Sloop ROBERT survivor of the Great Storm of 1859

Description

The story of the ROBERT is that of long service, despite being reported wrecked in the Royal Charter Gale, 25-26 October 1859, at Conwy.

The vessel was described as a sloop and built at Frodsham in 1831 by Hayes and Mirman. Technical specifications are given in its various Port of Liverpool Shipping Register entries (one is shown above).

87.66 tons burthen; 61ft 10in x 17ft 3in x 7ft 7in depth in hold; 1 deck, 1 mast, sloop rigged with a sliding bowsprit, round sterned, carvel built; official number 1586.

For the early part of the ROBERT's service life, it was owned by Philip Whiteway, merchant, and Denis Brundril, a druggist or chemist, both of Runcorn. It was sold on 26 April 1845 to Richard Bernard of Liverpool, whose profession is given as agent (or shipping agent). On his death, his shares passed to his wife Margaret Bernard and possible to his daughter, Anne Ledson, who is also noted as a widow and residing in Liverpool.

On the death of Margaret, Anne continued the family's interest in the vessel by retaining part ownership after selling half the shares to Thomas Fleetwood Roskill of Kirkdale, gentleman, in August 1853.

Ann married John Marienburg of Haventree, Lancashire, on 8 October 1866 and, in line with his marriage entitlement to all his new wife's property, Anne's shares in the ROBERT passed to him. Eleven years later, Anne became part owner again on John Marienburg's death on 12 October 1877.

Ann ended her association with the ROBERT in 1880 when the vessel was sold to a Liverpool ship broker, Fredrick Jackson Porter. The ROBERT was subsequently used by James Barnes, George Barnes and William Barnes of Liverpool, colliery proprietors until, on 19 September 1896, it was sold to The Liverpool Lighterage Company Ltd.

The ROBERT's long service finally ended in 1920 when it was sunk at Northwich (as noted on the LIverpool shipping register entry shown above). Throughout its 89 years, the vessel was probably a frequent visitor to Conwy with goods and coal.

Despite obviously surviving the Royal Charter Gale, the ROBERT's shipping register documentation notes that the sloop's tonnage was remeasured at Beaumaris in January 1860 - perhaps as a result of having to undergo quite an extensive repair as a result of being driven ashore at Conwy in October 1859.

Sources include:
Mercantile Navy List 1858
Port of Liverpool Shipping Register, transactions on microfilm - 36 in 1831, 100 in 1836, 242 in 1846
Port of Liverpool Shipping Register Transactions Register Book 4, folio 188
Wynne-Jones, I, 2001, Shipwrecks of North Wales, 4 ed, pg99

What important function did the Liverpool Lighterage Company perform within the port of Liverpool?

On which river and canal systems did the vessel type 'Mersey Flat; develop, before also being used in coastal trade? What was special about its construction and dimensions?

The ownership of the ROBERT includes reference to the point of law which transferred all a woman's property to her husband on marriage. When did the law change in the UK?