On 5th January 1857, an American sailing ship, the Northern Belle, was en route from New York to London when she was driven on to rocks off the coast of Kent, at the most south eastern point of England. The weather conditions were atrocious with a blizzard blowing and there were 28 men on board the ship.

Amongst those in the rescue boats were Alfred Emptage and his three brothers: George, Charles and Edward. They all survived but their uncle William and cousin John perished.