Edward Rawle

          The Rawle family originated from North Cornwall. Edward Rawle was born on 3rd January 1821 at Minster, Cornwall, the son of William Rawle. His uncle, Philip Rawle, was a part owner of the 'John' as was his cousin, also Philip Rawle. Edward married Tabitha Cowling at St Kew on 27th February 1849.

          Philip Rawle built two small vessels in 1843-4 and Charles Rawle built 10 vessels between 1875 and 1901. Charles Rawle owned several vessels in the period 1880-96 and Edward Rawle owned the smack 'Pet' in 1859 when she was lost.

          At the time of the sailing of the 'John', The following details appeared in advertisements in the local newspapers;
 

advert EMIGRATION TO CANADA and the UNITED STATES of AMERICA via Quebec from PLYMOUTH by JAMES B WILLCOCKS'S celebrated LINE of PASSENGER SHIPS.
The following fine, first-class fast sailing, well known Passenger Ships will be dispatched as follows:-
Ship's name Comm. Tons
berthen 		Port of
destination 		To sail from
Plymouth
JOHN Edward RAWLE 900 Quebec 3rd April
ORIENTAL Henry TOM 1200 Quebec 10th April
SIAM Chas RAWLE 1200 Quebec 17th April
CLIO Wm SYMONS 600 Quebec 19th April
These ships are first class, have great height between decks and every improvement which long experience suggests will be introduced to secure comfort to the Passengers. They are under inspection of Her Majesty's Emigration Officer. Provisions of the first quality - Passage money moderate. First class cabin passengers will find unusually good accommodation in their commodious Poops . - For particulars, apply to Mr. JAMES B WILLCOCKS, Agent for Emigration, Barbican, Plymouth.

 
Rawle and Co were also listed as owners of the 'Clio', built in 1838 at Nova Scotia. She was built of black birch, pine and oak and was registered on completion at St. John, Newfoundland, as a three masted barque. A few months later she was sold to Avery, the well-established Padstow merchant. In some ways she marks the zenith of Padstow shipping. A brand new deep water square rigger owned by Padstow, trading from Padstow to Quebec and other North American ports, taking substantial numbers of emigrants and returning with prime timber for Padstow's expanding shipyards. Rawle took over from Avery in 1845, until 1850 when the Doom Bar persuaded her owners that she was too big for Padstow. She carried on as a Quebec trader, but sailing from Falmouth, Plymouth and even Gloucester. Rawle & Co remained the owners.

          In 1865 J.Moore of Stonehouse, Devon, was her owner, and her register ends with the note "Abandoned at Sea, 3rd July 1866".

          Other part owners of the John were listed as;
         Thomas HAM of 10 Prospect Street, Plymouth
         William WILLIAMS, Draper, of Padstow
         Philip RAWLE the Elder of Boscastle, ship owner of 2 Gibbon Street, Plymouth
         Philip Rawle the Younger, ship owner of 37 Gibbon Street, Plymouth
         Robert Williams AVERY, ship owner, of 3 Charles Place, Plymouth
         James MOORE of Boscastle, merchant clerk, of Richmond Walk, Devonport

          It is of interest that the masters of the four ships appearing the advertisement all appear to be joint owners of the 'John'. It is likely that, between them, they owned all of these, and possibly other, ships.

         
One wonders how Edward Rawle felt whilst imprisoned in Bodmin Gaol. A very bleak place, perhaps with bleak prospects for a man who had only married 6 years previously. He had a small child, Edward Buckley Rawle, aged only 2.
It is known that he continued to live in Plymouth.
In the census of 1881, now aged 60, he is living with Tabitha, a son and a daughter, at 7 Hoe Street, Plymouth. He is described as a 'Master Mariner'.
 
  Right: Bodmin Gaol (est. 1776)


Acknowlegements: Special thanks to Captain G.A HOGG of the Cornwall Maritime Museum for his valuable information on the Rawles and the 'Clio', and Mick Rawle for the family information.

  Bodmin Gaol


 
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