Calgo Publications

October 26th 2009 was the 150th Anniversary of the tragedy, and the village of Moelfre held a number of commemorative events.

We were delighted and honoured to meet the descendents of a number of the victims, and to be able to talk to them about their ancestors. It was a very moving, and somewhat emotional, time for us, as we had been immersed in the story and the people of the Royal Charter for 18 months.

In particular, we met relatives of the Davies family, - a mother, father and 4 children, who were travelling with Mrs.Davies sister, Mrs. Fenwick and her 4 children.

Relatives of the Purser, John Lewis, and his brother Edward, who was a barman, were also present.
Isaac Lewis, a seaman from Moelfre, was lost within sight of his father, one of the Moelfre rescuers. Three of his descendents were there.

William Storey was listed as a passenger on board the ship, his relative would love to know about his family in Australia.

John Bradbury was one the people saved. Is anything more known about him? Is he the same John Bradbury who went to Australia in this lady's family tree?

Joseph Rogers, the seaman whose epic swim enabled so many to be saved, never returned to Malta. He is buried in Liverpool, and is known to have lived in Yorkshire at some time, but what happened to him after he left the S.S.Great Britain? Is anything known about him as he got older?

In addition, we have also had contact with descendents of James Tate, a cook on board, and of Captain Withers, the shipwrecked Captain who was going home on the Royal Charter. The 19th century newspapers reported his name as James Withers, but we now know, thanks to his relatives, that his first name was Jarius.

Are you a descendent of someone from the Royal Charter or do you have any information that the descendents may welcome? If so, please get in touch and we will try to pass it on.