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Hello glenburn,
I was wondering if you could look up my great uncle, mum always said he was the youngest person to take a ship out of the Mersey.
He was Gerald Newman Dodwell born 15/10/1898 in Rock Ferry, Birkenhead. He died in 1972.
He was in the Merchant Navy during WW1 so I don't know if he had time to become a pilot.

Am I right in thinking that fishermen on the Mersey sometimes qualified as pilots?
My Great grandfather Michael Stephen O'Brien Born 15/2/1840 Bootle, Lancashire, England  was a fisherman. 
Thank you so much for sharing this information and giving your time to us all it is very much appreciated.
Anne

Thank you Ben I will check out the workhouses too.
Anne09

Can anyone direct me to where hospital records for Stockton on Tees 1891 can be found or which hospital my grandmother would have been taken to.
 In 1891 my grandmother Mary Ellen Lynch nee Dodwell  aged 5 years was staying with her Grandmother, Bridget Kenny, & family at 18, Florence St. Stockton on Tees, Co. Durham.
She fell and broke her arm which was going to be amputated but my greatgrandfather told them to do nothing untill he arrived. He had to travel from Cheshire.
Verbal accounts say she was treated by a ??Prof. Montserrat, her arm was saved. A silver tube was inserted into the arm, the arm didn't grow any bigger. She was a milliner and made all the childrens clothes, all 12 of them including suits.
Any help will be gratefully received.
Anne09

Update 6/2/09
I have contacted Wirral archives, as this is where she was living when she died, they directed me to Stockton who I have already contacted, very helpful but no medical records. I am awaiting a reply from Teesside archives.
I have spoken to various people in government offices who feel Mary Ellens records will have been destroyed.
It appears that my grandmother's accident may have occurred in 1893 /1894 when she was seven or eight years old.
The search continues.............
Anne09

Dear Rose,
Thank you, I shall certainly try the Library for more information.
Anne