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 SUSAN was a wooden brig built and completed by William Ellis at Bideford on 5 July 1818. Technical and configuration specifications are given 72 389/3500 tons burthen; 57.8ft length x 16.7ft breadth x 9.3ft depth in hold; 1 deck, 2 masts, brig rigged with a standing bowsprit, square sterned, carvel built, framework and planking wood. The SUSAN's port of Bideford Shipping Register entries allow ownership changes to be traced - the vessel's first owner Thomas Burnard of Bideford, merchant, who was made bankrupt in 1842. The SUSAN then passed through the hands of George Braginton of Great Torrington, merchant; Joshua Williams of Appledore, merchant; and William Newell Vicary of Bishops Lawton, merchant; until finally James and Peter Lang Sergeant of Plymouth, coal merchants.
In the aftermath of the Royal Charter Gale 25-26 October 1859, the The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian reported 'To the east, in a place called the Orchard, could be seen the masts of a palacca, belonging to Bideford, the whole of whose crew is supposed to be lost... The Bideford palacca, a total wreck, all hands lost...' The North Devon Journal reported 'A little this side of Rhymney River were two masts of a brigantine named the SUSAN of Bideford. Mr William Richards and Mr John Tamplin with most praiseworthy conduct, gallantly struck out in Mr Richards boat from the pier head on Wednesday morning to see if any of the SUSAN's crew had taken shelter in the rigging, but alas, on approaching the wreck, not a man was to be seen. Mr Richards impression being that all had gone down, as no boat could live in such a sea'. However, all was not the tragedy as supposed. Over the page, the North Cornwall Journal printed a report from Appledore -'Intelligence has been received of the loss of the SUSAN of this port property of Mr Sargeant. All hands saved'.

Sources include:
Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Brecon Gazette, 29 October 1859, pg5, col 4, Welsh Newspapers Online
North Devon Journal, British Newspapers Online, 3 November 1859, pg7 col3 and pg8 col 2
Port of Bideford Shipping Register 1786 -1823, North Devon Record Office, 3319/1, 6 in 1818
Port of Bideford Shipping Register 1831-1843, North Devon Record Office, 3319/3, 30 in 1836 and 19 in 1842
Port of Bideford Shipping Register 1843-1855, North Devon Record Office, 3319/4, 17 in 1853

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, November 2013.