"Twenty-five French boats engaged in the herring trade, were driven ashore on the coast near Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland; twelve of them were got off, but the others became wrecks. Their crews, consisting of about 180 men, were all saved. Shaftoe Craster, esq., of Craster, with his usual benevolence, supplied them with both money and victuals, they also received great hospitality and assistance from several other gentlemen of the neighbourhood, and were enabled to return to their homes." 18th September 1833.

From: T Fordyce, J. Sykes. Local records; or, Historical register of remarkable events which have occurred in Northumberland and Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Berwick-upon-Tweed..., published 1867