Missing Sailors buried at St Keverne Cornwall

[Dipsey]

This was taken from the St Keverne Burial Records 22nd. January 1809

On Sunday morning about ½ past 5 oclock the dispatch Transporter (George Jenwich Master) having three officers & seventy men of the 7th Light Dragons on his return from Corunna in Spain was driven upon the rocks near Coverack & all on board perished except seven private Dragons. The three unfortunate officers who had survived a disastrous campaign to perish on the English shore were Major Cavendish, Capt Duckenfreed ? & Lieut Waldgegrave.On the same night at about 5 oclock the Brig of War "Primrose" (James Mein Commander) was wrecked also on the Manacle Rocks. Her complement of officers and men consisted of 120, besides six passengers Only one poor lad John Meagher was preserved (Dei Gratia) from the dreaded catastrophe. From these rocks an Hundred and four bodies were buried in the church yard of this Parish 24th. January to 02nd. April. By me Wm Whitehead Minister.

[StuRem]

Have you any knowledge of people who would lure ships on to the rocky Cornwall shore? There is a story, and I have no idea as to it's veracity, in my family of men who would do this then loot the ship. They were called "moonrakers".

[Dipsey]

They tiptoed so softly upon the sand,
to capture the hoard that came to land.
A booty of rum and so very much more,
they smuggled along the Cornish shore.
Rakes in hand they scoured the pools,
Customs men came but they were fools.
These canny fishers were quick on top,
acting simpletons they told such rot.
Pointing to a pool and the moon therein,
"wasn’t it obvious, they were raking it in?"
“The moons fell down out of the sky,
it must be saved,“ they said with a cry!
Her majesty’s men did stifle a laugh,
thought them dullards and left it at that