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Wow - thanks very much for finding that - it has been one of my brick walls for several years. 

I took 13 Aug 1883 as the latest date of death as he was shown as deceased on the marriage certificate of another of his sons.  His age and occupation match my records (the tale of an accident at the docks is word-of-mouth within the family).  Johnson is a fairly common surname; I could not find him or his wife in either the 1871 or 1881 census, and had not heard of that address. 

My Ancestry subscription has lapsed, having hit so many brick walls.  Is there any way that I can view the press report?

The other Mersey river boatman death in the family that I'm struggling to find is John Johnson, born 7 Aug 1858, and died sometime between 1927 and 1 Apr 1929.

Ian

My Great-Grandfather, John Johnson is listed as a pilot on his marriage certificate on 24 Nov 1879.  He was aged only 21 at the time, which seems rather young to be a pilot.

In future records (census etc), he is listed as a waterman, boatman, barge boatman or river gig boatman.

This is what I know:
Born 7 Aug 1858 - 40 Dublin Street, Liverpool.
Married Margaret o'Brien 24 Nov 1879.  She later died.
Married Emily o'Brien 17 Mar 1895.
He died between 1927 - 1929.

His father, Peter Johnson was a mariner / Seaman / Boatman, born about 1821 and died before 13 Aug 1883 in an accident at the Docks. 

I guess that John Johnson learned his trade from his father, and I wonder if Peter Johnson was was a registered Pilot.  Peter was married to Hannah (known as Ann).  Peter's father was also called Peter Johnson.

John's son, Thomas Johnson (my grandfather) 1906-1981 was a Mersey gig-boatman all of his working life.

Can you find any of the above in the records of pilots?

Ian