A seafaring career was recalled by the death of Capt William Morse, aged 81, of 2 Pimpley Road, Northam, and formerly of Appledore.

Capt Morse commenced his seafaring life as a lad in the coasting trade in the Bridgewater district and came as a young man to Appledore. In 1896 at St Mary’s, Appledore, he married Miss Ellen Day, eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John Day. There were three children, of whom two survive. Mrs Morse died in May 1907. In March 1908, Capt Morse married Miss Mary Cook, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Cook, of Irsha Street, Appledore, who predeceased him.
After sailing in the Guernsey built ship Danube, he served in the Gannet between Appledore and Lundy Island under the command of the late Capt Fred Dark. For several years he was mate of the Cornish sailing ship Margaret Murray and in 1891 was caught in a devastating blizzard while on passage from Cornwall to the Continent with china clay, but the ship managed to reach safety.
Capt Morse commanded the three-masted schooner, Esmeraldon, of which he was part owner, for over ten years. He was in the brigantine, Mary Ann when war broke out in 1914 and although the ship was then lying at the mouth of the Elbe, it managed to escape.
He served in the Royal Naval Reserve and received the Long Service Medal. In later years Capt Morse was engaged in the local fishing and barge trade. For many years he resided at Myrtle Street, Appledore, but recently he had lived with his daughter at Northam.
The funeral took place at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, the Vicar (Rev H C A S Muller) officiating, assisted by the Rev A R Richards, (Seamen’s Mission). Miss Barrington, at the organ, accompanied the singing of the hymns. The Vicar referred to the quiet and unassuming disposition of the late Capt Morse and of his Christian life associated with the Sailor’s Rest.
Immediate mourners were: Mr and Mrs A Morse; Mr and Mrs C Prouse; Messrs W H Morse, C Prouse and W Prouse; Mrs D James; Messrs R Lamey, B Lamey, J Lamey; Mesdames M Cole, J Hallett, K Hooper and L Smalldon and Miss M Lamey.
Unavoidably absent were: Mr and Mrs S Morse, Mr and Mrs T Morse, Mr and Mrs W Morse, Mr and Mrs B Morse, and Mr A Morse; Mr T Reading.
Among others attending were: Messrs G Raymond, F Cox, J Vaggers and R Bennett; Mesdames M C Dark (also representing Mrs Burch), and J Berry; Misses L Squires, Ella Marshall, Annie Rees and M Rees.
The bearers were Messrs W Lesslie, E Powe, J Cook, F Edwards, E Cawsey and K Bush.
Floral tributes were: Winnie and Charlie, Clive and Tony; Dill and Albert; Bill and Etta; Micky, Doris and family; Henry, John and family; Ronnie and Sheila; Nellie and family; Walter, Norah and family (Wood Green); Maud, Harry and family (Taunton); the late George and Emma Lamey’s sons and daughters; Rev H C A S and Mrs Muller (Appledore Vicarage); F Patt, V Gibbs and all the staff, Kingsley Bakeries, Northam; Mrs Berry.
Funeral arrangements were by Messrs P K Harris and Sons, Appledore.

Gazette article dated 3 February 1950