The Maria Geertruida was a Dutch merchant vessel. It was called Buchanan before, which suggests that the ship possibly sailed under the English flag earlier. The name of the captain (Forrester) also suggests a connection with England. The ship was a so-called 'Strait-sailor' (after the Strait of Gibraltar), trading with the Mediterranean.

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Lost with a cargo of coins

At the end of 1752, the ship was on its way from Cadíz in Spain towards London and Amsterdam. It had a large cargo of money in coins on board and cochenille (a colorant), though the sources differ on the amount and kind of coins. It was lost in a storm near Ireland, but little else is known about it.

On December 6th, the sloop of the Maria Geertruida, containing the survivors, was found near the Irish coast by an Irish ship from Limerick that was on its way from Lisbon. The Maria Geertruida was lost at 20 miles (this probably concerns leagues, that is around 90 kilometres) from the Irish coast. The crew had been in the sloop for 48 hours and were in bad shape.

Type: unclear but judging by the period and trade route, it is possible that it was a flute

Gemeentearchief Dordrecht

• Nationaal Archief, Den Haag.
  Staten Generaal.
  1.01.02, nr 5969.
• Nationaal Archief, Den Haag.
  Staten Generaal.
  1.01.02, nr 1970.
• National Library Dublin.
  Faulkners Dublin Journal.
  December 12, 1752.
• Delpher.
  Oprechte Haerlemsche Courant.
  28-12-1752.
• Delpher.
  Amsterdamse Courant.
  28-12-1752.