‘Ship Faithful Steward’ historical novel released

Author Harry Wenzel announced the release of his new book, “The Ship Faithful Steward: A Story of Scots-Irish, English, and Irish Migration to Pennsylvania; Delaware’s Worst Maritime Tragedy – 1785.”

Some 236 years ago, a three-masted, square-rigged sailing ship left Londonderry, Ireland, for New Castle and Philadelphia. Capt. Connolly McCausland, one-third owner of Faithful Steward, set sail with a crew of 12 and 249 passengers.

Famine and religious persecution drove many thousands of Irish to the shores of North America in the 1700s. The American Revolutionary War ended in 1783. British America, in particular Philadelphia, was loaded with wealthy Scots-Irish merchants who migrated prior to the revolution and became the backbone of General Washington’s army and the Pennsylvania Navy.

James McIntire II believed he was sailing to a land where his heroes lived. Simon Elliott, together with a family of five, would join up with his son John, who had left Donegal for Pennsylvania in 1784. James and Isabella Lee departed Ardara and Killybegs in Donegal with more than 40 relatives. Merchant Gustavus Colhoun and brother Thomas, a mariner, devised a plan to shepherd coinage stowed aboard the ship.

Everyone’s life was destined to forever be altered by an event to unfold Sept. 1, 1785, near the Indian River Inlet. The storyline ends with a gut-wrenching account of the wreck, followed by a clever tie-in to Lewestown, all based on an actual news account dictated by a shipwreck survivor years after the disaster.

“A love of researching historical events and genealogy led to writing the narrative,” said Wenzel. His novel incorporates actual history and research.

To learn more, go to harrywenzel.com.