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Topic: Whaling boat "The Alert" Peterhead (Read 1510 times)
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anne50
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 37
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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I wonder if anyone can help me find out what happened to the crewmen who died on the boat as it returned from Kekerton Island in 1861. They were very badly treated and a lot of them died from scurvy and inadequate food. My Gt Gt Uncle was only 17 when he died on the return trip and i have come up against a brickwall. I cannot find his death certificate. The last entry for him was on the 1851 cencus aged 7 years of age. His name was Alexander Pickard and he was born in Longside. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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hepburn
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 3565
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Hi,
Google the whalers heritage project (if you haven't already)
also ship wrecks in "Artic whalers",this one has an email address which may be of help to you..
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stoke on trent. carson,wain,leese,shaw,key,scalley,mitchell,
,james,
nottingham,pollard,grice,
derbyshire,vallands,turton,howe.
new zealand,turton
canada,carson.
australia,mitchell,scalley,
Has anyone seen Henry Atcherson Carson,born Canada 1844?
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casalguidi
Global Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11919
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Hi Anne
Welcome to Rootschat
A newspaper report I have sighted (Oct 1861) suggests that the 10 crew who died actually perished in the Cumberland Straits/Kitterton (Kekerton?) Island at some time during the whole of the previous winter. For England and Wales I would suggest checking the overseas death registers but I am not sure of the procedure for Scottish deaths at sea 
As they were in such a remote place, I'm not sure what (if any) Canadian records there would be
May we ask the source of your information/sources you have already covered?
Casalguidi 
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anne50
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 37
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi,
Thanks for your quick response. I have just been gathering little info from our local newspaper archives. This story was kind of hushed up and there was no memorial for the men. My 2x Gt Uncle is a mystery to me as i can find no death records for him. I will try and explore the Canadian deaths and see if i can come up with anything. Which paper may I ask were you looking at?
From what i have gathered, seamen who died while whaling, were buried in very shallow ground (as the ground was frozen solid) or they were buried in barrels!. Thanks again
Anne
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casalguidi
Global Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11919
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Hi Anne
The story was in a number of newspapers nationwide - appearing to have been copied form the "Dundee Advertiser". No mention of any names though only that 10 perished and the ten surviviors (all the crew from Peterhead) were too weak to sail their own ship back so the captains of the "Alibi" and "Arctic" (both of Aberdeen), when they came across the ship the following year, sent some of their own crews aboard to sail the "Alert" back - arriving in Peterhead on the Tuesday (October 1st?).
Casalguidi
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casalguidi
Global Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11919
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There is more in "The Aberdeen Journal" (from the "Sentinel") 9 Oct 1861 ............... captain Mr Forbes MILNE (didn't hold a ticket!). BARNETT & MITCHELL were pitched out of the boat when it was upset by a whale and not seen again July 27th 1860. A harrowing story about how the men were mistreated by the captain ie. not rationed properly. The names of the dead men:
John MITCHELL, New Deer 27 Jul 1860
William BURNETT, Strichen 27 Jul 1860
John WALKER, Peterhead 11 Nov 1860
John M'KENZIE, Portknockie 13 Dec 1860
William M'KENZIE, Peterhead 24 Apr 1861
Peter CAMBELL, Sutherlandshire 30 May
Alex PICKARD, Longside 3 Jun
Robert MILNE, carpenter, Peterhead 25 Jun
William NICOL, Peterhead 31 Jul
It is reported that she wintered about 20 miles equi-distant from Niatlik and New Boyen stations and was preparing to head home 23 Aug 1861.
Casalguidi 
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alex730
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 3
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi
I am a new user of this site. I received a Christmas card today from a distant relative who on my behalf has been researching Alexander Low Pickard (a relative) who died in the Cumberland Strait off Baffin Island on 3 June 1861 having set sail from Peterhead the previous year. Hilda has been researching the history of the Alert of Peterhead via the library in Peterhead and has amassed a wealth of information regarding deaths, mutinies and the unexpected return to Peterhead of the whaling boat about 18 months after leaving port. Hilda advises me that someone at the Peterhead Maritime Museum has collated all the information and is producing a booklet on the subject in summer of 2009. I have besides traced Alexander's death certificate in New Register House, Edinburgh and have the details if required.
Let me know if my operation of this system works.
Alex730
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« Last Edit: Monday 15 December 08 22:26 UTC (UK) by casalguidi »
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casalguidi
Global Moderator
RootsChat Marquessate
Posts: 11919
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Hi Alex
Welcome to Rootschat
That's some great "news" you have there - I'm sure Anne will be delighted (she should get notification that somebody has replied to her post on here)
Casalguidi
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anne50
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 37
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Alex,
I have just saw your post on here as i have not logged on for a while. I have actually met Hilda, the Peterhead Museum lady who is putting together the booklet on the "Alert" put us in touch. She is a mine of information. I would dearly love to know the details on Alexanders death certificate. I have been trying to find it myself. Alexander would have been my Gt Gt Uncle, and the family lived just 7 miles from where i live now. It would be great if you could tell me the details of the death certificate.
Many Thanks
Anne Coutts nee Pickard
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renard
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 99
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Ann,
this is all the info I have.
Alexander died aboard the Alert on3/6/1861 cause of death unrecorded he is buried at the Cumberland Straits Canada.
Jim
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mizhelenuk
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 4
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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The lady who is a mine of info on the ALERT is Fiona Riddell, Curatorial Assistant at the Arbuthnot Museum, Peterhead, and who is also a mine of info on all things concerning the history of the Peterhead Whaling fleet and arctic exploration.
The museum telephone number is:
01779 - 477778
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alex730
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 3
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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to Anne Coutts nee Pickard
I have received during the month of November 2009 a small booklet on the Alert of Peterhead produced by Fiona Riddell of the Arbuthnot Museum in Peterhead. It was passed on to me from Hilda Pickard. The booklet is not in a published format but contains most of the information on the ill-fated journey of the Alert and the aftermath all as described in the Peterhead Sentinel newspaper. Has Hilda provided you with a copy?
Also I would be interested in knowing what family history you have on the Pickards in Scotland. My line goes back through William Piccard born about 1808 in Selby Leicestershire married on 3 Dec 1825 in Longside to Elizabeth "Lillie" Brown. William's parents were William Pickard, soldier, and Mary Farquhar. Elizabeth's parents were John Brown and Isabella Warrender. Although my surname is Warrender, this is not the most direct line with the Pickards. My great grandfather John Leslie married my great grandmother Elizabeth Brown Pickard in 19 Dec 1891 at Cruden.
Alex730
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anne50
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 37
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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Hi Alex,
My line is through William and Elizabeths son Joseph. Joseph would have been my 3x Gt Grandfather. He was born in Longside, and married there too.
As for William and Mary Farquhar, i am still trying very hard to find out more about them. Mary was born 21/11/1762 in Strichen, Aberdeenshire. She and William (senior) had their family in Sileby (not Selby) Leicstershire. I have come across a few possibilities as to what happened to them, but its not definite.
As for the Pickards in Scotland, they farmed in Longside and many other places too. William (1808) is buried in Longside cemetry along with wife Elizabeth. At least 2 other brothers came to Peterhead and lived here.
I have found the grave for Robert Pickard and his family in Peterhead.
If theres anything you want to know then post me a message and i hope i can help you out.
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