Long-time NAS member and honorary fellow Ed Cumming, has been working hard for over 20 years to compile his research, creating an extensive database which he has opened to the public via the internet. Following on from his 'Waifs of the Sea', Ed now shares his most recent project, how he creates and shares his fantastic findings, and reflects on what the future will hold. 

Academics have traditionally published their work in books, articles and newsletters. When it came time for me to record a mass of text and, importantly illustrations, associated with the research and excavation of the Earl of Abergavenny, I chose web-based computer files (HTML) which could be easily be distributed on a reasonably cheap, CD, DVD and more recently on USB device.

At the time, any form of printed material like a book would have cost the Earl of Abergavenny project an absolute fortune, basically because of the two thousand or so illustrations associated with it. Of course, the two approaches have pluses and minuses. Books are easy to read and readily stored in libraries whereas the data disc / files need computers and software resources which, in the early days, generally required periodic updating of the format. The fact that they are interactive, searchable, updateable and almost infinitely capacious does, however, make them a joy to work with.

I have now been using this web-based approach for nearly twenty years, and it is my intention, particularly where there is a large number of illustrations to maintain this format. However, with the modern web's ability to include searchable PDF files, I am now, with the help of the NAS, experimenting with this format, using their new, state of the art website.

The first of these projects is called ‘Waifs of the Sea’, an index of identifiable wreckage from shipwreck, and losses from vessels, recorded in the British press in the 19th century. It is basically a searchable data listing or directory. It currently has nearly 6000 entries, if you have not viewed it as yet, please give it a try.

The next project is to add ‘Lost Ships of the East India Company’, a compendium of incidents incurred by the major ships used by this complex organisation. Quite a challenge, it is nearly 500 A4 pages.

The object of this publication is to identify and, if possible, to give extra detail to total loss incidents incurred by the major ships of the English (later British) East India Company, 1600 to 1834. To ease the complexity of the task this period has been, for simplicity, only divided into two.

The period of the ‘first’ company was 1600 to c.1708, at the time known as ‘The Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies’. The ‘second’, 1708 to 1834, was the amalgamated company, which was called the ‘United Company of Merchants of Great Britain trading to the East Indies’, usually referred to as the United East India Company [UEIC] or sometimes, as the Honourable East India Company [HEIC].

The list of vessels, and subsequent detail presented, is certainly not definitive. This is due to many complexities which become clear in the text. The term ‘total loss’ will include descriptions which state; wrecked, destroyed by fire, foundered, lost at sea, not since heard of and captured in the various wars. Trying to make an accurate list of all the ships involved, with all the incarnations of the East India Company, is not a simple matter in itself. It follows therefore, that attempting to detail all the significant incidents which occurred to some of these vessels, is similarly problematic.

So, what of the future. The material I add to this comprehensive web-site can take two forms:

Indexes, Data Lists, Directories or Compendium which will provide a useful research source. Importantly these files will be updatable as new entries are discovered in the archives.

Odd maritime subjects which would be judged of interest to NAS members and web site users.

It is the former where I would really value additional reports from NAS members. Any feedback would be most, most helpful. Meanwhile I will get on with the job of listing ‘Missing Vessels’ recorded in the British Newspapers.

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To learn more about Ed's latest project 'A Compendium of Incidents Incurred by the Major Ships used by the English' click here.

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