Archaeological remains associated with the loss of this vessel are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the vicinity.

Event and Historical Information:
The ANNE FRANCIS was a ship of around 80 tons and owned by Kings Lynn merchant, Francis Shaxton. The ANN FRANCIS was one of a fleet of 8 vessels owned by Francis Shaxton and his business partners. The vessel had left Kings Lynn on 2 October 1583. It is believed that it was carried 50 tons of wheat to Spain (Cadiz?). It appears likely that it reached its destination and then returned in ballast with payment of some £400 in silver bullion. The ANN FRANCIS went ashore near the mouth of Afon on the night of 28 December 1583. Amongst the first in authority on the scene were George Williams, agent for the Earl of Pembroke and Anthony Mansel, brother of Sir Edward Mansel of Margam. They found 'upwards of 100 persons arrayed with weapons, staves, swords, daggers, javelins, pike forks... and by means of great menacing and insolent behavior committed sundry outrageous misdemeanors...' Three to four hours had passed before Williams and Mansel arrived and much of value was probably spirited away into the countryside. Williams apprehended an individual carrying away 'diverse species' as well as 'a tinny cup, a tinny spoon and 40 nutmegs'. The Mansel family compiled an inventory of other recovered items. Ordnance from the ship included six cannon or minions, weighing 1280 cwt, 1800 cwt, 700 3/4 cwt and 620 cwt, 4smaller fowler cannons and 5 handguns. Items relating to working of these guns included power ladles and flasks. Items relating to working the vessel include pieces of the main sail, 2 long cables (90 and 82 fathoms long) with 2 anchors, plus parts of the mainmast and other smaller spars. The ship's boat with its broken anchor was also taken in charge. More personal items included a silver whistle on a chain weighing 4 ounces, 2 boxes of marmalade, a walking staff, and 2lbs of cloves (perhaps to flavor onboard cooking or as personal trade goods). Two spruce and 1 oak coffer were recovered with their locks broken. Nevertheless, £12 16s of Spanish silver was collected up. Six men were arrested and sent to London for trial. Three refused to appear for questioning and escaped. Sir Edward Mansel was ordered to re-arrest these three. The recovered material was impounded and a dispute between Mansel and the Earl of Pembroke ensued. It was settled in the Star Chamber in favor of the Earl. However, by March, Francis Shaxton had heard of his loss and was able to successfully claim back the 6 pieces of ordnance, the 2 best anchors, the 2 best cables, the 4 fowlers and half the money recovered from the 6 named men. Archaeological finds in the vicinity include a pewter plate with the mark of Tudor Rose and the initials ER (Edward Roe), a boatswain's call and a knife case. The finds had been accessioned to the collections of the National Museum of Wales.

Sources include:
Blundell, J, A Tudor Wreck near Aberavon in Glamorgan, Wrecks Collection, RCAHMW
National Library of Wales, Document Ref; Penrice and Margam, 5768
Receiver of Wreck Droits Database August 2007 RCIM6/2/5
Williams, N J, 1951, Francis Shaxton and the Elizabethan Port Books, in The English Historical Review, Vol 66, number 260 (July), pg387-395

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, May 2012.