There was a great storm in late December 1790.
The Parkgate Packet Charlemont was wrecked with many lives lost (16 survivors out of a total of approximately 120). Some reports describe her as departing from Liverpool.
The Charlemont packet sailed on Wednesday 15 December and had reached the bay of Dublin, when she was driven back by a violent gale of wind; not long after a West Indiaman went to the bottom with her crew at the entrance of that harbour. On Friday 17 December, the weather became favourable and the captain again proceeded to sea, having, during this interval, increased his passengers to the number of about 120. He again had nearly made the port of Dublin when a second time he was forced to put back. By this time the uneasiness of the people became general, and the cabin passengers were very importunate with the master to land them at Holyhead, although he declared himself imperfectly acquainted with the coast and exhorted them to relinquish their intentions. His mate, however, confident of his own intimate knowledge succeeded in carrying the favourite point of the passengers, and they accordingly steered thither; the consequences were fatal, the mate, deceived by some lights, mistook his course; the vessel struck on one of the rocks which skirt the Welsh coast, soon after (in about half an hour) went to pieces, and sixteen persons only escaped the merciless element.
At that date (Sunday 19 December 1790), Holyhead was a creek sheltered by an offlying island - Salt Island - which provided some protection. History of Holyhead Port. However, the Charlemont was wrecked on the N point of Salt Island.
1748 chart of Holyhead Harbour (not north up; Ynys Gybi is Salt Island).
Among those providentially saved was the hon capt Jones, son to lord Ranelagh, who, when she struck, sprang from her on the rock, and received no injury; through the intrepidity of this gentleman, and at an imminent hazard to himself, a person belonging Mr Astley's company was rescued from a most perilous situation, being caught by capt Jones on return of the wave which washed him from the same rock, on which he had also leaped from the packet.
About twelve ladies were on board, some of whom, in expectation of assistance and under the horrors of death impending over them in so terrible a form, clung to the steward of the ship, who, thus prevented from the possibility making any efforts for his own preservation, perished in their embraces. Among other passengers were two Romish clergymen, one of whom escaped. The captain, by ascending to the shrouds, was landed in a place of safety on the heeling the vessel; and the mate has also escaped but, we are informed, is imprisioned for some negligence of information, fatal, as is said, to many who might have been saved on an earlier knowledge of the state the vessel.
The circumstances of those who survived this dreadful event (every article but
what remained on their backs being lost) were considerably alleviated by the
generous and humane attention of capt Jones, whose bounty and benevolence were
as conspicuous in the hour of distress, as his fortitude was apparent in the
moment of danger.
The same storm caused the loss of the ship Newburn off Liverpool.
Information above mainly from the Annual Review and from weekly
newspapers, especially the Chester Chronicle, Williamsons Liverpool Advertiser
and Hibernian Journal (Dublin).
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