Hi, John Appleby was my 3xgreat-grandfather. I have been tracing information about the John Baker and have found that in January 1857, the John Baker was wrecked in a storm off the coast of Hartlepool. By 1857, John had retired and his son, Henry Appleby, was the ship's master. I have copied some newspaper articles from the 8th-10th January 1857:
8th: "Great fears are entertained for the safety of the brig John Baker, of Blyth (light vessel), as various articles belonging to her have come ashore near Stockton on-Tees."
9th: "Jan. 9th.- "John Baker," Henry Appleby, and "Honour," Benjamin Arkle, of Blyth, lost with all hands near Hartlepool."
10th: "The Late Disastrous Storm - Further particulars have reached us since our 6th page, in which accounts from correspondents in various parts of the country, as well as our own locality, appear, went to press. From Shields we learn that the Whitby, of South Shields, has come on shore on the Yorkshire coast, without a soul on board, and it is supposed all hands have perished. The vessels on the Herd Sand here are very much broken up by the violence of the sea, and will not be worth much. The old East India-man, Pekin, has gone to fragments; and what has been floating about, those persons who prowl along the coast in seasons such as the present, "waiting on Providence," have helped themselves liberally. There have been none of those disgraceful scenes of wrecking, however, characteristic of former years. The heroism of the Shields pilots in the storm is spoken of with admiration by every person. The losses sustained by the Tyne clubs from the gale will be serious, as a considerable number of Shields colliers are ashore along the coast, and the loss of life is very lamentable. There is no doubt that four vessels have perished with all hands between the Tyne and the Coquet, on Sunday; two of them, the Alma and the Reform, off Cullercoats, The Duke of Northumberland's life-boats have been useful in saving life during the gale, and by a humane provision in the foundation of the Tyne Sailors' Home, several shipwrecked seamen are enjoying the protection of that institution, and are provided with board and lodgings free of cost. A Seaman and boy belonging to the Earl of Clancarty have reached here, the master and the other portion of the crew have been washed overboard in the gale. - Intelligence received at Blyth on Thursday, confirms the suspicions entertained with respect to the safety of Epsilon and John Baker. The wreck of the former vessel has been recognised at Craster; and it seems the latter was lost near the Heugh at Hartlepool. The crews of both vessels were lost. The Pansey, Dungeld, of Blyth, has put into Lowestoft with loss of anchors and chains."
10th: "Blyth Ships Wrecked - A quantity of wreck, porter casks, and two boats came ashore at Cresswell, on Sunday, one of the boats had no name, the other had the name "Vivid, of Sunderland," upon her stern. The Wards, Stannard, of Blyth, and the Jason, Watts, of Lynn, are ashore at Bamborough, crews saved. The schooner Enterprize, of Lynn, was lost, with all hands, off Newbiggin, on Sunday. A Dutch vessel is ashore near Hartley, coal laden, from Leith, crew saved in their own boat. Pieces of wreck brauded "John Baker, of Blyth," have gone ashore at Hartlepool, and it is feared that that vessel and all hands have suffered during the gale. Other vessels are not yet accounted for."
ADDED
Also a Merchant Navy Apprenticeship Indenture 18 Oct 1856 for William Greaves aged 14 Bound for 4 years to John Appleby, Blyth to serve aboard the John Baker of Shields (?) No 18638. Enrolled at Blyth.
