Offer:Look-up Liverpool (Mersey) Pilots 1734/1990

[davecigar]

Sorry Sue but Gordon (Glenburn) replied to you so i thought that would be OK.
Sorry, Leonard R CRASSWELL not on the list of Pilots.
Maybe he had a connection with the Pilot Service or the River Mersey in another capacity.
Regards
Dave

[arclightzero]

Hi Dave,

I am trying to find information on my great great grandfather and his son, both of which were pilots and presumably part of the Liverpool Pilot Service as they resided in or around Liverpool. Their names were William Evans and his son, Henry (or Harry) Evans. I have census data going back to the mid-1800's showing both of them as pilots, but that is all I know. Thanks!

[davecigar]

Arclightzero,
There are 5 Wm Evans on the list with DOB's ranging from 1809 to 1843. If you can be more specific about his age and on which census there's a good chance I can give you the info you require.
As for Henry, there are 2 entries, both Henry James Evans, one born in 1844 and one in 1864. Again, his age would help.
Awaiting your reply
Regards
Dave

[glenburn]

Hi Dave

Arclightzero is a recently-discovered blood-relative of mine. He's in Wisconsin (USA) so given the time differential it'll probably be a quite a while before he gets back to you

Of the twenty-four EVANS pilots listed in Youde his 2 x great-gandfather William is W(iii) - born 1833, licensed 1859, retired 1898.

W(iii)'s son Henry/Harry is H J (ii) - born 1864, licensed 1889, retired 1919, died 1938. As White Star's appropriated pilot in Liverpool, he's believed to have been a guest pilot on the TITANIC when she left Southampton in 1912, he disembarking at Queenstown and hitching a lift back into Liverpool.

W(iii) had a brother Henry EVANS (b1836 Liscard) who is described as a Liverpool Pilot in the 1861 census and on his parents' grave in Wallasey St Hilary churchyard (he died later the same year).
However, he doesn't feature in Youde so was presumably still only an apprentice at the time of his death?  

Best regards
Gordon

[arclightzero]

Hello Gordon and Dave!

Thank you for the prompt reply and Gordon, thank you for filling in some of the holes there.

I don't know if there is any more information out there beyond what Gordon has provided here, but I would be interested in knowing as much as is available. In particular, I would like to know pilot boat names if that is available. I have a ver old photograph of William sitting on what is assumed to be his pilot boat, and it would be interesting to know what boat that may have been.

Thanks!

-Ryan

[glenburn]

Hello Ryan

You'll find details as to what information there is regarding Liverpool Pilots, and where to find it, here:-

http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/archive/displayGuide.aspx?sid=68&sorStr=s_id%20ASC%200&serStr=&pgeInt=8&catStr=

With more information here :-

http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConNarrative.42

And here :-

http://www.old-liverpool.co.uk/Pilots.html

And some pics of Pilot Schooners here :-

http://www.liverpoolpilots.com/media-center/cutter-history/image-gallery-13.aspx/#/media/1981/Pilot Schooner 5.jpg

Details as to which pilot boats individual pilots were assigned to are held in the Pilot Character Books in the Merseyside Maritime Museum at Albert Dock, Liverpool.

Hope this is of some use.

Gordon

[celia]

Dave
might be able to help with the photo he's brilliant

Celia

[arclightzero]

Is there a list of pilot boats available anywhere? I have a note regarding Henry Evans' boat "Venus," but I don't know if that was a pilot boat or a personal boat of his.

[davecigar]

Hi Ryan,
In 1854, Wm Evans is not on the "Returns Relating to Pilots and Pilotage", which also includes apprentices, although my GGF is, having been born a year earlier.
He is however on the next "Returns" list I have from 1863. His age is given as 30, he is a 'Full Pilot' attached to No 5 Boat, the schooner "Victoria and Albert". She was built in 1856 by Michael Ratsey (A boatbuilder from Cowes, Isle of Wight) (Google his name). She was 78'5" long, 17'4" beam and 9'8" draft and 61 grt (Gross registered tons). On the 13th May 1888 she was run down and sunk by the barque "Governor" 3 miles WNW of the Bar Lightship.
In 1870, same details as above.
In 1895, age 62, he was 1st Master of No 1 Boat, the schooner "Queen". She was also built by Michael Ratsey in the same year, 1856, as the "Victoria and Albert" with almost identical measurements. She was sunk in collision with the s.s "Sailor Prince" on 10th may 1891. She was salvaged and re-commissioned and withdrawn in May 1898 having been replaced by the advent of steam Pilot Cutters.
It would appear that he ended up with the biggest prize of all!! In 1897 he was 1st Master of the last sailing Pilot schooner ever built for use in Liverpool, the "George Holt". And very handsome she was too! She was built in 1892 by Phillip & Son, Dartmouth. Her length was 101' x 21' beam and 12' draft. 78grt. She was sold in 1899 to the Falkland Islands Co. for inter island trade, having been phased out after delivery of the 4th steam pilot cutter, the "David Fernie".
My GGF's career spanned the same era as he died in 1898, aged 66, whilst still a working pilot.
There is a list of Liverpool Pilot Boats from 1766, at the back of "Beyond the Bar", but I can't find a "Venus".
Regards
Dave