Wooden schooner built John Stephens, Truro, 1859
59.86gt; 64.2ft length x 19.4ft breadth x 8.7ft depth in hold; 1 deck, 2 mast,
rigging schooner, standing bowsprit, stern square, built carvel, head female bust,
framework wood; ON 18461.
Registered Chester from 1872 with majority owner Richard Ferguson of Connah's Quay.
Voyage Wexford to Connah's Quay in ballast
Lost on West Hoyle Bank on 7 October 1889 in wind N force 11.
Location near Welshman's Gut on East side of West Hoyle Bank.
Captain Charles Roscoe and 2 crew drowned.
From Lloyd's List, Saturday 19 October 1889:
Report of Richard Ferguson, managing owner of the schooner Primus, of Chester, 60 tons, from Wexford, Oct. 6, a.m., for Connah's Quay, in Flint: Proceeded, and was not heard of until found wrecked on West Hoyle Bank. On or about the 7th, 1 a.m., weather very stormy, wind W. to N., blowing a hurricane, vessel is supposed to have struck on West Hoyle Bank and capsized during the gale, and all the crew were lost. On Wednesday, the vessel was found, bottom up, on the east side of West Hoyle, near the Welshman's Gut. Employed fishermen to endeavour to save the vessel. They returned and reported that the vessel had turned upright, and that she had opened, also that deck and spars had washed away, and vessel become a total wreck. With reference to the crew, I had no positive informatiom from the master as to the number, as he engaged and paid the crew himself. Connah's Quay, Oct. 14.
From Cheshire Observer, Saturday 12 October 1889.
PARKGATE. THE STORM: GREAT DESTRUCTION OF FISHING BOATS.
The storm of Monday morning [7th October 1889] last was severely
felt along the Cheshire coast, and the full force of the gale must have fallen
upon Parkgate. In the early hours of the morning the inhabitants were roused
by the tempestuous blast which swept across the Estuary, and the fishing
community were soon astir to prepare for the forthcoming onslaught upon their
little fishing fleet. It was anticipated that the incoming tide and gale
combined would severely try the moorings of the little craft, and every
precaution was taken to enable them to ride out the storm. ....
When the tide went down and the storm abated somewhat it was found that 23
boats were either beaten to pieces or shattered beyond hope of repair....
BODY FOUND IN THE DEE. About six a.m. on Thursday, three Parkgate fishermen named John Mealor, John Smith, and John McMahon found the body of a man washed ashore near the West Hoyle Bank, and conveyed it to the Sawyer Arms, Parkgate, where an inquest was held on the body yesterday (Friday) by Mr H. Churton, county coroner. The body had apparently been in the water two or three days. The sum of 12s 6d was found in a purse in the pockets. It has since been identified [but see later] as the body of Charles Roscoe, captain of the ill-fated schooner "The Primus," of Chester, lost with all hands off West Hoyle during the late gale. "The Primus" was bound for Connah's Quay. Parts of the wreck have come ashore, the figure-head and punt, the latter bottom upwards. Captain Roscoe was formerly in the service of the Hon. H. Holbrook, of Parkgate, and married a daughter of Mr Campion, of Parkgate, and lived at Connah's Quay.
From Charles Roscoe of Neston by Anthony Annakin-Smith:
This source states that the crew included a young man, Thomas Hughes, whose body was found at Hoylake, and an older man whose body may have been that reported (above) in the newspaper as found by 3 fishermen. The body of the master, Charles Roscoe, was found in December at Thurstaston.
A gravestone in Neston churchyard records "In Affectionate Remembrance of my dearly beloved husband CHARLES ROSCOE who lost his life at sea Oct: 7th 1889 aged 34 years" with an image of a schooner above.
The Primus as depicted on Charles Roscoe's gravestone: