DISEASE AND DEATH ABOARD THE BRITANNIA
·
By
early July, about six weeks after sailing, A mysterious disease had seriously
affected Britannia passengers and many ill men began to write their wills in
preparation for their deaths. One-half or more of the adult passengers may have
perished. Most children survived. This, almost certainly, identifies the disease
as "Ship Fever," now called Typhus, transmitted by human body lice.
·
At
a Yearly Meeting of English Friends held at London in 1709, a manuscript was
presented listing 87 “Publick Friends” that had died in Pennsylvania since the
first settlement there. The term "Publick Friend" refers to Friends who spoke in
Meetings. Those acceptable to the Meeting were recorded by the ministers and
elders, and formally named ministers. Three of these 87 ministers who died at
sea died aboard the Britannia. None left a will.
THOMAS MUSGRAVE "of Warley near Halifax in Yorkshire took ship
at Liverpool and was bound for Philada. He died on shipboard ye 14:
6mo[Aug]:
1699. ... ye vessel arrived ye same month 4th [sic] 6mo: 1699."
HENRY MITCHELL "belon[g]ed to Marston [Marsden] Meeting in
Lancashire.
He died on board ye said ship ye 5mo[Jul]: 1699."
ALlCE, "wife of JNO. KENCERLY, came from Wolldall [Wooldale]
or near it in Yorkshire. Her maiden name was HEYWORTH [HAWORTH]
of Rosendall [Rossendal], Lancashire. She died also on board ye said
ship in ye
5th[Jul] or 6th[Aug] mo: 1699."