BARKING, ESSEX - FISHING BOATS

[cardplayer4]

Hi,

Has anyone any information about fishing boats/crew members sailing out of Barking - lost at sea in the 1850/1860s.

Any information, however small would be much appreciated.

Thankyou.

[Treetotal]

Newspapers might hold info...do you have any ships/crew names?
Carol

[cardplayer4]

I am looking to find the death of William How(e) - a fisherman from Barking - who died between 1859-1861.

Rob

[Jolee]

The archives and family history centre at Valance House Dagenham has a massive collection of fisherman/fishing boat information. Barking was the centre of the fishing industry at that time

[cardplayer4]

Thankyou Jolee,

I haven't heard of them before - that sounds very promising.

[Jolee]

I do go there when I can, but if you google in Barking fishing fleet and go to the Barking and Dagenham site they state what records they hold, being Barking born and bred I know both Creekmouth and Barking quay sites well, next time I go I will see if there are any Howe family members listed in the church records.

[cardplayer4]

Thankyou so much for this.

I live in Grimsby, so don't get down there very often, but the next time I do I will certainly visit Valance House.

Rob

[snowball]

Hi -  a bit later than your target dates, but an entry in the Essex Standard Jan 1 1864 relates news of the recent gales and a setting up of funds for the widows and orphans of the Barking smack fishermen. One 72-ton boat out of Barking lost its anchors and chain off the coast of Holland and had "four men swept off deck one after another by the fury of the gale", leaving only three boys on board, who managed to get in to port.

The Essex Standard of Dec 30 1863 says "the loss of life in men and boys" from the Barking smacks  "cannot be estimated at less than 40".

Rob

[cardplayer4]

Thak you Rob for that information - it all helps to build up a picture of how many men were lost at sea around that time.

Rob