Liverpool Sailors Home and Sailors and Fireman Card

[Chasing Caseys]

Where to begin !

My gt grandfather William Hartley Donaldson worked the fishing boats in Buckie, Lossie and anywhere he could get work and when he wasnt doing that he was a Merchant seaman when he could get a voyage. He was based mostly in Aberdeen at Mearns St and South Market St Sailors and Fishermans Homes.

I have a Sailors and Fireman Union Card North Shields Branch - entry date 3rd Sept 1902, last stamp date July 1904. Does anyone know what this is and why he was there ? all the stamps in the book say "paid".

I have a letter written to him from Liverpool Sailors Home written by T. Williams Lay Missionary dated 1897. I have looked on the Liverpool site and havent found mention of him (the missionary).

I have lots of letters WITH envelopes ! so know some of the ships he sailed on.
1897-8 The Windsor Park to Valparaiso Chile - this is the only one ive found anything about via the ship modellers web site.
1899 it says Boat Leader I N S no 1314 Stromness - does anyone know what that number is ? I asked Newfoundland but they couldnt help me.
1900 Schooner Mary in Danzig Prussia and he stayed with her in Sunderland.
1902 SS Ottowa in Gothernburg Sweeden
1903 SS Weehawken in Philladelphia USA Copenhagen and North Shields
1905 SS Thomas Wayman c/o messrs Wood Taylor Brown Leadenhall St or c/o T F Marshall and sons ship brokers Sunderland so i dont know where that one went. I know Greenwich have information on the years ending with 5 so they may have something on this. I did go there on a whim on my way home once but i think i gave them the wrong ship name ! and they didnt have anything on just his name.

So how do i find his "Muster Roll ?" or what ever it was that would identify him.
After 1905 i know nothing of him and its thought he died at sea.. He didnt marry my gt grandmother and those family stories has it that he could have been pushed overboard by the man she did marry !!

Im totally stumped on this one. The NA hasnt been particulaly helpful as the cards they have for William Donaldsons dont give much away after paying lots of £3.50,s for downloads ! and i cant identify him from them.

I will post this on another part of this site as well for maximum coverage !!

Hoping someone can help !!

Tracey

[Geoffers]

William Hartley Donaldson worked the fishing boats ........I have a Sailors and Fireman Union Card North Shields Branch - entry date 3rd Sept 1902, last stamp date July 1904. Does anyone know what this is and why he was there ? all the stamps in the book say "paid".

The union is now known as The National Union of Seamen, have you tried them to see if they have any records from this period?

The index to marine deaths is available on 1837 online
It may be worth a browse.

Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

Hi Geoffers

Yes i had looked on that a while a go but thanks because it has jogged my memory to look for someone else on it ! .......so many sights to remember

[Chasing Caseys]

and sorry, no i havent tried The National Union of Seamen. Going about Maritime is new to me the furthest i have got is going to Greenwich and asking questions ! and theyre very nice and helpful in the Library i just need to go back when they are open - unlike my last off chance visit

[Wirral]

Although it may not be any help in finding your man, I have a copy of a very good book called "Mersey Mariners" by Bob Evans, ISBN 19012310504, published 2002 by Countyvise Ltd. It only cost £7 when I bought it a couple of years ago.
It's great for putting "flesh on the bones".
Just found a photo of the Reverend Edgar Lambert and the Mersey Mission, taken in 1895. It includes a Thomas Williams. Good beard, but not as good as the chap standing next to him - looks a bit like W.C.Grace!

[Chasing Caseys]

Ah......... the T.Williams lay preacher in my first sermon! looking at what Geoffers suggested i think Warwick University may have the info i need.

[Chasing Caseys]

Wirral....the book is still available and hasnt gone up in price even better there are two used ones for sale on Amazon at £2.75 or £4.99 respectively so i might treat myself ! worth it just to see the beard

[Wirral]

Hi Tracey
My copy is the reprinted & updated 2002 one. It was first published 1997. Unfortunately, like many books of this type there is no index. See page 75 for Mr Green of the impressive beard!

[Chasing Caseys]

Cant wait to see the specimin ! I will also see if my local library has a copy

[Geoffers]

TNA has a research guide which might be worth browsing for inspiration:
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchive...sLeafletID=257

Do you know when this chap was born? Could he have continued at sea to 1939? If so, try searching TNA's catalogue:
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search.asp

Enter Donaldson W H in the first field and in the department or series code, enter BT372. If you ever pass TNA, it might be worth poppng in just for a browse.

Geoffers