Star.
London, England, 1811-11-21 00:00:00

SUBSCRIPTION FOR MRS. PECKHAM AND HER
SEVEN CHILDREN.
London, Nov. 18, 1811.
THE sudden and melancholy fate of Mr. JOHN.
RANDALL PECKHAM, who was lately drowned in
crossing from Cowes to Portsmouth, having plunged me, with a
family of seven young children, into a state of suffering and em-
barrassment not to be described; and expecting soon to give
birth to an eighth child, I have yielded to the persuasions of my
friends, in adopting this mode of making my desolate situation
known to a generous and benevolent Public; well satisfied
that in a British bosom' there needs no stimulus to humanity,
when a case like mine is properly authenticated and known.
Brought up witit care and attention, the talents I Fosses, shall be
exerted for my fatherless babes when the present anguishof ray
wind, and my approaching confinement will allow me to do so.
In the mean time, and for the purpose of raising a fund to assist
my futtire efforts, Subscriptions are most humbly solicited by the
disconsolate widow. SOPHIA PECKHAM.
No. 28, Chancery-lane.
The origin of the present distressed situation of this most un-
fortunate of Mothers, will be found in the following
NARRATIVE.
Mr. Peckham was bred a watchmaker, and early In life mar-
ried his now afflicted and desolate widow, To talents, for which
be was soon distinguished, were united industry and pule-
verance; yet so simple and "noir:titling were his vainness and dis-
position, that he passed through its various gradations to the sum-
mit of his profession, unenvied by those who were his competitors
for fame. In the domestic circle, be was a tender and affectionate
bosband, a fond and ir.dulgent lather, a firm and zealous friend ;
Talkies which could not fail to endear him to a numerous and
respectable connection, who having experienced hie moral woe h,
will testify to the undeviating honour and probity which per-
vaded all his transactons.
In this enviable situation passed many years of Mr. PeJtham's
life, until recent otubarreaenuaus in the commercial world atm&
ed some of his conntlions. Losses on kis part were the conse-
quence; and be, of course, sought the means of meeting them.
,Amongst other resources, he recollected some property which
could only be recovered by the production of an attested register
of the death and burial of an elder brother, Richard Peckham,
the mate of a ship, who was drowned in going off to his vessel in
a boat, at the same season of the year, by the same sort of acci-
dent, and at the same hour and place, where he turnstile perished
a few days ago. He was said to have been buried somewhere in
the Isle of Wight, which has sinee been ascertained by the coro-
ner's certificate. Tis this place, theretore, Mr. Peckham went,
bat Isay.ng been unsucce-slui in his endeavours to obtain the cer-
tificate, he returned to the &human Inn, at West ('owes, where
he found a hoer from his friends, dated the ustit, requesting him
to be in London by the 2titit Oc . Lull. ,oe. receipt of this let-
ter, Mr. Peckham made up his m nil, fer,the present, to relin-
quish his object, and return to to.vn. Fos this purpose he went
in search of a boat, and having met Goring and Paul, two water-
men, who had already carried him float Portsmouth to Cowes, he
agreed with them for a passage back again to Portsmouth. They set
sad with a tine breeze, which prom lied them a speedy conveyance
tolhe other side. They bad reached Stokes Ilay,wi-hin two miles
and a half of the shore, mil, at that moment, Mr Peckhani Was re-
lating to the watertnen the melancholy fate of hiebrother, who was
drowned near the spot ou which they then were, at much about
the same hour of toe night, when a sea suddenly ovenehelmed
the boat, Which instantly filled and went down, leaving the ten
fled and unhappy passengers to struggle for their lives. It was
then abotlt ten o'clock at night. The boat had been observed by
Joseph Thumson.a sailor, who laid the night-watch on board the
Kingston tran-port, then at anchor in Stokes Bay. All at once be
log sight of the boat, and soon after hearing the noise of a voice en
the water; he feared the werst, called up all bands, and w ith a mag-
nanimity and humanity characteristic of British seamen, they for-
got the danger in the glory of saving airflow Creature. he boat
was instantly lowered and manned, and a painful and ansious
search commenct d. From the darkness of the night and the
Impetuosity of the waves, the efforts of these brave men were ter
a long time unitaceessful, alit' they were on the point of mon-
ing to their ship, when one of the sailors, of tug namosof Martin,
happening to pass his hand along the gutted of the boa., Mt a
band clinging to her, Rodin-tinily exclaimed, " Here's one of
them,' when Goring, the boatman, was taken on board, in a state
of almost total baststs.bility. They carried him 'on board the
transport, where his gallant deliverer had the satisfaction to see
hint recover, under the humane attention of the Captain and,
ship's company, to whose human. too much praise cannot be
given. Mr. John Randall Pee khans, and Paul, the waterman,
were Unfortunately buried in the waves.

Thus perished, under a.beavy dispensation of Div! N Pnovr-
InNce a man every way to be regretted; and thus have been
deprived of their natural and invaluable Frotectoi„ when she had
Mast occasion for his accustomed kindness, his !sirloin widow,
Ind seven helpless children.
In the affleetion which has copse upon her, Mrs. Peckham cars-
alders her own fate, which can scarcely admit of consolation, to
be sealed ; ard tor hi :ant', she would nut have obtruded her sor-
rows upon the public: but for her helpless children sh • appeals
to, she implores those who are blest with the means, to assist the
fu tire efforts of a despairing Mother to•raise her infant offsprit g.
lads of this most melancholy case are so recent and well
knywn, that its authenticity cannot be questioned. Affidavits
made by the parties named in the Narrative, before the proper
utter, may, however be seen at Mrs. Peckham's present asylum,
No. 28, Chancery-lane.
following Bankers have humanely consented to rtceive
subscriptions ILr the benefit of she Widow, and they will be
thankfully received, nd most gratefully acknoWled..ed, Ly Mrs
Peckham, at No. I's, Chancery-lane.
Mesas: Brown, Cobb, and Co. 66, Lombari. street.
Dimsdale, Barnard, and I)imsdale, SO, Cored% •
• Robarts, Curtis, Robarts, and Curtis, IA, Lombard-d.
Fraser, Perr ng, Shaw, Barbai, and Co. 7 I, Combat.
Amts n, Maunde, and Austen, 10, Henrietta-street,
Covent (karden.
Marsh, Sibbald, Scree y, Fauntleroy, and St.:wart, 6,
Berners-.trieet.
liammertheys, Brnekttozni, Creenwnod, and rr,w,
71, Pall

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