Jane Roper

Official Number 13075

The Jane Roper was a two-masted schooner, and was launched from the shipyard of William and Richard Ashburner at Barrow. She was the first vessel built at Barrow, and William Fisher (see Source 1) wrote on the 15th September 1852 that "the first new ship built was launched..... the day was beautiful. All the vessels had their flags hoisted. She was christened by Mrs Roper snr. the Jane Roper in respect to Mrs Thos. Roper of Newland House". Thomas Roper was a principal of the iron ore company Harrison, Ainslie & Co., for whom the schooner had been built. The schooner was strongly-built, with heavy oak frames, planking of elm, morra, greenheart and oak, and deck planking of yellow pine. Her first master was Capt. Robert Stones of Ulverston, who later commanded the Tom Roper. He was a certificated master capable of taking the schooner in foreign trade.

The Jane Roper eventually joined the fleet of James Geldart, a Barrow shipowner, and she existed largely in the coasting trade. Her masters in these years included Harris (1862), Knight (1871) Tyson (1874) and J. Thomas (1876/7). A letter written in 1874, probably by a relative of the then master, says that the "Jane Roper is a fine sailing craft, she goes thro' the water like a thing of life when there is a smart breeze, but is rather heavy during light winds ".

The Jane Roper was berthed at Milford Haven on Census night in April 1881, and her crew were listed as follows (with original spelling !) :
 

The Jane Roper was lost on the night of the 16^th December 1886, under the command of Capt. J. Price. She was bound from Bangor to Hamburg with a cargo of slates, but suffered a Force 11 storm when she was in the North Friesian Islands. She foundered off the coast of Amrum with the loss of all four men onboard.

From Lloyds List, Weds., 22nd December 1886:

JANE ROPER - Wyck-on-Fohr, Dec.18 - A British schooner sank outside the island of Amrum during the night of Dec.16. A boat marked "Jane Roper, Lancaster - T.Price, master", and doubtless belonging to the sunken vessel, has been washed ashore in a damaged condition. At ordinary neap tides there are only about six or seven feet of water over the deck; therefore if weather permits, some inventory, viz., sails, rigging, &c, may perhaps be saved.

Sources :

1. Launch described in "William Fisher's Manuscript Diary & Commonplace Book", Lancaster University Press.
2. Lloyds Survey Report (Jane Roper) LIV 11640 Box 582, at NMM, Greenwich.
3. The Ashburner Schooners ISBN 0-9516792-0-1
4. Wreck report in Lloyd's List 18^th and 22^nd December 1886.
5. 1874 letter transcribed by Elizabeth Ellis, at the Ulverston Heritage Centre.
6. 1881 Census details from Bob Sanders, Ships in Port 1881 website