hms terror

A very important chronology of James Clark Ross’s hair.

Note: Tremendous thanks goes to JK (@commandergrahamgore) who did the absolute bulk of the ancestral research here whilst I did all of the cheerleading and late night snacking.

In 1857, following the death of his beloved wife Ann, James Clark Ross hastily wrote his last will.

"I wish to be buried by the side of my beloved wife. If there be not room there, my coffin might rest upon hers as the grave is dug purposely of sufficient depth, and thus our dust may mingle in the grave, while our souls rejoice together in glory everlasting."

Some of the phrasing used in the document suggests James didn’t expect to survive the calamity of his wife’s untimely demise. Ann was only forty and left behind four young children: James, Ann, Thomas and the three year old Andrew.

The will was last mentioned as part of a significant collection of letters, journals and other items, named as the "Ross Family Papers" — or "RFP" — by M.J. Ross, Ross' great grandson and biographer.

We don't know what happened to those papers. Some may yet be in the Scott Polar Research Institute or other archives. I'll keep digging and see what turns up.

For now, I want to talk about the branch of the Ross family we know was in possession of at least some of these documents, which gives us a further clue about the fate of "RFP" — and creates an unexpected connection to, of all things, Brexit.

Hanging/ Admiral Compass, by Rasmus Koch, Kopenhagen, 1766

The contemporary illustration of the expedition departing in The Illustrated London News:

In the last few days before he sailed, Franklin may have experienced a premonition of his fate. Suffering from the flu, he was resting at home with his wife, Jane, who had just finished sewing a silk Union Jack for him to take. Concerned about his illness, she draped the flag over his legs for warmth. He sprang to his feet: “There’s a flag thrown over me! Don’t you know that they lay the Union Jack over a corpse?” But on Sunday 18 May, the eve of his departure, with his wife and daughter present, the profoundly religious Franklin read Divine Service for the first time to his crews. And when the expedition sailed from the Thames the next morning, carrying 134 officers and men, most felt the Franklin expedition could not fail.

Hello, my Jopson family research posts are finally making an appearance!

Below is the intended posting order; the stuff I’ve found will be split up to clump information more usefully and understandably, and reduce posts being outrageously long.

Posts will be bolded and dated as they are released, and this post is pinned for ease of reference. Any questions, just ask. :) I hope you enjoy them <3

Mum & Dad - attempting to trace the lives of Thomas Jopson’s parents - posted November 14th 2022

The Area In Which They Lived - Volume 1 - tracking the suspected chronology of Sarah and William Jopson Srs; brief notes on the suspected socio-economic state of their homes; comparison with in-show’s Jopson’s story; discussion of my incorrectness in previous reblog - posted 20th February 2023 Update posted 14th November 2023

The Children - Volume 1 - The Vanishing Four - posted 3rd April 2025

The Children - Volume 2 - Mary & Emma - posted 27th April 2025

Text of the note:

[25th April 1]848. H M Ships Terror and Erebus were deserted on the 22nd April, 5 leagues NNW of this [hav]ing been beset since 12th Sept.r 1846. The Officers & Crews consisting of 105 souls - under the Command [of Cap]tain F R M. Crozier, landed here - in lat. 69˚ 37' 42" Long. 98˚ 41' [This p]aper was found by Lt. Irving under the Cairn supposed to have been built by Sir James Ross in 1831 – 4 miles to the Northward – where it had been deposited by the late Commander Gore in May June 1847. Sir James Ross' pillar has not however been found, and the paper has been transferred to this position which is that in which Sir J. Ross' pillar was erected – Sir John Franklin died on the 11th June 1847 and the total loss by deaths in the Expedition has been to this date 9 officers & 15 men. [Signed] FRM Crozier Captain & Senior Off.r and start on tomorrow 26th for Backs Fish River [Signed] James Fitzjames Captain H.M.S. Erebus

On Erebus - Terror collision, 13 March 1842

As reported by witnesses, collected by Campbell in Appendix 11, The Journal of Sergeant William K. Cunningham, and from the journal itself.

Illustrations by Davis: TL, “The Escape. Erebus and Terror 13th March 1842″ [x] [hi res] | TR, “Erebus and Terror” [x] [hi res] | BL, “Erebus and Terror” [x] [hi res] | BR, “The Erebus passing through the chain of bergs, 13th March, 1842″, Plate 8 in Ross’ Voyage

• Ships are retreating from the Antarctic towards the Falklands. Weather is poor, a strong gale with snow showers

Aboard Terror: Early morning ice-blink sighted ahead and port bow, ship going eight knots, topsails reefed, ready to haul up to clear it. Erebus signals to keep further off, manoeuvre abandoned, closing the blink rapidly. About to attempt again, at 12:50 assumes Erebus finally has seen the ice ahead. All hands on deck

Aboard Erebus: On Terror’s starboard beam under ¼ of a mile. Ship going seven knots, topsails close-reefed, ready to round to until daylight; iceberg sighted, all hands on deck; hauls to the wind on the port tack, observes Terror running down on her