John Stonard

Official Number 15200

The John Stonard was one of the six vessels built for the Stonard family by E.J. Schollick at Canal Foot, Ulverston (see Alfred Stonard and Edward Stonard). She was a small two-masted schooner launched in about July 1856 and initially managed by her builder.

From the Ulverston Mirror, 2nd June, 1860 (see also Source 2):

" DISASTROUS GALE AT MORECAMBE - About five o'clock on Monday morning, the wind from N. and N.E. rose to a perfect hurricane.  Six vessels were driven from their anchors, and stranded, all more or less damaged. They are the John Stonard of Ulverston, Tower of Barrow; Sportsman, of Barrow, Esther Ann of Ulverston, Three Brothers of Liverpool and Mona's Isle of Barrow.

The crew of the John Stonard had a very narrow escape. The vessel heeling over when she grounded, they were for a short time, completely submerged, but she soon righted, and the crew were rescued from their perilous situation by the coastguard assisted by two Poulton fishermen, who gallantly volunteered their services, when they found the coastguard could not get their boat through the surf.

Twenty-two fishing boats were also blown ashore. Some are complete wrecks, and the others are all more or less damaged."

The John Stonard was owned by William Postlethwaite between 1871 and 1888, and then was sold to Capt. James Morgan of Aberdovey for £250. Her subsequent career is decribed in "Brief Glory" by the master's son, D.W.Morgan.

The John Stonard left Aberdovey on the 30th October 1893, bound for Limerick with a cargo of 131 tons of slate. She had to shelter briefly at Milford Haven but by the 6th November she was off Crow Head, Co.Cork. In the early morning the master made the mistake of trying to sail inside the Calf Rock and the schooner grounded on the Lea Rock and her hull was breached. The crew tried to pump out the water and the master eventually decided to try and beach the vessel. However, with only a slight breeze blowing and with the schooner head down in the water, they were unable to make sufficient progress. The vessel was anchored, the crew abandoned her in the small boat, and at about 11 a.m. the John Stonard slid beneath the water.
 

Name	Year Built	Gross Tons	Length (feet)	Breadth (feet)	Depth (feet)	Masts	Figurehead	Stern	Lloyd's Classn.
John Stonard	1856		78

Sources :

1. Launch mentioned in Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser, 25th June 1857 (in report of Edward Stonard launch).
2. Sinking also reported in the Cumberland Pacquet, Tues., 5th June 1860, page 8 - names the master of the John Stonard as Dickenson and states that the crew were taken off by the coastguard boat.
3. 1881 Census details from Bob Sanders, Ships in Port 1881 website
4. "Brief Glory" by D.W.Morgan