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MEAD Family & the RCYC

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Mead family motto

LEL YN-KEVER KERNOW

"Faithful to Cornwall"

James Mead Sen.

(1807-1882)

Major John Mead

(1841-1915)

James Mead Sen. (1807-1882)

Born Redruth, the youngest son of Simon and Mary, James married Lavinia Gundry of Bosworgie House, St. Erth in 1836.

Lavinia was from a family of bankers and merchants in Cornwall, and a sister to Thomas Gundry the famous Cornish wrestler, "Bal"Captain (of a group of tin mines) and merchant. James Mead Sen. was a merchant at Redruth who moved to Penryn in 1840, then an important and prosperous town. With his brothers Joseph and John Mead, he established a flour and paper mill, and also a factory at Ponsanooth for the manufacture of gunpowder, for use in the Cornish mines, and elsewhere.

Lakes Guide (1869): At the bottom of Penryn, bordering on the quays are the extensive granite works of Messrs. Freeman. The very tedious process of polishing granite is here effected by steam power. The Straw Paper manufactory of Messrs. Mead is also near the waterside, many of the cheap periodicals of the metropolis are printed on paper manufactured at this establishment.

He and his brother Joseph H. Mead, were the owners of the old original Gas Works. [In Falmouth]

He lived in one of the houses in the Square at Penryn, and moved to Falmouth in the late 1880's. He died on 14 December 1882, in his 72nd year, at 2 Tehidy Terrace, Falmouth. By his will, he left £6,042. His widow, Lavinia died 2 December, 1886, Aged 75, at 2 Tehidy Terrace. They had nine children, [including]

A postcard (cropped) view of Falmouth Harbour with ships displaying 'Bunting' -apparently before the GAS WORKS were established, and,

certainly before Prince of Wales Pier was extended.

(2) James Mead Jun. (1838-1904), born Redruth; On leaving school he assisted his father running the mills at Penryn, later joined by his brothers Thomas & John.

Kelly's Directory of Cornwall for 1893 - Paper Manufacturers included;

Carnon Chemical Works [W. J. Trythall (prop), Bissoe, Perranwell Station R.S.O. and,

James Meade (sic), Commercial Road, Penryn.

One of James's main interests in his life was his yacht Buttercup, coupled with a fine taste in old claret.

He died unmarried on 10 September 1904, aged 66, at 27 Green Bank Terrace, Falmouth, and was buried in the family vault at St. Gluvias. [Mead p.15]

(3) Thomas Gundry Mead J. P. (1840-1915); Born in Penryn, baptised at St. Erth. John did not care to be a merchant, and sold his share in the mills to James, who became sole proprietor. (Unfortunately, the mills burnt down in the late 1880's.)

His father and uncle put him in charge of the old Falmouth Gas Works.

Later he was offered a post in China in conjunction with the formation of a Gas Company, and went to Shanghai in 1866, becoming the chief engineer and original manager of the Shanghai Gas Company, Ltd., aged 26. He made a considerable amount of money in China, resigned from the company in June 1873, and returned to Cornwall, aged 31, and a comparatively wealthy man.

He married on 1 October, 1874, Charlotte, daughter of James Cumming Young, a well-known Falmouth solicitor. He lost money invested in business ventures, but, fortunately, property he invested in London and Falmouth enabled him to live in Victorian comfort.

He was a Magistrate, and in politics, like all the Mead family, an ardent Liberal.

FP 16/10/1897: Sale by Auction 5 Grove Place ( By the executors of the late General John Tilly, C. B.)

Borough of Falmouth, Penwerris Ward, Thos. G. Mead, 3 Stratton Place [offers himself as candidate]

He died suddenly at Falmouth in 1915 from a heart attack, aged 76. His wife "Lottie" died at Falmouth on 8 March, 1937, aged 86.

Their second daughter, Hilda Mead (born 1877) (in 1941) lived at 6 Green Bank Terrace, Falmouth (unmarried) and was secretary of the Falmouth Women's Association for many years. [Can one assume 6 Green Bank Terrace was T.G.Mead's home address?]

The youngest daughter, Dorothy Mead (born 1887) married twice; first in 1909 to Norman, son of George Lanyon of Falmouth. He was a very successful breeder of cattle i the Argentine, but drowned during the Great War [WW1], when the ship he was returning to England in was torpedoed. In 1933, she married Captain Herman Scott-Wilcox, M. C., of the Royal Marines, (later serving in the Air Force). "Dorothy is a very keen yachtswoman, and, like her brother Cumming Mead (born 1878), is an expert in the handling of a racing dinghy. She resides in Flushing, near Falmouth."

(4) Major John Mead J.P. (1841-1915); Born in the Square, Penryn, he married on 8 July 1868, Elizabeth Harvey West, only daughter of Captain John and Mary West, of Foundry House, Hayle. His sister, Helen Mead (1845-1931) married, in 1867, Nicholas James West, M.I.M.E., brother of Elizabeth Harvey Mead (nee West).

He quickly established a position among the chief men of commerce in Cornwall. In 1869, he became a member of Penryn Town Council and, during his term of office, was instrumental in purchasing from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners the bulk of the property now owned by the Penryn Corporation, for £9,500. He lived at Newcombe's House, Broad Street, Penryn, but, shortly after the death of his wife in 1872, he moved to Stratton Terrace, Falmouth. [He became a J.P. for Penryn in 1873, and for the county of Cornwall in 1908.]

In 1882, after he had moved to Falmouth, the War Office decided to form a volunteer unit of the Royal Engineer Submarine Miners, for the defense of the harbour. He was asked to raise and command this new unit, which he did, with the rank of Major. He retired in 1896 on reaching the age limit of 55. It was while he held command [1882-1896] that the Submarine Establishment and Pier were erected; this became the R. E. Barracks, near Arwenack Manor.

He was a director of Harvey & Co., Hayle, in which his wife's family held a large interest, and made several journey's to South Africa on the firm's behalf. He held considerable interests in mining and shipping, and owned the foreshore and adjacent land from Boyers cellars to the site of the (then) present Green Bank Laundry., which was 'recently' sold to Coastlines Ltd. He also owned extensive oyster beds in Falmouth harbour, and exported millions of oysters yearly to the Continent."

FP14/3/1896: County Court - on Thursday before his Honour Judge Granger;

John Mead, oyster merchant, Green Bank, sued Edward de Leef, 56, Bank Side London, for £13. 2s. 6d., the value of 5,250 oysters.

Defendant did not appear. A verdict was given for the plaintiff with costs.

He was also the proprietor of the "Cornish Echo" Newspaper and Printing Company, and the ferry between Falmouth and Flushing. He was Chairman of the Falmouth Gas Company, which his father and uncle had previously owned, and also of the Cornish Hotels Co., of the Liskeard Hotel Co.,, the Royal Hotel Company, Falmouth, of Webb's Hotel, Liskeard, and of the old Falmouth Golf Course.

He was very fond of the sea, and was a keen and capable yachtsman, and from 1885-1893 he won many racing successes with his 15-ton cutter Osprey.

He then owned the Bonnie Doon, of 32-tons, and later the Karenza, and finally the Ailsie, which he retained until his death. He went every year to Cowes regatta in Ailsie.

In 1893, Major John Mead sold Osprey before the season started to the Rear-Commodore of the Royal Western of England (Lt. Gen. H. F. Williams) and purchased Bonnie Doon, a 35-ton yawl designed and built by Fife of Fairlie, and was, according to the author's father, one of the most graceful Yachts in the port at that time. Major Mead never raced her locally but took her up-Channel year after year, for the pleasure of witnessing Cowes Week.

In 1898, Major John Mead, J.P., became Commodore, and H.S. Tuke, A.R.A., Vice-Commodore of the new Falmouth Sailing Club.... [Mead, p.195]

W. H. Lean and Major John Mead had joined the Falmouth Sailing Club, James Mead had resigned and transferred his allegiance to the F.S.C., together with several others. Despite what must have been a difficult atmosphere, both clubs broached the subject of sharing premises and reciprocal membership. John Mead, in particular, wanted to promote "the first duty of these clubs, yacht and boat-racing, which had been allowed to dwindle into an insignificance altogether unbecoming a port possessing such natural qualifications for the sport." [Mead, p.72]

FP Sat. 23/4/1898: Falmouth Harbour Board. A Clergyman's Threat.

A letter from the Board of Trade was read concerning the bye-laws, enclosing a copy of their reply to the Rev. F. F. Savage, Vicar of Flushing, as to the licensing of boats belonging to Mr. John Mead. (extract) "if any unlicensed boatman plies for hire within the jurisdiction of the harbour Commissioners in a boat not duly licensed, he is liable to a penalty provided for in bye-law 36."

Mr. Pearce thought Mr. Mead ought to be asked to attend. The letters were referred to the Harbour Committee.

FP 14/5/1898: The Oyster Industry.

It was reported by the Oyster and Mussel Fishery Committee that 78 licenses had been taken out at a cost of £68 4s.

The committee recommended that the lower part of the Vilt from Whitehouse Point and the outer edge be cleaned up and the cultch deposited on the west bank from Mylor Point to Trefusis Point. It was proposed to spend a sum not exceeding £50 on the work, £40 for cleaning , and £10 for oysters to be deposited on the Vilt. Mr. Mead moved, and Mr. Walton seconded the adoption of the report, and in reply to Mr. Bowles, the Town Clerk said that every penny received from the dredgermen must be applied to the fisheries. It was on the unanimous request of the fishermen that the committee recommended the cleaning of the Vilt.

FP 21/5/1898: Falmouth Harbour Board. Commissioners held their monthly meeting.

Mr. Truscott, the Town Clerk, said that the Harbour Committee were in communication with Mr. John Mead with reference to the licensing of his ferry boats.

Major John Mead inherited from his father a great love for horses, and kept a stud of thoroughbreds.

His success in the show yard with Hackneys in harness in hand was phenomenal.

His stables were near the old quarry close to the back of Penwerris Church, where he built a riding school and taught his children to ride. The late Jimmy Willimas used to arrive with the 'pair' opposite "Sunrise" on Green Bank Terrace [actually 7, Dunstanville Terrace "it used to be covered with creeper" (Mead p. 20) punctually at 2 pm; At 4 pm he would return to find the groom waiting to take the carriage back to the stables. ... In 1913, on the advice of his doctor, he gave up driving, and bought a large Maudsley motor car, but he derived little from seeing the countryside from behind his chauffeur. He died at Sunrise, Dunstanville, on 20 February 1915, aged 73, and was buried at the family vault at St. Gluvias. By his Will, he left £13,134.

He had two children by his first marriage,

(1) John Haarlem Mermeer ("Harley") Mead, born Penryn on 2 August 1870, [died 1952, see below]

(2) Ailsie Ivey Mead, born Penryn 22 August, 1871.

In 1878 Major John Mead married his second wife, Josephine, daughter of John Plomer Dunning, J.P., a prosperous tradesman. She died in 1902, at Sunrise, Green Bank, aged 45. There were four children by this second marriage;

(1) Ernest Cecil Mead (1880-1897) Born at Stratton Terrace, Falmouth.

He was devoted to the sea and was very capable in a sailing yacht. He was a handsome, well-built young man, and was frequently the model in the celebrated sea-scape paintings of Mr. H. S. Tuke, R. A., who lived at Falmouth. Cecil was educated at Stubbington House, Fareham, Hampshire, with a view to entering the Royal Navy as a midshipman. Unfortunately, he died of pneumonia in 1897, at Sunrise, in his 17th year.

FP Sat. 8/1/1898: Funeral at Penryn

The funeral of Mr. Ernest Cecil MEAD, son of Mr. John Mead, [Major John Mead, by his 2nd wife, Josephine Dunning] at St. Gluvias Churchyard was largely attended, the chief mourners being; Mr. John Mead, Miss Mead, Mr. Harley Mead, Masters Melville and Mervin Mead, Mr. T. Mead, Mr. James Mead, C. Mead, Fred. D. Mead,.

Among those who met at the churchyard were Mr. & Mrs. Paige (Trevissome) …Wreaths were sent by…Thomas & Emma Paige [same, Trevissome ?]

(2) Melville Mead (1881- ) Born at Stratton Terrace and, in 1913, married Clarice Ellen Olver, of Falmouth.

He was educated at the old Falmouth Grammar School, leaving in 1898, to spend four years at Mittweida State Technical School, in Saxony, where he gained his Diploma as a Mechanical Engineer....In 1919 he joined the staff of Messrs. Ricardo Consulting Engineers, Suffolk Street London, retiring to Falmouth from that firm in 1941. His two sons both became engineers, John Stewart Mead (b.1914), with Messrs. Thorneycroft, Ltd., and Peter Mead (b.1918), served his apprenticeship with Dennis Motors Ltd., before joining his fathers old firm, Messrs. Ricardo.

(3) Ivor Merlin Mead (1883-1917) Born at Stratton Terrace, educated at the old Falmouth Grammar School. On leaving school he entered the firm of Harvey & Co., in which his father was one of the directors. The old foundry had closed down in 1904, and when Merlin joined they had become General Merchants. His father made him a director of the Cornish Hotels Company and of the Falmouth Gas Company.

Merlin, or "Peter" as he was generally known, was, like the rest of the Mead family, a very keen yachtsman, and spent all his time afloat in his boat Black Duck. He joined the Royal Engineers in 1914 as a motor cyclist despatch rider. He was killed on active service in Flanders, in May 1917, aged 34. (unmarried)

"The RCYC Regatta was held on 15 July. 1911. In the race for yachts exceeding 7-tons, there were six competitors, finishing in the order of, 1st, Wild Cat (R.J. Hewat); Marionette (Capt. J.C.L. Tremayne); Kathleen (Col. Faulkner Brown); Cynthia (H. S. Norton), Black Duck (Merlin Mead), and Molly (J. L. Watson)." [Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.101]

(4) Josephine Gladys Mead (1884- ) Born at Sunrise, Green Bank, married in March 1920, C.P. James, of St., Mawes, who died suddenly in 1939. He was a great friend of, and had joined the Royal Engineers together with Merlin, in 1914. Gladys (living at Wodehouse Terrace, in 1941) had one son, James Ivor James (b. 1821) who (in 1941) is a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy (Engineering Branch).

* * * * * * * * * * *

John Haarlem Mer-Meer ("Harley") Mead (1870-1952)

He was so named to commemorate the engineering work carried out by his maternal grandfather, Captain John West and Nicholas Oliver Harvey, in connection with the largest engines that were built at Hayle for draining the Haarlem Mere Lake in Holland. He was known as Harley to distinguish him from his cousin Haarlem West.

Educated at the Classical and Mathematical School, Falmouth, and, later, at Sherborne School, Dorset, he served at sea as a cadet in 1885 and 1885. He then decided to become an engineer and, in 1886, was apprenticed to Harvey & Co., Hayle, the firm that was established by his maternal Great Great Grandfather, John Harvey, in 1770.

The [Royal Cornwall] Club Regatta, held on 26 July 1893, was described in local papers... Of the "crack yachts" Satanita arrived from Ireland, but the others, including Britannia, (Prince of Wales) went up-Channel. With £200 of prize-money for ten classes, there were only three in which there were contests.

In the class for half-raters, Assagi (J. Harley Mead) was the only boat entered, and she sailed over the course.

Assagi was one of the first boats designed by J. Harley Mead, (C.J.H. Mead's father). A new boat that year, of the fin-bulb type and very fast. Then a youngster of 22 years, and an engineer at the family firm of Harvey and Co., Hayle, he was designing yachts as a hobby. Assagi was one of the three yachts ever built at Harvey's foundry, all designed by Harley Mead. According to Harley, the yacht hands and quay men at Falmouth found the name somewhat of a tongue-twister, and pronounced it " Ass-siege-'ee " [qf. Mead ]

On completing his apprenticeship, he spent three years at Harvey's learning the business of a Shipbuilder. From 1893-1895 he was in charge of Harvey's shipbuilding and boiler department, which was at that time building vessels up to 3,000 tons, and employing over 1,000 hands.

In 1895-96 he went to China and Japan as 5th Engineer. He then decided to take up Naval Architecture as a profession, and from 1896-98 was chief draughtsman with the Liquid Fuel, Co., East Cowes.

FP 16/5/1896 Successful Prize Winner

Mr. Harley Mead, son of Major Mead won first prize for drawing specifications for a 24-ft fishing boat, in a competition known as the Major William's designing competition, held in connection with the recent annual exhibition of the London Sailing Club.

[Judged]; "the handsomest, probably the fastest of them all, and could be easily managed by two amateurs and adapted for cruising around the coast."

[Q: Exactly the description often later referred to for cruisers of the quay punt type.]

He was one of the leading Naval Architects in the country and designed many celebrated yachts, including the famous 30-footers Flatfish and Flying Fish; the 18-footer Starfish, and the fast cruiser Maitenes II, and also the following International Cup Challengers:

VECTIS - 2-tonner British Challenger for the French International Cup

INSULA - British trial boat for the Seawanakaka Cup

MARIE ELIZABETH - 2-rater on Lake Lausanne

DEMONO - Champion 3-tonner of the Mediterranean, winner of 19 "firsts" out of 23 starts. This boat often beat the 5-tonners. [Mead pp.25-26]

Harley Mead also designed many commercial vessels, including wood cargo vessels for the Hudson Bay Company for sea-going service in the Arctic, sea-going tugs and salvage vessels.

Like his father before him, Harley Mead was a great lover of the sea, and a born racing helmsman, who attained many racing successes, first in the Solent, [where he was based from 1896-1912] and later in the West Country Regattas. He and his red-hulled boat Mayfly were well-known at all the South Coast regattas. This was his favourite boat, and he considered her to be the most perfect model he had ever known. She was designed and built by Summers & Payne. He has been members of many yacht clubs, including the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club; Island Cruising Club; Royal Southampton; Southampton Corinthian; Royal Plymouth Corinthian, and the Falmouth Sailing Club.

"Harley" Mead married on 5 April 1898, at St. Luke's Church, Southampton, Catherine Helen Owen, daughter of Percival and Mary Owen, of Crofton Park, London.

In 1900, Harley Mead established the "Cornubia" Yacht-building yard at East Cowes, I.O.W., where he built many well-known yachts, and also vessels for the Admiralty. He also carried on nearly all the surveying work required by Lloyds Agents. [Mead & West Families]

West Briton and The Times obituaries of J. Harley Mead (1870-1952), father of the author of The History of the RCYC (1871-1949)

Ken Williams is one of the mourners listed (above left)]

"John Haarlem Mead..., in 1897, moved to Cowes and established the Cornubia Yacht Yard where he designed many successful racing craft including the famous 30 footers Flatfish and Swordfish. [See above] In 1912, he returned to Cornwall and continued his profession." [qf. Obituary (above right)]

Q: Was Harley Mead was related to Joseph Mead referred to in the Sherborne Mercury of 25/11/1799?

"DIED at Sherbourn (sic), Warwickshire, in his 92nd year, Joseph Mead, Esq., a Captain in the navy, who was the inventor of a machine for cleaning a ship's bottom at sea, known to the sailors by the name of "Mead's Hog," and the author of "An essay on Currents at Sea," for which he received the thanks of the Lords of the Admiralty."

My copy of A Record of The Mead and West Families, in Cornwall 1751-1941, includes a Mead family tree, commencing with Simon Mead, Sen. (1754-1814) Simon Married in 1796.

The Captain Joseph Mead referred to as inventor of "Mead's Hog" was born circa 1705, thus aged about 49 when Simon was born, and 89 when Simon married, at the age of 42. If and what any relationship there is, would be of particular interest (to me at least!). If you know where one might find confirmation of family links above, please e-mail me!]

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References to MEAD

1895 Competitors in the Half-rater class were Centipede (Captain A. F. Bealey), Firefly (H. S. Tuke) and Viper (J. Harley Mead). Harley Mead bought Viper that year from Dr. Harden and sold Assagi to his uncle, James Mead, who, while still retaining Butterfly, sold Elise to his brother T. Gundry Mead.

[Mead RCYC 1871-1949, pp.77-78]

1896 Port of Falmouth Regatta: In the class for up to 10 tons, Karenza,[Cornish for Beauty] Major J Mead, made her debut., a lovely little craft deserving special mention, a 9-ton yawl of the Quay Punt type, built by Burt at Falmouth the previous year. [1895]. Harley Mead was unable to race his Viper because after the previous year's regatta, having decided to go to sea again in his old line. (Harley had been a cadet in the Shire Line, aged 14, serving aboard the Denbighshire trading to the Far East, but, in 1885, he left the sea and was sent to Sherborne School). He left Harvey & Co., of Hayle, and obtained a post as 5th Engineer aboard the S.S. Flintshire, bound for the Far East. Immediately upon his return, in the latter part of 1896, he set up as a naval architect at Cowes, and had Viper up there with him. Viper was not a success in the Solent, she was very tender, wet and could not stand the short seas. (She nearly drowned Harley's wife at Cowes). Harley Mead got rid of her after a couple of seasons and designed the 2 1/2 rater Flatfish, alias Marjory, for himself (built by Sibbick), which became quite a celebrated boat in Solent racing circles.

FP 16/4/1898: Yachting Prospects at Falmouth

An attempt is being made to amalgamate the Falmouth Sailing Club with the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. The RCYC… there are over 70 members attached to the club, and it is hoped that racing matches will be held every fortnight amongst the local yachts.

Amongst the yachts fitting out are;

Seasnake (sic), 180 tons, Mr. J. C. Kennerley

Sylph, yawl, 37 tons, Mr. J. G. Cox

Coral, cutter, 9 tons, Mr. Claude Fowles - looks much better, having had a counter fitted.

Eagle, yawl, 16 tons, Mr.T. R. Blamey - at Mr. Lean's yard, undergoing extensive alterations.

Cymbula, yawl, 7 tons, has changed hands, being owned now by Mr. Stanley Spooner.

Cruban, 25 tons, Mr. G. T. Petherick - at Mr. Lean's yard, refitting.

Fairlight, cutter, 9 tons, Mr. McCall -on the market, her owner having left the neighbourhood.

Teresa, 9 tons, Miss Gregor ("an ardent yachtswoman") has been in active service all winter.

Spinaway, 13 tons, Mr. W. H. Lean - at Little Falmouth [sold to a fish-monger, Mr. John Chard Jun., for £125, at auction following Mr. Lean's death in 1899

Buccaneer, 15 tons, Mr. E. Harvey, at Little Falmouth (awaiting Spring Tides)

Shadow, 13 tons, Mr. John Stephens - being got ready.

Hilda Muriel, Aux. Screw Steamer, 60 tons, Mr. Simpson, undergoing alterations at Mr. Jackett's yard.

Hilda, cutter, 15 tons, Mr. H. Liddicoat. (sic)

Dua Baru, lugger, 16 tons, Mr. H. S. Mackenzie.

Cigarette, cutter, Lieutenant Wainwright.

Minnie, cutter, Mr. H. Summers

Buttercup, cutter, Mr. F. Hall.

Lorna, cutter, Mr. G. Rickard.

Constance, cutter, Mr. J. Wearne.

Emmie, cutter, Mr. T. Jackett.

Titania, cutter, Mr. F. Chamberlain -being refitted.

Bonnie Doon (sic), yawl, Mr. J. Mead - being refitted.

Flushing from Greenbank Quay (Crop from an early postcard courtesy of Terry & Barbara, The Royal Standard, Flushing)

FP 15/4/1899: The Ferryboat Fatality - Censures by the Jury, All round laxity.

Ernest Austin Drew, aged 12, of 2 Porhan-street, was recovered by a boatman whilst searching for a sunken boat [on the Monday following the Friday (6th April) accident.]

Matthew Laity, a fisherman, said he was hired for the day by Richard Tonkin, his brother-in-law to take his place on the ferry boat, Tonkin being unwell. He started work at 9 a.m. and only one boat was kept running.

The boat had a centre keel, and was between 16 and 17 feet in length and about 6 feet beam.

Without the centre keel, she could only be about 6 ins deep in the water.

The owner of the boat was Mr. John Mead, and it was an unlicensed ferry.

He did not know how many the boat was supposed to hold, but should think it would carry from 10-15 passengers.

About 10.30 in the morning in question, he put off from Flushing quay. The wind was very squally, about W.N.W., whilst it was flood tide.

It was very rough because the wind was against the tide.

William Henry Lang, who had several years experience in connection with the boat, was in charge.

There were 3 passengers, the deceased, a little girl named Tregido, and Watts, a Ganges man.

They sat aft.

There were two leg of mutton sails up closed reefed. And the centre board was down.

Witness had the halliard in his hand, the sheet being belayed on the lee quarter, so that he had only to loose the halliard and the sail ought to have come down. There was so much strain, however, that the patent sheaf did not act, and the sail would not come down.

The Coroner: But you are a practical man, and had the lives of passengers entrusted to you, and, didn't it occur to you that holding the halliard was of no practical use?

No, I had nothing to say about it, because I was acting under another who had been accustomed to the boat for years.

The Coroner: it does not require much experience to know that the sail will not come down when there is a list.

Witness: But why did it always come down before? - I simply did as I was told.

The Coroner: Was it not foolish for you to hold the halliard instead of the sheet?

Witness: I did as I was told

A Juror: The sheet should have been held in the middle part of the boat.

Witness said he did not think there was sufficient weigh on the boat when struck [by the squall] to run up into the wind. They saw the squall coming when half way across. His mate called him to drop the halliard. The boat heeled over, and the sail did not come down until it touched the water.

A Juror: Where is Mr. Mead, the proprietor? He ought to be examined.

Police Sergeant Waring: I am told he has gone to Fowey races.

A Juror: He ought to be subpoenaed. Mr. Mead ought not to have wanted telling to come.

…. For some inexplicable reason the Falmouth Harbour Board had not yet ordered the boats to be licensed, although the Board of Trade had said that the owner of the boats was liable to a penalty whilst they remained unlicensed.

A Juror: I think the Green Bank is outside the jurisdiction of the Harbour Board.

A Juror: It must have been sheer ignorance on the part of the men in charge to belay the sheet when there were hoops on the mast.

Witness: There were no life saving apparatus on board.

The Coroner: The ferrymen could not have done it willfully, because their own lives were in danger. It certainly was a very primitive and very poor method of getting across such a very important piece of water.

A Juror commented that the boat ought to have floated. It had evidently been patched up with pitch and putty and all kinds of stuff, and was water sodden, without any ballast. "It was like making lifebelts with iron"

The jury were of the unanimous opinion "That the attention of the Board of Trade should be called to the neglect of the Harbour Commissioners in not taking steps to cause the boats belonging to Mr. Mead to be duly licensed, although they had been requested by the board of trade to do so."

Visitors to the Green Bank Hotel made a collection of nearly £5 for those who assisted in rescuing the occupants of the boat. The money has been handed over to the mother of the boy.

FP 15/4/1899: The [Greenbank] ferry boat disaster.

One experienced juror, a pilot, averred that the weather was so bad on the morning of the mishap, that the men on board the cutter to which he belonged agreed that it would be foolhardy to attempt to reach shore from their vessel moored in the inner harbour. … We do not blame the men, as much as we do the proprietor, and still more the Harbour Board, who have, so it seems, persistently ignored the requests of the Board of Trade to compel the owner of the ferryboats to have them licensed. Even the coroner went out of his way to call public attention to the antiquated description of the services for carrying passengers to and from the Greenbank to Flushing, and he might have added a condemnatory word or two concerning the dilapidated condition of the steam ferryboats which do duty between Market Strand and the village on the other side of the streak of blue.

At the close of the 1901 season, Major Mead sold Karenza for £185 to G. H. Ward-Humphries, of Cowes, who renamed her Sunset. Ward-Humphries sailed her at Falmouth when he came to live at Flushing the following year, but in 1804 he sold her to Harley Mead, and she returned to Cowes.

Major Mead then bought the 29-ton ketch Ailsie II (ex-Rob Roy), a craft of ancient vintage, speedy as a snail but comfortable for cruising and used for that purpose up to he owner's death. C.J.H. Mead, son of Harley Mead, from the age of two until 1912, on the termination of "Cowes Week" was always taken back to Falmouth in her, visiting all the regattas on the way down Channel. [Mead, p.80]

The RCYC Regatta held on 13 August, 1904 included a handicap race for cruisers of 20 to 40-tons (Thames Measure). Corona, a 32-ton yawl (owner J. S. Cockerton, who has raced Firefly in the 1899 regatta) was first, followed by Coral (not to be confused with the smaller boat owned by C. Fowles), a 32-ton yawl designed by Harley Mead and built by C. Hills, of Cowes, in 1900. for F. T. Mew, the Rear Commodore of the Island Sailing Club..

An older generation of Solent yachtsmen, particularly members of the I.S.C., will have remembered Coral and her owner not without affection.

[Mead, pp.84-85]

In the 1904 Club Regatta class for yachts between 10 and 20 tons, Quickstep beat Florence. This was the first appearance of Quickstep at Falmouth. A 17-ton cutter, she was designed for the owner, H. R. Wintle, of Yelverton, by Lynton Hope, and built by Harley Mead, at Cowes in 1903. [Mead, p.85]

FP 7/4/1905: At Mr. N. S. Burt's yard at the Bar [R.S. Burt] - a 28 ft quay punt designed by Mr. Harley Mead, son of Mr. J. [John] Mead, is being built for Mr. F. C. Baddeley, who formerly owned the fine racer Whimbrel. She is 28 ft in length, and when ready, will be taken to Cowes to be fitted with a motor. [One of the earliest references to a 'motorised' quay punt - still not a feature of the working quay punts (in 1905)]

[FP 26/3/1898 reported a major fire at Mr. F. C. Baddeley's residence, "Ellerslie" - in Melville-road, including a new wing built by Mr. Penter, builder of Polruan, near Fowey.]

FP 10/11/1905: Lord Clinton "could not agree to the fixing of a public convenience at Flushing Ferry-boat Quay." [Mr. Mead, proprietor]

At the RCYC regatta in 1906, Ladybird came second to Vagrant (scratch) in the class for cruisers over 16-tons. Vagrant was a 21-ton cutter designed by A. Milne (sic) in 1899, owned by J. H. Gubbins of Cork. (See 1885 regatta, as owner of Wraith). Almida was third, a 24-ton cutter built by Fife of Fairlie in 1893 and owned by E.D. Maclaughlin of Dublin. Ladybird, owned by Villers Morton, of Cork, was an 18-ton cutter designed and built for the owner by Harley Mead at Cowes in 1904. She was renamed Africa later on. [Mead, p.87]

The 1909 Regatta Race for yachts not exceeding 6-tons was won by Flamingo (H.S. Tuke). Followed by Jilt (C.W.M. Grier) and Sirena (G. S. Long), the other competitors being Mona (E.W. Mildred) and Vioma (F. Lathan) . The two last named boats were almost new, Vioma being a 3-ton yawl, locally built by Toy in 1903, and almost rebuilt in 1908. Mona, previously named Devil Fish, a 3-ton yawl (originally a cutter) was designed and built in 1907 by Harley mead for his own use at Cowes. She cost only £80 to build. [Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.96]

The Club Regatta on 9 August, 1912, was unattended by any visiting yachts, although it had been hoped that the 19-metre class would take part.

In the race for yachts of 7 to 15 tons inclusive Cynthia (Mrs. C.P. Foster) and Kathleen (Col. Faulkner Brown) were 1st and 2nd.

In the class for yachts under 7-tons, Flamingo (H.S. Tuke) was first and Daphne II (Clement Palmer) second.

In the race for craft under 30 feet Sirena (G.S. Long) was first, Sally (S.L. Tresidder) second, Colleen (C.V. Downing) third, and C.R. Corfeld's Pixie brining up the rear.

Sally, built for Major Richardson in 1904, was bought by S. L. Tresidder in 1912, Richardson having has Susan, a larger craft, built for him. Sally and Susan were both built by Jackett and designed by Harley Mead.

[Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.105]

New members during 1913 included Col. J. W. Fuller (and his wife), late Dragoon Guards and the B. S. A. police, Herward H. Tresidder, J. Harley Mead; Norman Lanyon of Flushing, Miss Ida Fenzi of Trelissick, and Miss Monica Underhill. The first three became prominent in the club's affairs. Harley Mead, the son of a founder member, served for nearly thirty years, and in his 80th year, was still a member of the Sailing Committee. [Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.109]

1914

It was decided to hold the Club Regatta in June, in order to attract the 15-metre class on their way to the Clyde, and the 35-70 tonners. The Race took place on 13 June, and Andrew Thompson was engaged for the last time to carry out the handicapping. When racing was resumed after the War, this work was carried out by J. Harley Mead.

1919

In June, the Corinthian races were revived, the first since the outbreak of war. Most of the old-stagers of pre-war days took part in the revival of racing in 1919, including Kathleen (Col. Faulkner Brown), Sylvia (E.R. Tatchell), Flamingo (H. S. Tuke), Red Heart (J. Harley Mead), previously owned by Tuke, Mignonette (L.D. Cunliffe) and several others.

As might be expected, resignations exceeded new entries during the period 1914-18.

In 1919, new members totaled 29, nearly all "Out-port"), including Lieut. Cecil J. H. Mead, (later Lt. Col.) of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, the son of a member and a grandson of a founder member. [Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.115]

1920

In 1920 it was decided to revive the pre-war club Regatta and to hold the 'usual' Corinthian Races. Cost had tripled due to the war and very few club members built new boats between the two World Wars (i.e 1919-1936). Most of the Corinthian competitors were built prior to 1914. Cobweb (O.F. Gason) was a newcomer to Falmouth in 1920, a 9-ton (ex-8-metre) built by Fife in 1908.

The next class, for boats not exceeding 7-tons, includes Daphne, then owned by Lt. Col. W.B.T. Abbey, Red Heart, Flamingo and Mignonette (C. R. Stephens) previously owned by L.D. Cunliffe.

In the cruiser class, a newcomer was Merlin, (H. G. Sicklemore) a 12-ton cutter designed by Harley Mead and built by Jackett in 1914. [Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.116]

1923 RCYC Regatta: (8 September). The winner of the race for heavy cruisers from 6-18-tons was Firefly (Lt. Col. B. J. Coulson), an old craft which, when owned by J. S. Cockerton, had raced in the club regatta of 1899. [ Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.123 ref to p.79].

The event for yachts not exceeding 6-tons was won by Red Heart (J. Harley Mead), and in the race for raters and ex-raters Firefly (John Foster) was the winner and Moth (Miss Moira Foster) second. Firefly was H. S. Tuke's old boat [ Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.123 ref to p.78], but Moth was new in 1923, designed by an amateur, C. P. Foster, and built by Jackett.

In the handicap for yachts of 6 to 15-tons, W. H. Dowman's Onaway came third. She was a newcomer to Falmouth, a 12-ton cutter built by Sibbick at Cowes in 1897. [Mead, History of the RCYC 1871-1949, p.123]

In 1926 a special race for yachts over 110-tons, T.M., took place on 19 June, the first time since 1894 that the biggest class had competed in the RCYC programme. Sailing under Y.R.A. allotted handicaps over a course, two rounds totaling 42 miles, four vessel took part. The 221-ton cutter Britannia (H. M. the King), the 179-ton cutter White Heather II (Lord Waring), the 175-ton cutter Shamrock (Sir Thomas Lipton) and the 338-ton schooner Westward (T.F.B. Davis). The race was controlled from a Committee Boat (Joyce Mitchell) the Officer of the Day being Major John Richardson, with J. Harley Mead and assisted by F. Latham, R. C. Cripps, C. J. H. Mead (Harley's son), H.V. Willcox, and the Secretary (H.H. Tresidder)

The Club regatta was postponed from 21 August to 8 September, 1926, due to bad weather holding up the return of the yachts from Fowey.

The results for the Race for Sunbeams was as follows: 1st Una, 2nd Little Lady, 3rd Berthe. The others follows in this order, Trent, Caprice, Halcyone, Merrythought and Maranui. Caprice, owned by Mrs. H. G. Sicklemore was a newcomer to the [Falmouth] class and built that year.

Competitors in the handicap for yachts not exceeding 6-tons included a newcomer, Cobalt (J. Harley Mead), a 4-ton Bermudian sloop built by Summers and Payne in 1898. The dinghies included a newcomer, Basket (Cumming Mead.) [Mead p.130]

1927

The accounts for 1926 showed a wine profit of £304, unequaled until seventeen years later (1943), and was probably due to an increased attendance at the club during the first visit of the big yachts. The big boats which arrived for two days special races were as in the previous year, except for the addition of Lulworth (Sir Mortimer Singer), ex Terpsichore, a 168-ton cutter built in 1920. [Mead recounts Mr. T. B. T. Davis, owner of the biggest racing yacht afloat, the 338-ton schooner Westward, saying he started life as a fisher lad in Jersey....] [Mead p.131] White Heather II came 1st., Shamrock 2nd and Britannia 3rd, Lulworth 4th and Westward last. On the second day's racing, C.J.H. Mead was invited by Sir Philip Hunloake, who had known him in pre-war days as a small boy in Cowes, to sail in Britannia. Mrs. C. Foster and her son and daughter, John and Moira, were the other guests that day. "Unfortunately, Britannia gave up." [Mead p.131]

The Club Regatta took place on 3 September, 1927. In the Sunbeam class the results were as follows: 1st Berthe, 2nd Caprice, 3rd Flame, 4th Jasmine (Capt, R. T, Dixon), 5th Little Lady, 6th Trent, and 7th Merrythought. Maranui gave up. Jasmine was previously named Una, when owned by Major Watson-Smythe. It is also noteworthy that, commencing with the 1927 regatta, the protest fees were raised from 5s. to 10s. [Mead p.131]