William at Sea

BACKGROUND

The registration of seamen was first introduced by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1835. The registers for the period 1835-1836 were arranged alphabetically and are in the Class Register of Seamen Series (BT120). William's name does not appear on this register. This arrangement proved unworkable and a numerical sequence was adopted. The new series of registers covers the period 1835-1844 and forms the Class Register of Seamen, Series II (BT112). The Alphabetical Index of Seamen (BT119) provides the link from name to registration number and, in addition, in coded form details of service. William's Entry No. in the Register BT112 for the period 1835 - 1840 was 8295. During this period he sailed as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Mandingo, joining the vessel November 22, 1837 at the West India Docks, London, having previously served aboard the Hercules. John Burgin, the Master, had a crew of 13 for this voyage which sailed from London to Jamaica and return. William was discharged June 25, 1838. His next ship was the Plymouth registered Topaz on which he served as a cook. There are no surviving Crew Lists to show its destination. He was discharged November 14, 1838. He then served aboard the Lavinia, but again no Crew Lists survive. He joined the Elizabeth in London December 19, 1838 as an Able Seaman on another voyage to Jamaica and return. The Master was J. Whitmore with a crew of 14. He was discharged in London June 29, 1839. On July 13, 1839 he joined another 'Elizabeth' in London as a Seaman. The Master was T. Nichols who, with a crew of 12 sailed to St. Petersburg, Russia and return. He was discharged September 22, 1839. In 1840 he sailed aboard the London registered Marquis of Chandos. Again there are no surviving Crew Lists for this voyage, but previously the ship had sailed twice to Demerara, Guyana, South America. William was discharged April 25, 1840. The Merchant Shipping Act of 1844 stipulated that every British seaman should have a register ticket. The registers for the period 1845-1853 form the Register of Seamen's Tickets (BT113).

William was issued with Register Ticket No. 2216 in London on December 18, 1844. He was 53 years old. Details on his registration papers include his place of birth, his capacity as a seaman, and that he was able to write. He is described as being 5' 3" in height, with light brown hair, blues eyes and a sallow complextion. Distinguishing marks indicate that he had lost the top joint of the forefinger of his right hand. His home address is given as 30, Clarence Street, Rotherhithe. Between 1845 and 1848 he sailed from the Port of London on foreign and home water voyages. In January, 1847 he was in Cork and in January, 1848 in Grimbsy. He returned to London May 29, 1848. There is evidence that the last ship he was on was wrecked and a new ticket Number, 436,217 was isued in London January 16, 1849. It is possible to identify the ship and destination of foreign voyages from the Port Rotation number given on BT113 (Register of Seamen's Tickets), but requires the search of the Crew Lists for any particular year. No registers appear to have been made for the years 1849, 1850 and 1852-1854, although it should not be presumed that no Crew Lists were filed for those years. William was at sea in 1851 and 1852. Between 1853 and 1855 he served as a cook aboard the Agnes and the Abeona out of London and was discharged February 16, 1855. He joined the Fanny Huntly as a cook at Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesborough June 3, 1856. This vessel was built in Sunderland in 1852 and owned by de Pothnier. Its tonnage was 223 tonnes. Rigging: Snow; sheathed in Zinc in 1854, partly fastened with iron bolts. The Master was John Hunter-Smith. It left port June 11, 1856 bound for Alexandria, Egypt, where William, together with 3 other crew members, was discharged before the Consul August 28, 1856. The vessel returned to Hull December 1, 1856. A new Register of Seamen Series (BT116) was started in October 1853, but was discontiued in 1857. It is therefore not possible to trace the career of a merchant seaman beyond this date unless the name of the ship is known.