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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Gordon163 on Monday 12 June 23 23:34 BST (UK)
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Hi,
My relative, Arthur Davies (1878 - ) received his Certificate of Competency as a Master Mariner on 9th January 1903, at The Port of London.
He was living with his mother, Charlotte Davies (nee Kelly), in Tottenham, London in the 1901 Census, at 1, High Road, Tottenham, Edmonton, Middlesex.
Charlotte died in 1916, while visiting her sister in County Durham.
I am not able to find Arthur on either the 1911 or 1921 Censuses, because he was probably at Sea.
How might one go about finding which ship he might have been master of; and where it might have been?
Arthur was baptised on 1st Jan 1882 at Christ Church, Battersea, Surrey. Census records indicate that he was born in Battersea/Wandsworth.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Gordon
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Have you been through
England & Wales Merchant Navy Crew Lists 1861-1913
And
Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941
On FindMyPast
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Thanks,
I have seen these, but there is nothing conclusive there.
He is mentioned in the London Metropolitan Archives, which gives his Master's Number as 034467 London 1903.
He is mentioned in a couple of their documents, but there are no details of voyages.
Gordon
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What about
https://mha.mun.ca/mha/holdings/searchcombinedcrews.php
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Have you tried looking at the 1915 extracts from crewlists - try under Arthur Davies to start.
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Yes, there was one Arthur Davies, who was too old - 50 in 1915, operating in the Irish Sea.
I think that Lloyds of London have a Captain's Register, but I can't seem to get the online version.
Gordon
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I followed a master mariner's travels by searching newspapers.
In the time span you are researching various newspapers used to have a column of British Port "arrivals" and "departures". Search for the captain's surname brings up the ship(s) he was master of.
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That's a good idea. I will try that.
Thanks,
Gordon
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Was there any connection to Herne Bay in Kent? There were In Memoriam notices in the Herne Bay Press from 1934 to 1940 with this wording:
"DAVIES. - In loving memory of Captain Arthur Davies, A.I.N.A., late China Navigation Company, Shanghai, China, who died on Sunday, March 5th, 1933. Dearly loved."
Drosybont
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Many thanks for this.
They were a rather 'global' family. His brother lived in India, one sister married in Romania and lived in Paris and the youngest sister lived in New York.
Perhaps the lack of UK records is explained by him being in China?
Gordon
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I am fairly sure that it is him, as I found the clip in the Herne Bay press. His mother's maiden name of Kelly appears in parentheses after "Davies".
AINA, I think is, "Associate of the Institution of Naval Architects".
My father's uncle worked in Shanghai, between the wars, designing ships.
Gordon
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On Sunday. March 5th, at Herne Bay, Captain Arthur Davies (Kelly) A.I.N.A„ late China Navigation Company. Shanghai, China, beloved husband of Anne Isabel Davies. China papers please copy.
(Herne Bay Press 11 March 1933 page 3)
Aged 54 per the GRO index.
Probate granted to widow. Address: Shanghai, Mickleburgh Avenue,Herne Bay
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He seems to have used Kelly as a middle name, at least for a time.
Arthur K Davies married Annie I Stringa in Shanghai (1911-15), GRO Consular Marriages
UK passenger lists
Arthur Kelly Davies and his wife Annie I. arrived in London from Shanghai in March 1926
AK and Annie Isabel Davies returned to Shanghai in October the same year!
Obviously they came back to the UK again.
Freemasons records for Arthur Kelly Davies (Canton).
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Thanks for all this help.
It is, indeed, the right man.
His wife's sister, Louise Marie Stringa, married Harry Sharland Kelly in Newport, Monmouthshire.
Annie Isabel and Louise Marie were both born in Chester, but some of their younger siblings were born in Newport. The family obviously moved.
Harry Sharland Kelly was manager of a coal export business in Cardiff.
Gordon
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I'm pleased it worked out for you. Having a Captain Davies in my family history, I know that finding them can be difficult!
Drosybont
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Thanks for all this help.
It is, indeed, the right man.
His wife's sister, Louise Marie Stringa, married Harry Sharland Kelly in Newport, Monmouthshire.
Annie Isabel and Louise Marie were both born in Chester, but some of their younger siblings were born in Newport. The family obviously moved.
Harry Sharland Kelly was manager of a coal export business in Cardiff.
Gordon
Looks like that line led you a merry dance.
Congratulations for finding the facts.