Ann Jane Brown (Schooner), 18 Jun 1842

LAUNCH. - On Saturday the 18th. instant, was launched at Port Hope a very fine Schooner, called the ANNE JANE BROWN, burthen, about 120 tons, the property of Messrs. Marsh and Sexton. She darted into her native element, inside the harbour, in good style, in the presence of a large concourse of admiring spectators. - - - Cobourg Star.
      Montreal Gazette
      July 6, 1842

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      Launch. -- On Saturday the 18th inst., was launched at Port Hope, a very fine schooner, called the JANE ANN BROWN, burthen about 120 tons, the property of Messrs. Marsh & Sexton. She darted into her native element, inside the harbor, in good style, in the presence of a large concourse of admiring spectators. -- Cobourg Star.
      Kingston Chronicle & Gazette
      July 2, 1842

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ANN J. BROWN, Fore & aft schooner of 99 tons, built Part Hope 1842. Owned by Marsh & Co. Rebuilt Port Hope 1853. Value 1,000 (Pounds ?) Class A 1. Remarks:-Well re-built.
      List of British Vessels Inland Waters 1854

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A.J. BROWN, Schooner of 100 tons. Built Port Hope 1853. Master, Manson. Owned by Manson. Value $4,000.
      List of British Vessels 1856
      The GLOBE, Toronto
      Monday, August 4, 1856

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Port Hope Shipyard -- There is now building at this yard, for Messrs. Bletcher & Harris and Capt. Wright, a new vessel of 137 tons; and the schooner ANN JANE BROWN, is being rebuilt from light water mark. Both vessels are expected to be ready at the opening of navigation. There is another vessel of the largest size going to be commenced this season. Port Hope will soon be cerebrated for it's facilities in shipbuilding. Those vessels that have already been built here, are of the first class.
      Port Hope Guide
      March 19, 1853

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      SCHOONER DAYS CCCCXCII (492)
      HIGH WINES AND IRON RAILS IN CRIMEAN WAR TIMES by C.H.J. Snider
      (small part of article extracted)
      This ANN JANE BROWN was one of the early vessels of the fleet William Marsh accumulated, based on Port Britain at the mouth of Marsh's Creek, three miles west of Port Hope. Capt. Manson was a builder as well as a shipmaster, and it may be that he built the 'Ann Jane Brown' for the King of Port Britain, and took a share in her for his payment; or possibly William Marsh followed the prevalent custom of selling a share in his vessel to the Master, in order to secure his services and stimulate his interest in making the vessel profitable. The schooner was likely named after one of William's many sisters, who had married J.G. Brown of Port Hope, or possibly after their daughter. His brother-in-law, who lived in Port Hope was also a part owner. She was trading into Port Whitby as early as I843.
      That the vessel was an old timer, even in 1853, is proved by the fact that she had a standing keel and no centreboard. This last very useful contrivance was a feature of lake schooners from the middle of the nineteenth century onwards. Port Hope had more than one standing-keel surviving at this time, among them the little 'Acorn' and the larger 'Anna Craig'. The limitations on draught imposed by lake harbours, few of which gave as much as ten feet, made standing keelers, either poor carriers or poor sailers. If they were sharp enough to sail well on their limited draught they could carry little cargo for their dimensions. If they got a big load downstairs they were blunt; and slid to leeward when they hauled on the wind.
      After I850, 99 out of every I00 schooners on the lakes had centreboards, many of them added after their building.......
      The Evening Telegram, Toronto
      Saturday April I9, 194I


(Another article by C.H.J. Snider's 'Schooner Days' # CCCCXCIII or 493 and dated April 26, 1941, is a continuation of the above and deals with the Schr. 'A.J. Brown' in an incident when she went ashore at Wicked Point in 1854)

NOTE:- The article refers to the possibility of Capt. Manson as being the builder of the 'A.J. Brown,' however it is much more likely to have been built by N. Collins an early shipbuilder who built the 'Precursor' at Cobourg in I842 and the 'Jand Ann Marsh' at Port Hope in l850, the 'Atlantic' at Cobourg in 1842, the 'Sarah Ann Marsh' at Port Hope in 1854, the 'Caroline Marsh' in I852, he no doubt built many more of the early vessels,however the Registers prior to I860 gave no names of builders, Manson or (Munson) appears to have started shipbuilding in the 50's, he built the' Anna Craig' at Port Hope in 1856 the 'Defiance' at Port Hope in I859, the 'Enterprise' also at Port Hope in 1855. -- McN