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

Event and Historical Information:
The OWEN MORRIS was a wooden schooner built by David Jones at Porthmadoc in 1861. Technical and configuration specifications are given as 168gt 139nt; 102ft2in length x 23ft 9in breadth x 12ft 1in depth; 1deck, 3 masts; hull sheathed in felt and yellow metal and fastened with copper fastenings; official number 92202. At time of loss, the vessel was still owned Owen Morris of Porthmadioc, shipowner (managing owner)(16 shares); Jane Morris of Porthmadoc, spinster (16 shares); Robert Pritchard of Porthamadoc, master mariner (16 shares); David Morris of Porthmadoc, slate shipper (12 shares); and Margaret Mary Williams of Porthmadoc, widow of John Williams, clerk (4). The schooner had brought a cargo of salted fish from Labrador to Naples and was returning to its homeport of Porthmadoc. On 8 December 1907, it encountered a full gale in Cardigan Bay during which the sails were blown out trying to gain sea room. Whilst attempting to lie to, one of its anchor cables parted. When the one remaining anchor began to drag, the crew launched distress signals which were noted by the townsfolk of Criccieth who helped to launch the lifeboat, the CAROLINE. The six crewmen were rescued by the lifeboat in two passes. The OWEN MORRIS was driven bow-first onto the beach into a cave at Black Rock. Its Port of Caernarfon Shipping Reguster entry is closed with the annotation 'Vessel went ashore at Trip Point, close Fraig Ddu, Morfa Bychan, Tremadoc Bay, on 8-9 December 1907 and was dashed against the rocks and smashed to pieces'.

Sources include:

Bennett, T, 1987, Shipwrecks around Wales, Vol 1, p.83
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Lloyds Register Casualty Returns, 1 October - 31 December 1907, p.12 (h)
Lloyds Register of British and Foreign Shipping, 1 July 1905 - 30 June 1906, number 233 in O
The North Wales Express, 13 December 1907, p.6
Port of Caernarfon Shipping Register 1874-1893, Gwynedd Archive Service XSR/19, folio 181
The Welsh Coast Pioneer, 12 December 1907, p.11

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, March 2013.

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