By Bertha Whitaker

As a reader of Pepys Diaries¹, the publication of which was only completed in 1983, I came in the final volumes upon an assertion by the Editor which led me into an interesting by-lane of local 17th century history. The Diaries state that one Robert Withers was a Shipwright of Bolton-le-Sands. As a resident of Bolton- le-Sands and having no knowledge of shipbuilding ever having taken place there, I decided to look into this reference. I soon found that in the time of Pepys, Over Kellet was included in the Parish of Bolton-le-Sands. Indeed, Robert Withers did live in Over Kellet.

However, no more was to be found. Pepys refers to dining with ’Withers – a professed lying rogue’ (Vol. VII, p. 279 & fn.). This did not, to me, fit a gentleman described as a Quaker. I took an interest on his behalf and I have undoubtedly established that Pepys was wrong in his estimation of Mr Withers.

In the Calendar of State Papers, (CSP) 1664-65 (p. 364) we have a reference to a Mr Jonas Shish (who apparently was an innovative shipwright) from Deptford and Woolwich recommending Withers to the Navy Commissioners for the survey of a new ship. In the CSP, 1667 (pp. 558-9) we have the following:

1667. Oct, Proposals by Sir Thos. Strickland to the Navy Commissioners to build three third-rate frigates in Foudray Pill [Walney Island], to be completed by 1 Aug. 1671, upon a similar contract to that of Mr. Baylie, of Bristol. (Admin. Paper), enclosing:

102.1 Edward TyIdesley to (Sam. Pepys). Robert Withers and the writer have viewed Foudray Pill, where they proposed to build ships for the King’s service. Sends a draft sketch thereof, leaving the rest of the business to be transacted by his partners. Sir Thos. Strickland and Mr. Withers. Has such timber as all England cannot show. Lodge in the Forest of Myerscough, 1 Oct. 1667

102.11 Sketch of Walney Island, the pill, bar, etc. in coloured chalks.

The above reference ties Robert Withers firmly into the North Lancashire area and shows his obvious importance in the ship building industry. That is all that I established in the national literature on our friend Robert Withers.

I went to the Cumbria Record Office at Barrow-in- Furness and they kindly led me to the following reference :

Shipbuilding in Furness has a long history – there is evidence that small craft were built from the earliest times, and in 1667 Samuel Pepys caused a survey to be made of the harbour of Piel to ascertain its suitability for building men-o-war. As a result a contract was granted to Sir Thomas Strickland to build a Third-Rate Warship at ’Pill of Foudray’, using wood from the ’Forest of Myerscough’ across the Bay, the dimensions to be 122 feet keel, 38 feet breadth, making 937 tons and approximate cost £7,600. An entry in a manuscript in the Public Record Office (PC.6, 1) dated 1 April 1668 infers that a start had actually been made, but the ship was never completed a treaty of peace with Holland putting an end to naval building.

I then went to the Cumbria Record Office at Kendal and was referred to Stricklandia (two large volumes of history on the Strickland family compiled by a late Strickland) where from I established that that was probably the end of shipbuilding activities for the said Sir Thomas Strickland.

However, John Evelyn in his Diaries quoted carrying ‘one Withers, an ingenious Shipwright, to the King to show his Majestie some new method of building etc’. This was in 1673, a considerable time after the time of the Pepysian remark.

In what way was Mr Withers ’ingenious’? A question which occurs to me – having seen a reference during my searches to the fact that copper-bottoming of ships was thought of 100 years before it was actually adopted – is, in view of the proximity of copper mines in the area, would this have been thought of by Mr Withers? In the publications in the Lancaster area referring to shipbuilding in Morecambe Bay a veil is drawn across activity before the 18th century due to the apparent lack of records. However, we have in readily accessible public records a jigsaw of references to what was probably a highly important shipbuilding attempt which, unfortunately, according to the reference at Barrow-in-Furness, seemed to founder in the construction of one frigate.

The Journals of George Fox reveal the high regard in which Robert Withers was held by George Fox, that he succoured George Fox in his travels and, indeed, accompanied him in travels in England, Scotland and America, experiencing great peril in so doing. Whilst Margaret Fell wrote of him ‘he was not much in Declaration,’ meaning that he was not a great preacher, he was obviously a Quaker of some importance. Is it possible that he was required on these travels, at least in part, for his accomplishments in shipbuilding or repair? The writer is currently making reference to the Record Office at Kew and one more to the Quaker Records at Euston Road, London, for further evidence of the worthy efforts of Robert Withers. If anyone can furnish any more personal information I would be pleased to add it to further work which I intend to devote to this interesting man. I know he is buried at Hilderstone Farm.

By the way, one man who came to light as a ’lying and seditious rogue’ in the works of Aubrey, Evelyn, and the Dictionary of National Biography was George Withers (poet and author of political writings). Samuel Pepys in his Diaries was occasionally guilty of prejudice against people due to wrongful identification because of identical surnames. Is it possible that Pepys was dining with Robert Withers (most probable, there being also present Sire William Batten, Surveyor of the Navy) but endowing him with the infamous reputation of George Withers? Pepys made stranger mistakes elsewhere in the Diaries. I have taken this point up with Professor Lathom, the editor of the Diaries, but he stated he would like more information.

1. The Diary of Samuel Pepys, ed. R. Latham, 11 vols. (1970-1985). ↩︎

Published in Mourholme Magazines Issue 8 Summer 1984