Merchant seamen

[seaweed]

CASHIER Official number 72178
I have an entire crew list with basic information but I think you would be best served in obtaining the originals, 1879/1880 from MUN

Just an after thought.
Duncan Carrick was a 33 year old Able Seaman when he signed on CASHIER. This would suggest he had a previous MN career.
As there were no central records of merchant seamen kept between 1857 and 1919 the easiest way to trace sailors from that period is to back track on crew agreements which usually gave the name of his previous ship.

http://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/code_f.php

If you intend to order a crew list from MUN, first of all go for the 1880 volume.
Although he deserted in New York City, the actual voyage ended in Bremerhaven on 11.2.1880 so it is more likely he will be in that one. If not you can always look at 1879.

[Ringoroses]

Thanks seaweed, will do so. (Haven't done it yet fortunately!  )

I wish there was some way of coming forward too. I know he was still alive c1894, but have nothing on him after that.  He appears to have been very close to my 2x greatgrandfather and I'd love to  know what became of him.
Regards,
Ann

[Maggiemck]

hi, just thought I'd pass this on if it's of any use to anyone researching naval history. I recently visited Kew and prior to that had dealings with them on the phone. Apart from the records which they hold there they also have specialists in different aspects of Naval history and they might be able to answer general questions for you about how widows were informed of deaths at sea etc.

They are always so busy but I did manage to get a bit of time with someone on the phone and they were very helpful and very knowledgable. If you catch them at a quiet time they will take time to advise you on where to look and may have knowledge of these kind of procedures. I think it's worth a try if you are not close to any of the research services.

[Ringoroses]

Good advice Maggiemck, thanks. Will bear it in mind.

Ann

[slightlyfoxed]

My cousin and i have been trying to locate the records of a 'disgraced' merchant seaman for years without success. he was a purser with White Star Line

1917 and Scotland Yard were looking for him- they caught him and he was sent down for stealing money from the Laurentic, just before it was sunk with £7 mill in gold on board !

Any idea how we might find his records. we presume he was from dismissed the  merchant marine??

[Bella21]

Hi Seaweed,

Alexander TELFER, born Creetown 1841, ship master, is in my line.  I would love to learn more details about him and his career.

Do you know anything about Alexander's brother James TELFER, who was also born in Creetown?

Any advice about where else I could look for more information about these men?

[seaweed]

Sorry for the late reply.
I have found an Alexander Telfer certificate number 27686 passed second mates certificate in Liverpool 1863. I do not know if this is your man.
I suggest you get in touch with London Metropolitan Archive who are custodians of Lloyd's Captains Register. Unfortunately the on line index doesn't cover surnames beginning with T.
It may also pay you to contact National Martime Museum Greenwich to see if they have anything.
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/researchers/library/research-guides/lloyds/lloyds-captains-registers

[Bella21]

Hi Seaweed,

Thanks for the advice.  The dates would fit for Alexander to be second mate in 1863 as I believe I have found reference to his masters ticket in 1871.  I will follow up the Captain's register and with the Maritime Museum as well.

I have another merchant captain, my ancestor Robert Telfer.  I believe he was captain on the 'Vulcan of Glasgow' in the late 1840s.  At the time of his marriage in 1851 he was captain of the 'Rotterdam of Glasgow' - old newspaper shipping reports indicated the 'Rotterdam' sailed between Rotterdam, Helvoet, Grangemouth and Glasgow.  In the mid 1850s he emigrated to Australia.  He was born 1817 in the West Indies, and I would like to get more information about his tickets of trade and the earlier ships he worked on.  Any suggestions?

[Billyblue]

The merchant seamen records are at Newfoundland because, many years ago,
[as reported in "Queensland Family Historian" June 1992, page 52]
"most 19th Century marine records were thrown out by the
British Board of Trade some time ago, but fortunately they were purchased by
The Maritime History Group, Memorial University of Newfoundland, ST JOHN'S AIC 5S7,
Newfoundland, Canada."

Dawn M