Died at Sea

[syd]

I have a relative that died at sea 1895. He was the Captain on board SS Snowdrop, one the first ships to leave the new Manchester docks after Queen Victoria opened them..Does anyone know what sort of vessel this was or better still how to find out where and when it went down. It has been passed down by word of mouth for many a generation but I've never actually seen any info in black and white yet.

[Colin D Gronow]

The McLean Art Gallery has a Monochrome print on paper showing view of ss Snowdrop, possibly off Seacombe, Cheshire. Steamer with two tier decks. Inscribed in pencil 'Snowdrop' & Priestley & Sons Limtd'
Cat.P3090.

Contact Details:
15 Kelly Street,
Greenock  PA16 8JX
Tel: 01475 715624
Fax: 01475 715626
Email: museum[at]inverclyde.gov.uk

Moderator comment: email address modified to prevent spamming and other abuses - please change the @ to [at] when posting public email addresses.  Private emails should not be posted

[Colin D Gronow]

See also
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C06EFDE1F39E033A25751C0A9679C94659ED7CF

The only other thing I could find was:

James Polley was the captain of the first ship, SS Snowdrop, to sail up the new Manchester Ship Canal, on January 1st 1894. The ship a 300 ton twin screw belonging to Wallasey Local Board was lost at sea with all hands in 1895. The captains name was missquoted as James Potter

[syd]

Thank you so much for the info, have sent a message to museum and that clipping from the times is brilliant. Just need to find out where it went down now, if infact thats known. It would fantastic if I could find out if he sailed on a regular route or at least know where he went from and to, which is also doubtful. Anyway thanks again just taking a copy of paper around to show my Father.

[leighton]

Hello syd,

There are some photographs of a ship called Snowdrop at this site. I don't know if it is the one you are looking for.

http://www.photoship.co.uk/Search%20Links%20Ship/

Of course there was more than one ship called Snowdrop. Here is a list
1873  SNOWDROP  685 tons   Cory Lohden & Co 
1884  SNOWDROP  634 tons   J.Tedford & Co 
1885  SNOWDROP  300 tons   Wallasey Council 
1902  SNOWDROP  208 tons     
1910  SNOWDROP  439 tons   Wallasey Council 

leighton

[scar]

hi syd sent a message hope u got it. if not here goes again. what i saw on your message that you wanted to know were the storm was. The storm i believe was in the north sea and there was about 14/5 ships that was affected, one which was called the mispah which my g/grandad was on. The storm happened in december in the year of 1894/5 which happened to be when my grandad was born so he never saw his father. hope this was of help if not hope it was intresting. If you want to know more about the storm and loss of lives the hull daily mail covered it quite well.

   yours
   
   BRIAN WHITHAM

[andycand]

Hi

The SS Snowdrop was a Mersey Ferry boat and sailed across the River Mersey between Wallasey and Liverpool. The Wallasey ferries were all named after flowers.  Its very likely she was still a ferry boat when she was the first ship up the Manchester Ship Canal no doubt carrying all the dignitaries. I think that Mersey Ferries still run cruises up the canal. 

I can't find a reference to her sinking whilst a ferry so its possible she was sold. Perhaps someone with more detailed knowledge of Mersey Ferries would be able to advise as to her fate.

Andy