Snowdrop

Completed July 1873; Official No. 67541; Code Letters MCDK.

Owners: 1873 Cory, Lohden & Co. West Hartlepool; 1882 E. Cory & Co. West Hartlepool; 1886 Jackson Bros & Cory (London) West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1873-77 J Clark; 1878-81 Watson; 1881-83 Kerrison; 1884-86 Robert Vickers (CN.30564 Newcastle 1867); 1886 James Dennison.

Snowdrop left the Tyne on 4 December 1886 on a voyage to Kingstown, Ireland with a cargo of coal & a crew of 15. She was last seen passing Dover by the steamer Bedlington on 6 December 1886 & was not heard from again. It was believed that she had foundered in severe gales that blew up around the time she disappeared. She was posted as missing by Lloyds on 14 January 1887. Her original value was about £14,000 but she was only insured for about half that amount.

On 30 December 1886 the body of Rogers, chief engineer, washed up at Dimeux, Bordeaux. He was identified by documents from his pocket.

On 21 February 1887 a concert took place at the Armoury in West Hartlepool with the profits to provide assistance for the widow & family of William Charlton.

The master, Dennison, left a widow who, along with three of their children, appear to have ended up in Hartlepool Workhouse.

In August 2009 a diver found the wreck of Snowdrop in the North Sea off the coast from Weymouth & recovered the ship’s bell & other artefacts.

Lives lost December 1886:

Charlton, William, 2nd engineer, Surtees St, West Hartlepool

Denham, A, able seaman, Dene St, West Hartlepool

Dennison, James, master, West Hartlepool

Gibbon, J, fireman, Fawcett St, West Hartlepool

Pearson, (two brothers), West Hartlepool

Rogers, WA, chief engineer (b. Swansea) John St, West Hartlepool

Ullstrom, Charles, 30, Shields (husband of Mary Jane)

Winter, William, 43, Shields (husband of Sarah)