There is a video bouncing around the web these days called “The Strangest Coincidence Ever Recorded?” (The video is embedded at the bottom of the post.) It tells the story of a ship which sank in the Menai Strait off the coast of Wales on December 5, 1664. All 81 passengers died, except one. His name was Hugh Williams. Then on December 5th, 1785 another ship with 60 aboard sank in the Menai Strait. The only survivor – a man named Hugh Williams. In 1820 on December 5th, a third vessel sank in the Menai Strait. All 25 aboard were drowned except, you guessed it, a man named Hugh Williams.
An amazing tale, but is it history or just a an oft retold sea story? It could easily be a bit of each.
One version of the story appears as a footnote on page 155 of Cliffe’s Book of North Wales, published in 1851. The story starts out the same with the sinkings on December 5, 1664 and 1785, with Hugh Williams, the only survivor. The story changes for the 1820 sinking. Hugh Williams is still the sole survivor but the sinking took place on August 5th, not December 5th. The footnote goes on to mention that, “Again on May 20th, 1842, a boat was crossing the Menai, near the spot where the above catastrophes happened, when she upset with 15 passengers, and all perished save one; but in this instance the name of the survivor was Richard Thomas.”
Another book, Guide to North Wales by Francis Coghlan published in 1860, repeats the story of the three shipwrecks with the August 1842 date.
There is documentary evidence for at least the 1785 version of the the story. Pages 281- 286 of Rev. William Bingley’s book “North Wales, including its scenery, Antiquities and Customs” 1804, Vol. 1. describe Hugh Williams escape from the shipwreck on December 5, 1785.
Another version of the story includes: On 10th July 1940, a British trawler was destroyed by a German mine – only two men survived, one man and his nephew – they were both called Hugh Williams.
So it appears that the video version on the Internet may have been slimmed down and improved a bit. Making the third sinking on December, rather than August 5th, pumps up the story and omitting Richard Thomas and Hugh Williams and his uncle, Hugh Williams, makes the tale more pithy and considerably more mysterious.
One thing is obvious from the story of Hugh and his Uncle Hugh – Hugh Williams is not an uncommon name in Wales. Apparently the Anglicization of Welsh names had an impact. From Welsh Names : ...by the 15th century the range of names in use was affected by the great popularity of a limited number of names such as John, William and Thomas, which had also been adopted in England by that time. Also, fixed surnames were adopted gradually in Wales, so the son of William often took his father’s first name as his last, which is how popluar first names became common surnames. Indeed, Coghlan’s account of the three shipwrecks ends with the comment: “This extraordinary coincidence can only be explained by the circumstance that the name of Hugh Williams is very common in these parts.”
Another point which emerges in the longer version of the story which includes the survivor, Richard Thomas, is that the Menai Strait is a particularly nasty body of water with strong currents and rough seas. When listening to the shorter version of the story one might think that only three boats sank in the Menai Strait over two hundred years. The number is probably closer to three hundred. The number of deaths by drowning is probably in the thousands.
So it appears safe to say that the answer to the implied question in the video title “The Strangest Coincidence Ever Recorded?” is no. The name Hugh Williams is fairly common and the waters off North Wales are treacherous. Over a period of almost two hundred years is not that unlikely that there would be three sole survivors of shipwrecks who had the same name. Two on the same day of the month is less likely, though over more than 100 years, maybe not that improbable either.
It is a good sea story all the same.
The Strangest Coincidence Ever Recorded?
Thanks to Irwin Bryan and Polly Seip for contributing to the post.
For more about nautical coincidences, see our post, Nautical Coincidence & Lifeboat Morality – Richard Parker and the Mignonette
I knew I could count on you to dissect the story with factual research!
As you can see my name is the lucky or safe name. I was named after my
paternal grandfather who immigrated to Canada from north Wales in 1877.
My late father gave me newspaper clippings (two ) many years ago—he died in 1954 and I am now 79 these both describe four ship sinkings with the only survivor being Hugh Williams. The first was on Dec.5,1664 in the
Menia Straits, the second event was on Dec.5 1785 a pleasure schooner
was wrecked on the Isle of Man. Then on Aug.5,1820 a pickning party on
the Thames was run down by a coal barge and of 25 on board only 5 year old Hugh Williams survived .Now the most singular storey–onAug.19,1889
a Leeds coal barge with 9 men abord floundered–all but two were drowned
and both were named Hugh Williams,an uncle and nephew! This is unlike
the story which has the same 3 dates but all say the sinkings were in the straits of Menai . Go figure ? Respectfully, Hugh Rowland Williams.
Thank you for the fascinating comment. Truly intriguing. By the way, has anyone ever hesitated to join you on a boat or ship?
I have only been on four cruise ships,and a number of smaller
boats over the years, but no one ever knew of the historical events
with those sailing with ancients bearing my name. I will not have any
fears however if by some remote reason I should find myself on a ship
in the Sraits of Menai between Anglesey and Carnavonshire
I am sure that you are correct, sir. Nevertheless a bit of caution is always a good idea. We should not forget Captain Hugh Williams, master of the schooner “Clara Felicia” who was drowned at Porthmadoc, Wales, on the 11th day of December, 1879 at the age of 42. Of course, Porthmadoc is some distance from the Straits of Menai.
There are at least two people buried at the Old Llanidan Church Anglesey who were drowned crossing the Menai Straits. Margaret Edwards and her son Edward both died on 5th August 1820 so it appears that there was indeed a tragedy on this date but I don’t know about the sinking on the Thames.
Very interesting. Thanks for the comment.
Rick
This is a very peculiar incident. Maybe time will tell if there is really arelation to the name of the person to the accidents.
omg .. thats it
This is very interesting…
Great, now I have a worry about going to Wales on a cruise…And the mates at my school are freaking out xD
Very interesting, thanks for factual information.
This was awesome! Thank you for answering with factual evidence.
I manage many social media accounts and always research on trending topics this one being one!
So this article and the comments by an actual Hugh Williams is amazing!
Thank you “Old Salt Blog”!
The Three Hugh Williams story.
My father comes from a long line of fishermen from the Caernarfon area by the Menai Straits.The 3 Hugh Williams story is a true story according to my great grandfather as the three were saved just off the Menai Straits.Our family knew of at least one of them as it was the ferry that sunk.My Great grandfather was the captain of the ferry for many years circa 1820′s.
I’ve heard the legend before, as my family are of Irish descent and supposedly a lot of the stories and legends are passed around abit I suppose. I never knew the dates or the reasons why the ships sank, but none the less, it is always a good sea story to tell when you are out on the boat! It is great to see some evidence behind it though and that it isn’t just a story.
I understand completely how one might feel that this story is 100percent true and that you should never ride a ship through the manai strait with a man named hugh williams on december 5th. I also understand how one would feel that even though proven wrong in many of ways that this is a very ineresting story. The first version of the story that i read was the shortened one. In this version they failed to mention that there were hundreds of other ships to sink in that area. They also changed the dates to make it seem more convincing. There is still one thing that I find strangely mysterious. Even with the name Hugh Williams being as popular as it is in that area, only ONE survivor and all having the same name. If there were other incodents with only one survivor, it might seem less myserious. Over all, i think that there is more research to be done if you want the whole truth.
Thank you for adding the information passed on by your family heritage it is amazing to read.
I will be looking into this a bit deeper im that keen to learn everything about it and try to piece how all the stories are linked in either one way or another. anyone with information on this feel free to email me.
Thank you once again.
Ash
ash_gibbo_@hotmail.com
I thought that was facsinating, its like a moral to the story is to think out the box, I agree with you destiny sutherland, although the is an explanation for it, the survivors were still hugh williams
Very interesting. I got here from 1 facebook page and the information that page gave turns out to be wrong
Very strange!
Guys everyon please dont be fooled hugh williams died on 22 of something 1819 i am not sure aboutvthe first two sinkings but the last one is just exageration
Very interesting! I also think it’s great Hugh Williams took the time to respond