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The wedding took place on the morning of Thursday May 18th 1815 at the parish Church in Otterton.  Sarah Sandford, age 22, the daughter of Joseph and Dorothy Sandford, was marrying Thomas (John) Vinnicombe, age 24, from East Budleigh. (1)  The Sandford family were tailors in Otterton. 

After the ceremony the younger members of the Wedding Party, comprising of nine young women and six men, went by boat from Ladram Bay to Sidmouth to celebrate the marriage.  On the return journey the boat capsized and ten people were drowned, all the women, including the bride, and the owner of the boat, William Sanson. 

The accident was witnessed from the shore at Sidmouth and many boats put to sea to help.  They were all brought in to Sidmouth where attempts were made to resuscitate them.  

They were nearly all buried on the same day, May 21st.  It must have been a great tragedy for the families of Otterton.  The papers report that there were “thousands” of spectators. (2) 

The accident is recorded on the Headstone of the Sandford family in Otterton churchyard. (3) 

Among the dead were: 

Sarah Vinnicombeage 22 – the Bride

Sarah Sandfordage 10 – niece of the Bride

MaryAnn Smeathage 20

Mary Mannage 21

Ann Dumettage 22

Ann Crabb age 30 – of East Budleigh but buried - Otterton

Sarah Vinnicombeage 31 – cousin of Groom buried - East Budleigh (4)

William Sansonage 24 

The good people of Sidmouth opened a subscription for the bereaved families and a reward for the men who went to their aid. 

The bereaved groom, Thomas, later married Frances Earland on May 20th, 1817 at Otterton. 

Researched by Roz Hickman, © 2010 

Sources:

(1)Otterton Church Registers

(2)Exeter Flying Post

(3)Sandford Headstone in churchyard

(4)East Budleigh Church Registers

151 OT-B-00015 Biography any