John’s maternal family tree - narrative

Deaths of Cecilia Wetherell and Captain Alfred William Simpson: [AI GENERATED]

The deaths of Alfred William Simpson and his wife Cecilia Simpson (née Wetherell) occurred on 21 June 1885 as casualties of a tragic shipwreck off the Horn of Africa.The primary, documented details of the event are summarized below:

The Voyage and Circumstances

The Vessel: The couple were aboard the SS Willingale, a British screw steamer managed by Alfred Stuart & Co. of London.

The Route: The ship departed from Madras, India, on 30 May 1885, and was bound for Boston, USA.

The Shipwreck

The Location:

On 21 June 1885, the SS Willingale encountered severe weather and heavy seas, which drove the vessel ashore. It became completely wrecked roughly two miles south of Cape Guardafui (located in the Horn of Africa, in modern-day Puntland, Somalia).

Both Alfred William Simpson and Cecilia were among those who lost their lives in the disaster.

(John's note - the date given previously was when the news was reported in the UK. It's not clear why the Simpson's were on this ship, as it was not a passenger ship. Albert was not recorded as the captain.)