Ships steward

[keppochdot]

My ancestor served as a ships steward in the 1840s and 50s. What exactly did a ships steward do?

Was he an ordinary member of the crew or an officer?

thanks

Bert

[stanmapstone]

A Ship's Steward was an officer in a ship who, under the direction of the captain or the purser, kept the stores and arranged for the serving of meals; it is now applied to any attendant who waits upon the passengers.
See the topic at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=202997.0
Stan

[keppochdot]

thank you Stan.

When he came ashore he is described as a ship rigger and sometimes a sailmaker. Do you think he probably learnt his trade as rigger etc before he became a ships steward?

Bert

[keppochdot]

Hi Stan

Do yo think my theory is probable?

[stanmapstone]

At that date he would be on a sailing ship, so he could have been involved in the rigging and sails.
A Rigger, ship rigger, ship's rigger; erects ship masts and derricks; takes over duties of ship's crew when the ship reaches port, and the seamen are paid off; moves the ship about in the docks from one dock to another, or into dry dock for painting and repairs; splices hemp and wire running and standing rigging, boat falls, mooring and gangway ropes etc. "A Dictionary of Occupational Terms"

There is a vidio about sailmaking at http://youtu.be/429_sw4tc4k

Stan