The earliest known recorded shipwreck salvaging effort on our shores occurred in late January of 1698, when the Swift Advice, bound for England from Williamsburg, was scuttled in an ice storm exiting the Chesapeake Bay, subsequently beaching at Chicamacomico.
The Swift Advice was no ordinary ship. It was owned by none other than King William, and was outfitted with the best guns, furniture, sails and provisions of the day. In a bit of intrigue, the ship also carried intelligence documents capable of compromising the monarchy's efforts to hem in King Louis and France and that nation's considerable interest in North America.
The ship lay stranded for fewer than 36 hours before an armed detachment dispatched by the Lord Proprietors from near present-day Edenton on the Chowan River arrived to guard the vessel for the monarchy. To their utter horror, it had been stripped bare of everything. No guns, no furniture, no sails, no spars, no nothing, pretty much left on blocks.
In his official report of the fiasco at Chicamacomico, Deputy Governor Thomas Harvey wrote the following to Governor John Archdale:
"In January last His Majesty's Ship Swift Advice boat was deserted of the King's owne men in the Colony of Virginia & from thence was driven by the wind to sea &… cast on shore on our Sand Banks where she was found by some of the inhabitants of that place who plundered her of what they could carry away... as more company Came every one endeavored to get something for themselves out of the spoil. Some were great Rogues, (and the) opportunity made others but little better… before I heard anything of it much of the goods, armes & furniture was embezzled... as soon as I had notice I sent down Capt. Jno Stepney and after him Mr. Comander who apprehended about 20 of the inhabitants engaged in this Riot & tooke a good deal of the Goods that was Carried away in the people's houses & Some hid in the Ground & ye persons what were apprehended were most of them brought before me & Comitted for tryall…"
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