Thank you for your very informative posting. I fully agree with you that John Patterson's story is very intriguing - as you say 'lots to discover yet'!
1. Liverpool City Council having advised me that a Merchant Navy contact has informed them that most MN records held in Liverpool were destroyed in a fire in the 1970's, and, recommended contact with MCA in Cardiff via
seafarersregistry@mcga.gov.uk. Unfortunately, the e-mail address was wrong and in checking this, I found this should read
seafarers_registry@mcga.gov.uk, and, I now await their reply to my enquiry regarding John Patterson's death.
2.
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk under 'National Museums Liverpool', publish a 9 page Information Sheet No.43 'Tracing Seafaring Ancestors in the Merchant Navy', and - if you have not already done so - I suggest you may wish to go on-line and review the advice given.
3. Did you find John Patterson listed in the 1851 Census? (I realise he may have been at sea).
4. With regard to the Margaret Patterson (ms. Robertson)/John Fisher marriage, I have -
(a) a copy of their Wedding Certificate for 26 July 1869, in Gatehouse in the Parish of Girthon.
(b) a copy of the 1871 Census recording John and Margaret Fisher living in Gatehouse with 5
Patterson step-children.
(c) a copy of the 1818 Census recording John and Margaret Fisher living in Gatehouse with 5
Fisher children plus one step-son, John Patterson aged 23. working as a Tailor.
(d) a copy of the 1891 Census recording John and Margaret living in Gatehouse with 3 Fisher
children, plus a grandson - who merited further investigation which eventually established a
Patterson/Fisher connection other than Margaret Patterson m.s. Robertson marrying John Fisher!
(e) I have advised you previously that with regard to John and Margaret Patterson's daughter -
Margaret Ann Patterson - I have a copy of her 1889 Marriage Certificate and a copy of the 1901
Census giving details of her family and location.
Should you like to have further details of anything under 4.(a) to (e), please let me know.