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- James Morgan was born in 1843. In 1851, at the tender age of eight, he signed on as boy in my grandfather's "Sarah". Brief Glory p 194.
James Morgan commanded six schooners:- Francis Poole, Jane Sophia, Seven Brothers (1870-1875), Meirion Lass, Dewi Lass, John Stonard.
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, CountyCork. 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.
From the 1881 Census (RG11 Piece 2348 Folio 201 Page 8) James, 40, was the Master of the 99 Ton Schooner "Dewi Lass" (No. 42589) at Mounts Bay, Penzance, Cornwall, England. Aboard the vessel with him were John Evans, 60, Mate, from Bangor, Caernarvon, Wales, John Eynth, 20, Ordinary Seaman, from St Davids, Pembroke, Wales, John Morris, 20, Ordinary Seaman, from Towyn, Merionethshire, Wales and Edward Owen, 18, Ordinary Seaman, from Aberdovey, Merionethshire, Wales.
From the 1891 Census (RG12 Piece 4587 Folio 46 Page 6) James, 50, a Master Mariner, was living with his wife Ann, 56, at 6 New Street, Aberdovey, Merionethshire, Wales. With them were his Mother-in-Law, Ann, 82, their children Annie E, 21, a Dressmaker, John J(ames), 18, a Grocer, David W(illiam), 13, a Scholar and their nephew David J(ohn) Williams, 18, a Sailor.
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