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John Stonard | Official Number
15200 |
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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.
The Ulverston Mirror, 2nd June 1860;
" 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 berthed at Milford Haven on Census night in April 1881. She had four crew aboard, headed by Capt.David Jones.
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 described 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, valued at £375. 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.
A case was subsequently brought against Capt.Morgan and the other owners of the John Stonard
by Spaight & Sons, slate merchants, of Limerick, alleging
negligence against the master. The jury could not agree a verdict and
were dismissed.
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