MERITHEW SHIPWRECK

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Burial list of the Merithew Shipwreck transcribed and submitted 
by T. Sheldon August 2001. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.

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Submitted by T Sheldon this 30th day of May, 2000.

According to historians, there was a shipwreck of the bark MERITHEW on Clatsop Spit in 1853.  
Bodies were washed ashore in many places, the captain's body washed ashore close to 
Leadbetter Point.  Typically, the Captain would have been taken to a high point on 
Leadbetter Point and buried there by the locals.  Often a tree was planted to mark the spot.

There is nothing showing where the other bodies were buried, however, it was common 
to dig large holes on the beach (at the point of wash-up)  to accomodate 
a mass grave for sailors and such.  In this instance, it would be more likely that the 
mass burial took place on the northerly side of the point, as the southerly side is 
more open to erosion from the winter storms.