Shipwright or ships carpenter

[June Welsby]

Could someone please tell me what the difference is between a shipwright and ships carpenter? My g.grandfather Andrew Higgie is listed as being a ships carpenter on his marriage certificate and on several of the birth certificates on some of his children in Australia, except for 2 where he states he is a shipwright. Andrew was born in Newburgh, Fife, Scotland; I would still like to find out where he learnt his trade whether it be Dundee or Glasgow. He married in Glasgow in 1870. Is there an apprenticeship for this occupation and how do I find out about it?
June Welsby

[Geoffers]

Shipwright, another name for a ship's carpenter

Ship's Carpenter, another name for a shipwright
(Note though that a shipwright was also another name for someone who built ships.)

Someone familiar with Scottish records may be able to advise on differing local practice with regard to apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships were for the most part private transactions. Records of large firms may possibly still survive in record offices. But if he apprenticed to a small firm, any record may not have survived.

Those who qualified may have been accepted into a guild or professional organisation. You might check the local record office to see if they have such information.

Geoffers

[Dennis Harker]

June,

Having just retired from almost 39 years in the Merchant Navy I will try to offer a modern interpretation of the two different titles. Whether this will help your research or not is questionable.

Ship's Carpenters were very common when I first went to sea in the 60s but they are becoming a rare breed now as crews are slimmed down and technology is used to replace them. Apart from the obvious woodworking, timber repairs, dunnage etc. a ship's carpenter was responsible for the anchors and would get involved in actual anchoring procedures and then the cleanliness, securing etc. of them once they were back on board. He also looked after some of the securing of cargo in conjunction with the Chief Officer/Mate and would also be responsible for loading and accounting of fresh water when in port. Fresh water is normally loaded from shore supplies when in port and but made by the engineers when at sea for long periods. Generally a very busy man even on modern ships and I would guess extremely busy in the days of sail.

A shipwright is someone we would meet when in for repairs. This term generally referred to someone involved in the building and repair of ships and boats, based ashore. I've not known anyone actually on a ship referred to as a shipwright but that may have been a possibility in the days of sail. It could be that your man sailed as a ship's carpenter for a number of years and then transferred his skills ashore to ship and boat repair. Many seafarers do come ashore once married and with a young family.

[joette]

AN important part of a shipwrights job on the Clyde anyway was to make scale models of the ships to check that all fitted & was "Aok"
My GGrandfather was a Master Shipwright & there are models of his surviving to this day.He died 1927 & apart from his work in the shipyards he made toys & also stage props for Houdini.

[June Welsby]

Thank you to Joette, Dennis and Geoffers for your reply to above, sorry it's taken so long to answer but I do appreciate any reply I can get. Geoffers which record office should I contact for Dundee or Glasgow? On Andrew's marriage certificate it states that he was a Ships Carpenter and Storeman (Merchant Service), he resided in Newburgh, Fife-shire and his wife was living at 13 Muir St., Plantation, Parish of Govan.
As I live in Australia I will have to write or e-mail somebody for advice so I need to know where to go to; maybe they will be able to tell me whether there is any apprenticeship records still available and if there is a guild for Shipwrights.
I do not know how Andrew came out to Australia because I can't find any passenger records for him but I do know that his wife and children sailed at a later date and went straight to Port Adelaide in 1878, so Andrew may have been a crew member when he immigrated. He worked for Mephan Ferguson here in Australia and I supposed that he was recruited in Scotland to work for him here, but it is only supposition.
Hope somebody can help.
June Welsby

[Dennis Harker]

June,

Try this link and see if it will help

https://www.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100p005004


I see that the Guildhall Museum, in London, is mentioned as holding certain Merchant Navy records. From personal experience I can recommend them as being very helpful - whether they will hold the records you require I cannot say.

When he was at sea your relative would have held a Discharge Book. This gives a seafarers' record of service and discharges. It also acted as a passport in the early days. If you can find any reference to his 'Discharge No.' then this would be invaluable in trying to track down which ships, when and where.

[JAP1]

... My g.grandfather Andrew Higgie is listed as being a ships carpenter on his marriage certificate and on several of the birth certificates on some of his children in Australia, except for 2 where he states he is a shipwright. Andrew was born in Newburgh, Fife, Scotland; I would still like to find out where he learnt his trade whether it be Dundee or Glasgow. He married in Glasgow in 1870. ...

Hi June Welsby,

I'm a bit puzzled where Dundee, Angus comes into the equation. Have I missed something?

You say that he was born in Newburgh, Fife and married Jemima MCKAY in 1870 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire at which time you say he was a Ship's Carpenter and was living in Newburgh, Fife.

So why Dundee (in Angus/Forfar, the other side of the Firth of Tay)?

Best regards,

JAP