Ovapedia search :

On the night of the 9th October 1858, a small coal laden sloop was wreaked near Giltar Head, Tenby, off the coast of South Wales.  Two bodies were recovered along with bits of the vessel; at the time it was assumed that the boat and crew were local. (3) 

Swansea 10 October: It blew a heavy gale last night from SSW but shifted to the W this morning and moderated. (2)

In a pocket on one of the bodies was found a letter, dated 2nd October from a Mrs E Rolins to her husband Thomas, who was supposedly a passenger. (1)

It was then reported from Tenby 14th October: A small boat painted lead colour inside with the name “Perseverance of Plymouth, William Southcombe”, had been picked up from nearby Caldy Island. (4)

During the next few days the sorry story emerged.  The boat was owned by John and Jacob Skinner, Farmers of Otterton.  They had purchased it earlier in the year from William Bucknell of Exmouth, Boatbuilder, who had just bought it from John Holson Bootyman a master Mariner from Plymouth. (6)

The Perserverance, built at St Michaels Mount, Cornwall in 1816 as a Smake, was first registered at Penzance in 1819.  It was then converted to a sloop and re-registered at Penzance in 1824.  The registration was then transferred to Plymouth from Penzance in 1857.  (5)

The Skinner brothers had recently opened the old Lime Kilns at Ladram Bay and the boat had been purchased to bring limestone and culm directly from Wales.  Unfortunately the boat was not as seaworthy as it could have been and it was reported that the crew frequently had to pump hard to keep afloat. (6)

About three weeks earlier the men had left for the trip to Newport for culm and reached that port in safety, though the weather had been stormy.  The load was taken in, and the return trip commenced on Tuesday, the 5th October (6)

The crew employed by the Skinners were:

William Southcombe the master, aged about 33 at the time of his death. The 1861 Census shows his wife Mary Ann, aged 38, daughter Keturah, 12, son John aged 8 and younger daughter Ellen aged 4, had remained in Otterton after his death. (7) 

John May a Mariner, was a widower aged 42, he had lost his wife Hannah previously, and a son and daughter in infancy.  He left at home his daughters Mary Jane, aged about 17 and Frances, aged about 13, when he sailed for Wales (7)

The other crew member was not named Rolins as was reported but Thomas Robins, a carpenter then aged 24; he had married his wife Eliza, at Otterton, on 7 July the previous year.  Their daughter Rosa was baptised on the 21st October, it would seem that she may have been born after Thomas set sail – perhaps the letter in his pocket contained the news of her birth.  The 1861 Census shows Rosa living at Otterton with her grandparents Richard and Ann Hitt, but her mother had entered service and is shown working as a housemaid at Vale Place, Fulham, London. (7) 

A subscription was set up for the bereaved families by the Rev. Mr. Coldridge, the curate of the parish, Mr. Pullen, surgeon, and Mr. Carter, the Poor-law guardian. (6)

Written and local research by Roz Hickman © 2013

All research of the wreak remains in the copywrite of Colin Hicks - Plymouth

(1)The Liverpool Mercury

(2)Lloyd’s list number 13891

(3)Lloyd’s list number 13893

(4)Lloyd’s list number 13895

(5)Ships Register no: 5668

(6)Trewman’s Exeter Flying-Post of Thursday 21 October 1858

(7)Otterton Parish Registers

OT-G-00019 156 any