wreck, off the Isles of Scilly. (Droit A/4428). (9)
A pulley block sheave and fragment, 2 fragments of a lady's fan, a bottle cap, a hull timber fragment and a pin recovered from this wreck, Isles of Scilly. (Droit A/4490). (9)
Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:
A large Dutch East Indiaman, outward bound, carrying specie, struck the rocks near Silver Carn, just north of Santaspery Neck, and foundered. The value of silver coin she carried prompted James I to send his own Royal yacht to take part in the salvage, and then when the Dutch owners asked for the treasure to be returned, denied knowledge of it. (1)(4)
Date of incident late January or early February 1686. (2)
'Barnestapel, April 2 . . . And by several Vessels that are arrived here from Scilly, we are inform'd, that the PRINCESS OF ROTTERDAM, a very great Ship bound for the East-Indies, was lately cast away there, and all the men drowned.' (11)
'October 3. The King to the Admirals, Vice Admirals, Commanders, etc. Whereas we have received information that on or about the month of February last a certain Dutch ship belonging to the East India Company of Holland was by the violence of weather cast away upon Scilly in her course from Amsterdam to Batavia in the East Indies; and whereas application has been made by the Ambassador of the States General for our permission to the proprietors of the said ship to fish for, take up and retain for their own profit and benefit all that remains of the ship under water as well as the large furniture and apparel, you are to suffer such persons as shall be employed by the proprietors to fish for and carry home whatever they shall recover of the ship, her cannon, tackle or anything else belonging to her without any let or hindrance, our rights to such things as perquisites of our High Court of Admiralty notwithstanding; affording them all reasonable and friendly assistance.' (2)
[Source 4 quotes another set of State Papers for this wreck, (Interregnum Vol. XI, 1650, p360) but these are not only dated 1650, 36 years too early, but refer to the PRINCESS West Indiaman.]
Late January or early February 1686, a large Dutch East Indiaman, PRINSES MARIA, 1,100 tons, from Texel to Batavia, with many wealthy merchants and a large quantity of silver bullion, foundered near Silver Carn, one of the Western Rocks. There were no survivors. (5)
February 1686 the Dutch VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) ship PRINSES MARIA sank in shallow water close to Silver Carn, just north of Santaspery Neck. (6)
PRINSES MARIA built in 1682 for the Middelburg Chamber of the VOC, at the Zeeland yard. Dimensions in feet 160 x 39 x 18.25, displacing 1140 tons. She left the Texel on 04-JAN-1686 [New Style] on behalf of the Amsterdam Chamber of the VOC, to be wrecked among the Isles of Scilly and was plundered at the time of loss. (7)
PRINSES MARIA of 1100 tons, 50 metres long. On her final voyage she was owned by the Zeeland Chamber of the VOC, but was chartered by the Amsterdam Chamber. After leaving Plymouth at the end of January she was caught in a storm and wrecked. James II sent his yacht ISABELLA to take part in the salvage of the wreck, taking 13,375 silver pieces out of the PRINSES MARIA as well as 15 "lakken" of reales. (8)
Left the Texel on 4th January 1686 (New Style); wrecked on the Sorlings with the loss of all hands. (10)
NB: At this period the "Old Style" Julian Calendar was still in use in England, with the New Year additionally beginning on the 25th March. Thus in contemporary English sources dates between 1st January and 24th March inclusive would be one year "behind" the modern calendar year, running from January to December, a situation which was to persist until the adoption of the "New Style" Gregorian Calendar in England in 1752 (when the calendar was also adjusted by 11 days). Some contemporary sources would express the date of loss as Old Style only, some as Old and New Style, some as New Style, while, of course, Continental sources were New Style and 10/11 days ahead of English dates. For consistency, the date of loss throughout the AMIE database has been recorded as with the New Style year, but with the Old Style day and month, since that is the format conventionally used with regard to English historical dates.
Built: 1682
Builder: Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie)
Where Built: Zeeland
Armament: 46 guns, calibre not known
Owner: Dutch East India Company: built for the Middelburg Chamber; owned on her final voyage by the Zeeland Chamber, but chartered by the Amsterdam Chamber. (7)(8)
Crew: 250
Crew Lost: All
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss |