Revenue Cutter

[tassiegirl]

I am trying to find a print/sketch/drawing of the Royal George Cutter or of a similar designed cutter, an ancestor was a mariner on board the Royal George in the early 1800's and I would like a picture to in his part of the family story, he lived on Cumbrae, Scotland so presume that is the area he worked around.

I don't do easy requests because all the easy bits have been researched and found.

Thanks.

Laurie

[MarkJ]

There are pictures of Customs Cutters in action (HM Cutter Wickham) as well as a lot of reading material for background at this site -

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17563/17563-h/17563-h.htm

Mark

[busyglen]

Thanks for that ulr Mark, I have found it very interesting, and hadn't seen this before.
I am sure tassiegirl will find it of interest also.

Glenys :)

[MarkJ]

Cheers Glen :)
I shall be reading that later myself! Some good gory bits in there I spotted ;)

Hopefully it will be of use to Laurie - even if only for background reading on the role of Customs Officers in the late 18th and early 19th century.

Mark :)

[tassiegirl]

Hi Mark.

Thank you for the site, makes fascinating reading and gave me some insight into the revenue men, all the information should eep me quiet for hours, I must say I was impressed by the speed you sent it to me and I thought it was a difficult query.

thanks again, must think of some harder for you next time.

Laurie

[MarkJ]

Glad the site was useful Laurie :)
It is very interesting reading - and there is a whole section on the Cutters.

Mark :)

[arrandi]

hello.
I saw your notes from last year re the Royal George.
I have traced ancestors named Andrew and Isaac Thomson, living in Cardiff st. Millport and working aboard the Royal George. Are there any more references to crew from that time. I have been trying to get a list of crew members around 1780s and any history ofthe Royal George.
Audrey.

[lauriemac]

Hi, I bought the book "Clyde Coast Smuggling" by J R D Cambell, it gives the history of the cutters and a lot of information including a photo of the Royal george, makes very interesting reading.

Laurie

[arrandi]

Hi Laurie,
many thanks for your reply. I managed to get a copy of that book last year plus a few on clyde coast and galloway smuggling. Unfortunately I cant seem to get any further on the crew members of the Royal George or the Thomson family in Millport.

Audrey.

[lauriemac]

Hi Audrey

there might be a connectionn here, my line of research is the Templeton name from Cumbrae.

William Templeton married Ann Walker, their second child William born 1822 married Agnes Crawford born born 1814 to Archibald Crawford and Jane/janet Thomson, Archibald was a mariner on the Royal George. William and Ann's 6th child was Walker who is my direct ancestor

Cumbrae memorials, plot 181, Archd Crawford mariner on board Royal george cutter died 1/1/1858 age 86, wife Jane Thomson died 13/9/1852 aged 80, daughter Mary died 12/2/1861 age 63.

plot 209, Isaac Thomson seaman died 10/1/1837 age 74, the rest is confusing, see if you can work it out. imo bro And 8/12/1786 age 54, fa And Thomson 1797 age 83, wife Eliz Wilson 14/6/1839 age 78, s John 27/8/1858 73, (w Agnes McDougal 8/2/1870 75, 1s Isaac 27/2/1893 62.

can you check this against your notes and see what comes up and I will try and get back further, I have the Bute and Arran gravestone inscriptions pre 1855, that is where I found the information above.

look forward to hearing from you

Laurie

[arrandi]

Hi again,
thanks for those notes. I have a copy of the gravestone somewhere. Its a while since I last looked at my notes. I sort of came to a standstill last year. Will get back to you in a few days.

Audrey.

[kenmac]

My gggg Grandfather John McFee was the Steward on the Royal George in the late 1700s. I have a booklet published by the Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society which lists all OPR references to Officers and Seaman of the Cumbrae Cutters.

I would be happy to provide any information I have.

Ken

[lauriemac]

Hi Ken

Thanks for the offer, my ancestor onboard the Royal George was Archibald Crawford, he was born 1772 Cumbrae and died 1858, if you have him in your list of crew I would I would appreciate a copy of whatever it says.

Thanks again

Laurie

[arrandi]

Hi Ken,
Just seen your message. My ancestors aboard the Royal George were Isaac Thomson & John Thomson residing in Cardiff Street. Millport. Any news of them?

Thanks
Audrey.

[kenmac]

Lauriemac

The pamphlet I referred to contains entries for four different Archibald Crawfords. From your earlier posts it would seem the man that relates to you is this one :-

Name - Archibald Crawford
DOB - 1/1/1782
Crew Position - Mariner RGC
Wife - Janet Thomson
DOB - 1/1/1772
Daughter - Mary b. 9/12/1799
Son - Archibald b. 2/8/1801
Daughter - Margaret b. 25/11/1802
Son - Thomas b. 15/3/1804
Daughter - Hannah b. 1/4/1807
Daughter - Jean b. 28/3/1809
Daughter - Elizabeth b. 1/12/1811
Daughter - Agnes b. 14/2/1814

My ggg Grandfather is an Archibald Crawford from Cumbrae but I cannot link to any of these, at the moment. I have always had an interest in the Cumbrae Crawfords as Crawford is my middle name and for many years I did not know where it came from. Having spent many happy holidays on Cumbrae I was delighted to establish the link.

Arrandi

The pamphlet does show Isaac Thompson but gives no details of John being a crewman. This of course does not prove that he wasn't as working on the Cutter seems to have been a job passed from father to son. The details provided are as follows :-

Name - Isaac Thomson
Crew Position - Mariner RGC
Wife - Elizabeth Wilson
Son - John b. 13/9/1784
Son - Andrew b. 13/5/1787
Daughter - Elizabeth b. 15/1/1789
Son - Archibald b. 9/5/1794
Son - Isaac b. 1/10/1796
Daughter - Mary b. 17/1/1799
Son - William b. 27/12/1801

The pamphlet provides some background to the siting of the Cutter at Millport. It would seem that the earliest reference to it was 1728 and the latest 1822. It advises that the crew was up to 60 members and the majority of these crewmen lived in Millport. It seems being an officer or seaman on the Customs Boat conferred some social standing and it is one of very few professions referred to in the Parish Records.

Able Seamen are described in three forms in the OPR

King's Boatmen
Cuttersmen
Mariner RGC (Royal George Cutter)

Hope this is of use


Ken

[lauriemac]

Hi ken

thanks for the information, seems a coincidence that ARRANDI'S ancestors are Thomson and Archibald Crawfords wife was Janet Thomson, have to see if there is a connection.

I appreciate your help, thanks again.

Laurie

[arrandi]

Many thanks for your help. Much appreciated. Another bit I can add on to the family history.
Audrey. (arrandi)

[corinnefs]

My gggg Grandfather John McFee was the Steward on the Royal George in the late 1700s. I have a booklet published by the Largs and North Ayrshire Family History Society which lists all OPR references to Officers and Seaman of the Cumbrae Cutters.

I would be happy to provide any information I have.

Ken
Very excited to see your message, Ken, as I have just found an ancestor who was listed as a mariner on the Royal George Cutter on a christening document dated 1820! Is it popssible that he is listed on this list that you have. Would be very interested to hear from you.
All the best
Corinne