Please help with James Pearson, Master Mariner, South Shields

[Coverdale1]

James Pearson, master mariner, was born in 1822 in South Shields to Robert Pearson (a maritime pilot) and Isabella Green. James married Elizabeth Morris in 1841 and they had four children that I know of; John Morris Pearson (1861-1861), Robert Pearson (1843-?), Margaret Pearson (1846-1930) and Mary Elizabeth Pearson (1856-1864).

I have what I hope is "my" James in the 1861 census in Military Road, South Shields. His wife and two daughters are living at Green's Terrace, South Shields at this time. I haven't managed to find him in 1841 or 1851 so far.

I am hoping to find out more about the ships James worked on and how he died. I found a newspaper article giving a possible death in 1867 in Copenhagen, but no cause of death was given. I know James died between 1861 and 1871 as his wife is listed as married in 1861 but widowed in 1871.

If anyone can find out more information about James, or suggest where I should look myself, I would be very grateful. Thank you!

[JenB]

1851 census

HO 107 /2399 / 361 316 / 52

32 ?Laine, Westoe

Elizabeth Pearson, head, m, 27, House [something], Chesterlee Street, Durham
Robert do, s, u, 7, scholar, South Shields, do
Margaret do, daur, u, 4, do, do
John Morrison, father in law, widower, 62, retired farmer, Chesterley Street, Durham

[Rhododendron]

The address is "Lawe". 

[Rhododendron]

And in the 1851 Census which JenB referred to, Elizabeth is a "House Holder"

[stanmapstone]

1851 census
HO 107 /2399 / 361 / 52

It is Piece: 2399; Folio: 316; Page: 52

Stan

[Coverdale1]

Thank you to all of you for helping, I very much appreciate it. Do you think John Morrison, father in law, is Elizabeth's father John Morris? If so I had no idea he was a farmer, so that is very interesting to find out.

[seaweed]

I am hoping to find out more about the ships James worked on

The term "Master Mariner" doesn't necessarily mean that the person was master of a ship. However you need to look at the Indexes to Registers of Competency and Service, Masters and Mates, Home and Foreign Trade to see if he is included there. I don't know if this document is available from "Ancestry" you would have to ask. Other than that a trip to Kew.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C408355

What you are looking for is his certificate of service number. Once you have that it would be a simple task to find out what ships he sailed on as Master or Mate. Via series BT124 Foreign Trade
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_cr=bt124&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv Downloadable for free.
BT126 Home Trade
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_cr=bt126&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv
There is no mention of him in "Lloyd's Captains Register" for the period covering the years 1869 (retrospective to 1851 for those masters and mates still sailing in 1869)-1911. That said he may have died before 1869.
Cannot find him in The Mercantile Navy List 1849-1853 but there is a James Pearson  Foreign Trade Certificate 13857 in 1858/59/60. May be worth starting there.

[JenB]

1851 census
HO 107 /2399 / 361 / 52

It is Piece: 2399; Folio: 316; Page: 52

Stan

I have edited my posting.

[Coverdale1]

Hi seaweed,

I did not know any of this, thank you so much for all your help. I don't subscribe to Ancestry but as soon as I am well enough to get to the library I will search Ancestry there to see if I can find any record of him. I am reasonably sure he died around 1867 so that would explain you not finding him in that period. Thank you so much for providing the links as well, my knowledge of all things ship related is almost non-existent so it would have taken me ages to find the right place to look.