Researching Tattoos early 1800s poss Mariner

[KarenT]

Hi all,
I'm wondering if anyone would know a good website or where to look for information re old tattoos. I have a very good description of the tattoos of my gg grandfather from his Certificate of Freedom in 1843 - he was a convict sent to Australia in 1838 poss aged about 17 at the time. It is possible he was a mariner - or at least born to a mariner onboard a ship in the English Channel - so I am placing it here.

Guess I am hoping to see if certain tattoos pertain to places, ships or ... ? or even generally what some of them may mean. There is the obligatory mermaid, hearts etc. But wondering what first one is about to start with? His own initials were F F so that may or may not have anything to do with the intials tattooed. Will write exactly as description has. Thanks for reading, Karen

Two Tobacco pipes bottle and two glasses inside lower right arm;
Mermaid with comb and glass (guessing means a looking glass) in hands on upper;
four dots (? as written) W F x F S N W I heart I I M;
heart pierced with two darts on lower left arm.

[Jan1954]

Hi Karen,

There is a rather old website at tattoo.co.uk/bthm.htm (put http://www. in front) that states that there was going to be an exhibition by the British Tattoo History Museum at the National Maritime Museum. However, the website mentioned this back in 2001/2002, so whether or not the exhibition is still running is anyone's guess.....

However, if you go to the website, there is still the history of tattoos and a link to the NMM, which may prove to be fruitful.

[notanotherminer]

Bear in mind that back then there would have been no universal templates for tattoos. As a tattoo is effectively a work of art their appearance would have been unique to each tattoo artist. What you have described however would have been very common themes, particularly amongst sailors, so a person would describe exactly what he required or even show a picture of what he wanted to the tattooist who would then put their particular interpretation on it.

[Mutley]

Take a look at this thread.

It mentions the 'Journal of Australian Studies' where you may find some help.

[KarenT]

Thanks Jan, redirected to their updated website, not a lot there, but did see a reference there to vanishingtattoo.com which is quite a large website. The NMM website looks very interesting, thanks, I didn't know about that one.

Hi Karen,

There is a rather old website at tattoo.co.uk/bthm.htm (put http://www. in front) that states that there was going to be an exhibition by the British Tattoo History Museum at the National Maritime Museum. However, the website mentioned this back in 2001/2002, so whether or not the exhibition is still running is anyone's guess.....

However, if you go to the website, there is still the history of tattoos and a link to the NMM, which may prove to be fruitful.

[KarenT]

Yes, I know what you mean. I knew the mermaid was a standard, but reading bits and pieces here and there, the pipes and heart/darts seems common too. There are lots of interpretations of dots, their meaning could have been lost but also they too can be of significance to the owner, as in counting something of importance to them. Still not sure about the glasses, haven't seen a reference to that. The letters seem as though they would be of personal significance - I had thought if he was a mariner they might have something to do with a ship. It's possible he was born on one, or with the ship that brought him out. But am having no luck there. I was on the right idea though as ships do carry a unique code, but doesn't appear this is it.

Bear in mind that back then there would have been no universal templates for tattoos. As a tattoo is effectively a work of art their appearance would have been unique to each tattoo artist. What you have described however would have been very common themes, particularly amongst sailors, so a person would describe exactly what he required or even show a picture of what he wanted to the tattooist who would then put their particular interpretation on it.

[KarenT]

Thanks Mutley - just had a look at the thread, interesting too. I had found the David Kent info yesterday before seeing this post - must have just missed it. His info is interesting. I think I will really need to think long and hard about the context of the letters.

I have so little to go on with my gg grandfather so I need all the scraps of info I can dig up!

Take a look at this thread.

It mentions the 'Journal of Australian Studies' where you may find some help.