The remains of an 'Old Brig' is marked on a 1770 chart of Seasalter, showing that the wreck was noted to be old by the late eighteenth century. A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts and these were seen as fast and manoeuverable. They were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. It is not yet clear whether the Seasalter wreck comprises the remains of a naval or merchant vessel.