Neptune 1748
Parkgate Packet (wooden sailing vessel), b Chester, 150 tons burthen
Voyage Parkgate to Dublin
Captain Benjamin Whittle and over hundred crew and passengers (all lost)
Wrecked 19 January 1748 on West Hoyle Bank

One of the earliest documented (by newspapers) losses in the Parkgate Packet trade was in 1748.

In the recent stormy weather, one of the biggest disasters was to the Neptune which sailed from Parkgate on Thursday 19th January 1748. After she had got over the Bar of Chester, the wind was found so variable, and the weather so boisterous, that she tacked about, as did two other ships [also carrying passengers] in company, the same tide, to try to get back to their Port. The two others did return, though with the utmost difficulty, and much battered, but the Neptune was so unfortunate as to strike upon some Banks at the West End of Hoyle Lake, between the Welsh and Cheshire Coasts [Wirral being in Cheshire then], where she beat to pieces.

Part of her Quarter Deck with a gun lashed to it, the Captain's Portmanteau, and some laced hats have been since drove ashore at Wirral. She had a very rich lading of Money, Plate and other valuable effects, said to have a value of £40000. There were likewise upwards of a hundred passengers, among whom were two or three Clergymen, some Gentlewomen, several Officers in the Army, and many people of good Condition, besides disbanded Sailors and Soldiers, but they, with the Captain and Crew, every one perished. Many of the poor creatures could be discerned to have scrambled to the top of the mast and among the yards and shrouds, after the hull was under water.

Contemporary Newspapers Reports [From Dublin, Ipswich, Derby, Newcastle, Scotland]

I: In a Letter from Chester is this remarkable particular Account of the late Loss of the Neptune.
  Amongst many Losses at Sea in the late Storm on the Welsh and Irish Coasts, we have just now the following Account from the Chester Merchants. On Thursday the 19th inst., the Neptune, a Dublin Trader, Chester built, burthen 150 Tons, Capt. Benjamin Whittle, Master, sailed from Parkgate for Dublin, but after she had got over the Bar of Chester, the Wind was found so variable, and the Weather so very boisterous, that she tack'd about, as did two other Ships in Company, the same Tyde, to try to get back to their Port. The two others did return, tho' with the utmost Difficulty, and much shattered, but the Neptune was so unfortunate as to strike upon some of the banks at the West-End of Hylake, between the Welch and Cheshire Coasts, where she beat to pieces. Part of her Quarter-Deck, with a Gun lashed upon it, the Captain's Portmanteau, and some Laced Hats, have been thrown up at Whirfall[sic]. She had a very rich lading of Money, Plate, and valuable Effects. There were on board above an hundred passengers, among whom were two or three Clergymen, some Gentlewomen, several Officers in the Army, and many people of good Condition, besides disbanded Soldiers and Sailors; but they, with Captain and and Crew, every one perish'd. Many of the poor Creatures could be discerned to have scrambled up to the top of the Masts, and among the Yards and Shrouds, after the Hull was under Water, but none of the Corpses have been as yet been thrown on shore.
  By Letters from Beaumaris in North Wales, we have an Account, that a Wherry which was sailing near that Place, had discovered several Bodies floating with the Tide, which were supposed to be some of the unfortunate People, who were lost in the abovesaid Ship.

II: Extract of a Letter from Neston near Park-gate, dated January 21, 1748-9[sic].
  SIR., I am this Minute going down to Hyle-Lake:
  Poor Ben Whittell, in the Neptune, sailed from hence on Thursday Morning last, and was put on shore on Hyle-Bank, where the Ship was lost and every Soul on board her perished, (which we suppose to be about One Hundred.) I shall give you a more particular Account next Post.
  As many Persons are under great Anxiety about their Friends, there is this happy Circumstance attending this Melancholy Piece of News, that two other Ships sailed from Parkgate the same Tide, which got safe back to Park-gate again. On board which Ships were also many Passengers; And People have been so happy as to hear their particular Friends were on board these ships.
  We hear that besides the great Number of Passengers that was on board the Neptune, Capt. Whittell, that that there was Merchants Goods to the amount of forty thousand pounds

III: They write from Chester, that the following Passengers were on board the Neptune, Capt Whittle, at the Time she was lost, viz. two Nephews of Col. Frazier; Dr. Danfer; Capt. Maccartney; Lieut. Lindlay, belonging to Capt. Ford's Company; Mr. Macartney; Mr. Hamilton and his Wife; Mr. Stockdale and his Wife; Mr. Hayes and his Wife, and several other Persons of Reputation. Several Trunks, Boxes, Portmanteaus, and Bundles are taken up near Hyle Lake, and on the Worral[sic] Shore; but none of the Bodies has as yet been thrown upon that Coast.
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