The Clayburn family were a big fishing family in the 1800's and with that were stalwarts of the lifeboat. Here are two excerpts which feature the Clayburn family
"The north-eastern coast of England suffered during Saturday under a frightful hurricane, attended, it is feared, with considerable loss of life and property. At Scarborough, a catastrophe occurred which has cast a gloom over the whole town. During the height of the gale, about four o'clock in the afternoon, the Coupland, a Shields schooner, attempted to enter the harbour, but stranded opposite the sea-wall The crew of the lifeboat being all out fishing,
Clayburn, a veteran boatman of seventy, speedily got ten men together, who volunteered to man her and venture to the assistance of the schooner. At first all went well, but on rounding the sea-wall a violent lurch pitched Clayburn out, and in the confusion that ensued, the oars were dashed out of the hands of the boatmen, and the boat became perfectly helpless. Before long she was washed up heavily against the sea-wall, and a number of bystanders rushed down the incline to assist the crew. Before they could render any assistance another gigantic wave dashed the boat back again on to the sea-wall, crushing to death some of the unfortunate party, and carrying others out to sea.
Lord Charles Beauclerc, and Thomas Brewster, a boatman, who were among the foremost of the party, were killed on the spot; Mr. W. Tindall, Mr. Batten, Mr. Sarony, and several other gentlemen, were carried back with the retreating wave, but with the exception of Mr. Tindall were all saved by means of life-buoys. John Burton, one of the boat's crew, was also drowned." [from The Spectator, Volume 34 9th November 1861]
This excerpt is from 'the Lifeboat'.
...Also £5 10 shillings to the crew of the Scarborough life-boat, which is on Mr. Peake's plan, for putting off in her on three different occasions, and rescuing the crews, consisting of 23 men, of the brig Thompsons, of Whitby, the brig Northumberland, of Whitby, the brig Wilsons, of Shields, which were wrecked during a heavy gale off Scarborough, on Sunday, the 4th January last. The crews of the life-boat had likewise received £16 10s. from the owners of the vessels for their valuable services. The silver medal of the Institution was also voted to Thomas Clayburn, who had been coxswain of the Scarborough old lifeboat for forty years, and had gone frequently off in her to save life.
....Also the silver medal to Mr. Henry Wyrill, for putting off with 5 others in his boat, and rescuing the crew of 5 men of the brigantine Elizabeth, of Sunderland, which was wrecked off Scarborough, on the 14th of November last. The 5 men had received a reward from a local subscription for their services.
Also £1 to Robert Jenkinson, fisherman, for wading into the surf, at considerable risk of life, to effect a communication between the shore and the schooner William IV which was wrecked, during a gale of wind, off Filey, on the 4th January last, by which means her crew of 3 men were saved.[from the From "The Lifeboat" July 1st 1857.]
