Captain Heinrich Schepers (*1858) on Dec. 10th 1885 acquired the tjalk “MARIA” which sank during a severe storm off Norderney in 1889. All crew members died at sea.
His son, Captain Bernhard Schepers (*1887) with the acquisition of the iron sailing vessel “MARIA ELISE” in 1913 followed in his father’s footsteps. The ship was later converted into a motor sailor.