The Riseover & Other Ships
research begun 30 March 2023
Newfoundland page here
The 'Riseover’ was an 81 tonne wooden sailing schooner built in Lunenberg Nova Scotia registered in St John NFL 1890 . It was off Musgrave Harbour in Nov. 19, 1911, when Captain William Pomeroy realised that his schooner was sinking. He hastily made a raft out of the lumber on its deck .
They were hardly any distance from the sinking ‘Riseover’, when the raft split ‘in two’, leaving Archibald Spracklin and John Pomeroy on one part, and William Pomeroy, James Pomeroy, William Jones and William Piercy on the other .........
The rest of the story here
The Ballad of the Riseover Lyrics -
& on youtude video
The Rise Over Disaster - The Pomeroy’s story
On the 19th November 1911 during a voyage carrying timber, the schooner named “Rise Over” was lost in heavy seas off the coast of Mustgrave Harbour, when she hit a rock. On board the ship amongst the other crew were 3 brothers who were sons of captain George Pomeroy (1853) and his wife Susanna Percy :
William Pomeroy (born in Brigus in March1881) - the captain of the Rise Over on that fateful day.
James Pomeroy (born in Brigus in June 1878) – who’s wife was Annie Percy.
John Pomeroy (born in Brigus in December 1891)
Also on board was James Archibald Spracklin, (born in Brigus 7th May 1883 to James and Emily Spracklin). who had married Ethel Pomeroy in Brigus on 27 April 1907 and who was also the daughter of George and Susanna.
James Spracklin, otherwise known as “Archibald” was therefore the brother in law of William, James and John Pomeroy. He and Ethel had three children, a son named Clinton and daughters Mona and Gwendoline.
Sadly despite the crews heroic attempts build a raft, the ship “Rise Over” was lost and John Pomeroy and Archibald Spracklin were drowned. The official death records show John was aged 20 and Archibald aged 25, however he must have been actually 28. In the 1921 Brigus census, Ethel is a widow, living with her father in law James and the 3 children.
April 2023
In the will of William Pomeroy born 1817 the ship "S.E. Seal" is written in the transcript on the Grand Banks website.
JEP found "S.E." isn't a prefix like SS or SY and William didn't own a ship called "Seal". He did own a schooner called "Samuel E. Teel"
No. 46497, 48 tons, built in Broad Cove,N.S.registered to William Pomeroy in 1865. So the transcript or the will must be wrong.
Son George inherited the "Teel" but JEP not found much trace of it. But Captain George did own the Rise Over and it was passed it to his sons called "Pomeroy Bros" shown in the various St. Johns newspaper adverts and reports. The members were: William, John, James, Frederick. They were all recorded as Fisherman but later as Mariners. They shipped goods and provisions and sometimes people between the coastal ports of Newfoundland and Labrador. Maybe more fishing trade in the summer and coastal trade in the winter as the Riseover sank in November.
For "Pomeroy Bros" (maybe other too?) Schr Riseover 85349, 81 tons, built 1883 Nova Scotia, Lost in 1911 at Mustgrave Harbour, Owner George Pomeroy, Captain was William in 1911 Recorded in 1921, Schr Ellen L. Maxner 107127 93 tons built 1899, Owner James Pomeroy, Captain William Pomeroy.
An interesting story is Abel Pomeroy born in 1857 in Catalina, son of George (1816) and Elizabeth Skeffington. He had two wives and 12 children. In 1911 was living in St. Johns at No.7 Young Street to be precise. First found him on the Schooner Mermaid but later was Bosun or Boatswain on the S.Y. Aurora in 1911 and the S.S. Seal in 1921. I have the crew assignments for both the Aurora and the Seal (see parts of attached of 12 pages each)
For Abel Pomeroy
Schr Mermaid 95632, St. Johns 1889, 78 tons - Henry C. Goodridge.
SY Aurora 75196, 386 tons, built Dundee 1894, - St. Johns Booking & Sons
SS Seal 129556, 277 tons, built 1911, Glasgow, - St. Johns, Walter Bains Grieve (Seal Steamship Co.)
It must have been the last trip of the Aurora as a Newfoundland Whaler as she was sold later in 1911 to John King Davies for exploration in the Antarctic with Douglas Mawson. Then later sold again to Ernest Shackleton as a supply ship for his polar expedition.
See the full story here :
https://www.sea.museum/2017/06/20/a-poignant-remnant-from-the-plucky-little-ship-aurora
Also good related background info here :
https://www.waughfamily.ca/Russell/sealfishery.htm
For the SS Seal, I've found no picture of the ship but the details are here :
An excellent write up about the NFL fishing industry here
Abel Pomery son of George Bb 1857 Catalina; died 1928
