Eliza Ann Ross

Eliza Ann Ross, née McGray (1849–1940), is a Canadian woman best known for commanding the steel four-mast barquentine Reform.

Early life The daughter of Deacon Asa Turner McGray (1807–1877) and Eliza Ann Doane (1809–1885), Eliza Ann Ross was born 15 August 1849 in Centreville, Cape Sable Island, Barrington, Nova Scotia. She is the granddaughter of Rev. Asa McGray (1780–1843), the minister who established the first church of Free Will Baptists in Nova Scotia.

Eliza Ann was the sixth of seven children; three brothers and three sisters. He subsequently became a businessman in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Her older sisters were Susan Marie "McGray" Smith (1834–1880) and Almira Davis "McGray" Kenney (1847–1932). The couple bore no children.

Tragedy struck Eliza Ann's sister in January 1888. Almira Davis "McGray" Kenney's husband was lost at sea. Captain John Jenkins Kenney (1843-1888) was the master on the schooner Cape Sable. He would have been about 17 years old at the time.

The first mate that assisted Eliza Ann was subsequently promoted. Captain Alex Spears became Reform 's new master.

Return and retirement Eliza Ann Ross boarded the first steamer sailing to New York. She lived in New York for a while before returning to Nova Scotia. She lived near her brother, Asa Ellsworth McGray, and his family.

Although Eliza Ann did not leave any descendants, she did raise her sister's son, John Jenkins Kenney, Jr. He moved to the United States in April 1902 and became a citizen in June 1917. He was unmarried.

Eliza Ann died on January 17, 1940, at the age of 91 years. Her gross tonnage was 593.24, with under deck tonnage at 540.01, poop 4.29, roundhouse 39.30, hatchway 9.64, and deductions 48.24, for a net 545 registered tonnage. The 48.24-ton deductions accounted for 16.70 tons for crew and officers. An additional 31.54 tons accounted for the master's cabin, chart room, boatswain's stores, and sail room aft.

On 16 March 1896, Sachsen was wrecked on Burial Island off County Down, Ireland. At about 5 o'clock in the morning, Reform, while under full sail, struck a sunken reef about a mile from Barbuda and "went so hard and fast that it was decided impossible to take her off." While Reform was a total loss, Captain Spears and the crew reached the shore safely. She was insured for $10,000 by the Boston Insurance Company.

Reform is not to be confused by a similarly named ship also associated with southern Nova Scotia. Brig Reform from Barbados went ashore at Brier Island in nearby Digby County on 25 November 1837. There, she was wrecked with the crew saved.