Missing Mariner's??

[orinoco77]

Apologies for re-opening such an old thread, but I've only just found it. My ancestor, James Finigan (or Finnigan, the spelling is somewhat fluid), was a mariner from Liverpool, born in 1846 (or thereabouts). I suspect he may well be the James Finnigan on the list in the first post of this thread. Ann, I don't suppose you have any more information on the ship, or James himself, do you? James disappears some time after the 1881 census, as does his wife, Elizabeth. His children, Thomas and Charlotte, were raised in two different orphanages, one in Liverpool and the other in Belfast. I've never been able to work out why, or what actually happened to James and Elizabeth. There are no death or burial records that seem to fit. I thought perhaps he had died at sea, but have so far been unable to find evidence for that either.

[maryn1913]

orinoco
Just noticed this old thread, and checked the website  listed here for Mystic Seaport; it didn't work.

But I found a working phone number for their research library in the U S 860-572-5367, but they prefer

e mails.                      collections[at]mysticseaport.org
 it's the  G W Blunt White Library in Mystic, Connecticut, USA
they are only opened
Wednesday 2-5
Thursday 10-5
Friday 10-3

Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please replace [at] with @

[Ringoroses]

Orinocho, can you make two more posts so I can PM you? I think I may be able to help.


Cefnrider, Rhondagirl, BVC and Shep318 - I'm so sorry for not replying to you all, but for some reason I was not notified of your posts. It's a some time ago now since you all posted, I hope you've managed to get further in your research. If not, please post again as there are plenty here who can help.



Regards Ann

[orinoco77]

Ok, here's one post

[orinoco77]

And another

[Ringoroses]

Ok, I'll PM you. 

[tigtag]

Hello

Hoping you can help me.

I have two of my master mariners showing on the Gulidford site (both Osburn's) who both have "no voyages listed".

Does this mean my wall starts here?

I also have another master mariner "missing" (William Osburn b. Knottingly 1854) and cannot find any of them on any of the links.

Am I missing something or is it looking unlikely I'll find records?

Many thanks in advance.
Jo

[Ringoroses]

Hi Jo,

I'm no expert in these matters, but here's what I'd do.

I have two of my master mariners showing on the Gulidford site (both Osburn's) who both have "no voyages listed".

Does this mean my wall starts here?

Have you applied for their Master's certificates? They may not tell you details of their voyages, but may still contain useful information (if nothing else, you should see their signatures).

 http://www.nmm.ac.uk/researchers/library/research-guides/the-merchant-navy/tracing-people-master-mariners-mates-engineers

Also, have you tried the crew lists at FindMyPast? I see they've updated them in the last week or so, you may be lucky (I was!).

Re your missing mariner (from the link above)

"Many mariners declare themselves as masters on census forms and other official records such as marriage or birth certificates without officially holding qualifications."

How do you know your William was a Master? What proof do you have?

Another avenue to check is the newspapers - have you tried that?  If they ever ended up in strife, say, or in a fight (not unusual in such circles) they may appear.

Regards,
Ann

 

[tigtag]

Hi Ann

Thank you for your input. I have looked at my William again and it would seem the only place that "Master Mariner" was recorded was on his daughters (bigamous) mariage cerrtificate which I am now surmising may have been for "show" on her part as William was deceased by this time.

On her legitimate mariage he was described as Captain of a Tug and Steam Tug Captain on her birth certificate.

He is described as a Tug Boat Captain on his own death certificate and Master Tugman on his wifes.

He is recorded on the censii as follows:
1871 - Mariner
1881 - Merchant Seaman
1891 - Master Crewman on "The Shah"
1901 - Master person in charge of vessel, again on "The Shah"

Although a seaman all his life it looks like maybe he wasnt qualified!!

Thanks again
Jo