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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Durham => England => Durham Lookup Requests => Topic started by: marynunn on Wednesday 23 March 11 17:15 GMT (UK)
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My Gt Grandfather was living at 2 North St South Shields and was a seaman, he died at sea on 6 december 1885, does anyone know of any ships that had left Shields possibly Sarhana, or any idea where I could find out more info re his career at sea, he was a cook.
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The National Maritime Museum have a lot of Maritime records. Have a look at their website or ncontact them to see if they can help
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/explore/sea-and-ships/
The more you know about David Bell and if he was a "professional" seaman the more likely they are to be able to help.
The National ASrchives also have some seamans records and the catalogue is on the A2A (Access to Archives) website
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From the Register of Deaths at Sea :
Ship : Burswell, Reg No. 76222, Missing since 6/12/1885, David Bell, age 42, Cook, Place of Birth - Dundee, Last Abode - 2 North St., South Shields, Cause of Death - Supposed Drowned. Registered February 1886.
An article in the North Eastern Daily Gazette, Monday Dec 31 1885.
"A Newcastle Steamer Overdue"
Grave fears are entertained for the safety of the screw steamer Burswell belonging to Messrs Temperley and Co., Quayside, Newcastle. The vessel left the Tyne for Genoa, coal laden, on the 3rd inst., and was reported off Dover the following day, but has not since been heard of. The voyage is usually made in fourteen days, and the vessel is therefore considerably overdue. The crew, 28 hands all told, signed articles at the South Shields Shipping Office on the 2nd inst....... The Burswell was built at Willington Quay in 1878 and is a vessel of 1,861 tons Gross Register, having engines of 209 horse power.
Lists the crew, including Master, Mr C.S. Mills (43) of Liverpool, and Cook, D.Bell (42) of 2 North St., South Shields.
Alan.
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Thank you for this information, have spent years searching for him and then suddenly decided that as he was a seaman that he probably died at sea, at least I know he wasn't alone when he met his end, thank you, this was most helpful.
Regards Mary x