John Smiley circa 1778-1850 lived in northern Ireland and was probably Presbyterian. Had two sons John and Joseph who were linen weavers. In 1827 Joseph went to british North America/Quebec on a scouting trip. He liked what he saw there and went back to Ireland to convince his brother and wives to go there. The wives were sisters [last name Alexander] who had met the two linen weavers John and Joseph when the brothers went to the Alexander homestead to ply their trade. They sailed on the brig Despatch Capt Wm Lancaster at the end of May 1828. They were fog bound for the whole trip and the Capt only got position sightings around noon on several days. They were one day sailing from their British port of Quebec and the Capt decided to throw a party for everybody. They were then near what is today Port of Basques, Newfoundland.
Later that evening a lookout heard breakers ahead and notified everybody but it was to late....the brig couldn't turn and they were dashed onto rocks wrecking the brig. They clung tothe remmants of the brig all night and when morning came they discovered their sad plight. They were there several days withour food and only salty water...they killed a dog and ate it uncooked to survive.
A lighthouse keeper several miles away noticed wood from the stricken ship and taking his daughter and a Newfoundland dog he rowed to the strciken ship.
The Capt lowred the only lifeboat and when he and the two young twin boys first class passenger attempted to get away from broken Despatch a heavy sea swamped them and they were drowned before the eyes of passengers.
The keeper finally got to the ship and succeeded in rescueing most of the passenger and crew.
The HMSTyne was in the area doing soundings and they were finally contacted. The Tyne took what remained of the crew and passengers abord and sailed for Halifax where they were put up in the poorhouse.
Many of the passengers finnaly made their way westward but the wives refused to travel any further.... so John and Joseph made a new life in Nova Scotia!