The Pirate Stone

“To the Memory of David Bartleman, Master of the brig Alexander and Margaret of North Shields, who on 31st January, 1781 on the Norfolk coast with only 3 pounders and ten men and boys nobly defended himself against a cutter carrying eighteen 4 pounders and upwards of 100 men commanded by the notorious English pirate Fall and fairly beat him off.  Two hours after, the enemy came down upon him again.  When totally disabled, his mate Daniel MacAuley expiring with the loss of blood and himself dangerously wounded, he was obliged to strike and ransom.  He brought his shattered vessel into Yarmouth with more than the honours of a conqueror and died here in consequence of his wounds on the 14th February, following in the 25th year of his age.  To commemorate the gallantry of his son, the bravery of his faithful mate and at the same time mark the infamy of a savage pirate, his afflicted father Alexander Bartleman has ordered this stone to be erected over his honourable grave. ‘Twas great. His foe though strong.”

St. Nicholas Church Preservation Trust has organised the renovation of the David Bartleman gravestone in the churchyard. Over the last few years the lettering on the stone had deteriorated and in parts was illegible. After examining the stone it was apparent that the lettering had been re-cut, probably in 1900. At one time the stone had been painted white and the letters painted black. There was a fear that the gravestone would soon be blank, like so many other interesting ones in the churchyard. In order to save the Bartleman stone for future generations it was decided to save the lettering on the stone. The former Rector of Great Yarmouth, Michael Woods, gave his consent and the work was paid for by the Pearson family of North Drive (the Pearsons apparently come from a family of pirates).  The stonemason Colin Smith carried out the intricate work, donating the sponsorship to the St. Nicholas Church organ fund.

The present rector re-dedicated the stone during August 2011 when the Chairman of the St. Nicholas Church Preservation Trust gave a brief talk about the stone, explaining that Fall wasn’t really a pirate but a privateer in paid employment, sailing under the American flag during the War of Independence 1775-83, with a licence to operate from America, France and Holland.   He captured many colliers along the east coast, including two off Lowestoft in 1780 and two merchantmen off Pakefield around the same time.

After the David Bartleman incident, the Mayor of Yarmouth wrote a stiff letter to the Admiralty complaining that there were no men-of-war stationed in Yarmouth. 

This is just one of many interesting stones at St.Nicholas Parish Church, some of them listed and of  great significance to local history, such as the stone commemorating a death caused by the collapse of the suspension bridge, with a lovely carving illustrating the event.   Dr. Paul Davies has written a book entitled Stories behind the Stones and details of over 500 graves in St. Nicholas Churchyard and the New and the Old Cemeteries.  It is a hardback, 540pp and lavishly illustrated in colour: ISBN 978-09544509-3-9.  Priced £40, it is available from Paul Davies (01493 843647)