Young man founders in China Seas

A forgotten memorial in the old cemetery in Stoke Newington, London, mentions a young man who died when a ship foundered in the China Seas in 1886.

The memorial is to members of the Shore family, whose patriarch of the time is listed as Thomas Goss Shore. Other members of his family are buried in the same plot. Except for his son Daniel.

An inscription reads: “Also Daniel, son of Thomas Shore, reported drowned in China Seas by foundering of S.S. Ferntower August 29 1886 in his 28th year.”

What was Daniel doing in the China seas?

John Shore, First Baron Tiegnmouth, was born in 1751 and died in 1834. His father had been a supercargo, or commercial manager of voyages, of the East India Company and his mother was the daughter of an EIC captain. In 1768, after schooling at Harrow, John sailed for India as a writer in the service of the Company. He progressed well and became a firm friend of Hastings. The Court of Directors of the Company appointed him Governor General Of India in succession to Cornwallis in 1792. He served in the post until 1798 when he returned to England. He was an enthusiastic evangelical.

There is no supporting evidence, but could the presence of young Daniel Shore in the China Seas be explained by some family connection to the former Governor General of India?

Why did the S.S. Ferntower founder?

The cemetery is now known as the Abney Park Abney Park Nature Reserve and Architectural Conservation area. It is well worth a visit. The graves are all of Non-Conformists, or non Anglicans, and the cemetery was opened after the Non-Conformists cemetery at Bunhill Fields was filled up. Amongst the people buried there are William Booth, Founder and First General of the Salvation Army.

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©Phillip Bruce 2009