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   S.S. Stella Disaster: Introduction: The Story: The Lifeboats Maximize 
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From Brenda Taylor  20 September 2009
Re Stella Disaster
I would be so pleased if you could enlighten me. In some old paper documents from my deceased parents, we have found a certificate from the British Key and Property Registry Ltd. It states that £2,500 (cashed) was paid to the representatives of PH Davies, GH Eldridge, Arthur Thompson, Frederick Agnew, and RH Moon. in payment of claims in connection with the disaster. We are a Wiltshire based family, but I cannot remember this event ever being mentioned by anyone, and none of the names is familiar, so I can't think how this document came to us. I wonder if you have any thoughts on the matter, so that I can start searching for a connection.
Regards Brenda Taylor

Dear Brenda,
That's fascinating
, and many thanks for the information.  The 5 people mentioned drowned as a result of the SS Stella disaster. One can assume £500 was paid out for each death.  Five hundred pounds was a considerable sum of money in those days, when workers earned around £1 per week. Although, at the time, the difference between rich and poor was enormous. On the surface it sounds like insurance payouts.  Is it possible that one of your family had a connection with the British Key and Property Registry Ltd?
Best regards,
Jake

 From Richard Plummer 03 November 2009
I am a great-grandson of William Plummer who was a passenger who drowned on this ship. No one in the family is sure why he was travelling on this ship and whether he was travelling alone. I am interested to know if anyone else has come across his name in their own research. I notice that Marco from Spain contacted you in 2003 about William Plummer. I was wondering if you are still in contact with him, and if you could put him in touch with me.
Yours, Richard Plummer

Dear Richard,
Thank you for your email.  It's wonderful to make contact with the great-grandson of William Plummer. Unfortunately, I no longer have Marco's email address. However, let's hope somebody out there can throw some light this.
Best regards,
Jake

 

From Brenda Taylor  20 September 2009
Re Stella Disaster
I would be so pleased if you could enlighten me. In some old paper documents from my deceased parents, we have found a certificate from the British Key and Property Registry Ltd. It states that £2,500 (cashed) was paid to the representatives of PH Davies, GH Eldridge, Arthur Thompson, Frederick Agnew, and RH Moon. in payment of claims in connection with the disaster. We are a Wiltshire based family, but I cannot remember this event ever being mentioned by anyone, and none of the names is familiar, so I can't think how this document came to us. I wonder if you have any thoughts on the matter, so that I can start searching for a connection.
Regards Brenda Taylor

Dear Brenda,
That's fascinating
, and many thanks for the information.  The 5 people mentioned drowned as a result of the SS Stella disaster. One can assume £500 was paid out for each death.  Five hundred pounds was a considerable sum of money in those days, when workers earned around £1 per week. Although, at the time, the difference between rich and poor was enormous. On the surface it sounds like insurance payouts.  Is it possible that one of your family had a connection with the British Key and Property Registry Ltd?
Best regards,
Jake

 From Richard Plummer 03 November 2009
I am a great-grandson of William Plummer who was a passenger who drowned on this ship. No one in the family is sure why he was travelling on this ship and whether he was travelling alone. I am interested to know if anyone else has come across his name in their own research. I notice that Marco from Spain contacted you in 2003 about William Plummer. I was wondering if you are still in contact with him, and if you could put him in touch with me.
Yours, Richard Plummer

Dear Richard,
Thank you for your email.  It's wonderful to make contact with the great-grandson of William Plummer. Unfortunately, I no longer have Marco's email address. However, let's hope somebody out there can throw some light this.
Best regards,
Jake

 
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Dear Jake,

Thanks for your talk on the SS Stella the other day; it was well worth listening to.  I do agree that to understand historical events you sometimes have to try to look at it from the values and circumstances of the time.  This is especially true of this shipwreck and the part played by Mary Ann Rogers.  They needed a heroine to ease the pain of such a tragedy that perhaps could have been avoided with a little more care.

My great-grandfather, John Allen, drowned when the cross channel vessel 'Normandy' sank in 1870; which is one of the reasons that I have been interested in the 'Stella'.

I hope I'm not telling you something that you already know, but I think it is likely that Ada Preston and Mary Rogers had known each other for some time, as they lived nearby when the Preston family were at 74 Derby Road, (1891+) before moving to 37 Radcliffe Road.  This may have been part of the reason that Ada was recruited for the crew.  They probably accompanied each other to the ship on that day.  Incidentally, Captain Reeks lived about two minutes walk away, round the corner from Mary Ann Rodgers in Oxford Avenue.  Charles Reeks who I'm pretty sure is his brother and who also worked for the L&SWR, lived almost opposite Mary Rodgers at 68 Clovelly Road has gone.  The name of Frome Cottage (no 45 Clovelly Road) may have been painted over; I wish I could scrape it away to make sure!

Yours Sincerely

Maurice Allen

Cpt Reeks Home; 23 Oxford Ave
Rogers' Home: 45 Clovelly Rd
Preston Home: 37 Radcliffe Rd

Dear Jake,

Thanks for your talk on the SS Stella the other day; it was well worth listening to.  I do agree that to understand historical events you sometimes have to try to look at it from the values and circumstances of the time.  This is especially true of this shipwreck and the part played by Mary Ann Rogers.  They needed a heroine to ease the pain of such a tragedy that perhaps could have been avoided with a little more care.

My great-grandfather, John Allen, drowned when the cross channel vessel 'Normandy' sank in 1870; which is one of the reasons that I have been interested in the 'Stella'.

I hope I'm not telling you something that you already know, but I think it is likely that Ada Preston and Mary Rogers had known each other for some time, as they lived nearby when the Preston family were at 74 Derby Road, (1891+) before moving to 37 Radcliffe Road.  This may have been part of the reason that Ada was recruited for the crew.  They probably accompanied each other to the ship on that day.  Incidentally, Captain Reeks lived about two minutes walk away, round the corner from Mary Ann Rodgers in Oxford Avenue.  Charles Reeks who I'm pretty sure is his brother and who also worked for the L&SWR, lived almost opposite Mary Rodgers at 68 Clovelly Road has gone.  The name of Frome Cottage (no 45 Clovelly Road) may have been painted over; I wish I could scrape it away to make sure!

Yours Sincerely

Maurice Allen

Cpt Reeks Home; 23 Oxford Ave
Rogers' Home: 45 Clovelly Rd
Preston Home: 37 Radcliffe Rd

   
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