Talland Church Headstones

Ledger Stone 42

~ Slate ~ The deeply carved raised stone with curved top is sculpted from a triangular topped ledger, and is in good condition.

~ Orientation ~ South/North ~ Centre Aisle ~ 182 x 72cm // 6′ x 2’4″

Master Mariner – Richard Rowett

Ships Master Richard Rowett (1770-1823) of the shallop ‘Happy Return’ was captured, after a 28 hour chase, in 1795, by the revenue cutter, ‘Spider’ in the Channel, on suspicion of smuggling, so says the letters of Zephaniah Job, frequently warning of ‘accidents’ that occurred by vessels engaged in the trade.

Richard Rowett during the French war commanded the Unity, a hired armed lugger; he took the helm to deftly out run French frigates, escaped capture and damage in a daring manoeuvre that earned the crew great praise.

In 1817, after the close of war Richard Rowett built a trading schooner, but in a storm in the year 1823 he and several other men belonging to Polperro were wrecked, and all were unfortunately lost.

The History of Polperro – J Couch