The Will of Robert M. Sloman

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The sailing ships of the shipping companies of Robert Miles Sloman (the first) and Rob. M. Sloman & Co.

With this testament of September 12, 1862, Robert Miles Sloman (the Elder) wished for his shipping company:

"I don’t wish, that after my death, my wife continues with the company but that my assets, as soon as possible, be withdrawn and be invested as soon as possible in mortgage bonds or in safe government bonds. As, however, a considerable part of my money has been invested in ships which travel to America, especially between Hamburg and New York, I propose the following use: The association between New York and Hamburg has been arranged by me alone and has taken a lot of time and work, but I did it with great pleasure. Therefore I wish that my family has the enjoyment of all the advantages of it, which still until today are associated with it. Therefore I propose that my son Robert, together with my son-in-law Edye, enjoy the same privileges and advantages of the company, and take over these ships, whatever their value or wherever they are or happen to be working when I die. My son and son-in-law shall purchase these ships as their own property at no monetary cost but with the rate of 5% pa without all costs, departures or abbreviations. All advantages of the ships shall be to the owners no matter in whose name they are. The ships which the owners do not want shall be sold as soon as possible".

 

Robert Miles Sloman (the Elder) completed this determination on March 4, 1865, with the following codicil:

In the case of my ships I have said what is necessary, but I want to add if this is not what my son and son-in-law think about my suggestions, they shall quickly sell the ships at auction. All the proceeds of the auction and sale of my possessions shall be given as a larger cash payment for my children after my death.

After the death of Robert Miles Sloman (the Elder) all the ships and the companies shall become the possessions of Rob. M. Sloman together with his brother-in-law Henry Walrond Edye with an account in the Norddeutschen Bank

 

At the death of Robert Miles Sloman (the Elder) the company ships are: One wooden Brig, 4 wooden barques, 5 wooden and 5 iron frigates and one iron Viermaster (four-master). 

 

Ship Type Art C.L. Acquired

SHIP

 TYPE ART C.L. ACQUIRED
1. Franklin Barque Holz 100 1835
2. Washington (II) Barque Holz 178 1852
3. Raleigh Barque Holz 175 1854
4. John Bertram Frigate Holz 382 1855
5. Doctor Barth Frigate Holz 317 1855
6. Electric Frigate Holz 459 1856
7. Victoria Barque Holz 158 1860
8. Prinz Albert Frigate Eisen 256 1860
9. Lord Brougham Frigate Holz 363 1861
10. Leibnitz (II) Frigate Holz 446 1865
11. Herschel (II) Viermaster Eisen 333 1865
12. Palmerston Frigate Eisen 556 1865
13. Newton Frigate Eisen 293 1865
14. Eugenie Frigate Eisen 296 1865
15. Maria Wilhelmine Brigantine Holz 10g 1866
16. Sir John Lawrence Frigate Eisen 316 1866

 

The Rauminhalt (cubic content) of the 16 ships was altogether 4.746 Commerz-Lasten; this will be ca. 14,000 BRT. The Palmerston, biggest ship of the fleet, had been earlier a steamship Charity under the Sloman flag, later under Spanish flag as La Cubana and later on reconstructed as a sailing ship.

 

The same destiny was with the English steamer Edith Byrne, which Sloman bought in March 1865 as a frigate in Liverpool and as Herschel (II) came into his company, Robert Miles Sloman (the younger) added the shipping firm, which he got from his father. The new ships were, all but one, iron ships, only sometimes they called them ‘frigates’. As new ships Robert Miles Sloman (the younger) took into service 1867 Humboldt (II) and the Reichstag and two years later the Friedeburg and Lammershagen. In England he bought in 1867 the Shakespeare (II) and in 1868 the Gutenberg and the Mozart in 1869 the only wooden ship with a copper mantle.

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